As we move towards the middle of the year, the world around us begins to transform. The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and the symphony of birds singing becomes louder and more vibrant. The days, which were once short and gloomy, now stretch out in front of us, inviting us to bask in the warm sunshine and enjoy the extended daylight hours. It also reminds us to appreciate the planet by finding new ways to celebrate Earth Day!

It’s a time of renewal, where nature awakens from its slumber, and everything around us feels fresh and new. It’s a reminder that change is constant, and with each season comes a new opportunity to embrace life in a different way. 

We all know about the traditional ways to celebrate Earth Day, such as planting trees, reducing the use of plastics, and participating in local clean-up efforts. These are all fantastic things to do, but our planet requires our attention more than just one day a year. That’s why we’ve put together a list of creative and innovative ways to celebrate Earth Day that have a lasting impact throughout the year.

By incorporating these simple yet effective practices into our daily routines or introducing them into our office environment, we can make a significant difference in preserving and protecting our planet.

Sustainable Ways to Celebrate Earth Day 

Small lifestyle changes can make a significant impact on our planet. Supporting local farmers and businesses, as well as investing in energy-efficient appliances, are excellent ways to reduce our environmental impact. Here are some simple Earth Day ideas we can change in our lives to help the planet!

1. Build a sanctuary for our flying friends.

Celebrating Earth Day and the beings in it by building bat, bird, or duck houses can have several specific benefits. Plus, once they are built and placed, animals will use them for years to come. 

Natural nesting sites for birds, ducks, and bats are becoming increasingly scarce due to human activities. By building and placing nesting boxes in your yard, you can help to mitigate this problem by providing suitable and safe habitats for these animals. This is especially important for certain bird species that are experiencing declines in population due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

It’s important to keep in mind that the placement and size of a nest may vary depending on the type of animal you’re creating it for.

Added bonus: birds and bats are natural predators of many insects, such as mosquitoes, flies, and beetles. By providing a habitat for these animals, you can reduce the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harmful to the environment and human health. This is particularly relevant for homeowners who want to control pests in their yards or garden without resorting to chemicals.

2. Increase your use of solar panels.

With so many solar panels on the market, it can be challenging to identify the ideal one that fits both your budget and purpose. We broke it down to the basics to help you find which solar panel will best fit your lifestyle. 

Monocrystalline panels are the most efficient solar panel as they have the highest power output per square foot. This also makes them generally more expensive than others. This may be an option for you if you have limited roof space and want to maximize your energy production. 

Polycrystalline panels are the less expensive alternative to monocrystalline. They are slightly less efficient but are still a good option for homeowners who want to generate their own solar power without breaking the bank.

Thin-film solar panels are the most affordable type of solar panel and are often used in commercial and utility-scale applications. They are less efficient than monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels but are more flexible and can be installed on a variety of surfaces, such as roofs, walls, and even windows.

Last but not least, portable solar panels! Small and lightweight, these solar panels can be used to charge small devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops. They are a great option for camping, hiking, or other outdoor activities and can be affordable for those who don’t want to invest in a full solar power system. The perfect solution for those on the go who are looking for ideas to celebrate Earth Day every day! 

Although not surprising, it’s worth noting that solar panels are commonly utilized for pool heaters and outdoor lighting in many households. Not only does this enable you to prolong your pool and patio usage into the evening, but it also helps decrease energy expenses. How amazing is that?

3. Share & support local causes with Charity Gift Cards.

If you’re someone who values supporting local farmers’ markets, businesses, and communities, you’re likely interested in contributing to the greater good. TisBest Charity Gift Cards are an excellent way to spread that goodness to others!

By gifting a TisBest Charity Gift Card, you’re giving the recipient the power to select which charity to support. It’s an incredible opportunity to enable someone to make a meaningful impact on a cause they care about. Additionally, TisBest Charity Gift Cards are an environmentally conscious option, as they offer both biodegradable physical cards and digital options, minimizing the waste and environmental impact associated with traditional gift-giving.

​​TisBest Charity Gift Cards offer a unique way for businesses to fulfill their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives by contributing to charities and causes that align with their values. Companies can purchase gift cards in bulk, distribute them to their employees or clients, and allow the recipient to choose the charity they want to support. 

This approach enables businesses to support various causes that resonate with their staff and customers, and the tax-deductible donation serves as an added bonus.

