Perhaps your holiday list contains a group of these people – folks who have everything (or two of everything!).  This afternoon I opened an e-mail from the American Red Cross, one of the organizations TCS supports. They have a great idea that I’d like to share.

The American Red Cross offers an online holiday gift-giving catalog (see www.redcross.org/gifts ). For example, for a monetary donation, they’ll send you a free logo-printed gift, such as a water bottle, messenger bag, or emergency first-aid kit.

 

Or, you can also make an impact by making a donation in another person’s name.

 

You can designate your donation for a service that the Red Cross provides, or to purchase an item that someone needs. For example, your donation can go toward providing a phone card to a deployed soldier, a hot meal to a disaster victim, or support for police, fire, and National Guard first responders.

 

With your donation, you receive a free holiday greeting card to let your gift recipient know that you’ve made the donation in their name.

 

Best of all, you can do all of this online and know that you're helping others at the same time.

 

So... what about -your- organization?  Could you (or do you) offer similar gift-giving opportunities of products and services that promote your cause and help others?

 

What about offering gift memberships or educational scholarships?

 

How about selling products or apparel with your company logo, educational resources (like books, DVDs, etc.) or gift certificates to your educational workshops?

 

Using WebSuite2™, you can build an online catalog to offer gift ideas and facilitate buying opportunities.  You can then promote your offering by broadcasting personalized E-Bulletins.

 

With retailers beginning to ship holiday catalogs, there's no time like the present to get the word out to your members too. 

 

Everyone has the 'impossible-to-buy-for' people on their holiday shopping list.  Why not help them and help your organization at the same time?