The Ultimate Gift Certificate

Why kiva gift certificates are the ultimate gift: it’s giving twice.

1. Give a $25 gift certificate.
2. The recipient goes to kiva.org and uses it to lend the $25 to a micro-entrepreneur in the third world.
3. He watches the business grow through online updates. In a few months, the loan is repaid.
4. The recipient can now either withdraw the $25 or re-loan it. He gets $25 or rinse/repeat. But in the meantime, you’ve both helped change others’ lives.

Can you think of another gift that does that? You could wander through a department store looking for something he doesn’t have, or get yet another Target gift card. I’m merely suggesting that this might be more meaningful, thoughtful, and helpful all around.

On charitable giving, here’s how I overcame the fear of doing it badly.