The GiveList is great idea from Allison Fine and Marnie Webb that is encouraging conversation and other ways to give contributions that aren't cash to charitable causes. The idea is that even if times are bad, you don't have to be stingy. In the last 24 hours since the project launched, there's been a firehose of ideas for giving that don't require getting out your checkbook or credit card and cringing.
Don't get me wrong - giving money to charitable causes is a good thing - but if you looking into your wallet makes you want to cry, there are alternatives. Need some inspiration? Marnie has summarized a list of the ideas from yesterday and here's a few gems from the last few hours:
- Cybersibek: Animal shelters always need old blankets/comforters. Shelters R being overwhelmed because people R losing homes/can't afford pets.
- ALSofGNY: Offer to make up Pre-Addressed, Stamped Envelopes/Cards for people with disabilities for them to send out for the holidays.
- ChildrensHealth: Children's hospitals always need toys this time of year. Don't wait till the last minute - it takes time to sort, distribute.
- RedCross: Send a free, downloadable holiday card to a hero http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail
When I heard about the idea from Allison Fine I immediately thought about the work of Lewis Hyde and gift economies or the art of pay it forward. Tara Hunt describes this much better than I could:
In The Gift, Lewis Hyde explains through several folk tales and anthropological studies that the Gift Economy is not one of reciprocation at all. In fact, this obligatory reciprocation has sprouted from the idea of trade in our current market economy. A gift is not, in fact, a gift unless it continues circulating. So, I buy lunch for person A, then person A gives away her last $10 to person B, who uses it to buy sandwiches, which he shares with person C, who is now well fed enough to get creative and paint that amazing piece of art, which she gives to person D, who is so inspired by that art that he donates it to the local artist community, who displays it in their community garden, which many walk by to admire, one of whom decides to donate some money to a local neighbourhood beautifying project, which builds a spectacular park where I can now enjoy reading in, which will lead to all sorts of wonderful things.
The gift, as it moves along, actually becomes more and more valuable. In my example, a gift of lunch from me could turn into a large improvement in my community, but in really basic terms, the very nature of the gift is to continue to grow in value as it gets passed along and the increments don’t tend to be felt as burdens to the person passing the gift along, either as it is a natural process. Remember the story of the guy who ‘Traded up’ the paperclip for a house in Saskatchewan? Well, that’s kind of the idea…each ‘trade’ became a simple increment between a red paperclip to a whole house. And, at first glance, it may not seem like a very ‘gifty’ experiment (since only one guy got the house), but Kipling, Saskatchewan couldn’t be happier about the press and the sheer craziness of the act has sprouted many interesting copycat stories, re-ignited the swap industry and inspired many, many people to go out and try fantastic, crazy things.
I'm also in the process reducing clutter and stuff in our home as we prepare for a move. I've been looking at the books that I haven't yet donated to our library that sit on my bookshelf (yes, I'm so 19th Century, I do still read books in paper format). These are the books that are probably of more interest to nonprofit and social media folks than the local library patrons.
I've been reluctant to give them away on my blog because it would require that I shell out some postage money, but I thought why not a "pay it forward" book giveaway?
So, here's how it works. Leave a comment and I'll pick the random winners. The winners agree to actually read the book, perhaps blog a review, and give the book away to someone else.
I purchased and received an additional copy of Seth Godin's Tribes. Marnie Webb has a review of it here. Leave a comment by the end of the week and I'll pick two folks at random to get copies of the book. Make sure you include a valid email address in the comment field.
UPDATE: Train for Humanity [http://trainforhumanity.org] and @mark_hayward
Thanks for the heads up on Givelist. Count me in for the book drawing. Dave Tinker, [email protected]
Posted by: Dave Tinker, CFRE | December 03, 2008 at 11:48 AM
This is a book I'd love to read! Please add me to the group! :) THANK YOU!
Posted by: Tori Tuncan | December 03, 2008 at 11:58 AM
I too, still enjoy a nice old-fashioned technology experience with a good book. Especially one by Seth Godin.
Posted by: Ryan Moede | December 03, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Hi - I read your blog frequently and follow you on Twitter - decided to leave a comment (rather than continue to lurk) because I'd love to be in the drawing for the book! I'd read it (quickly) and pass it on to a colleague (I already know who!).
Happy Wednesday.
Posted by: Wendy Scherer | December 03, 2008 at 12:01 PM
What a wonderful post and fantastic idea! Due to a recent combining of households, I've actually got some extra blankets we don't need -- thanks for the tip regarding animal shelter's - I'm going to look into it. I would love a copy of Tribes ([email protected]). Happy holidays!
Posted by: Gina | December 03, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Funny, I just added this to the top of my "Must Read Before 2009" list. It made it to the top of my list after reading this over at The Social Media Today his morning: http://www.socialmediatoday.com/SMC/59593
Fingers crossed!
Apollo Gonzales
[email protected]
Posted by: Apollo Gonzales | December 03, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Hello!! Please add me to this list- I was just thinking of another way to pay it forward- reading to senior citizens at the retirement homes.
I found out about this giveaway from Twitter (from @lend4health). Thank you for hosting it!
Posted by: Michelle (The Beartwinsmom) | December 03, 2008 at 12:04 PM
What a fabulous idea! Tribes has been on my reading list for a while now just haven't gotten around to it. I'd love to participate in this process!