Moreover, TisBest Charity Gift Cards cater to various religious and personal preferences, making them an excellent gift option for any occasion. 

4. Create beautiful scenery by planting native plants.

Planting native plants and those that are beneficial for bees can have several important benefits for both the environment and our communities. 

Promote biodiversity with native plants adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, which makes them more resilient and better suited to thrive in their natural habitat. By planting native plants, we can help to support a healthy ecosystem. 

Bees and other pollinators benefit from a diverse range of plant species and are essential to our food supply, as they help to pollinate crops such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Unfortunately, bee populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and other factors. Planting bee-friendly plants can provide pollinators with a safe and reliable source of food and habitat, which can help to support their populations.

Native plants have deep roots that help to anchor the soil to prevent erosion, all while promoting soil health. They also provide organic matter to the soil as they decompose, which can improve soil health and fertility over time. This can benefit agriculture and gardening, as healthy soil is essential for growing healthy plants.

You can find what native plants are in your area with organizations like Native Plant Finder! All you have to do is enter your zip code, and voila! A list of plants, flowers, and grasses will populate your screen.

These plants are an important part of our local ecosystems and can help to enhance the natural beauty and cultural identity of our communities. Who doesn’t want to look at beautiful plants and flowers each day? 

5. Explore new areas by riding a bike.

Biking is a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint and positively impact the environment. Traditional modes of transportation, such as driving a car, contribute to releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. By choosing to bike instead, you can help to reduce air pollution and the harmful effects of climate change.

But it’s not just the environment that benefits from biking. It can also improve your physical health and mental well-being. Cycling is a low-impact exercise that can help you to build muscle, improve cardiovascular health, and burn calories. It’s a great way to get your heart pumping and your body moving without putting too much stress on your joints.

In addition to the physical benefits, biking can also be a fun and enjoyable activity. It allows you to explore your surroundings and discover new places that you might not have otherwise visited. And with the right equipment and safety precautions, it can be a safe and enjoyable activity for people of all ages and skill levels.

Go Forth and Celebrate! 

Luckily, with the increasing focus on sustainability and the need to protect our planet,  there are many ways that we can incorporate eco-friendly practices into our daily lives. Small changes over time can make the biggest impacts. 

The good news is that you don’t have to make big, drastic changes all at once to celebrate Earth Day. Small, incremental changes can add up over time and have a big impact. For example, you can start by using reusable bags instead of plastic bags when you go grocery shopping. Or, you could switch to a reusable water bottle instead of using disposable plastic bottles.

Another way to go green is to conserve energy in your home. This can be as simple as turning off lights and electronics when you’re not using them or using energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances. You can also reduce water waste by fixing leaky faucets and taking shorter showers.

When it comes to transportation, there are plenty of green options to consider. You could walk or bike instead of driving, take public transportation, or carpool with friends and coworkers. If you do need to drive, consider a hybrid or electric car to reduce your carbon footprint.

Finally, you can make eco-conscious choices regarding food and consumer products. Choose products that are sustainably sourced and packaged in eco-friendly materials. Buy locally-grown produce and support businesses that prioritize sustainability.

There are many ways we can incorporate Earth Day ideas into our daily lives. By making small, conscientious choices over time, we can make a big impact on the environment and create a more sustainable future for all. So why not start today and join the movement toward a cleaner, greener planet?

Support Earth Day with TisBest Charity Gift Cards

Let’s celebrate Earth Day by taking action and making small changes. This day is an exciting opportunity for us all to come together and create a brighter future for our planet. By taking responsibility for our impact on the environment, we can make a positive change every single day. It’s time to get inspired and think about how we can reduce our waste, lower our carbon footprint, and make a lasting impact.

One of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day, support the environment, and make a positive impact is by giving the gift of good with TisBest Charity Gift Cards. Your recipients can donate to a variety of non-profit organizations that support environmental causes, such as conservation, reforestation, and clean energy. With TisBest Charity Gift Cards, you’ll not only be giving a thoughtful gift, but you’ll also be making a significant difference in the world by supporting causes that align with your values.

TisBest Makes It Easy for Businesses to Support Earth Day, Too!

Businesses can integrate their social responsibility goals into their corporate culture with TisBest Charity Gift Cards. This is an incredible way for companies to support their employees’ philanthropic endeavors while also contributing to the betterment of society and the environment.

