Pillar 3 – Gratitude & Intentional Giving
ACTION ITEMS:
Title: “The Art of Giving With Purpose: Cards That Give Back”
URL: /cards-that-give-back
Length: 800–1,000 words. Covers: the mission, the charities supported, how the 10% works, why mindfulness and gratitude matter, the impact of one purchase. Links to Giving Mission page and cluster posts.
- Pillar 3 — Gratitude & Giving
The Art of Giving With Purpose
Every Hummingbird Whispers card carries two gifts: a message for someone you love, and a donation to causes that build a kinder world. Here’s how and why.
- The Mission Behind the Cards
Art with Heart and Purpose
When Debra founded Hummingbird Whispers, she made a decision that many small businesses never make: she committed, from the very first card, to give a portion of every sale away.
Not when the business grew large enough. Not when it felt financially safe. From the beginning, because that’s what a life of purpose looks like in practice.
Ten percent of every card purchase goes directly to organizations working in the areas of mindfulness, gratitude, and community wellbeing. When you choose a Hummingbird Whispers card over any other, you’re not just sending a message, you’re participating in something larger than both of you.
Transparent by Design
How the 10% Works
We believe in clarity. Here’s exactly what happens from the moment you check out.
🏢
You Purchase
You choose a card and complete your order at $10. The transaction is complete.
🎓
We Calculate
10% of your purchase — $1.00 — is immediately set aside in our giving fund.
🎉
We Donate
Funds are distributed quarterly to our charity partners. Every dollar tracked.
🎉
Impact Grows
Each purchase adds to the fund. Every card sent becomes part of the larger giving.
$1 Per card sold
goes directly to our giving fund. Small individually, meaningful collectively.
4x per year,
funds are distributed to charity partners: January, April, July, and October.
100% Transparency
We share our giving totals publicly. Ask us anytime how much has been donated to date.
- the ripple effect
One Card, One Dollar, One Community
It might seem small — $1 per card. But consider what that looks like at scale: if 100 people each send one card to someone they love this month, that’s $100 flowing into organizations doing meaningful work in mindfulness and community care.
And every one of those 100 people has also sent someone a piece of original watercolor art that will sit on a mantle, go in a scrapbook, or be tucked into a drawer for years.
The ripple from a single purchase is longer than it looks.
- why gratitude matters
The Science Behind Saying Thank You
Gratitude isn’t just a feeling — it’s a practice with measurable effects. Research in positive psychology consistently shows that expressing gratitude, in any form, benefits both the giver and the receiver.
A handwritten note is one of the most powerful vehicles for that expression. Here’s what the research shows:
-
Mood and wellbeing improve
for both the person writing a gratitude note and the person receiving it often for days after the exchange. -
Relationships strengthen
when people express appreciation in writing. The specificity that a card allows deepens the connection. -
Recipients underestimate
how much a note will mean to them before they receive it and overestimate how awkward it will feel to send one. Both sides benefit more than they expect.
- our partners
Who We Give To — and Why
We choose partners whose work aligns with the values at the heart of Hummingbird Whispers: mindfulness, gratitude, human connection, and community care.
- Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat
Describe this charity in 2–3 sentences. What do they do? Who do they serve? Why did Debra choose them as a partner? This is your space to tell the story of the organizations you support.
- Susquehanna Health Foundation
Describe this charity in 2–3 sentences. What do they do? Who do they serve? Why did Debra choose them as a partner? This is your space to tell the story of the organizations you support.
- [ See your name here! ]
Describe this charity in 2–3 sentences. What do they do? Who do they serve? Why did Debra choose them as a partner? This is your space to tell the story of the organizations you support.
Your Website Link will be here →
Why Giving Back Is Non-Negotiable
After a career spanning classrooms, universities, and educational leadership, Debra returned to painting. Not just to create — but to reflect on what a life in service had taught her: that purpose and generosity aren’t luxuries you add on later. They’re the foundation.
“I believe that supporting nonprofit organizations and uplifting our communities is essential to a life of purpose. Hummingbird Whispers isn’t separate from that belief — it’s an expression of it.”
Through Magis Associates, LLC, the creative home of Hummingbird Whispers, Debra structures her giving as part of the business model — not a marketing add-on. When you buy a card, you’re buying from someone who has made giving a practice, not a promotion.
- keep reading
From Our Community
What a Card Can Do Stories from people who sent and received a Hummingbird Whispers card.
📷 Photo opportunity: Add real customer photos (with permission) of your cards displayed in their homes — on mantles, refrigerators, desks, or in hands. User-generated content builds enormous trust on this page.
- keep reading
More on Gratitude and Giving
- Gratitude and Giving
The Science of Gratitude (and Why a Card Can Change Someone's Day)
What the research on positive psychology tells us about the power of expressing thanks.
Read more →
- Gratitude and Giving
Intentional Gift-Giving: How to Choose a Present That Reflects Your Values
A guide to shopping with purpose — and what conscious consumers are looking for.
Read more →
- Greeting Card Ideas
Why Sending a Physical Card Is Still the Most Personal Thing You Can Do
In an age of instant messaging, the handwritten card has never been more meaningful.
Read more →
Send Something Give Something
Every card purchased supports mindfulness and gratitude initiatives. Browse the full watercolor collection.