Gift Giving and Giving Back Go Hand in Hand
The holiday season is expensive. Whether you are buying gifts, traveling to see loved ones, preparing a festive feast, or all of the above, it is hard to carve out some extra cash for donations. Thanks in part to the digital age we live in and the incredible nonprofits in Portland, making a difference is easier than ever. Here are six thrifty ways to give back this holiday season.
Donate While You Shop
I don’t know about you, but I use Amazon Prime for a majority of the gifts I buy. With every purchase, you can be giving back to your favorite charity. AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. Just make sure you are using the smile.amazon.com link when you check out.
Volunteer Your Time
You can make a difference in one day. Hands On Greater Portland has “done-in-a-day” volunteer opportunities every day leading up to Christmas. There are also hands-on experiences for kids as young as 4 years old. See the full calendar and sign up!
Here are a few other organizations that offer one day volunteering:
- Union Gospel Mission
- Friends of Trees
- Oregon Food Bank
- Meals on Wheels *Thanksgiving Day
Gift Experiences at Nonprofit Events
Making memories together is the best gift you can give. Some local nonprofits host awesome events for low ticket prices. Buy tickets for you and someone on your gift list. Here are a few organizations that host fun activities all year long.
Take Advantage of Employee Matching
When was the last time you looked at your employee handbook? Take another look and see if your employer matches your donations. With a little bit of paperwork, you’ll literally double your impact.
Start a Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser
Asking your friends and family to support a cause is the best way to rally around the giving season. Facebook Fundraisers has made peer-to-peer fundraising a three-click process. Not a Facebook user? No worries. You can also check your favorite charity’s website to see if they have a toolkit for donation drives or another peer-to-peer fundraising platform available.
Tribute Cards
Give your loved ones a personalized card with your donation. Simply make a donation tribute in the name of someone special and a card will be mailed to them. Some cards are available for as little as a $5 donation.
- Oregon Food Bank
- Shriners Hospitals for Children
- Oregon Humane Society
- Mercy Corps
- Audubon Society of Portland
- Outside In
Want more Portland freebies, events and deals? Subscribe to my newsletter (only one email a day), and follow me on Facebook and Twitter!
Other Posts You Might Like:
Portland Living on the Cheap is a member of 