how inlu works

If you have used Inlu to collect for any gift, any charity or both, you know there are endless ideas out there. So many great gifts can be given by simplifying and streamlining the process! If you’ve never used Inlu but have wondered, what the heck are people collecting for ?, here’s a fabulous list of gifts and collections that will inspire you to collect for something awesome: something your friends, family members or yes, even you’d really love.

1. First House Deposit

2. iPad

3. Skateboard

4. Dollhouse

5. Legos

6. Design Your Own Converse

7. Tech Pen

8. Spa Treatments

9. Airplane Tickets

10. Camera Lenses

11. Bulk purchases

12. Tap Shoes and Tap Dance Lessons

13. Vespa Riding Outfit

14. Flowers

15. Wheelchair ramp

16. Medical Assistance Funds

17. The Beatles Video Game

18. Broadway Play Tickets

19. A Day At The Mac Store (gift certificate)

20. An Olympic Hopeful’s Training Fund

21. Fish Aquarium

22. A New Business Start Up Fund

23. Travel Funds for a Middle School National Championship Game

24. Drumset (and Headphones!)

25. Double Strollers and Infant Car Seats

Want to try it?

As our loyal friends, fans and fabulous peeps, we’d love to offer you a special WE INLU sticker for your car, computer or wherever you’d like. Simply email us with your name and address and we’ll get one in the mail. support@inlu.com

YOU are the best and we love you.

email us at: support@inlu.com

At Inlu, we spend a lot of time focusing on the joy of group giving- the art of many people pitching in for something special, a group donation (or both). We focus on the rewarding, empowering feeling of creating less excess, hassle and wasted resources (like trees and shipping and all that jazz). We love the social companionship that comes from collaboration.

What I’d like to call out today is that fabulous feeling of giving (even if it’s your day to be receiving!).

When I saw this clip, I became absorbed in the enlightened sentiment: that giving is bliss.

Sometimes we focus way too much on what is ours, what is owed to us and what we “own” in this world.

This video was put together by Lucas Jatoba (and a group of friends so it had that collaborative excitement), a Brazilian living in Australia. This year, he wanted to do something different to show his appreciation for Sydney, a city he had grown to love. Here, he let the universe lead, which is something we should all try more often (I know I need to!).

Imagine doing this on your next birthday! You could use Inlu to collect funds to go out and give 21, 30, 45…whatever your next number… handmade, local or organic treats to complete strangers.You could deliver 30 baby blankets to a shelter. You could walk into a youth center and deliver 30 basketballs, jump ropes and dodgeballs. Whatever!

(And, yes, they used wrapping paper but that doesn’t mean this tradition couldn’t be tweaked to lessen the landfill and expand the love! Just one more twist of creativity in the wrapping department and this would be pure joy for people and the planet).

If I had seen this before my birthday last week, perhaps I would have given out 30 random Daisies, Lake Champlain Chocolates and Starbucks Coffee Gift Certificates to 30 Strangers (because yeah, I totally just turned 30). VIEW MY SAMPLE INSPIRED BY ’30 Gifts to 30 Strangers’

What twist on the gift giving tradition can YOU come up with?

Collect for something, give back. Tip o’ the hat to the gifting hero in Australia!

30 Gift Guy!

PS If you’d like to know the gifts he handed out, here they are: (Follow him on twitter or check out his website for lots more on the experience: lucasjatoba.com)

Hey Massachusetts users! Did you know about the MA State Ethics Commission New Exemption Regarding Teacher Gifts? Check this out…

According to The Official Website of the State Ethics Commission:

“A teacher may accept a gift, or several gifts during the school year, from public school students and/or their parents and guardians, with an aggregated value of up to $150, if the gift is identified only as being from the class, and the identity of the givers and the individual amounts given are not identified to the recipient.  Gifts received pursuant to this exemption are not required to be disclosed. The donor is unknown, so a reasonable person would not conclude that the gift would influence the teacher’s conduct with regard to any individual or would cause the teacher to favor any individual.”

