Oxfam Unwrapped is an on-line alternative giving program that offers a selection of life-changing gifts that provides you with the opportunity to give something special to a friend, relative or loved one and give something special to people who haven't got much at all at the same time.
When you buy a gift from Oxfam Canada Unwrapped, your donation will be used to help women, men and entire communities gain greater levels of self-sufficiency and control over their future. Oxfam Canada works in 20 countries around the world and the items offered represent actual items used in our programs.
The principle behind Oxfam Unwrapped is that your gift dollars work in two ways:
- By supporting the fight against poverty, helping women and men in developing countries reach a greater level
of self-sufficiency and control over their lives.
- By making giving fun, innovative and convenient, your friends will feel good about the help their gift is
providing.
No kidding around, we don't actually send a goat or any of the other items to your friends. However, we will send them a lovely gift card with a picture of the item you have selected on the front to let them know that you have made the gift in their name. The inside of the card contains information about how your gift is making a difference to the lives of people around the world. Simply choose a gift, complete your order, sit back, relax and leave the rest to us. It's that easy.
You can purchase Unwrapped gifts by using your credit card over the web at
www.oxfamunwrapped.ca or with your credit card through our toll free Unwrapped
telephone number at 1-866-572-2831.
Oxfam Unwrapped is one of the many ways Oxfam Canada raises money to fund our programs around the world. While
administration costs vary from year to year, Oxfam strives to ensure that our donor's gifts are used effectively and to maximize
program effect. In our most recent, audited fiscal year - 2007 - here's how donations were spent:
72% - Overseas Program
8% - Programs in Canada
8% - Administration
12% - Fundraising
There is no denying it, giving is fun and makes us feel good when the gift is appreciated and makes a real difference to the recipient. Just in case that isn't enough, you will also receive a tax receipt for your donation. Now that's a great deal!
When you give a gift of a donkey, goat or chicken there are many checks in place to make sure it goes where it was intended. It starts with your gift receiving vaccinations and transportation to its new home. Then there is training in animal husbandry and market awareness for the recipients.
Members of the communities involved in the program are only given a goat, donkey or chicken on the condition that they will give back their first animal offspring to the project organization, so that the process can continue with new recipients.
Oxfam has had long-standing relationships with many of the communities and project partners in our livelihoods programs. We receive reports back on the programs and our staff in the region work closely with the partners. The potential that your gift will end up on the black market is greatly reduced.
How it Works
To explain the costs of all 22 of our items would take a while but, for example, when you purchase a donkey, you are giving so much more. You're providing vaccinations, transport, training in animal husbandry and market awareness as well as building resources that benefit entire communities. You are also supporting Oxfam's livelihoods programs, enabling women and men to have an ongoing source of income that will create greater self-sufficiency, self-esteem and also educational opportunities.
How it Works
Unfortunately our items don't come equipped with GPS so we can't track your specific item. The cost of reporting on individual items would be very expensive and we want your donation to get to where it's needed most to have as much of an impact as it can.
Sorry, but the naming of our four-legged and feathered items is not something that we can offer. Our project partners are responsible for delivery and local sourcing of our Unwrapped items. Because of this, it would be very difficult to provide naming opportunities.
Unfortunately no. Coordinating the delivery of items on this level would incur too many costs and would reduce the effectiveness of the Unwrapped program. We can ensure that your gift will go to a country where Oxfam Canada works and where it is most needed.
We offer electronic (E-card), PDF and hard copy versions of the card in which you can place a personal message. You can e-mail your card directly to yourself or the recipient, so that he/she may print it out. You can also select a hard copy card that will be sent via Canada Post directly to the recipient or to you. You can see a sample of the cards below.
Here is a sample of what the card will look like:
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E-cards can only be purchased online at
www.oxfamunwrapped.ca
E-cards are great, as they can be personalized, and are an immediate way to give a gift!
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You can send a card directly to your friend via the Unwrapped website or through our 1-866-572-2831 line. Whichever method you choose, you can add your own personal message which is printed on the card and sent directly to the person receiving the gift.
Yes, you can choose to have one card for two or more of the same gift. On the “Personalize your card” page you are able to indicate the number of cards you would like. You will then be able to personalize your card, select the kind of card you prefer (e-card, PDF or hard copy) and the method of delivery.
You are able to include a personal message in the card through the Unwrapped site for the PDF card, E-card and hard copy or through a representative at 1-866-572-2831. You can choose from three options;
- Mail a hard copy card to me, and I'll write it myself
- Email my personalized PDF or e-card to me, so I can print it out.
- Send my personalized e-card or PDF card directly to the recipient.
E-cards or PDFs are sent within 24 hours of your purchase. If you select a hard copy card, it may take up to 5 working days to process. Then it is in the post office's hands, which could be another 2-5 days. Please note that you can't select the hard copy card option between December 20 and January 6 because we can't guarantee timely delivery, for the holiday season.
If for some reason either your E-card or hard copy card does not arrive please call 1-800-466-9326 and we will be able to issue you a new E-card or hard copy card.
