hotknoieu: Charity Christmas Cards: Do They Donate Enough to Charities?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Charity Christmas Cards: Do They Donate Enough to Charities?

Nov 13, 2010 Carol Finch

Are Charity Christmas Cards Worth it? - Photo by afreeta

Many shoppers will make a point of buying charity Christmas cards in stores in the belief that their purchases will give reasonable donations. Each year, however, the Charities Advisory Trust produces its Scrooge Awards. This list shows how much shops actually donate to charities from each sale. Are charity Christmas cards worth buying and where can you shop to make the highest donation?

Are Charity Christmas Cards Worth Buying?

If you buy charity Christmas greetings cards from shops, rather than direct from charities, then the retailer commits to donate a percentage of the money spent on the purchase. Although this can seem like a good deal, as it allows you to use your spending to give to a good cause, where you shop may affect how big the donation is. According to the Charities Advisory Trust, a retailer can donate as little as 1% from the sale of a card and still brand it as a charity product.

Which Shops Give the Best and Worst Charity Donations for Christmas Greetings Cards?

Research done by the Trust in October 2010 shows a wide range of current percentage donations with some retailers coming out better than others. For example, Marks and Spencer and Debenhams donate 20% and Clintons 21.3%. On the lower end of the scale, some Cards Galore cards will only make a 4.2% donation (although some products rise to 16.9%) and Fenwick have a spread of just 5.1-9%.

Is it Better to Buy Christmas Cards From a Charity?

A charity may make much more money selling its own cards, but it may not be able to compete on a cost basis with major retailers. This can put off some consumers who like the idea of making a 'no-cost' donation but who would rather pay high-street prices for their Christmas cards.

If, however, you buy direct from charities, use Card Aid or pop-up seasonal charity card shops, then more of the money spent will go to the charity itself. Card Aid donation levels are estimated at 40-60% of the cost of the card. A temporary charity shop/sale could provide similar results.

Buying charity Christmas cards direct will give a higher donation to charity. If this is beyond your budget, then it may be worth trying to buy from retailers that commit to give higher percentages. The following articles may be of interest if you are interested in learning about other ways to donate at Christmas.

Sources: Charities Advisory Trust; The Guardian ("Charity Christmas cards still offer stingy donations"); Card Aid. Accessed online 13th November 2010.