After a glorious autumn in the Natural State, there’s no denying that the gift-giving season is now upon us. While some of us relish in carefully selecting the perfect gift for each person on our list, others consider the task of holiday shopping as one more to-do to mark off our list before truly enjoying everything this special season has to offer.
Whether you’re in the first category or the second, chances are you’ve got someone on your list who is practically impossible to buy presents for. For those folks who have everything, we’ve got the PERFECT gift idea!
Give a gift to charity in honor of a loved one this season!
You can make an honorarium gift any time of the year, but the holidays seem especially appropriate. Including someone else in the act of charitable giving is a gift you can both feel good about! There’s no need to worry about choosing the right color or size…a gift to charity is always in style. Here are three easy steps to get started!
- Make it meaningful. Think about your loved one’s interests and the community they love when choosing the charity to support. Are they an animal-lover? A patron of the arts? An avid outdoorsman? An active volunteer? Consider a gift to a charity that aligns with their passions. And if they have varied interests, consider giving to their community’s Giving Tree Endowment that supports many different causes for the long-term.
- Make it personal. When you make your gift to charity, note “in honor of ______” and be sure to include your their mailing address. The Community Foundation will notify them of the contribution. (Generally, nonprofits will notify the honoree that a gift has been made, but rest assured – they will not disclose the amount.) Of course, you too can notify the recipient that you’ve made a contribution in their honor – in a greeting card or through other means. Be creative!
- Make it a tradition. Giving to charity is a great alternative to consumerism, an opportunity to teach children to think of others and a way to truly celebrate the season. We know many families who have discovered that supporting charitable causes has become their favorite holiday tradition. Consider creating a Donor Advised Fund with Arkansas Community Foundation and allow us to help your family create a legacy of giving.
Our staff at the Community Foundation would be happy to help you give the PERFECT GIFT this season! Contact us at 501-372-1116 or arcf@arcf.org.