The Perfect Gift for Everyone on Your List: Gift Back

December 01, 2015
3 min read

Ryan Jones

Companies are starting to understand that corporate giving is not just a nice thing to do; corporate social giving benefits the community as well as the bottom line. During the 2015 holiday season, Chimp has launched the Gift Back program: companies can give a gift that allows employees, colleagues and customers to donate to any registered charity in Canada.

Why Gift Back?

Traditional holiday giving can be a bit of a minefield. It’s tough enough to get something great for a loved one or a close friend, but what about a hundred employees or a thousand customers? With dietary restrictions, religious affiliations, and political stances, any gift is a potential offense. Even gift cards are a hassle and often restricted to only one store.

Allowing your employees or valued customers to choose from any registered charity in Canada alleviates the problems associated with traditional gift giving. Plus, there are some honest-to-goodness benefits that come along for the ride. For example, customers tend to have a higher opinion of companies that demonstrate social responsibility. Your brand perception improves, charities get some funding, everyone wins. Also, employees prefer to work for companies that are good corporate citizens. Employee retention increases, as does job satisfaction and engagement. That’s good for HR and employees. Maybe the best advantage: it’s easy to set up, leaving you more time to spend with family during the holidays.

Below are three examples of companies that have used Gift Back to help change the world.

BosaBosa Properties

Bosa Properties has a proud history of social responsibility and community involvement. As part of its charitable efforts, the 177 buyers of new homes in the Promontory development were gifted $150 to donate to the Canadian charity of their choice. Read more.


TOMSTOMS Shoes

While TOMS Shoes already has a sterling reputation as a champion of global giving, this year they expanded their efforts with a Gift Back campaign. Purchasers of TOMS bags, which benefit maternal health charities, were gifted $20 to donate to whichever Canadian Charity was closest to their hearts. Read more.


spenceSpence Diamonds

On November 19, Spence Diamonds hosted the Spence Soiree, a diamond-studded event hosting Vancouver influencers. Spence did not have a pre-existing charitable strategy; instead of making a large single donation to one charity, guests of Spence received $25 via Gift Back to donate to any Canadian charity. Read more.


These companies empowered their friends and customers to give on their own terms, to charities that mean something them. This year, Gift Back during the holidays and do the same for your own customers, employees, and loved ones.