Inlu is a great solution for this in so many ways. If you have questions, watch the video or Email questions to Inlu President (and Former PTO President of a Vermont Elementary School):  monica(dot)ostby(at)inlu.com. Want a few teacher gift ideas? Click here.

Spring is here (almost?) and summer vacation is just around the muddy corner. As the bulbs burst and the buds open, it’s about time to start thinking teacher appreciation gifts. We know teachers are unique and wonderful, so, in lieu of mugs and apple covered stationary, why not collect as a group and give something she or he will totally enjoy. Here are some great ideas:

1. Curriculum-Related Gift: Select a topic your child’s class studied (a culture, a species, etc). Create an Inlu to support a non-profit organization relating to that topic (education support in that culture, etc) and find a nice ‘coffee table’ book also relating that the teacher can choose to either have at home, or use if future years in class.

2. Park Bench: For about $200 you can buy a nice park bench at places like Lowe’s, and for about $20 or less have a small plaque inscribed with a dedication message. Teachers (with permission from the school) can keep their bench in the playground or even in their classroom. How to do this, you ask? Simply create a GIFT Inlu. Direct the funds to go to a parent who is willing to purchase the bench in advance to make sure there is one in stock! You can also add a charity and set a GIFT CAP to ensure that only the amount needed for the bench and plaque is collected.

3. Summer Barbecue Package: Specialty meat shops (like The Shelburne Meat Market, in Shelburne, VT) offer amazing – but rather pricey barbecue deliciousness. A group gift certificate can give your favorite teacher and his/her family a wonderful summertime treat! This of course can be a limitless GIFT collection. Or you can set a GIFT CAP and add a charity too.

4. Car Detailing: Do you live in a snowy climate? A good spring/summer car cleaning is such a treat! It generally costs at least $100 for a through detail. Add a charity – perhaps one that helps those in need get the transportation they need to get to work. (Check out the Good News Garage as an example)

5. Gardner’s Delight Package: A gift certificate to a gardening shop is perfect for summer! (Check out Gardener’s Supply)

6. Local Farmer’s Market: Many local Farmer’s Markets sell gift certificates that can be used through out the summer – yum! A great way to support local farmers and crafts people. And hey, your kid’s may run into their teachers there. (Yes teachers do grocery shop too!)

7. Farm Share: Its not cheap to buy a summer share from a farm crop – but if you divide the cost among students families, voila! Plus, it’s delicious.

8. Local Theater Gift Certificate: Whether its for a year’s worth of movies, or a theatrical performance, the gift of art is always appreciated.

9. Dinner at an Upscale Restaurant: Fancy, specialty restaurants can be quite pricey. Pitching in together allows your child’s teacher to have room for dessert (and wine perhaps, but we’ll never know:).

10. Books for Teacher & Community: A gift certificate to a bookstore (either online or a local shop) for teacher + a donation to a book related non-profit to help children around the world is very special. Check out Reading.Org

11. Spa Day!!! Enough said. (Aaaahhhhh)

12. Personal Trainer: The gift of health & wellness can go a long way.

13. Health Club Boost: If you know that your child’s teacher goes to a certain gym, tennis club, golf club, yoga studio, look into buying a gift certificate they can either use to supplement their membership or use in the gift shop, for a day with a pro, or the snack bar. Keeping our teachers healthy helps us all!

14. Day of Shopping: Support a local business with a gift certificate to a favorite clothing boutique.

15. Credit Gift Card to do whatever they want! Credit gift cards can be used for home improvements, travel expenses, you name it! Check out giftcards.com to make a personalized Visa/Mastercard.

Inlu makes it easy to group gift something special for your child’s teacher. Oh, and did we mention how easy it is for the parents to pitch in? It’s super easy. Try it!

(We’re here to help if you have questions, comments or thoughts.) See exactly why Inlu LOVES schools, here.

Well, it’s a tad cold up in the Northeast. And I’m kind of over the frozen fingers and ice blocked toes. I’m inside, wearing a beanie, a scarf and a sweater. It’s not my favorite time of year. It’s not really anyone’s idea of a good time to watch the temps drop to well below zero. And so, I thought, dang, what’s a better “group gift” than the gift of getting out of here?

