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It is the season of giving, after all...
With everyone feeling the pinch of inflation this year, it's no surprise that this Christmas will be tougher for some people.
But even in the current climate, research has shown that 86% of Irish adults will definitely or probably make a charitable donation of money, time or goods this December.*
With that in mind, we've teamed up with
PayPal to put together just some of the ways you can support a charity you care about, whatever your budget.
Here are some simple but effective ways to show your support...
Give money to a charity you care about
Obviously, the quickest way to support a charity or cause is to make a donation to support the charity.
For many charities, Christmas is the most important time of year for fundraising. If you want to support some Irish charities this year, PayPal Giving Fund* is a quick and simple way to donate to support a whole host of brilliant charities online, at the touch of a button.
Any charity enrolled with the PayPal Giving Fund will be listed in the PayPal app or on PayPal's fundraising hub, meaning you can discover and support important causes quickly and easily. You can make a donation to support a charity close to your heart and receive a receipt via PayPal Giving Fund. Ideal!
One of the big benefits of donating this way is that PayPal covers your transaction fees when you give in the app or on their website, meaning your donation goes further in supporting those who need it.
Donate your time
If you're not able to donate money this Christmas, you can still support a cause you care about through volunteering.
Christmas can be the busiest time of the year for some charities, meaning there might be non-profits in your local area that could benefit from some extra volunteers. The likes of soup kitchens, food banks and homelessness charities often see a rise in demand at this time of year, meaning they could benefit from the extra resources.
Most charities increase their fundraising activities in the build-up to Christmas too, so the likes of bucket-shakers or bag-packers could be needed to help raise vital funds.
Donate items you don't need
In lieu of donating money, you might be able to donate items you don't use anymore to support a good cause.
Start by clearing out your wardrobe or cupboards for any items that are in good shape, but are no longer of value to you. Gathering any clothes or items you don't need anymore and donating them to your local charity shop is a completely free way to give back, but could make a huge difference to an organisation's fundraising.
Similarly, many food banks and homelessness charities do regular donation drives for the likes of food, toiletries, Christmas toys, blankets and warm clothes, giving you another opportunity to support a cause you care about.
Give back as you shop
Between festive food shops and gift-hunting, you're likely going to be spending a lot of time scrolling and shopping online this year. But did you know there's an easy and affordable way to support a good cause every time you shop?
PayPal has a very handy micro-donation feature that makes donating to charity simple and affordable this Christmas, by donating €1 to support your selected cause when you check out with PayPal.
All you need to do is go to the PayPal app or website, search for the charity you want to support and click the heart icon on their profile. Once you've chosen your favourite charity and you're ready to make a purchase, simply click the donation checkbox during checkout to give a micro-donation of €1.
During this busy shopping season, those euros can really add up. Every little bit helps, so small micro-donations like these are an easy way for people to give what they can in small, manageable instalments.
Give donations instead of gifts
If you'd like your gifts to hold a bit more meaning this year, it could be an idea to give a donation to a worthy cause in lieu of a Christmas present. Many organisations have gifting options available on their websites, like the Saint Vincent De Paul
Gift of Choice voucher, which uses your donation to buy a child or family a much-needed Christmas present.
This is a particularly good option if you have a friend or family member who's passionate about a particular charity, doubling as a gift that's really personal but also helps a worthy cause.
To give back this festive season, visit paypal.com/ie/fundraiser/ or download the PayPal app.
*Charities Regulator December 2022
* Your donation will be made to PayPal Giving Fund Ireland, a registered charity (No. 20205692). PayPal Giving Fund will email you a donation receipt with a link to add Gift Aid. Thanks to PayPal's support, PayPal Giving Fund passes on 100% of donations it collects [on this site] to worthy causes. Charities should enrol with PayPal Giving Fund to receive donations we collect to benefit them, which are paid out on a monthly basis. PayPal Giving Fund retains ultimate discretion over all donations it receives and, in rare cases, may redirect them if a charity doesn't meet legal or other eligibility requirements. For more information, please see PayPal Giving Fund's Charity Certification Policy and Donation Delivery Policy.
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