Friday's Five, Other, Social Responsibility, Web 2.0
Nov 26, 2007
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Friday Five: The Season’s Tech-Inspired Philanthropic Christmas Gifts

I know it isn't Friday. But since I wasn't around this past Friday, I decided to catch up today (Monday).

This time of year, so many people are searching for the best gifts for their techie family members and friends.  I got to thinking…why not combine the love for gadgets with a philanthropic spirit?  Here are some great technology-inspired gifts that have the added benefit of helping others.

One Laptop Per Child.  Through December 31, 2007, you can participate in OLPC's "give one, get one" program.  For $399, you get one of OLPC's laptops for yourself, and an additional unit gets donated to a needy child in a developing country.  

Oxfam America Unwrapped. On Oxfam America's website, you can purchase items in the name of your friends or family members that people in any of Oxfam's 26 operation countries need. For example, you can donate the purchase price of a camel. Your friend gets a personalized card with a picture of a camel on it, and an impoverished village will receive the camel or other needed items.

Kiva Gift Certificates. We've mentioned Kiva on TBR before. It's a great website that helps individuals "connect with and loan money to individuals and small businesses in the developing world."  Now, you can buy your friends Kiva gift cards. These allow you to donate money to Kiva, while the recipient of the card determines how it is spent and what project on the site will get the loan. (You can find a similar program at GlobalGiving.com)

Send an eTree. Have a friend who's into virtual reality? Send them an eTree at Mokugift.com.  Here, you send someone an "eTree" (sort of like an e-card) for $1. Your friend gets an email with some info about the tree and access to their eIsland, where all their eTrees grow online.  At the same time, Mokugift plants an actual tree in the real world, helping the environment.

And since this post is about giving, I'll give you a bonus link:

NonProfit Shopping Mall. This isn't actually a gift…but it's a place where you can find gifts for others. This site aggregates products from online stores where you already shop, like Amazon.com, iTunes, and Target.  These stores then donate a percentage of the purchase price to a charity of your choosing.

Good luck with your holiday shopping. Maybe this year you can combine your love for technology with helping others. 

  • http://www.globalgiving.com Donna Callejon

    Hey Erin – thanks for the shout-out about our gift certificates. Just to clarify – contributions through GlobalGiving(either directly to a project with us sending a gift card to your “recipient,” and e-gift certificate, or a biodegradable gift card (coming thursday) philanthropic donations. vs Kiva, where the “purchase” is a loan, not a philanthropic donation…

    Let the festivities begin!
    Donna @
    GlobalGiving

  • http://www.globalgiving.com Donna Callejon

    Hey Erin – thanks for the shout-out about our gift certificates. Just to clarify – contributions through GlobalGiving(either directly to a project with us sending a gift card to your “recipient,” and e-gift certificate, or a biodegradable gift card (coming thursday) philanthropic donations. vs Kiva, where the “purchase” is a loan, not a philanthropic donation…

    Let the festivities begin!
    Donna @
    GlobalGiving

  • http://gift-cards.jfcforum.com/2007/11/26/friday-five-the-season%e2%80%99s-tech-inspired-philanthropic-christmas-gifts/ Friday Five: The Season’s Tech-Inspired Philanthropic Christmas Gifts · Gift Card News and Deals

    [...] Original post by The Bivings Report [...]

  • Gary

    Erin,
    On behalf of TBG, I contributed to the OLPC G1G1 program. So we should be receiving one of the machines pretty soon.
    G

  • Gary

    Erin,
    On behalf of TBG, I contributed to the OLPC G1G1 program. So we should be receiving one of the machines pretty soon.
    G

  • Hannah

    Great list, Erin!

  • Hannah

    Great list, Erin!

  • Kathleen

    Thank you so much for supporting Oxfam America!

    I work with Oxfam America Unwrapped and thought that you and your readers would be interested to know about the updated Unwrapped Holiday Catalog. Please visit http://www.OxfamAmericaUnwrapped.com. . 22 new gifts have been made available, just in time for the holiday season!

    Oxfam America Unwrapped is truly a fantastic way to give back this holiday season. Give the unexpected gift that does good!

    Thank you again for your support,
    Kathleen

  • Kathleen

    Thank you so much for supporting Oxfam America!

    I work with Oxfam America Unwrapped and thought that you and your readers would be interested to know about the updated Unwrapped Holiday Catalog. Please visit http://www.OxfamAmericaUnwrapped.com. . 22 new gifts have been made available, just in time for the holiday season!

    Oxfam America Unwrapped is truly a fantastic way to give back this holiday season. Give the unexpected gift that does good!

    Thank you again for your support,
    Kathleen

  • http://www.bivingsreport.com/2007/send-a-free-etree/ Send a free eTree! » The Bivings Report

    [...] week I wrote a quick list about 5 ways you can give tech-inspired philanthropic gifts this holiday season. One I mentioned was sending eTrees through Mokugift. Normally, you can buy or send someone else an [...]

  • http://www.politicalplaques.com HardAssets

    Are they still doing this in 2010?

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