Great Giving Ideas
Below are some very good giving ideas from
our staff and website visitors. Spelling and
grammar has not been corrected. We have only
added a title and minor changes to each one.
Always provide a couple of Giving Principle
cards whenever you give. Print them out
yourself from this website. It keeps the
principle going.
Airport Giving
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Staff at
Giving Principle.com. First let me thank you
for this movement, concept and website. I
personally have had so much joy placed back
in my life by participating in this
movement. Here is one of my favorite ways to
give and encourage others. I fly often for
business and have thought of those that have
the worst jobs within international
airports. One of the top has to be people
that clean bathrooms. Can you imagine going
to work day after day and cleaning up vomit,
urine and fecal matter. I wanted to say
thank you to these workers and encourage
them by letting them know, many of us
appreciate the tough job they do. I purchase Starbucks Gift Cards before trips
which by the way come with a perfect gift
pouch and place a Giving Principle card and
gift card within. By the way I print cards
from your website. In between flights I take
exercise walks and search for people
cleaning bathrooms. I say "excuse me" and
then thank them for their hard work and tell
them that many of us appreciate the
difficult work they do. Then I hand them the
gift card and leave. I must tell you the
reaction is always the same. They are
"stunned and speechless" as if no one has
ever said thank you or appreciated them
before. Again thank you for your concept and
I hope other travelers try this idea. BTW I
have found most airports do not sell gift
cards so I plan ahead and purchase them
ahead at my local Starbucks.
Drive-thru Giving
McDonald's Gift Card Giving
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Here is what we do for homeless people
in our area, or others in need. We stock
up on McDonald's (fast food chain) 5.00
gift (Arch) cards. Our family keeps them
in our wallets, purses or day packs.
When we see someone in need, or someone
asks for help, we give them a gift card.
We have found little envelopes that hold
a Giving Principle card and the gift
card. We also write a little note on
them and the cards value. This is so
easy to do and we never feel awkward any
longer when asked for spare change. We
also know they will used for food
instead of alcohol. People are so
thankful and surprised. I hope you post
our tip. Thank you for this amazing
site.
Jumper Cable Giving
Gas
Station Giving
Gift Card Giving
Starbucks Giving
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One night my wife and I went on a much
needed date. After a show, we made a
detour to a nearby Starbucks for
something for our trip home. After we
ordered at the drive-thru, I noticed a
Highway Patrolman had also ordered at
the drive-thru after us. When I pulled
up to the window to pay, something (God)
moved me to tell the "barrista" that I
would like to pay for whatever the
officer behind us had ordered. She
asked, "Really?" I said, "Yeah" and she
had a big smile on her on face, you
could tell she was going to enjoy this.
It was a terrific opportunity to show
someone how much they're appreciated,
anonymously.
At any time you can buy the persons
drink or meal for the vehicle behind
you. Be sure to leave 2 Giving Principle
cards with the cashier. One for them and
one for the person they give the drink
to.
New to Giving
Waitress Tip Giving
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I travel allot and especially like to
eat breakfast out early in small hole in
the wall cafes. I have noticed that
through the years this may not be the
most desirable shift for a waitress to
work and I know people don’t tip well in
these places. It seems to me most of
these folks struggle hard to make a
living for their families and I want
help them.
So I save my change and even dollar
bills each week, just for giving. I
usually have over 20.00 every week
sometimes more. I leave a 20.00 bill
above my normal tip with a Giving
Principle card paper clipped to it. I do
this just before I leave so I get no
recognition for it.
I have no idea what it has done for
anyone and that’s OK. I enjoy paying
attention to my surroundings more while
looking for people to give to. Maybe
someone else will join me now that I
given you my tip.
Restaurant Giving
Convenience Store Giving
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I’ve often wondered if the money people
ask for outside a convenience store is
used for food as they say, or to buy
alcohol.
People ask for money at convenience
stores and I stopped giving them money
because I think they use it buy alcohol.
They still look hungry though so I
started buying them a prepackaged fast
food items instead.
A while back a clerk at the store gave
me a great tip as I was checking out.
She asked if I was going to give the
packaged foods to the person outside. I
told her yes.
She said “you know he is just going to
bring that back in after you leave and
get the money back so he can buy
alcohol.” I had never thought of this
before. The clerk then gave me a great
giving tip that I now use. She said to
tear open the prepackaged foods before I
hand it over and because it was a opened
item she could not accept it back. The
person would then have to eat it. What a
great tip! This is what I do now.
I thought I would pass this on to you
all. Thank you for your website.
Workplace Giving
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I’ve found at work when someone is in
real need, that I’ve taken it upon
myself to take up a collection for them.
When I tell other coworkers what I am
doing and specifically ask if they can
donate some money they always do. But it
seems to always take someone to lead
this. Maybe you can next time GP
readers.
Thank you GP for giving to us.
Vacation Time Giving
A Giving Vacation
The Giving Principle: the gift that really
keeps on GIVING.
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We love this site and its ideas! With
the Giving Principle card, when I
give the card away with my volunteer
time or money, I know it will truly be a
gift that keeps on giving over and over
again. Love every ones ideas on the
giving ideas page!
Giving Competition Game
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Here is what we do guys. I have a
competition between 2 of my close
friends. Since we are men and quite
competitive we see who can give the most
during a week. We are all at different
standards of living so we don’t count
the total moneys given, only the clever
acts. We text or call each other when we
give and keep track of our own stats. At
the end of the week we total up. We are
always trying to out do each other with
unique and clever ways to give. We have
used some of your ideas on your website.
Thanks for getting this started. We love
it and it helps others as well as feeds
our competitiveness. By the way I’m
winning this week but only one up.
Homeless People
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Have you ever stopped at a stoplight
and thought, “Oh no. There is the
homeless person in rag torn clothes
holding up the sign asking for help.” He
looks at you and you try not to make eye
contact and pretend to have something to
do for the moment. I’ve personally
wondered if these guys really need the
help haven’t you? Well don’t give it
another thought. Just give and don’t
worry about it. One of the best ways to
help these folks out is to plan ahead
and get the family involved in making up
a GIVING bag. Next time you’re at the
store, shop just for this occasion. Some
of the best items to buy these folks are
non-perishable foods, personal hygiene
items, a bottle of water and always
throw in some candy or packaged desert
of some sort. You can even buy a bunch
of dollar store note cards and write
them a personal message ahead of time.
Don’t forget to include a “The Giving
Principle” card. Then when you pull up
to the corner you are armed and ready to
help them out.
Airplane Travel Giving
Convenience Store Giving
Grocery Store Giving
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If you have time to perfect this one
find the people in the grocery store
that you can tell need some extra cash.
You can secretly drop a Giving Principle
prepackaged envelope with a card and
some money in it, into their cart. Or
you can strategically get in front of
them at the counter or even ask them if
you can move up because you are in a
hurry. Pay for their grocries or a part.
Again leave them a card.
Small Business Giving
Young Married Couple with Children Giving
Door Holding Giving
Tool Road or Entrance Fee Giving
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If you live in an area that has toll
roads or has to pay for parking consider
paying the toll fee or parking fee of
the car behind you. This can also be
used in any location in which a fee is
required to enter, such as a state park,
carnivals or events. Be sure to leave a
couple GP cards with the attendant so
they can pass it on to the next person.
Tip Giving
Parking Lot Giving
Food Kitchen Giving
Car Trade In Giving
Short Term Mission Trip Giving
My Coin Change in a Store
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