Give the Gift of Giving...

If you're like me, the minute the temperature drops below 60 I start to think about holiday shopping. This year, I've started even earlier (I can't help it...I'm from New Hampshire -- winter starts Oct. 25! There were plenty of years I wore a winter jacket under my Halloween costume.)

In any case, if you're beginning to think about gift ideas for the holidays and you might do a little online shopping, consider signing up for iGive.

iGive.com is a website on which you can sign up to associate yourself with your favorite charitable cause (over 24,000 organizations are registered with iGive). You then shop at the brand name online stores you would visit anyways, (700+ stores participate) and iGive donates a portion of your purchase to the cause that YOU chose! (Each store has a different donation rate.)

Here's how it works.

1. ELECT your favorite cause (you can even add a new organization if the one you support isn't there.)
2. REGISTER with iGive
3. SHOP at brand name online stores through the iGive Mall. A portion of each purchase is donated to your cause.
4. You can also SAVE money with exclusive coupons/free shipping deals. Plus, when you shop within 45 days of registering iGive.com donates an extra $5 to your cause!

Here's a sampling of participating stores: Gap, Staples, Nordstrom, Barnes & Noble, Expedia.com, iTunes, Best Buy...the list goes on...and on and on!

The cost to you? NADA - besides the 30 seconds it takes to register. The benefit to a charitable organization of your choice - endless. The best part? Giving can continue throughout the year, whenever you shop at participating stores.

To date, iGive.com shoppers have raised over
3.5 million dollars
for their favorite charities.

NOTE: Please take the time to check out the organization that you choose if it's not one you're familiar with. 501(c)3 nonprofit status is not required to register with iGive, so make sure the organization of your choice is legit. This is a bonus, however, since individuals can set up their own cause - some examples - Our Adoption Fund, dance school fund, et cetera. Let the giving begin!