I was looking this morning at the various water-for-Africa Web sites. There are lots of foundations and organizations moving ahead with this work. I happened to notice on the Web site for Universal Giving that they have a gift registry.
You know what a gift registry is. At a store you sign up for the wedding gifts or baby gifts you would like to have. Then your friends and family can get you a gift on the list, and know that they’re giving you something you want.
Universal Giving has set up a gift registry for charitable giving on your behalf. Rather than pawing through the sweater selection at Target, your friends can go to your gift registry and give to something close to your heart. Just think how easy Christmas shopping would be if you could just log on and give to your friends’ charities.
I also noticed that this organization takes no cut of your gift for its own administration. Your whole gift is given to the selected charity. When you set up your registry, you can indicate which kinds of charities interest you. Then they will email about new giving opportunities you may care about.
You could give gifts for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, birthdays, Halloween. If you are really brave, you could give a donation for Valentine’s Day.
I’m going to set up my registry now.
