hotknoieu: Charity

Nov 15, 2010 Carol Finch

Card Aid Christmas Cards Donate More to Charity - Photo by whitesja

If you, or your business, wants to use charity cards, then you may be able to donate more at Xmas by using Card Aid products. The organisation sells cards to the public for home use, customised business Christmas cards and both still and animated e-cards. Why does Card Aid donate more and how can you buy its products?

Card Aid Gives All Profits to Charity

Card Aid is a not for profit organisation set up by the UK's Charities Advisory Trust with the aim of giving charities an easy way to bring in money from the sale of Christmas cards. All of the organisation's products are made in the UK from sustainable forests and envelopes are made from environmentally friendly materials.

Profits will give back 40-60% of the cost of a pack of general cards, one-third of the cost of customised corporate cards and 30% from the sale of e-cards. Retailers that sell charity cards, on the other hand, may donate much less. Research into the retail sector by the Charities Advisory Trust in October 2010 showed donation levels of between 4.2-25%.

Buying Charity Christmas Cards With Card Aid

You can use the Card Aid website to buy cards or, in some areas, you can visit one of the organisation's shops to buy direct. These stores open on a temporary basis each year, usually between October and December. There are various locations in London and a few outside the capital (i.e. Bromley, Ely, Cambridge, Guildford, Oxford and Sedburgh).

If you opt to buy charity Christmas cards online, then you simply need to choose a design that you like and/or a charity that you would like to support. Each card is associated with a particular organisation. You can pay by card via the Worldpay payment processing system or you can send in a cheque if you prefer. If you want to create personalised cards, then you can also use Card Aid's customised service.

Using Card Aid to Create Customised Corporate Christmas Cards

Businesses and individuals can also use Card Aid to customise Christmas cards. This service allows you to choose any charity (as long as it is UK registered). You can also use your own own image (or one provided by the site), add a logo and put a personalised message in the template. Cards can be printed in up to four colours. The minimum order cost is ￡195 (excluding VAT). Orders for corporate cards need to be made online.

Using Still and Animated Christmas E-cards for Business and Home Use

Card Aid also has an e-card service (still and animated) that can be used by businesses and individuals. This may suit those that want to cut down on environmental waste and to give a 'greener' Christmas card. You can choose the charity you wish to support with e-cards and they can also be customised.

Although Card Aid's e-cards are priced individually, there is a minimum spend for both still (￡22.50) and animated (￡75) cards. Some will also come with minimum order levels. Adding a logo costs an additional ￡10. Once you have paid for an order, you will be sent a personalised link which you then use to mail out your card.

You, or your business, can donate more at Xmas by buying cards through Card Aid. If you want to find out about other ways to send charity cards and gifts or to give seasonal donations, then the following articles may be useful:

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

Card Aid Christmas Cards Donate More to Charity - Photo by whitesja
Giving Charity Cards Can Help Others at Xmas - Photo by alicja_sto
Why Use Charity Corporate Christmas Cards? - Photo by flaivoloka
Charity Christmas e-cards Help the Environment - Image by acidum
How to Email Christmas Cards - Photo by Egilshay

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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.