4 Examples of Tribute or "In Honor" Gifts

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Does your nonprofit offer a way for donors to make a tribute gift (or donation in honor of a loved one)? Check out these examples of creative tribute gifts from four nonprofits.

What is a tribute or “in honor” gift?

Tribute gifts (or gifts made in honor of someone) allow donors to celebrate someone they love. These donations are often made in lieu of giving the honoree a birthday, holiday, wedding, or other type of gift.

The benefits of offering donors the opportunity to make a gift in honor of someone include:

  • Empowering the donor to spread awareness about your mission with someone they love;

  • Creating a positive association between the recipient and your organization, especially if you offer a naming or symbolic “adoption” opportunity; and

  • Offering an opportunity that donors actively search for! When birthdays and holidays roll around, philanthropic people search for nonprofits that offer unique opportunities to give a charitable gift in lieu of a traditional gift.

Usually, nonprofits offer the donor the opportunity to send a card or other small token to the honoree to let them know a donation has been made in their honor.

4 Examples of Tribute or “In Honor” Gifts

Check out these four creative tribute gift opportunities to get inspiration for your nonprofit:

  1. Jekyll Island's symbolic "Adopt a Turtle" program

  2. Habitat for Humanity's "Gift from the Heart" cards

  3. St. Louis Zoo's commemorative brick program

  4. World Vision's Gift Catalog

I’ve personally “adopted” a turtle with Jekyll Island’s turtle rescue for a loved one, and she was thrilled with the gift. She received a fun adoption certificate, photos of “her” turtle, and monthly email updates about her turtle until he was released safely back into the wild.

Does your nonprofit offer a creative tribute or “in honor” gift opportunity?

Every year, I feature nonprofits and cause-driven brands that sell unique “gifts that give back” around the holiday shopping season. I’d love to learn your nonprofit’s products, services, or tribute opportunities and see if they would be a good fit for my gift guide!