You Might Want to 'Shop' Around Before

You might want to "shop" around before you buy from catalogs, and make donations to Charities.

It might also be wise to research the agenda of the association who is reporting on the business' and charities.

 

FYI...    Greater Gift is a nonprofit program of SERRV International.

            Southwest Indian Foundation

            American Institute of Philanthropy

 

Fair Trade

http://www.equalexchange.com/fair-trade-links

Fair Trade Federation The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is an association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers, and producers whose members are committed to providing fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide. Fair Trade Research Group The Fair Trade Research Group (FTRG) was established at Colorado State University in 1999 to research: • What are the real benefits of the Fair Trade movement? • Can the benefits of Fair Trade be sustained over time? • Can Fair Trade grow to encompass a greater number of farmers and communities throughout the developing world? • Can Fair Trade be expanded to encompass not only poor farmers, but also other sectors connecting Southern producers and Northern consumers? Fair Trade Resource Network The Fair Trade Resource Network raises consumer awareness about improving people’s lives through Fair Trade alternatives. Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International F L O is the worldwide Fairtrade Standard setting and Certification organisation. It permits more than 800,000 producers, workers and their dependants in more than 45 countries to benefit from labelled Fairtrade. Global Exchange Global Exchange is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting environmental, political and social justice. Interfaith Fair Trade Initiative IFTI works with fair trade coffee companies and a coalition of faith-based international organizations and religious denominations to significantly expand the purchase of fair trade coffee in the U.S., increase advocacy on behalf of fair trade, and improve the lives of small coffee farmers. International Fair Trade Association IFAT is the International Fair Trade Association, the global network of Fair Trade Organizations (FTOs). Over 220 FTOs in 59 countries form the basis of the IFAT network and membership is growing steadily. Market Place India Empowering women in India by bringing you unique handcrafted apparel and home decorations. Oxfam America Oxfam America is a Boston-based international development and relief agency and an affiliate of Oxfam International. Working with local partners, Oxfam delivers development programs and emergency relief services, and campaigns for change in global practices and policies that keep people in poverty. Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign calls on decision makers to make trade part of the solution to poverty. SERRV International SERRV International is a nonprofit alternative trade and development organization. SERRV's mission is to promote the social and economic progress of people in developing regions of the world by marketing their products in a just and direct manner. Ten Thousand Villages Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. TransFair Canada TransFair Canada is a national non-profit certification and public education organization promoting Fair Trade Certified to improve the livelihood of developing world farmers and workers. TransFair USA TransFair USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States. Through regular visits to Fair Trade farmer cooperatives conducted by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), and partnerships with US companies, TransFair verifies that the farmers who produced Fair Trade Certified™ products were paid a fair price. United Students for Fair Trade USFT is a national network of student organizations advocating around Fair Trade products, policies, and principles. The core objective of USFT is to raise the awareness of and expand the demand for Fair Trade alternatives, both on campuses and in communities.

Fair Trade   (14) Cooperatives   (5) Sustainable Agriculture   (5) Coffee   (3) Central America   (3) Ethical Business   (2) Rural Development   (1)

A Greater Gift

All African (Self Help) Bazaar: <span style="font-size:120%;color ...

As you go through your daily routine of looking through the mail, you may find sandwiched between your bills and solicitations a catalog of stunning Indian jewelry and crafts from the Southwest Indian Foundation.

The Southwest Indian Foundation (SWIF) reports that for over 25 years it “has been working to relieve the tremendous poverty and despair of these forgotten Americans [Indians].” SWIF says that it supports mission schools and homes for battered women and children, sponsors alcohol counseling centers, delivers food baskets every Christmas and clothing and shoes throughout the year and repairs homes and installs wood stoves.

Unlike most other charities SWIF is not required to file public information. Why? Because the Internal Revenue Service classifies SWIF as a church or church-related organization. SWIF does not appear to have a congregation that regularly meets for prayer services but has obtained church type status with the IRS under a group ruling of the U.S. Catholic Conference. This status allows SWIF to be exempt from state and federal laws that require charities to regularly file financial information with the government. Churches involved in trade or business activities unrelated to their exempt or charitable purpose do file annual information with the IRS on the for-profit portion of the organization but these filings are not open to public inspection.

DO CRAFT PURCHASES HELP THE POOR?
The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is an association of over 130 producers, wholesalers and retailers “committed to providing fair wages and employment opportunities to low-income artisans and farmers worldwide.” Before buying crafts for the purpose of helping poor artisans, one might want to consider if the marketer is a member of FTF (508-355-0284) or meets its membership criteria.

Some of the criteria: paying a fair wage in the local context; engaging in environmentally sustainable practices; being open to public accountability; providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context; providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible.

Even with these criteria it can be difficult to determine whether poor people are receiving substantial benefits from the sale of their crafted items.

Another approach is to buy crafts directly from a business owned and operated by members of a group that you want to help. To receive a free listing and description of a wide variety of American Indian and Alaska Native owned and operated arts and crafts businesses, write to:

Indian Arts and Crafts Board
US Department of the Interior
MS-4004-MIB
Washington, DC 20240

From the Fall 1997 Watchdog Report