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FAQS

Information about ordering gifts can be found under How to order.

1. How does the gift catalogue work?
2. How will my gift be used?
3. What will I receive for my purchase?
4. Are gift purchases tax deductible?
5. How quickly will you send my cards?
6. Can World Vision send the card directly to my friend or loved one?
7. Can I get a photo of my gift being given to the child, family or community?
8. Can my gift go to my sponsored child or their family?
9. Can I buy my own gift and send it to my sponsored child?
10. Why do other charities offer the same gifts at different prices?
11. Why have you changed the name from Smiles to WV Gifts?

1. How does the gift catalogue work?

The gift catalogue is a compilation of specific items and activities that have been identified by poor communities as being able to improve their livelihoods and wellbeing. These activities are undertaken as part of our integrated development projects. By purchasing a gift from the catalogue for a friend or family member you are helping children, their families and communities by funding projects that meet pressing needs and/or provide the opportunity for sustained improvements in household incomes. For example, the gift of a chicken and feed will enable a mother to provide nourishing eggs for her children to improve family nutrition. That family can have a good harvest by using chicken manure to fertilise crops and that can then mean extra money for things like school fees and materials.

These projects are either over and above what the child sponsorship program can provide, or are being delivered to areas where child sponsorship is not currently operating.

2. How will my gift be used?

World Vision will use your donation in the most effective way possible. Each gift you buy represents the type of activities we will carry out on your behalf with children, their families and communities in need. So, if you buy a duck or a market garden starter pack, for example, your donation will go towards our agriculture and environment work to help communities grow food for families and restore and improve their environments.

Please see How World Vision Gifts work for more information.

3. What will I receive for my purchase?

If you choose the printed card option, we will send you printed gift cards in the post that you can give to your friends and loved ones. The gift card includes a photo and description of the gift you selected and there is space inside so you can write a personal message to your gift recipient. The card does not state the cost of the gift and can be used any time of the year. When you select a gift online you will be able to see a preview of the printed card before you complete your purchase.

We will post your card/s to you within 3 business days of receiving your order.

If you choose to send an eCard or MMS, it will be sent directly to the gift recipient as per the details you provide on the date you select.

If you choose a print your own card, we will email you a PDF containing your card and instructions on how to print it from your home printer.

4. Are gift purchases tax deductible?

Yes, all purchases from the gift catalogue are tax deductible, depending on your own personal tax position. We will send you an annual tax receipt at the end of the financial year which includes your World Vision Gifts purchases.

5. How quickly will you send my cards?

We will post your card/s to you within 3 business days of receiving your order.

6. Can World Vision send the printed card directly to my friend or loved one?

We send the printed card/s to you so you can add your own personal message.

7. Can I get a photo of my gift being given to the child, family or community?

Due to the volume of activities undertaken, it is not possible for us to provide individual photos of items being received by children, families or communities.

We provide regular feedback on how World Vision Gifts are helping communities on the World Vision website and in issues of World Vision magazine.

8. Can my gift go to my sponsored child or their family?

Your gift cannot go directly to your sponsored child. Each gift is representative of projects benefiting children, their families and communities and cannot be given to individual sponsored children or their family. These projects are delivering benefits either over and above what the child sponsorship program can provide, or are being implemented in areas where child sponsorship is not currently operating.

9. Can I buy my own gift and send it to my sponsored child?

Please refer to our standard policy on sending gifts to sponsored children – also refer to the child sponsorship handbook you have been sent.

10. Why do other charities offer the same gifts at different prices?

Our gifts are representative of activities carried out in our relief and community development projects. The prices reflect the costs involved in providing children, their families and communities with the kind of help your gift represents, and may include education, training and ongoing support.

The countries we work in, the location and stage of development of the communities we work with and the types of projects we implement will often differ greatly from other organisations. This means the costs incurred by each organisation are not readily comparable and the price of a particular gift item may be quite different.

11. Why have you changed the name from Smiles to WV Gifts?

The World Vision gift catalogue is an alternative to buying traditional gifts for friends and loved ones at Christmas and special occasions like Mothers’ Day and birthdays. So we changed the name of Smiles to World Vision Gifts because we felt that it clearly expressed that it was about gifts. This is especially important when we are promoting World Vision Gifts to people who are not as familiar with World Vision, or are time poor. In advertising and communications where we have a small amount of time and space, Gifts is direct and concise, without the need for as much explanation as Smiles. Our research also found that many people bought a gift because they recognised and trusted World Vision, so we felt it was important to include World Vision in the name.