donation announcement!
I've been thinking about this for a while now, and have decided to really go ahead and implement it: in every batch of Anti-Factory clothing, I want to donate the proceeds from at least one item to a charitable organization. It will be a regular thing and something I feel strongly about. I know other DIYers do this, and I feel compelled to put more of my money where my mouth is! I already donate to various nonprofits out of my own pocket, like arts organizations here in SF, Amnesty International, NARAL, etc. but wanted to specifically earmark funds from Anti-Factory so that it implicates my customers as well, and gets them used to the idea of contributing.
Given this, I wanted to solicit some opinions/suggestions for doing this...like, would it be better to have a single individual item up where 100% of proceeds of it go to an organization, or should I just say a flat % of each item gets donated? Does it really matter HOW I do it, as long as I just do it? What other makers do you know who do this?
Some organizations off the top of my head: UNICEF (specifically now for Pakistan earthquake relief), Sweatshop Watch, Global Exchange, the San Francisco Food Bank, etc.
7 Comments:
I always think local donations are a good thing although it's a toss up with global issues... inspiring.
i think it's an awesome idea. something i've been wanting to do recently also with my shop. i think it's good to just go ahead and take a percentage of everything, probably easier to manage also.
xo melissa-april fool
hi faythe, i think you have a point about the "local" thing...i mean, when you think about it, the larger organizations get so much $$ in donations compared to scrappy little local guys. a donation to a smaller place could go a much longer way.
and thanks for the outright donation suggestion, melissa--you're right, it may be better than having the "UNICEF Flora Schoolgirl" top for sale ;p har har!
something else i've been thinking of is helping fund someone's college education overseas. a friend of mine has been sending a girl to high school in africa and it really impressed me--the fact of making a difference on such a personal level...
ditto all of the above...i just shy away from donating to united way (i.e., red cross) agencies for various reasons (big salaries at the top for one)...i especially like the idea of local donations and college funds...
stephanie, i watched oprah a while back (occassional guilty pleasure) and brad pitt was on talking about how you can send a kid in africa to college for i think $30/month. it was crazy. but of course oprah's website is terrible and provides no actual resources for finding the info, so if anyone knows of this organization please clue me in.
i agree about local organizations too. when we move to chaple hill, nc i plan on seeking out some local stuff there.
odd note: when in chapel hill last week all of the men asking for change on the streets wore reflective vests! i wonder if it's a local law?!
xo-melissa
Hi, I think you should take a percentage off of your items. What about peta??
-Jenilee
i'd do every item, specially if you want to involve all your customers, and i agree that donating to local issues is more immediat, managible, and avoids alot of red tape
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