When you purchase an Unwrapped item, you are in fact donating to Oxfam Canada which makes your purchase eligible for a tax credit. Once you have completed your purchase, we will issue a tax receipt in your name and send it either by email within 24 hours or by mail within 10 business days. If you did not receive your tax receipt in 10 business days, please email unwrapped@oxfam.ca so that we may send you a replacement.
In accordance with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regulations governing the issuing of tax receipts, we can only issue the receipt in the name of the individual or organization making the donation or gift.
Providing your email address allows us to reduce our costs, eliminates tax-receipting errors and ensures that you get your electronic tax receipt within 24 hours. If you do not have an email address, please phone 1-866-572-2831 and speak with one of our representatives who will help you with your order and arrange for you to receive your tax receipt by mail.
In the past there have been occasions when cards have not been received in time because of incorrect address information. Having a phone number allows us to correct this issue quickly when it occurs.
Actually no, the Unwrapped site and toll-free number are open all year long. Whether it's a birthday, graduation, wedding or holiday gift for your teacher, friend or co-worker or anyone else just for fun, Unwrapped is there if you want your gift to give a little extra.
All the animals that are selected for Unwrapped are sourced locally, so they are not shipped long distances. They receive up-to-date shots. The women and men who receive a donkey, goat or chicken are provided with training in animal health care.
The selection of who receives help is coordinated by our local project partners in consultation with the communities they work in.
Working closely with our local project partners, Oxfam Canada program staff are responsible for deciding where and which programs will receive the Unwrapped gift. The decision where to direct the gift is determined by community needs and where the gift can do the most good.
All of the animals and most of the other items for our Unwrapped program are sourced locally, in accordance with our project partners' and the local communities' needs. The exceptions are some emergency items like the Oxfam bucket.
Every gift offered through Oxfam Canada Unwrapped represents programs determined by our partners in communities around the world. The actual number of items delivered is determined by community needs. Therefore, it is possible that we could end up with more of a particular item than we can reasonably and responsibly program. If this is the case, Oxfam Canada will ensure that the funds are used to support our overall work within the same or similar program area of the item.
The truth is chickens are an inexpensive and accessible way for people to increase their income and feed their families. To avoid the potential of avian flu and for both human and animal welfare, we do not support battery housing of chickens which is where there is a high risk of transmission. In addition, caring for animals, treating illnesses, in many cases vaccination and hygienic handling of the chickens are key parts of our chicken programs.
Oxfam Canada uses an encryption to protect the transfer of personal and financial information between your browser and our servers. When using Oxfam Canada's registration and donation pages, a small lock or key symbol in the status bar of your browser indicates that you are connected securely. Personal information and financial transactions are stored on our secure database server. Stringent security guidelines are in place to protect this data, and its use and release. All other questions regarding privacy and how personal information is governed and managed by Oxfam Canada can be answered by clicking on this link to our Privacy Policy.
Oxfam Canada uses the Moneris eSelect Payment Gateway, which processes online payments in real-time.
All transactions are encrypted using 128 bit encryption. Transactions are processed in real time, normally
taking between 5 and 15 seconds to obtain authorisation.
Credit card details are NOT stored at any time by Oxfam Canada, or Helpforcharities.com. Only summary
information including the amount of the charge, transaction date and approval code are retained. For this reason, credit card
transactions using this service are likely to be more secure than traditional methods of payment where a physical record of the
credit card details is made and retained by the merchant.
Overview of the secure payment service used by Oxfam Canada;
- Donor makes a donation using an online donation form (hosted with Helpforcharities.com).
- The order is posted securely across an encrypted link.
- The Helpforcharities.com system receives, logs and verifies the card number and date - then the valid card
number, payment details are sent via a secure encrypted link - the Moneris eSelect payment gateway.
- The Moneris eSelect payment gateway receives logs and forwards payment details via a dedicated private link
to the Banking System.
- The Banking System clears payment.
- The Banking System forwards encrypted details and authorization code via a dedicated private link.
- The Moneris eSelect payment gateway payment system logs the transaction result, and forwards it encrypted
via the internet back to the Helpforcharities.com system.
- The Helpforcharities.com system formats, records and forwards the response to the donor, via the
internet.
- The donor receives the response from the gateway typically in 5 to 15 seconds.
Oxfam Canada fights poverty and injustice in developing countries with a strong commitment to women's rights and equality between women and men. We believe that every individual is entitled to an income, an education, affordable health-care, protection from disasters and violence, equality of opportunity and the right to have a say in his or her own future. We put this belief into practice by working with women and men in poor communities, local partner organizations, members, volunteers and donors like you.
Oxfam Canada is a member of Oxfam International, a federation of thirteen autonomous non-governmental organizations. Together we are working to tackle the root causes of poverty, social injustice and inequality.
Founded in 1963, Oxfam Canada supports community programs that develop leadership, self-reliance and active
citizenship.
We are a member-based organization. Members help to formulate our direction, participate in governing bodies and elect representatives to the Board of Directors. They also get involved in outreach, campaigns, fundraising and educational activities across the country.
To find out more about Oxfam Canada, visit our website at www.oxfam.ca
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