Earth Day is an annual reminder of the importance of taking care of our planet. We have the power to create a brighter future for ourselves and future generations. So let’s celebrate Earth Day by supporting great causes and doing good deeds with TisBest Charity Gift Cards! Together, we can make a difference and create a better world for us all.

The post Five Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day  appeared first on TisBest.

TisBest: Gift Cards, But Better

TisBest Charity Gift Cards are on a mission to redefine gifting and in doing so meaningfully connect individuals to important causes.

Unlike traditional gift cards, TisBest Charity Gift Cards replace the gift of more stuff with the gift of doing good, making the act of giving more meaningful, memorable, impactful, and sustainable. Instead of spending the value of their gift card on more material things, your gift recipient gets to spend their TisBest Charity Gift Card on the charity (or charities) of their choice. 

Similar (in a way) to the kind of gift cards you’re probably already familiar with, TisBest Charity Gift Cards are super easy to give—whether in person, via mail, or by email. They also allow you to choose how much you want to give while granting your gift recipient the ability to choose where to spend their gift card, but that’s where the similarities to traditional gift cards end. 

How They Work for You, The Giver

1. Visit the TisBest website to buy gift cards. 
2. Choose from our preset gift card personalization options or upload an image with your company’s logo and branding. 
3. Choose the dollar amount of the gift card — any amount from $10.
4. Choose from TisBest’s digital, printable, or compostable eco-plastic gift card options.
5. Select delivery options, delivery dates, and card quantities.
6. Personalize your gift card message for the recipient.

How They Work for Your Gift Card Recipient

Once your employee receives their TisBest Charity Gift Card, all they have to do is visit the TisBest website, where they can browse our catalog of accredited charities and choose which one(s) will receive their donation(s). 100% of their gift card’s value goes directly to the charities they choose.

Watch this video to learn more about how TisBest Charity Gift Cards work:

TisBest – How They Work from TisBest Philanthropy on Vimeo.

Why TisBest Charity Gift Cards The Best Tax-Deductible Employee Gifts

Versatile, unique & appropriate

TisBest Gift Cards are suitable for anyone and any giving occasion, from recognizing special holidays to expressing employee appreciation. Unlike holiday-specific gifts of foods and material goods, you don’t have to worry about your recipient’s potential dietary restrictions, cultural parameters, or food and fashion preferences. You don’t even have to worry about which kinds of causes your employees care about — TisBest lets them choose from our carefully selected list of top charities, or search from among more than 1.8 million accredited U.S-based charities. 

One of the biggest mistakes employers make when it comes to employee gifts is going the generic gift route. Sure, company swag can be great for informal occasions. But when recognizing a star employee’s contributions or commemorating milestones, your gift should be something that helps them to feel good about, well, themselves!

Serious feel-good factor 

The act of charitable giving makes people feel good. In the words of Maya Angelou:

“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

Meaningful and personal

TisBest Gift Cards can be personalized to reflect your company’s brand, acknowledge a special day, or reflect your employee’s star qualities. You choose the gift card image and written message. Best of all, your employee gets to choose which charity or charities will receive the donation (and 100% of the gift card’s value goes directly to their chosen charity!). 

Sustainable gifts from responsible brands

The gifts you give are a reflection of you and your brand. Gifts that are generic or inadvertently tone-deaf can come across as being thoughtless, impersonal, or insensitive. Gifts that do good demonstrate corporate responsibility and a heart for things that matter to your people. The power of charitable giving is that instead of creating more stuff, you and your recipient are generating goodwill and making a difference. 

TisBest Charity Gift Cards are tax-deductible 

TisBest Charity Gift cards are also the best tax-deductible employee gifts because not only are they typically 100% tax-deductible for you, the buyer, but they also don’t affect your gift recipient’s income taxes — unlike most other types of employee gifts, which can be taxable for you, and, depending on their value, can incur income tax implications for the employee. 

When you buy TisBest charity gift cards, you‘re making a charitable donation, so you’ll receive a receipt for the amount you paid as a charitable donation to TisBest Philanthropy (an IRS approved 501(c)(3) charity under EIN 20-8630809) to submit with your corporate tax return. 

