These Gift Cards are an Innovative Way to Give to the Homeless
Charlotte Joyce Kidd — August 29, 2015 — Social Good
References: handup.org & venturebeat
San Francisco organization HandUp has invented a more efficient way to donate to the homeless of the city through the use of philanthropic gift cards.
Many people hesitate to give money to the homeless people they pass on the street because they are concerned that they don't know what the money will go towards, or whether it will really help in a productive manner. HandUp gift cards, available in denominations of $25, can be used to connect to resources like healthcare and lodging and to buy food and other essentials at Project Homeless Connect.
This is HandUp's second philanthropic gift project. Their first successful campaign allowed homeless people to post goals like paying first month's rent on an apartment or going to a dental appointment and request funding to meet them in a Kickstarter-like model of crowd funding.
Many people hesitate to give money to the homeless people they pass on the street because they are concerned that they don't know what the money will go towards, or whether it will really help in a productive manner. HandUp gift cards, available in denominations of $25, can be used to connect to resources like healthcare and lodging and to buy food and other essentials at Project Homeless Connect.
This is HandUp's second philanthropic gift project. Their first successful campaign allowed homeless people to post goals like paying first month's rent on an apartment or going to a dental appointment and request funding to meet them in a Kickstarter-like model of crowd funding.
Trend Themes
1. Philanthropic Gift Cards - Philanthropic gift cards offer an innovative solution to donate to the homeless while ensuring the money is used effectively.
2. Crowdfunding for Homeless Services - Crowdfunding for homeless services creates a model of sustainable funding for charities and nonprofit organizations supporting the homeless.
3. Digital Gifts for Social Good - Digital gifts for social good provide a novel way of donating and supporting nonprofit organizations working for social causes.
Industry Implications
1. Nonprofit - Nonprofits can leverage philanthropic gift cards to create a sustainable funding source and empower donors to contribute to social causes directly.
2. Crowdfunding - Crowdfunding platforms can use the success of HandUp's campaign to introduce new crowdfunding models for supporting homeless services and charity organizations.
3. Gift Card - Gift card companies can partner with nonprofit organizations to offer philanthropic gift cards and create a new revenue stream while promoting social good.
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