Q. My fiance and I both feel strongly about helping the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and would like people to make donations instead of getting us gifts. We don’t want guests to feel like we’re telling them how to spend their money, though -- particularly those who would rather support local causes. How can we make it easy to give guests options and spread the word?
A. Charity registries are becoming more popular, particularly among couples who already live together, are financially set, or are marrying for the second time -- by that point, many figure, they already have everything they need for the home. JustGive.org is one organization that's sprouted up to streamline the process. Just like you'd pick out casual flatware plus silver from a store, JustGive lets you select from over 850,000 charities, from national organizations like the American Red Cross to local non-profits. There are thousands of charities in Iowa alone, from the AIDS Project of Central Iowa to the Wilderness Kingdom Zoo. The site also provides financial reports on many of the groups so you can make sure you’re comfortable with the way your gifted dollars will be spent.
Spread the word about your charity registry the same way you would with a regular one -- by having members of your family and wedding party tell people and linking to it from your wedding site. Guests log on and donate any amount to one -- or all -- of your selected charities, and you’re notified of the gift. Not only do you help others, but it's actually good if guests accidentally get you two of something.
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