15 ORGS · 236 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
theory of action →

Therapeutic Gifting

By providing personalized, tangible gifts to children and individuals in crisis, we improve emotional well-being and foster resilience, because receiving meaningful, thoughtfully chosen items conveys care, dignity, and a sense of being valued during times of trauma, illness, or instability. This strategy centers on the intentional use of physical gifts—not merely as material support—but as vehicles for emotional healing and psychological comfort. What distinguishes therapeutic gifting from general charity is its focus on personalization, symbolism, and the emotional resonance of the item (e.g., stuffed animals, embroidered duffle bags, music, or pajamas), which together affirm identity, reduce stigma, and restore agency. Unlike transactional aid models, this approach treats the act of giving as a therapeutic intervention grounded in empathy and relational care.

15
orgs running it
236
activities of those orgs
12
clusters touched
who runs it

organizations running this strategy · 15

what it looks like in practice

activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above. These are what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Conduct research on the impact of wishes MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
    research
    Published groundbreaking research in 2024 on the impact of wish fulfillment on children with critical illnesses and their families.
  • Conducting research on wish impact MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
    research
    Publishes research on the impact of wishes on children with critical illnesses and their families, with a ground-breaking study released in 2024.
  • Grant wishes to children with critical illnesses MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
    direct service
    Grants wishes to children aged 3 to 17 diagnosed with life-threatening progressive, degenerative, or malignant conditions who have not previously received a wish from Make-A-Wish or a similar organization. The organization has granted over 650,000 wishes worldwide since 1980, including more than 16,000 wishes in FY24 across nearly 50 countries.
  • Granting wishes to children with critical illnesses MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
    direct service
    Grants wishes to children aged 3 to 17 diagnosed with life-threatening progressive, degenerative, or malignant conditions who have not previously received a wish from Make-A-Wish or a similar organization. The organization has granted over 650,000 wishes worldwide since 1980, including over 16,000 in FY24, across nearly 50 countries.
  • Support and expand international network of affiliates MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
    capacity building
    Supports an international network of Affiliates and Licensed Territories in nearly 50 countries and territories by helping them develop resources, administer programs, navigate policies, and advance their brand. Launched Make-A-Wish Tanzania in 2025, the first network member based in Africa.
  • Supporting an international network of affiliates MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
    capacity building
    Supports an international network of Affiliates and Licensed Territories in almost 50 countries and territories by helping them develop resources, administer programs, navigate policies and guidelines, and advance their brand. This includes launching new affiliates, such as Make-A-Wish Tanzania in 2025.
  • Commissioning Community Murals Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Commissioned a mural in Downtown Safford to honor local children battling cancer.
  • Distributing My Special Aflac Ducks Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Distributed over 10,000 My Special Aflac Ducks to more than 300 hospitals and childhood cancer associations.
  • Distributing Protector Packs to Siblings Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Provides "Protector Packs" to siblings of children battling cancer, with over 134 Sibling Protector Packs distributed.
  • Distributing Warrior Packs Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Distributes "Warrior Packs" containing games, electronics, toys, and books to children battling cancer, particularly those confined to hospital rooms. Over 64 Warrior Packs have been provided.
  • Distribution of My Special Aflac Ducks Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Distributed over 10,000 My Special Aflac Ducks to more than 300 hospitals and childhood cancer associations to support children undergoing cancer treatment.
  • Distribution of Sibling Protector Packs Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Provides Protector Packs to siblings of children battling cancer, offering support and engagement during their sibling’s treatment. Over 134 Sibling Protector Packs have been distributed.
  • Distribution of Warrior Packs to children battling cancer Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Provides Warrior Packs—care packages containing gaming systems, electronics, toys, books, and other activities—to children battling cancer who are confined to hospital rooms. Over 64 Warrior Packs have been distributed to date.
  • Divine Orca Program for long-term isolated children Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Operates the Divine Orca Program, which provides gaming systems to children with cancer under long-term isolation in hospitals. The program has delivered over 10 Divine Orca Packs.
  • Operating the Divine Orca Program Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Operates the Divine Orca Program, which provides gaming systems to children under long-term isolation protocols in hospitals, having provided over 10 Divine Orca Packs.
  • Public art installation to honor children battling cancer Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Commissioned a mural in Downtown Safford to honor local children fighting cancer, serving as a community symbol of hope and recognition.
  • Publishing and Selling a Book Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Wrote and published a book to share hope with children battling cancer and their families, with proceeds from sales through Barnes & Noble and Amazon supporting the foundation.
  • Publishing and sale of a faith-based book for families affected by childhood cancer Nathaniels Childhood Cancer Foundation
    direct service
    Wrote, published, and made available for sale a book intended to share the hope of Jesus with children battling cancer and their families, with all proceeds supporting the foundation’s mission.