Back to previous page

Program: ACTS OF KINDNESS About Gift Economy

Charity Focus

"Gift Economy" is a term coined by CharityFocus, an all volunteer run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that endeavors to leverage technology for inspiring greater volunteerism and providing meaningful volunteer opportunities for all who want them. In the process, CharityFocus volunteers provide much-needed assistance to nonprofit organizations worldwide and create inspiring local events that manifest the spirit of service.

At the center of all CharityFocus work is a steadfast commitment to its three guiding principles:

Stay fully volunteer-run. Don't compromise values.

Being volunteer-run allows us to organically self-organize. Instead of hierarchies and pre-fabricated business plans, a volunteer infrastructure is dynamic, low-cost and open to radical change. Everything is based on relationships and presence, and that creates a powerful context to BE the change.

Serve with whatever you have. Don't ask.

In a gift economy, goods and services are given freely, without asking for anything in return. Instead of "savings", it is the circulation of the unconditional offerings within the community that leads to increase -- increase in connections, increase in relationship strength. Our security lies in our service to the world.

Focus on the small. Change yourself, not the world.

Our attempt is to do "small acts with great love". Just as every tiny bit of a hologram contains information of the whole, we feel that paying attention to the process, to the present moment, gives us plenty of information to become instruments of a larger, systemic change.

For more information, check out www.charityfocus.org and see the below articles and blogs:

A Synopsis of Gift Economy by Mark Jacobs
Gift Economy by Manoj Pavithran
"The Tao of Charity Focus" and
About the "Pay What You Can" Model by Birju Pandya