So, to Summarize: 

TisBest Charity Gift Cards are the best tax-deductible employee gifts because they: 

• Are easy to give in person, by email, or via standard mail.
• Deliver a “feel-good factor” for you, the giver, as well as for your employee, who can use them to support their favorite causes.
• Are a versatile and unique gift option for any person and any occasion.
• Help you and your company align with your values, reinforcing your reputation for sustainability and doing good.
• Deliver 100% of each gift card’s value directly to the charity (or charities) your TisBest Charity Gift Card recipient chooses to support. 
• Make charitable giving easy and enjoyable.
• Are sustainable, replacing the waste that results from material gifts with charitable giving that helps the people, animals and organizations that need it most.
• Are completely tax-deductible for you and don’t impact your gift recipient’s income taxes.

Shop Now for Tax-Deductible Employee Gifts That Do Good!

Thank you for choosing to make employee gift-giving an act of doing good in the world! You and your gift recipients will enjoy the feeling that comes from the act of charitable giving. 

If you’re seeking to purchase individual gift cards, start here.
If you’re interested in purchasing branded gift cards in bulk and learning more about our other business gifting solutions, including branded gift card redemption options, business gifts and trade show options, start here.

The post Best Tax-Deductible Employee Gifts That Do Good appeared first on TisBest.

With Giving Tuesday occurring this week, did you know that there are 1.6 million tax-exempt organizations in the United States?
That number represents a lot of people striving to create a better world. From Civil Rights charities, organizations that help the homeless population, faith-based nonprofits, environmental initiatives, and more, there is no shortage of 501(c)(3) nonprofits to which Americans can donate their money and time. 
In fact, Americans wrote off $449.64 billion in charitable donations in 2019. Wow! 

Where Are You Donating This Giving Tuesday?

With Giving Tuesday and the end of the year approaching quickly, you’re likely considering a charitable donation toward an organization you care about. Or, perhaps you’re new to charitable giving and hoping to discover which nonprofits best reflect your individual moral compass.
With so many options in the United States, it’s wise to ask several important questions before donating money to a charitable organization.
If you need help deciding where to donate, TisBest is here to help with some decision criteria.

1. How Far Will My Giving Tuesday Dollar Go?

Healthy charities demonstrate transparency. You should be able to find information on an organization’s website regarding all costs and financials from each fiscal year. If you can’t find it online, ask for it.
Keep in mind that all nonprofit organizations have overhead costs. This may include salaries for employees, rent and insurance on office space, and more. That being said, the charity you donate to hopefully strives to keep their overhead costs low in order to spend more funds on their cause.
Before donating, find out how far your dollar will go by researching or asking what percent of each dollar goes toward overhead costs. Organizations that have more financial efficiency and sustainability are more likely to achieve their mission in the long run. 

2. Can My Giving Tuesday Donation be a Tax Deduction, and Does That Matter to Me?

There are lots of tax exempt charities out there, as we mentioned above. But let’s unpack the deductible type versus organizations to which donations do not qualify for tax deductions. How the organization is registered with the IRS and whether a donation can possibly result in a tax write-off are separate questions from whether your individual taxes will benefit from the donation. Here is a great breakdown on what deduction level it takes to itemize. Bottom line: even if the charity qualifies as deductible, everyone doesn’t benefit from writing off their charitable donations.

“Giving Tuesday” does not have to mean “Tax-deductible Tuesday”

When it comes to charitable donations qualifying for deductions, often this tax deductible designation is used as a litmus test for whether a charity is legitimate. And most of the charity listings on the internet will rely on the IRS 501c3 designation to source their list. There are a handful of reasons why some legitimate nonprofits are not included. 
For example, there are younger or smaller charities out there with lower overhead — think “startup scrappy” — which may be very impactful but simply do not have 501c3 status yet. In fact, when the IRS was restructured in 2017 it caused long delays for even those nonprofits that had filed for their federal status. 
In other cases, entirely legitimate, tax exempt charity organizations could have different IRS designation types like a 501c4, which indicates the donation is not deductible. There are over 150,000 501c4 nonprofits that often strive to bring systemic impact on a major issue you care about through political channels like lobbying. 

Helpful Resources for Charitable Tax Deductions

However, if you are considering this donation part of your annual income tax strategy, you should confirm before donating whether or not donations to an organization are tax deductible. If you aren’t sure, check the charity’s website for its Employer Identification Number (EIN) number and look it up on Charity Navigator to confirm the status.
And oftentimes, major nonprofit organizations will have separate arms or funds that are not 501c3. That’s also something to be aware of as you make your donation. Charity Navigator has compiled an additional list of considerations regarding the tax benefits of giving here.