Maybe it’s not gonna happen for me, but perhaps this will inspire a lucky wedding couple, long-time-love-birds or a family member who could use a break from this crazy, cold winter. Just think, if everyone pitched in, skipped the individual gifts, gift wrap and cards and all that jazz, you or someone you know could be on your way to a sunnier, “happy place” on planet earth.

Get ready to daydream.

1.Hotelito Desconocido. In Mexico. Near sand and water. Eco friendly. Windmill water power. No phones. Perfect.

2. Machu Picchu Sanctuary- “The only hotel near the famed Inca ruins, Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge matches luxurious comfort with ancient splendor.” – Kiwi Collection Yes please.

3. For the ladies: Pura Vida Adventure in Costa Rica. (Co-ed available too.) Looks good to me!

“Our surf and yoga retreats truly embrace the “pura vida” way: meeting new friends, sharing the sport of surfing, practicing the art of yoga, relaxation, laughter and fun.”

4.  For the entire family…Papillote Wilderness Retreat on Dominica, “the Nature Island of the Caribbean.” This eco-resort is smack dab in the middle of a rainforest. Sounds perfect! You wander. Eat mangoes. Love life. The website says it features “Comfortable, charming rooms overlooking gardens, mountains, waterfalls and pristine rainforest wilderness.” Ok. I’m sold.

5. I’ve been dreaming about this one for a long time: Atlantis. Dolphins and waterslides await. AND there’s plenty of quiet beach around.

6. Hawaii anyone? Kona Village Resort. It’s a pristine slice of rustic, tiki-hut-heaven on earth. The beaches, the pools, the hammocks by the sea. Aaaahhhhh….I can already feel the sunshine on my face.

7. Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica. El Sapo Dorado is “The jewel of the tropical rainforest.”- Why not? Nearby boasts monkeys, ziplines, canopy tours and fresh food. Certainly beats today’s activity of bundling up for 30 minutes to head to the grocery store.

8. A little closer to reality: Canyon Ranch Spa Miami Beach. Ok, well, it’s still a fantasy but I’m gonna keep dreaming about this perfect getaway gift.

9. Head south. Check out some Mayan wonders. Recharge on life! This escape is filled with mystical wonder. HACIENDA CHICHEN RESORT & YAXKIN SPA -”Mexico’s Best Green Jungle Resort and  Eco-Spa Wellness Destination within the majestic Mayan site of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.” … ” Hacienda Chichen has recently been named one of the Top 50 Wellness Destinations in North America by National Geographic and its Yaxkin Spa has been selected in the Ten Best Eco-Spas of the World.” No twisting my arm. I’ll go!

10. A tad alternative to pure relaxation: pure adrenaline with Wide Open Baja Off Roading Tours. Sounds like a rally of time. I know a few people who would welcome this adventurous excursion right about now. This girl included. It would certainly shake me out of hibernation mode!

11. Big Sur Getaway at Ventana Inn & Spa. This resort on over 200 acres of wooded, oceanside property, is serenity at its finest. Plus, they take all kinds of earth-friendly initiatives to keep the land as it should be. Check this place out and tell me it’s an AWESOME group gift idea!

And so, now that you are all daydreaming about that escape from the mid-winter freeze, I’ll leave you to go back to my icy and imaginary-filled existence…for now. Cheers and Happy Inlu-ing!

-JJ

Hey friends! Guess what cool Inlu collection is going on right now? The “Buy a Brick and Support the Skate Park” campaign just launched as part of the Burlington Skate Park Redevelopment Project.

This much anticipated, NEW concrete park will attract skaters from all around the region. Anyone is welcome to contribute and no amount is too small. If you’re looking for a creative gift idea, any $50 contribution will “buy” an engraved clay brick to be built into the skatepark wall!

