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16th Dec 2022

5 any-budget ways to support your favourite charity this Christmas

Ann Cronin

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Here are some ways to give back this Christmas…

With everyone feeling the pinch of inflation this year, many of us are going into the festive season with more caution.

But even in the current climate, research has shown that 86% of Irish adults will definitely or probably make a charitable donation of money, time or goods this December.*

There are so many Irish charities doing such incredible work in the lead-up to Christmas and even the smallest donations can make a huge difference at this time of year. With that in mind, we’ve teamed up with PayPal to put together just some of the easiest ways to support a charity you care about, whatever your budget.

Here are some simple ways to show your support…

Give money to a charity you care about

The quickest way to support a charity or cause is to make a donation. However big or small your contribution is, it’s sure to make a big difference.

For many charities, Christmas is the most important time of year for fundraising. If you want to do your bit and support some Irish charities this year, the PayPal Giving Fund* is a quick and simple way to support a whole host of brilliant charities online, at the touch of a button.

Any charity enrolled with the PayPal Giving Fund will be listed in the app or on PayPal’s fundraising hub, meaning you can discover and support important causes really quickly and easily. You can give your donation via PayPal, who’ll then provide you with a receipt before granting the funds to your selected charity. Ideal!

One of the big benefits of donating this way is that PayPal covers your transaction fees when you give in the app or on their website, meaning your donation goes further in supporting those who need it.

Donate your time

If you’re not able to donate money this Christmas, you can still support a cause you care about through volunteering.

Christmas can be the busiest time of the year for some charities, meaning there might be non-profits in your local area that could benefit from some extra volunteers. The likes of soup kitchens, food banks and homelessness charities often see a rise in demand at this time of year, meaning they could benefit from the extra resources.

Most charities increase their fundraising activities in the build-up to Christmas too, so the likes of bucket-shakers or bag-packers could be needed to help raise vital funds.

Donate items you don’t need

In lieu of donating money, you might be able to donate items you don’t need anymore to support a good cause.

Start by clearing out your wardrobe or cupboards for any items that are in good shape, but are no longer of value to you. Gathering any clothes or items you don’t need anymore and donating them to your local charity shop is a completely free way to give back, but could make a huge difference to an organisation’s fundraising.

Similarly, many food banks and homelessness charities do regular donation drives for the likes of food, toiletries, Christmas toys, blankets and warm clothes, giving you another opportunity to support a cause you care about.

Give back as you shop

Between festive food shops and gift-hunting, you’re likely going to be spending a lot of time scrolling and shopping online this year. But did you know there’s a very easy and affordable way to support a good cause every time you shop?

PayPal has a very handy micro-donation feature that makes donating to charity really simple and affordable this Christmas. Through the PayPal app, you can easily give a microdonation of just €1 to support your favourite charity each time you check out online with PayPal.

All you need to do is go to the PayPal app or website, search for the charity you want to support and click the heart icon on their profile. Once you’ve chosen your favourite charity, selecting the donation checkbox will give you the option to make a micro-donation of €1 when you pay with PayPal.

Every little bit helps, so small micro-donations like these are an easy way for people to give what they can in small, manageable instalments.

Give donations instead of gifts

If you’d like your gifts to hold a bit more meaning this year, it could be an idea to give a donation to a worthy cause in lieu of a Christmas present. Many organisations have gifting options available on their websites, like the Saint Vincent De Paul Gift of Choice voucher, which uses your donation to buy a child or family a much-needed Christmas present.

This is a particularly good option if you have a friend or family member who’s passionate about a particular charity, doubling as a gift that’s really personal but also helps a worthy cause.

Purchase and give with purpose this festive season. Learn more about the ways you can give back at PayPal.com

*Charities Regulator December 2022

* Your donation will be made to PayPal Giving Fund Ireland, a registered charity (No. 20205692). PayPal Giving Fund will email you a donation receipt with a link to add Gift Aid. Thanks to PayPal’s support, PayPal Giving Fund passes on 100% of donations it collects [on this site] to worthy causes. Charities should enrol with PayPal Giving Fund to receive donations we collect to benefit them, which are paid out on a monthly basis. PayPal Giving Fund retains ultimate discretion over all donations it receives and, in rare cases, may redirect them if a charity doesn’t meet legal or other eligibility requirements. For more information, please see PayPal Giving Fund’s  Charity Certification Policy  and  Donation Delivery Policy.

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