Posted by: Meaghan Lamarre | December 03, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Good idea! I promise if I am the winner to pay this book forward!
Thanks!
Posted by: Craig Weinrich | December 03, 2008 at 12:10 PM
The most interesting idea I got from this post is that a gift actually becomes more valuable each and every time it is passed along.
I once met a man on the street who asked me "What's the greatest love you get to keep?" When I told him I didn't know, he said "It's the love that you give away".
Somehow I can't help but think that the two ideas are related.
Posted by: Feedback Secrets | December 03, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Great ideas. I'm involved in a children's book drive for a local elementary school that has indicated need, and I like the children's hospital idea too. For the book: [email protected]
Posted by: Jonathan | December 03, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I love this idea! I would also love to have a copy of the book Tribes. I have been unemployed for the past year so I can't afford to purchase a copy of it for myself. I promise I will read the book and pass it along.
With respect to your other books, have you ever used bookcrossing.com? It's a great way to release good books into the "wild" to share with others.
Posted by: Mary Wehrle | December 03, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Hi Beth - I have two additional TRIBES books that I would like to throw into your pay it forward mix...if you like.
And I'll even include a Culebra postcard as a bookmark for each one too.
If you would like them, just email me, or get me on twitter @mark_hayward.
Kind regards,
Mark H
Posted by: mark_hayward | December 03, 2008 at 02:32 PM
I am the middle gal of pay it forward.
When I'm lucky, some citizens of Alameda, CA move their abundance over to my ARt YoWZA CAMP porch.
I've had many good surprises:
• 100+ bottles of nail polish
(great but stinky paint for Passion for Fashion Camp Week),
•vintage Coast Guard maps
(great for plotting treasure during Pirate Camp),
• and perfect plastic petri dishes
(better to make glittery DISCO POTATO Camp ornaments)
I want to be the leader of the bold creative fun tribe.
And oh, to get started and speak up!
Rebecca Stees
[email protected]
Posted by: Rebecca Stees | December 03, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Hi Beth!
I'd so *love* to win a copy of "Tribes" -- Seth is my personal social media hero.
Thanks for putting this on!
Happy holidays!
Tanya
Posted by: Tanya (aka NetChick) | December 03, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Ooh, I'd love it! Thanks!
Posted by: Jessica | December 03, 2008 at 09:48 PM
Great idea, love it. If I get picked I'll pay it forward once I finish it!
Posted by: Jeff Gordon | December 03, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Great idea Beth. Paying forward is always a great idea, especially during the holidays.
Joe
Posted by: Joe Hungler | December 03, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Please include me in your drawing! Thanks!
Posted by: Liz | December 04, 2008 at 02:56 AM
I would love to get a copy of tribes ([email protected])! Here's a couple more pay it forward ideas:
1) If you're a chef or you just have some good recipie sense. Take a trip over to your local food bank and ask the people working there about what they regularly have on the shelf. Take the list home and then create a healthy cook book only using what is normally at the food shelf. Print a ton of copies (might be able to get someone to agree to do it for free) and then give them to the food shelf/pantry.
2) If you're not a chef...take some of the better items out of your pantry and donate it to the food pantry.
Posted by: Alisa | December 04, 2008 at 06:24 AM
Hi Beth! I'm almost finished with my copy of "Causewired" by Tom Watson - which I won here on your blog.
Tom wrote a fantastic book and I'm enjoying it immensely, but when I'm done I'll need more reading material! So, here I am being greedy and hoping I win a copy of "Tribes" as well!
PS - love the GiveList! Will be adding this to it: Asked for donations of winter scarves/gloves for my clients, but got some donations of yarn. So, I'm crocheting the scarves myself & will give them to as many of my clients as possible during the holidays (my fingers are tired, lol!). They will most likely be the only gifts they'll get.
Posted by: Cynthia | December 04, 2008 at 07:04 AM
Great idea, Beth! I appreciate all your recommendations (you should see the skyscraper on my night table - trying to fit in one parenting book for each 5 social media books!). I'd love to see a blog post about Tribes to hear what you took away from it, and perhaps highlighting examples of such "shifts" you've seen in real orgs/leadership, and any insights on how to make such a shift... Count me in for the book giveaway. And... Thanks for promoting Allison Fine's brilliant and creative ideas. Where does she find the time?!
Posted by: Lisa Colton | December 04, 2008 at 08:04 AM
i am so 19th century also
i have bookcases filled of books i have read and stacks more on the floor of every room...
Fahrenheit 451 made such an impact on me as a kid
a half century later and i still cant get enough
time to read everything on my wish list
but i keep trying
+++
as you mentioned money is tight
i donated my time to create a site for a local charity
my way of giving back
there are ways if you look
glad you are fighting the good fight and pointing out the obvious!
Posted by: frankie | December 04, 2008 at 08:39 AM
Thanks for the keep-the-social-media-books moving ideas. I can't donate my novels to the library until at least 2 of my friends have read them (guess I want to know that the books were enjoyed...selfish?). On vacations to Nantucket Island, my husband and I placed our just-read novels in the post office mail slots. Again, selfish (too much to carry home). Hope they were shared.
Am reading Tribes now and will pass it along on my blog when finished.
Thank you
Posted by: Cynthia Trevino | December 04, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Count me in for your drawing please!
Posted by: Whitney Anderson | December 04, 2008 at 09:10 AM