These $50 donation brick purchases (tax deductable!) include a certificate in the name of the honoree. What a GREAT ‘less mess, more love’ gift idea—perfect for a child, teacher, friend, or skateboarder. PLUS, it’s enjoyable for the entire community to share. So, before you head to the mall, why not think about this alternative gift idea? We think it’s awesome and we wish the skate park development posse all the best of luck.

Click to read the entire INLU

.It’s the end of the fall sports season, coach has been there all the way. You want to get him or her something super but you’ll have to rally contributions from 20-30 parents. Ok, well, that’s gonna be kind of a hassle. Everyone’s running to & fro and stopping at the ATM for $8 is a likely FAIL. Hmm…

That’s where Inlu can help. Simply blast an Inlu Announcement (or Invitation if you want to host a get-together) and let all the parents know what you’ll be collecting for. A gift certificate to a LOCAL restaurant? Tix to see a game? A NEW set of golf clubs? You name it. Perhaps coach doesn’t even want anything. You could collect for a cause on behalf of the coach. Either way, team parents can contribute, leave a note for coach and BAM! Done.

IDEA: This year, if you’re looking for a place to donate, why not search your local food shelf and show support from the sports community to the greater community?

CLICK TO VIEW A SAMPLE BELOW

What a great year! We’d like to take a moment to virtually bust out the megahorn and thank everyone and anyone (including our kids and pets) who supported the Inlu vision.

THANK YOU!

As a small start-up team, we honestly wish we could:

Give a thumbs-up to the trailblazers who coordinated an event or collection. Shake hands with every contributor. High five every person who left a contribution note. And hug everyone who told a friend to check us out (well, everyone except Jamaica, she’s not a hugger).

Anyway, where were we?

We’d say cheers to our artists. Head nod our mentors and of course, throw a party for our fans and professional friends. But, as you can see, that’s just not possible! But please know we’re throwing the thank-you vibes your way.

What we can do, is list some amazing examples of how people have used Inlu to host parties, coordinate events and reduce excess.

In our first year, we’ve seen people coordinate Inlus for:

• Birthdays for ages 3 – 74
• Baby Showers
• Collaborative Purchases
• Non-Profit Fund Drives
• Movie Parties For A Cause

Together, Inlu users have supported over 90+ favorite causes (many repeats!) and Inlu has donated to plant 50 trees so far (via American Forests).

AND they’ve simplified and streamlined  collections for some awesome gifts, like:

• Legos & Dollhouses
• Kid & Mom Bikes
• iPads & Smart Pens

And we respectfully thank those who memorialized their loved ones with meaningful remembrances.

From all of us at Inlu HQ, we’d like to say HAPPY 1-YEAR TO YOU ALL!

Oh, the end of the school year. For BUSY BODIES and MULTI-TASKING moms & dads, the calendars are FULL and that classroom teacher gift or coach gift (or both) are hovering on the mind.

We have a solution! Simply create an INLU and blast it to your classroom list REQUESTING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A TEACHER OR COACH GIFT. Let other parents know you’ll get the gift on behalf of the class.  Parents simply pitch-in and it’s a done deal. Oh, and they get to leave a lovely note for the teacher or coach!

MONICA SUGGESTS…

1. Because Teacher & Coach gifts are time sensitive, it is best to think of Inlu as being your “Reimbursement System.”  Remember that funds collected for a gift are issued by check and sent to the person you direct via first class mail.

If you’re a room or team mom like me, you already have a gift idea in mind – and will want to have it at the game or closing circle.  You might want to select a gift/price point that you are willing to pre-purchase on your own, then whatever funds you get from others, great.

2.  IF you collect more cash funds than you needed, you could always put the rest into a gift certificate to a local coffee house or something else at the last minute.

3. You may know from other such class collections, that most people pitch in, but some don’t.  Budget accordingly and modestly.

4. PRINTING your Inlu to send home with kids might also be helpful– it’s EASY:

- Log in, go to your Dashboard, go to ACTIONS, select PRINT. The printed version of your Inlu directs people to www.inlu.com, and provides a “Registry Number” for them to easily find your collection.  This works really well!!

COACH SAMPLE:

TEACHER SAMPLE: