Other giving
— -- Some other retailers and websites that give to charity or help others do so:
Wal-Mart
In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and The Wal-Mart Foundation donated $296 million to communities across the U.S. Recently, The Wal-Mart Foundation partnered with Feeding America to provide 70 million meals a year to families in need. The Wal-Mart Foundation also supports programs focusing on workforce development, education (including veterans seeking higher education), environmental sustainability, health and wellness.
Best Buy
Donates about 1% of its pretax profit to various charities and has a goal of eventually reaching about 5%. Children's issues are its main focus, and it supports United Way, American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs and Junior Achievement, which it has partnered with for about 18 years. Other interests: organizations and programs that use interactive technology to help children learn.
Gap Inc.
Contributes half of its profit from its (Product) Red merchandise sales to The Global Fund to help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. This holiday season, Gap Inc. offers all of its employees the opportunity to participate in its gift-match program. Gap Inc. set up the program with GlobalGiving so that when employees purchase a GlobalGiving gift card or e-certificate, Gap Inc. will double-match purchases that are $25 and more.
Kohl's
Kohl's has raised more than $102 million to support children's health and education initiatives since its Cares for Kids program was founded in 2000. Kohl's sells stuffed toys and books each year (it's Curious George this year) for $5 and donates 100% of the net profit from the sale of these items to charitable causes. The program also includes a "fundraising card program" that provides discounted gift cards for non-profit youth groups to sell and keep the profits, which now total more than $22 million.
Dillard's
Dillard's has donated more than $3.8 million since 1994 to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) through an annual holiday fundraiser. It has also assisted RMHC with a fundraiser created to provide families with seriously ill children a home away from home while their children receive treatment at nearby hospitals. Proceeds of the Kids Matter wristband and the Southern Living Christmas Cookbook benefited RMHC this season in many communities.
Macy's
Macy's and the Macy's Foundation donated more than $35.7 million to about 5,700 non-profit organizations in 2007. Focus areas include: arts and culture, education, HIV/AIDS awareness and research, minority issues and women's issues.
CVS
CVS has an Easter Seals donation card available at all stores. All of the proceeds go to the charity, which helps people with autism and other disabilities. Since the program began in 2006, CVS, its employees and foundation have contributed more than $5 million to Easter Seals.
Kenneth Cole
When shoppers make purchases of $100 or more at any Kenneth Cole New York retail store, they receive a Donation Card or an e-mail that lets them donate $10 from Kenneth Cole to a charity at Network for Good.
Yankee Candle
Yankee Candle will donate $1 to the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement for every 14.5-oz. custom candle sold in 2008. Yankee Candle will also donate 10% of net proceeds from the new Red Dress Car Jar auto air freshener.
Jockey
For each Jockey Being Family Bear sold, Jockey donates $3 to the Debra Steigerwaldt Waller Foundation for Adoption and charities that support adoption. It's part of the company's initiative to support and strengthen newly adoptive families.
Spirit
This Spencer's Gifts-owned Halloween store launched the Spirit of Children program in 2006 to bring Halloween fun to children in hospitals and rehabilitation centers across the United States. Spirit stores raise money through customer donations at its stores during the Halloween season, and the money is donated to the "child life" departments at participating pediatric centers.
UncommonGoods.com
When shoppers make purchases they can choose form select non-profit organization to receive a $1 donation from this unique gift and home goods website. Participating organizations include: Americares, Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Defenders of Wildlife and Comprehensive Development.
GoodSearch
This Yahoo-powered search engine donates 50% of its revenue to charities and schools designated by its users. More than 69,000 non-profits have partnered with GoodSearch, which was expanded last year to include the online shopping mall GoodShop, which offers coupons and deals.
aGoodCause.com
Allows shoppers to donate to charity for free while shopping online. Custom software automatically identifies more than 800 sites where retailers will donate a percentage of the sale to a user-selected charity. aGoodCause.com is supported by more than 5,000 online stores and has collaborated with over 300 relief organizations worldwide.
Upromise
Has partnered with more than 600 online stores so registered members can pay for college expenses by making purchases at upromise.com. Upromise has more than 900 million users and was launched in 2001 to make college affordable for individuals.
We-care.com
A percentage of sales on this 700-merchant online marketplace are automatically donated to the shopper's selected cause, without any cost to them. Participating retailers include Bloomingdale's, Betsey Johnson and Armani Exchange.