3. What is the Underlying Issue and Does the Charity’s Mission Address it?

Most, if not all, charities are well-intentioned. 
However, as explained in the book When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, many charities do more harm than good by failing to consider the complexities of the larger issue in their efforts. 
A tangible example of good intentions actually hurting a local economy is told in the story of a Rwandan egg farmer who relied on his daily egg sales for income. When a well-meaning American church began sending free eggs to the community, the farmer was no longer able to make a living. The demand for his supply had disappeared overnight. 
Likewise, the Netflix film Poverty, Inc. examines problems within the multibillion-dollar poverty industry and urges viewers to ask how they may be part of the problem. It talks about having a mind for the poor versus just having a heart for the poor. Check out the trailer for this documentary.
With regards to complex foreign issues in particular, novelist Teju Cole eloquently personifies this controversial sentiment in a 2012 Atlantic article: 

“His good heart does not always allow him to think constellationally. He does not connect the dots or see the patterns of power behind the isolated “disasters.” All he sees are hungry mouths, and he, in his own advocacy-by-journalism way, is putting food in those mouths as fast as he can. All he sees is need, and he sees no need to reason out the need for the need.”

Diligence is the Key

But many charities truly do strive to improve systemic issues, empower people, and help them recognize their inherent dignity. This is why donors must critically examine the effect of a nonprofit’s work in a community. Supporting an organization certainly feels good — but the impact always extends far beyond that feeling. Dig in and do the research. Make sure the organization’s mission is one you believe in. As Cole puts it, ”If we are going to interfere in the lives of others, a little due diligence is a minimum requirement.”

4. What Are This Charity’s Accomplishments and Long-term Goals?

Before making a contribution, find out what milestones the nonprofit in question has already reached in its mission and what long-lasting impact it plans to make in the world. Questions to ask may include:

• What results have you already seen through your efforts?
• What are the organization’s goals for the next year, five years, and ten years? 
• Do you have a plan in place to accomplish those goals?
• What kind of results will my donation help with?
• How do you report progress to supporters and donors?

This will give you insight as to whether or not this charity is a good fit for your donation. If they can’t communicate a defined, actionable plan, it may not be worth partnering with financially. 

5. What Is This Organization’s Charity Navigator Score?

Charity Navigator is a helpful tool that uses a Rating Methodology on all nonprofits in the United States.
The goal of Charity Navigator’s system is to help generous people like yourself donate with confidence to effective and transparent organizations. 
You can search for any charity on the website to see its score, discover new organizations by topic, view Top Ten lists, and more.
Curious about which charities have perfect scores? Here are just a few of them:

All Hands and Hearts Smart Response

Mission: All Hands and Hearts effectively and efficiently addresses the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters. We communicate directly with local leaders and community members and then deploy our unique model of engaging volunteers to enable direct impact, helping to build safer, more resilient schools, homes, and infrastructure.
Through community and volunteer engagement, we focus on helping families recover faster after natural disasters using our Smart Response strategy. In doing so, we strengthen both our volunteers and the communities in which we serve.
Visit the website | See Charity Navigator Score

Equal Justice Initiative

Mission: EJI is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
Visit the website | See Charity Navigator Score

WildAid

Mission: WildAid’s mission is to end the illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes. WildAid works to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products and to promote energy conservation, via global public awareness campaigns. WildAid also strives to create model field conservation programs and to strengthen marine protected areas around the world.
Visit the website | See Charity Navigator Score

ProPublica

Mission: Founded in 2007, ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Our work focuses exclusively on truly important stories, stories with “moral force.” We do this by producing journalism that shines a light on exploitation of the weak by the strong and on the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them. In the best traditions of American journalism in the public service, we seek to stimulate positive change. We uncover unsavory practices in order to stimulate reform. We do this in an entirely non-partisan and non-ideological manner, adhering to the strictest standards of journalistic impartiality.
Visit the website | See Charity Navigator Score

Ready to Create a Better World?

Of the millions of organizations, which ones resonate with you? 
By asking the right questions and finding an organization that is the right fit for your values, you’ll feel the true impact of partnering with a world-changing charity. 
Finally, to truly help create a better world, we encourage you to consider a lifetime of giving — not just a once-a-year donation.

See the Charities TisBest Partners With

The post Giving Tuesday: 5 Questions to Ask Before Donating appeared first on TisBest.

