Break the 10 Percent Giving Record with Year-End Giving Tips from the World Vision Gift Catalog

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Dec 17, 2014, 08:00 ET

SEATTLE, Dec. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- After several years of financial uncertainty Americans are feeling charitable again: Giving Tuesday had a record-number of participating organizations, and charities saw more money in 2013 than before the 2007 recession.¹

Last year, 30 percent of annual giving occurred in the month of December, and 10 percent of it came through in the last three days of the year.² To break last year's record, the World Vision Gift Catalog – an annual assortment of hundreds of different gifts that better the lives of children, women and communities in need in the U.S. and around the world – offers five tips for year-end giving:

Combine Holiday Shopping with Year-End Giving – double your dollars' worth by purchasing holiday gifts that also give back to those in need. All gifts through the World Vision Gift Catalog are tax-deductible, including handcrafted gifts such as fair trade jewelry, scarves and coffee sets, less the fair market value.
Turn your Buyer Power into a Superpower – holiday shoppers have billions of dollars' worth in buying power that impacts the world each year, whether for good or for evil. Turn buying power into a superpower by setting aside a portion of your holiday budget for charitable giving.
Double-Check Your Charity – since donations are only deductible when they're made to IRS-qualified charitable organizations, look for an IRS letter on the charity's website or research the organization's ratings on websites like Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.com).
Make it a Family Affair – teach kids about the importance of giving by having them pick out their own organization or project to support. Athletes might choose to give soccer balls to kids who have never had a real ball to play with, while avid readers might give to their local library.
Give by December 31 – whether by cash, check, or card, make your contributions by Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Have a receipt for cash gifts, write and date checks by the 31st, and ensure credit cards are charged by year-end, though bills can be paid afterwards.

"We're hopeful to see unprecedented year-end giving and a new December record in the U.S.," says Carrie Swanson, World Vision's Gift Catalog Director. "The Catalog offers hundreds of ways to give before December 31, and we're eager to see the hope and changed lives those will bring in 2015."

To browse other tax-deductible, year-end giving options available in the World Vision Gift Catalog, visit www.worldvisiongifts.org or call 1-855-WV-GIFTS.

To speak with a World Vision representative about year-end giving or to request high res photos or product samples, contact Natalie Rowland at [email protected], 708-434-5006.

About the World Vision Gift Catalog
Since 1996, the World Vision Gift Catalog has given people the opportunity to better the lives of children, adults and communities in the U.S. and around the world through hundreds of gifts in all different areas of need: clean water, food, education, sexual exploitation, job training and others. In fiscal year 2014, more than 140,000 donors purchased more than 417,000 items from the Gift Catalog that helped more than 822,000 people around the world. To order from World Vision's Gift Catalog, visit www.worldvisiongifts.org or call toll-free at 855-WV-GIFTS. Want to see where your dollars go? Watch how the Gift Catalog works on YouTube.

About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/press or on Twitter @WorldVisionNews.

¹Christianity Today; http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/december/giving-tuesday-where-evangelicals-donate-their-dollars-ecfa.html

²Charity Navigator; http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1360#.VIhn4zHF9zg

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SOURCE World Vision