A Donation Has Been Made in Your Name

Is it a good idea to make a donation in lieu of a gift?

There are many differing opinions on this trend of combining charity and gift-giving. Generally, if a gift is expected, as for special events such as weddings, it is poor etiquette to organise a charitible donation instead of a gift without discussing the issue with the recipient. If a gift is not expected, though, a well-chosen and well-presented donation can be a pleasant gesture, but can still lead to disappointment if not handled with sensitivity.

However, a donation made in addition to a thoughtful gift is a far better option - as long as the charity you choose does not include elements that may contradict the recipient's own principles.

A donation may be an easy and obvious choice if the recipient already has a favourite charity that they have mentioned to you previously. Some charities offer gift certificates.

When presenting a donation, always include a personal card or note. Use nice stationery - just because you're giving to charity doesn't mean you can stick a label on a second-hand envelope. Good quality environmentally friendly stationery also makes a favourable impression, whether or not the charity is enviroment-related.

Present your donation together with your actual gift, or afterwards, but not beforehand.

In the event that you are making an unexpected donation when a gift is not anticipated, state clearly before presenting the details that you have made a donation on the other person's behalf.



Kiva.org
Acumen Fund

Comments

Popular Posts