If gift-giving is an important part of your client connection strategy, you might give some thought to the different times you can reach out to your clients.  The year-end holiday season is the go-to time of year for most FAs to reach their clients, but you might consider other times and life events, too.  Sometimes being a bit different helps you stand out from the crowd.

1. Holiday (Christmas / Hanukkah) greetings
Most businesses wait for the holidays to send their greetings. After all, it is the natural time of year to tell your clients how much you appreciate their business. For many people, it’s just the right time of year for gift-giving.  Just be aware that most businesses – from dry cleaners to realtors – wait until the holidays for their gift-giving, too, and that may mean competition for your message.

2. Birthday greetings
A substantial number of our FA customers use their clients’ birthdays as a trigger for an annual greeting.  FAs tell us that for them, a birthday is a perfect time for a greeting and meaningful gift. Your message may have some competition, but the clutter is certainly less than during the holidays. A nice side benefit is that you can spread your “thank you” budget across the entire year rather than taking one big hit at year-end.

3. Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a perfectly natural time to say, well,  “Thanks!”  Thanks for your business, for your loyalty, for your confidence in our firm. Most businesses start thinking about their gift-giving at Thanksgiving. But for those who are organized, Thanksgiving is an ideal time to convey that message of thankfulness and gratitude (and to be the first-holiday gift to arrive).

4. Anniversary of a business relationship
You work hard to obtain new clients, and just as hard (if not harder) to keep them. The anniversary of your business relationship is worth celebrating.  Giving a gift at this time puts the focus on your client and lets them know you appreciate them and their business.  You’ll have less messaging competition, and your gifting will also get spread out over 12 months.

5. Prosperous New Year
There’s nothing more invigorating than looking ahead to the New Year.  Consider giving your client gifts at the beginning of the New Year rather than at the end of the one that’s wrapping up. Now your message can focus on progress and prosperity in the next twelve months.

Regardless of the timing of your gift, you want it to be meaningful to your clients. A gift of charity is a meaningful gift for many people, especially your clients who already have what they need (and most of what they want) and for whom any gift of “stuff” is probably something they could purchase for themselves if they really wanted it.

A TisBest Charity Gift Card offers your client an opportunity to support the charity of their choosing with your money.   And who doesn’t enjoy giving away other peoples’ money?  Learn more at https://www.tisbest.org/business-solutions/financial-advisors/.

The post 5 Ways Financial Advisors Can Use Charity Gift Cards appeared first on TisBest.

1. Use a photo
Recently I snapped a great photo of my daughter while she was doing her homework… inside a box. I knew her teacher would find it as hilariously adorable as I did! I used the free online photo editor ribbet.com to crop the image to the right size (974 x 606 pixels) and then uploaded it during the TisBest order process to create this custom card design.

2. Use an assignment
My kids have always loved art class. Here I snapped a photo of a masterpiece my youngest created for an assignment, and then uploaded it to create a custom charity gift card. The bright colors turn this card into a beautiful and truly unique gift!

3. Use a personal message
I love the idea of interviewing your child about their school year experience. What is their favorite memory? What do they like best about their teacher? Use their response to craft a personal message that will be printed on the greeting card portion of your charity gift card.

I think most of us believe on some level that teachers are single-handedly capable of changing the world. At least in our little family, my daughters have both grown by enormous leaps and bounds thanks to the influence of their teachers. My girls, at least, will never be the same… and I have a sneaking suspicion that the hundreds of students these teachers will work with during their careers will also be changed for the better.
Charity gift cards send an important and encouraging message to your child’s teacher. What you do matters, this gift says. You make a difference every single day, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.  
Visit www.tisbest.org and click Buy A Gift Card to start creating your gift!
 

Karli Larson is the Education & Charities Manager for TisBest.
Connect with her on Twitter @KAnneTweets

The post 3 Adorable DIY Teacher Gift Ideas appeared first on TisBest.

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, it’s a good time to think about love in its many forms. I love my children, my partner, my extended family. I love my friends and my neighbors and my community. How do I show this love? What is it that I do to “pay it forward,” using the love I feel as a starting point for a ripple effect of good things? The way my love is enacted changes depending on the person or situation, but the intention is the same each time. I want to leave the things, the people, and the places I love better than when I found them. I want my love to change things for the better, in all cases. This could sound egotistical, but it isn’t, not really. After all, to know we are loved is life-altering and life-affirming. It’s powerful. It just is.

