Elegant gifts for under $5 in bulk?

November 8, 2010 10:15 AM

I've been tasked with finding 100 gifts, all the same, for our major donors luncheon. Even though it's in December, we're hoping to stay away from any specific holiday. And our donors are pretty evenly mixed in gender, so jewelry is probably right out. I have a budget of five dollars per gift, and have been asked to find something unique and elegant. Last year we found lovely handmade wooden bookmarks. My suggestions of things that could be consumed have not been looked on favorably, I'm afraid. Many thanks.
posted by korej to Shopping (20 answers total)

How about customized reusable grocery bags.
posted by Sassyfras at 10:26 AM on November 8, 2010 [4 favorites]

There are some interesting things at ThinkGeek's Under $10 gift section.
posted by jquinby at 10:31 AM on November 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

Once I was given the local Junior League cookbook at such an event. That went over well.

does the lunch have a theme or can you share your mission? That might help?
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:31 AM on November 8, 2010

What about something plant-y? I googled and found this store. It looks like there are a few lovely, inexpensive garden gifts -- and they have wholesale pricing.

Their garden sprinkles are below your price range and perhaps Garden in a Bag would be around $5 with wholesale prices.
posted by harperpitt at 10:33 AM on November 8, 2010

Along Sassyfras' suggestion, Envirosax are my favorite reusable grocery bags. They come in a huge variety of designs, so even the dudest of dudes should be able to find something they like.
posted by phunniemee at 10:36 AM on November 8, 2010

I'd like to second the idea of nice tote bags. Of all the crap I get from conferences they are the only gifts I really use. Also, free advertising for you at the supermarket.
posted by 2bucksplus at 10:36 AM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Anthropologie has a reputation for being expensive, but it can actually be perfect for stuff like this. I like:

• Lotus Bowl, $4, really sweet and elegant.
• Footed Nebula Votive, $3.95 (although that's a sale price so it may be hard to find 100).
• Mongrammed Mug, $6. I know it's over the $5 limit but you could get the right letter for each donor! That would be so awesome.
• L'Epice Jar, $4, so squat and so cute!

posted by kate blank at 10:49 AM on November 8, 2010 [4 favorites]

I guess it really depends on the group. Environmental groups, senior citizen groups, youth groups, religious organizations...

but just for generic purposes:

Mugs
Those eco-reusable coffee cups
Nice wine charms
Small nice note pad set
a mixed tea set
candle sets
small-sized inspirational books

The gifts that I have used from my employers include bags, keychains, lanyards (to hold badges), coffee mugs, tape measure [with company logo], pens, hot cocoa, shirt,.. probably more. can't think of anything right now.

If you live in America, great places to find unique things would be World Market.
Also, Target has some really great gifts in several departments.
posted by KogeLiz at 10:50 AM on November 8, 2010

I second the Envirosax recommendation. I always get compliments on mine. Even if someone doesn't need a re-useable bag, it can easily be re-gifted (unlike a branded item). That cuts down on the possibility of it getting thrown out after the event.
posted by annaramma at 10:54 AM on November 8, 2010

If you are in the USA, please note that the FMV of the luncheon itself (food, parking if applicable, etc.) must be added to the value of your $5 token gift, and must remain under a certain amount in order for your major donors not to have to declare the FMV quid-pro-quo on their taxes:

$0 to $48 total yearly gift(s) Token up to 2% of gift value permitted
$48 to $480 total yearly gift(s) Token up to $9.60 permitted
$480 to $4,800 total yearly gift(s) Token up to 2% of gift value permitted
Over $4,800 total yearly gift(s) Token up to $96 permitted

I'm thinking since these are major donors, the total value of everything needs to be under $96. Also, those are 2010 numbers. (They go up yearly to adjust for inflation.)

GiftLaw is a great resource for this stuff. Good luck with your event!
posted by juniperesque at 11:04 AM on November 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

Another Anthropologie item: flowering twig pencil, right at the $5 mark, but really unique and in a similar thread to the bookmarks you did last year.
posted by booknerd at 11:29 AM on November 8, 2010

this might take a while but: etsy.com
posted by pyro979 at 11:57 AM on November 8, 2010

Response by poster: Apologies, I should have thought to mention what we do before - its for donors to the Foundation of the local university. Great suggestions so far, and juniperesque, thank you for the legal notes - I'm hoping my boss has a handle on that aspect of things, but its always good for me to learn!
posted by korej at 12:09 PM on November 8, 2010

You just missed a huge sale on the Nalgene website that would have given you just enough purchasing power to make some good things happen.

Try it anyway, you might save tens of thousands of disposable water bottles from being sent to the landfill.

Here is the link.
posted by RolandOfEld at 12:45 PM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I make similar purchases at my job. The best-received so far (and asked for every year since I started it): caramel apples from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. There are all sorts of flavors and toppings and they're $3 to $5 each. I'm telling you, the people at my work *love love love* them.
posted by tacodave at 1:10 PM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

One of my favorite charities is one of my favorite charities because they have low administrative costs. This past February, they decided to forgo the schwag bag at their annual donors event and, instead, made a donation to MSF's Haiti Relief fund in the name of their donors. When explaining this decision, the board chair noted that it's important to remember that no matter how little you have, someone else always has less. This was an unbelievably powerful (and timely) message. Just a thought.
posted by Siena at 1:53 PM on November 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

nthing nice tote bag, especially if it can be wrapped up small - you don't want to give them anything that would be awkward to carry around all night/bring home.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 2:26 PM on November 8, 2010

Whenever I get donor's gift I almost always... no, always... wish the organization had saved the money and spent it on the cause instead. If you must do a gift, can you get something that helps a local charity? Something like this bean soup mix? (I know you said not edibles... but maybe you have something similar near you.)
posted by evilmomlady at 2:39 PM on November 8, 2010

I was going to suggest a charity gift card, but they seem unfeasible in a small dollar amount, and most have a $2+ "processing fee". Gah.

Instead, how about you give everyone a small card, and set up boxes with 3 charities. As people are leaving, ask them to drop the card in the box of their choosing, and you'll donate $5 to the charity of their choice.
posted by fontophilic at 3:03 PM on November 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I'm going to run all of these past my boss tomorrow, and bring up again that it might be nice, and appropriate, to keep the money donors have given us for, well, the things they've given us to do! Thanks, and I'll let you know what she says.
posted by korej at 4:02 PM on November 8, 2010