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Consumers look to help good causes with gifts

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December 17, 2011|By Jenn Abelson

Tufts University hosted the OneWorld Global Crafts Bazaar, which helped… (Suzanne Kreiter/Globe…)

For some shoppers, a chic cashmere scarf has to be more than comfy and attractive neckwear to be plucked off a store shelf this holiday season.

They need to know that the wooly wrapping was stitched in America (or somewhere that supports free trade), and that part of the purchase price benefits charity. For good measure, the accessory should also somehow reduce the buyer’s carbon footprint.

The ranks of such cause-conscious shoppers are growing, retail analysts say. They are looking for more than good prices and quality - seeking gifts that are made locally or sold by small businesses, made under sustainable or environmentally friendly conditions, and benefit someone besides the recipient. The movement is being driven by heightened shopper awareness, wariness of conspicuous consumption, and the popularity of websites promoting informed giving.

“There is a pervasive sense that people want to try to give back in a world that feels increasingly chaotic and out of control, even when it comes to shopping,’’ said Jon Carson, chief executive of BiddingForGood in Cambridge, a two-year-old online marketplace that combines shopping and charity.

Nonprofits, schools, and charities can list items they want to auction on BiddingForGood’s site. The company says 91 percent of sales proceeds go to the organizations.

“There is angst around overconsumption and people want to shop for gifts with a purpose,’’ Carson said. “It makes people feel less guilty about spending.’’

This year, Patty Levy, of Lincoln, used BiddingForGood to do her holiday shopping for the first time. She scored a pair of $20 silver-and-turquoise earrings for a friend and a $345 baseball for her husband and son that was signed by Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski. Her purchases provided funds for an educational nonprofit in New York and a community organization in California.

“I always love sharing where gifts come from. And this is more meaningful - not only is it a gift, but is also helps out an organization,’’ Levy said.

Kara Iskenderian knocked out her holiday shopping earlier this month at the OneWorld Global Crafts Bazaar at Tufts University. All the net proceeds from the sale of local and global handmade products benefited GoodWeave, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., that works to end child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia.

At the OneWorld bazaar, the college freshman bought three fair trade woven scarves for $12 each for her mother, sister, and best friend, along with beaded jewelry for her aunt.