Part of my job is to understand the reasons behind and the motivation for giving a charity gift card as a gift, rather than the alternative (whatever that may be). One of the most common reasons people seem to choose giving a charity gift card is that they want their gift recipient to have the experience of doing something amazing. While many of our TisBest Charity Gift Cards end up lovingly paired with other, more conventional gifts of “stuff,” the overwhelming consensus in our gift card purchasers is that they want their colleagues, friends and loved ones to have that “warm glow” feeling of doing something good in the world. Even when given to a boss, an acquaintance or a perfect stranger, the desire to give this gift of goodness is a perfect example of love in action. Call it fate, destiny or kismet, the conclusion here is clear: Valentine’s Day and TisBest Charity Gift Cards were made for each other.

This Valentine’s Day, try adding a charity gift card to your bouquet of long-stem roses or box of chocolates. Tuck it in a card. Slip it under a pillow. Pop one in the mail and send this little dose of goodness and love to someone far away. Show the people in your life how your love for them can start a chain reaction. Together, you will change the world.

Design and order your own charity gift card now at www.tisbest.org
Remember: Email and print-at-home cards are available instantly!

The post Love in action: A Valentine's Day charity gift appeared first on TisBest.

The post Be the good appeared first on TisBest.

Find the perfect picture
Take a peek through your photos and find one that would be especially meaningful. How about a picture of a beloved pet for your child’s December birthday, or a fun memory from that trip you took with your best friend a few years ago? Make your gift truly impactful by sharing an image that reminds your December birthday how much they mean to you, and how happy you are to have them in your life.

Create a charity gift card
With Hanukkah and Christmas right around the corner, your December birthday is likely soon to be inundated with gifts of stuff. Do they really need one more travel mug, board game, or scented candle? Why not make your birthday gift something they will enjoy and remember for years to come: the experience of supporting their favorite charities with a TisBest Charity Gift Card. Make sure you’ve got that perfect picture handy- it’s going on the card!

• Go to www.tisbest.org and click the red Buy Gift Cards button
• Next, click Upload My Own Image
• Click Browse or Choose File to select the image from your computer (pro tip: make sure your image is horizontal/landscape and is a .jpg file that is less than 1 mb in size)
• Once you’ve selected the image form your computer, click Upload Image
• If you like the way your image appears on the gift card, proceed with your order by selecting the “Email Gift Card to Recipient” delivery option. Don’t forget to add a special birthday message!

Select the email delivery date
We can deliver your charity gift card in an email immediately, or on a future date. For delivery on the recipient’s birthday, simply input that date. Once you’ve completed the checkout process, there’s nothing more you need to do. We’ll automatically deliver the gift card in an email on their birthday. Your recipient will receive a beautiful image of the gift card you created, along with your special message and instructions for using their charity gift card.
Voila! Your December birthday will now experience the joy of supporting a charity that is important to them with their charity gift card. They will remember your gift- and your generosity- for a very long time.

• How do charity gift cards work? Click here to learn more
• Ready to start your order? Go to www.tisbest.org

The post December birthday? This gift makes it special. appeared first on TisBest.

AeJung, Social Media & Marketing Intern, creates a brownie plan-of-attack.

Janice, Social Media & Marketing Intern, displaying brownie follow-through.

We felt great about spending an afternoon for such an amazing cause, and a truly worthy organization!

The post Our Day of Service at YouthCare appeared first on TisBest.

For every hundred dollars spent on prints in her Etsy store, Slight Clutter Photography is including $10 worth of charitable giving in the form of a Charity Gift Card. The best part is that the cards are printed with a limited edition photograph, something you can’t get anywhere else!

Katya creates atmospheric and enchanting images of nature that evoke the stillness and solitude of an early morning fog lifting from a quiet forest. The gorgeous, golden trees and field on her limited edition cards are striking.  This is a great way to say “thank you” for supporting independent artists, and an excellent opportunity to get people giving to charity!

Check out Katya’s post on why Charity Gift Cards were her top pick for her customers. And look at the Slight Clutter Photography gallery–what beautiful photos! Perhaps we need one for the TisBest office…

Charity Gift Cards aren’t just for birthdays and holidays.  What creative ways have you used donation gifts?  Send us a note at info@tisbest.org—we’re eager to hear your story!

The post Great Ideas for Giving: Limited Edition Charity Gift Cards! appeared first on TisBest.