Give Thanks, GiveBack

As we approach the holiday season, amidst the chaos, I tend to reflect about the things I’m thankful for, the things I can’t wait to put behind me and the things I’m looking forward to in the new year.

We recently connected with the folks at a new site called GiveBack.org that helps anyone set up their own personal giving foundation and organizes everything in one place.

Here’s a quick video about how it works:

The site was founded by Stephen Paletta who won $1 million dollars on the TV show Oprah’s Big Give in 2008 and was charged to give it away. (No pressure there, eh?) As a result of this process,  he and his team created an easy way for ANYONE to set up their own charitable giving foundation.  They’ve developed a really simple, organized (& free) was to manage your charitable giving whatever the level.

• You create your ‘foundation’ easily by registering via Facebook Connect or by name and email.
• You select and  ‘follow’ the charities that you’re interested in by dragging them into your Charity ‘tool bar’.
• Then, whenever you desire, you can make a donation to any officially recognized U.S. charity.
• Then, at the end of the year, they provide one tax deduction document for you to use.  (Ah, a nice change from scrounging for receipts in my make-shift filing system at home.)

What I really love is that 100% of your donation goes to the charity of your choice.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO START YOUR ACCOUNT TODAY?

Sorry to ‘shout’ but we’re coming up on the dreaded Black Friday and Cyber-Monday and you may be planning in to partake in a little online shopping.

If so, why not do it from your GiveBack account via to the hundreds of retailers on GiveBack’s shopping site.  This way, you get your purchase anyway but you also get up to 15% of your purchase back into your GiveBack foundation so that you can donate it.  FTW!

To get some first-hand accounts, check out what Isabel Kallman from Alpha Mom, Gabrielle Blair from Design Mom, Liz Gumbinner from Mom 101 and Allison Worthington from Blissfully Domestic wrote about their recent experience with GiveBack.

So, why not sign up now (they’ll even put $5 in your account to get you started) and post a comment letting us know that you registered.  Now, through December 31, 2010, GiveBack will be selecting one account per day to match the donations up to $100.  Since they just got started at the beginning of the month, I’d say your odds are pretty good (for now) so what are you waiting for? 

Give thanks and GiveBack.

Have you opened your personal giving foundation yet?