Give the Gift That Gives Back

Thinking Partners was developed expressly with the idea of helping socially conscious businesses succeed. Our thinking: Where better to direct our life energy and experience than to bring smart business strategy and strong marketing & communications to businesses and organizations that already have their heart in the right place.

So it’s no wonder that as the holidays get closer, we’re thinking of how we can use the spirit of the season to do something bigger than ourselves. With age and life experience, we’ve gotten a lot clearer about what the holidays are for us — and explicitly what they are NOT.

So we’re excited to enter this holiday season with the intention of positively contributing to the world. Sounds ambitious or preposterous? Not at all, it’s all about simple actions. We’ve done a little research on options for taking this step. Here’s a few places that caught our attention, that we’ve donated to before, that moved us:

If you can’t find a local fair trade shop try one of these global marketplaces where your purchase makes a positive impact…

Global Sister Goods. We provide a living wage to economically disadvantaged women in fragile economies by supporting entrepreneurship, self-reliance and micro-enterprise development through fair trade. We sustain traditional craft making techniques by providing high-quality, handmade and eco-friendly gifts, jewelry, handbags, accessories and home decor items.

If you can forego the material gifts consider a donation or an investment that contributes to bettering our world…

WATER. 3.5 million people die each year from a water related disease; 84% of them are children.  For the price of $25, Water.org can bring a child access to clean water for their entire lifetime.  Instead of buying our loved ones chocolates, a scarf, or a glass figurine, buy a lifetime supply of clean water for a child in honor of your beloved.

Heifer International. Heifer's approach – more than 65 years in the making – helps people obtain a sustainable source of food and income.

Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.

Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. We're changing the world one woman at a time.

Or look for a local organization:

Family of Woodstock. In our area, Family of Woodstock is a bedrock source of support.

Need more choices? Look here…

Global Giving.  The world is full of problems. GlobalGiving is full solutions. Solutions run by innovative, grassroots projects and organizations that are working to educate children, feed the hungry, build houses, train women (and men) with job skills, and hundreds of other amazing things. GlobalGiving is a charity fundraising web site that give social entrepreneurs and non-profits gives from anywhere in the world a chance to raise the money that they need to improve their communities.

The most unique and personal gift…

Finally, there are some gifts that cannot be bought or donated, and that is the gift of time and attention. Think of the moments in your life when you have felt alone, disconnected, alienated or just plain sad about something. There are many people within our local communities that struggle to feel connection, and they hurt most badly during the holidays. We intend to look for the gaps in their communities and fill them with a gift of a service, a phone call, card, cup of coffee, or errands run to those who need a loving hand.

With this list of suggestions, ThinkingPartners sends its clients, friends, and colleagues the warmest wishes for a New Year. We are dedicated to giving back and making the world a better place, so in your honor we've chosen to make a donation to water.org.

--Ana and Elena