Facebook’s recently introduced gift-giving service now allows users
to make a charitable donation “in celebration” of a friend or a family
member.
Facebook Gifts
— a way to choose, purchase and ship real gifts in a matter of minutes
right on the site — has partnered with 11 charities so users can give a
gift that gives back. The service is still in the testing phase.
“We are especially pleased to be launching this test now — when so
many people are looking for new ways to help the victims of Hurricane
Sandy, or assist those most in need around the holidays,” Facebook’s
Jared Morgenstern writes in a press release.
“With each charitable contribution on Facebook, you can choose which
nonprofit you would like to support. Or if you don’t know which
organization to choose, you can let your friend make the choice.”
The 11 nonprofit organizations are: The American Red Cross, Blue Star
Families, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, DonorsChoose.org, Girls
Inc., Kiva, LIVESTRONG , Oxfam America, RAINN, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and Water.org.
The effort, Morgenstern said, is not just a way to support worthy causes, but to raise awareness for the charities.
Facebook Gifts is still not available to everyone. The social
networking site said Gifts will be incorporated “gradually,” beginning
with users in the U.S.
Facebook uses the site’s birthday reminders that appear on the side
of the Facebook news feed, as part of the new service. Underneath a
birthday notification for a person is a link suggesting you give that
person a gift.
A message can be sent either to the recipient’s Timeline or as a
private message. Gift options include items such as gift cards,
chocolate, bakery items, or a stuffed animal along with a digital
greeting card. Now the gift options will also include the charitable
donation options.
The recipient gets a notification within seconds of the purchase, along with the card and preview of the gift.
The recipient responds with the address where they want the gift
delivered. It ships within a few days. They may also select the color,
size and flavor of the present when fitting. There is also the option to
exchange it for an item of lesser or equal value.
So far, gift selection items fall in the $20 to $30 range or below.
