Charitable giving has changed a lot in the past few years and the social web has been a big factor in that change. Where we once put coins in a collection box, there are now a plethora of ways you can help make a difference online.
One area of real growth is transaction-based giving, such as the “one for one” model, in which a consumer buys a product and someone less fortunate receives the same product for free. It’s been pioneered successfully by companies like TOMS Shoes and the OLPC organization, and has inspired many similar projects.
We’ve highlighted 10 great online “buy one give one” projects, but there are plenty more out there. Let us know about any we might have missed in the comments below and the next time you need a new pair of shoes, a flashlight or even a pair of glasses, why not consider buying one and giving one to someone less fortunate than yourself.
1. BoGoLight
You can buy one of the flashlights and another will be donated on your behalf to someone in need. You can choose where your donated light goes from a variety of charities and causes, including projects promoting literacy, schools, women’s empowerment and safety, emergency relief, and more.
2. One World Futbol Project
The idea for the ball was thought up by Tim Jahnigen, an inventor and music producer, after he saw footage of Darfur refugees playing soccer with a homemade “ball.” The development was funded by Sting.
Balls have so far been distributed in Rwanda, South Africa and Iraq while the Sager Family Foundation purchased 10,000 balls to be sent to Haiti.
3. Baby Teresa
Baby Teresa sells onesies on a buy one donate one basis, the project will ensure the second one gets to a baby in need.
Donations have so far gone out to Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Australia (), Tasmania, the Philippines and Jordan. The founders’ hope to clothe a baby in every country in the world.
4. Blanket America
For every product sold, the same or similar product is donated to individuals and organizations in need. As the name might suggest, the giving is primarily domestic, helping to bring comfort to those in poverty in the U.S. The project has also, however, carried out blanket distributions in Haiti.
5. Warby Parker
For every pair of $95 prescription glasses a consumer buys online, the company gives a pair to someone in need, giving that individual the opportunity to read, to work and live a fuller life.
Along with charity partner RestoringVision.org, Warby Parker’s “give a pair” glasses have so far been distributed across 24 countries in Latin America, Africa, South Asia and the U.S.
6. Happy Blankie
After purchase, you can choose where you’d like the other blanket to go. Destinations can be as far afield as Uganda or Thailand, or closer to home in an American city.
7. Whitten Grey
With a Whitten Grey purchase you’ll receive a code which you can enter on the site, decide which color dress you’d like to send, which country it should go to and even write a note to the girl that gets the dress.
8. One Million Lights
You can simply donate a light, but there’s also a buy one donate one option where you can purchase one of the durable lights for yourself and one will be given to a child or family in need.
The project is geographically far-reaching and has distributed lights in Haiti, Peru, Nicaragua, India, Ethiopia, and Kenya, among other countries.
9. FIGS
In many parts of Africa, children cannot go to school if they don’t have a proper uniform, so by buying a FIGS tie, you can give a child a chance to get an education. The uniforms are distributed in Eastern Africa, across over 100 schools within Kenya and Tanzania.
10. Roma Boots
The company’s “one for one” concept sends a pair of rubber boots to a child living in poverty for every pair bought. The goal is to reach 5,000 street children and orphans this winter and 100,000 children by 2012; initial efforts target Eastern Europe.
BONUS: B1G1
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