About Donating to Heifer International

Find answers to frequently asked questions about donating to Heifer International.

Are Heifer gifts tax deductible?

Heifer International is exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3), and is a non-profit organization eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. Each donation to Heifer is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and represents a contribution to its entire mission — which is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.

What methods of payment do you accept for donations on your website? Do you accept digital currency?

You can donate to Heifer International through our website using the following payment methods.

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Paypal
  • Venmo
  • Apple Pay
  • Bitcoin

To use any of the above payment methods, just browse the Heifer Gift Catalog and add an item to your online shopping basket, or you can give where needed most. Once in the basket, look for instructions for completing the checkout process using a credit card, Paypal or Bitcoin.

Donating with Digital Currency

Heifer only accepts Bitcoin as a payment option on our website. However, you can donate to Heifer using digital currency including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Stellar Lumen (XLM) and Ripple. Donations made with digital currency will be used where needed most, and cannot be designated to any specific Heifer project/program or animal.

It is IMPORTANT that digital currency wallet addresses are correct and there are no typos. Failure to enter the correct address and send amount will result in lost funds. Transactions are irreversible. If you have questions about the process, we recommend you learn more about how the currency works. This information does not imply an endorsement by Heifer International of using cryptocurrencies, such as Ether. These instructions are provided for informational purposes only.

What do you mean by "share of an animal" or "donate shares of an animal"?

Regardless of your budget, you can donate a Heifer International animal to help end hunger and poverty. Through the option to purchase a "share" of an animal, you are able to donate smaller amounts that may be better for your budget while still donating toward the animal which you are most interested. For example, if you like the benefits goats provide to families, but cannot afford the full amount of a goat, you can donate a "share" of a goat. Your "share" donation will be combined with "share" donations from other donors to provide families with the gift of a goat and training.

What's included in the price I pay to order a gift animal through Heifer?

The prices listed for Heifer animals include the cost of purchasing and transporting quality animals and the training and support services Heifer provides project partners.

I was asked by a Heifer representative on the street, or a Heifer representative came to my door and asked me, to donate through a special iPhone or Samsung tablet. Is this a secure way to make a donation and become a monthly donor?

We are always seeking new monthly donors to become a sustainer and join our global movement for change. One way to support us is through our committed and passionate representatives on the streets and doorsteps of many American cities.

Thanks to Ascenta, GiveBridge and Threshold Giving, our face-to-face fundraising partners, the street and door-to-door representatives who are working in major cities throughout the United States can now accept donations on the spot using specially modified iPhone or Samsung tablets. This is a convenient and secure mobile giving method that helps us receive your urgently needed contribution as soon as possible. The new method can accept credit card donations and helps reduce administrative costs. If you meet one of our representatives, please take the opportunity to learn more about our important programs and consider becoming a monthly donor.

Can I find out where the animal I purchased went?

Sorry, no. While many people want to know where their gift animals were sent, the tracking of individual animals for donors requires more staff and increased operating expenses. To keep operating expenses low while we help the greatest number of people and respect the dignity of our project participants, records on each donor's specific animal and to which family it was given remain confidential.

However, you can learn about the transformation taking place across the globe with your donation.

Does the Heifer Gift Catalog use "cookies"?

Yes. The Heifer Gift Catalog uses only "order cookies", a piece of text that is downloaded and stored on your computer solely for the purpose of displaying your gift items throughout the order process. Similar to a shopping cart on other sites, order cookies are used to track items you choose during the ordering process. The cookies also serve to streamline the purchase process.

Allowing the Heifer Gift Catalog to create a "cookie" does not give Heifer access to the rest of your computer, and only Heifer can read the "cookies" created within the Heifer Gift Catalog and site.

You can modify your browser settings to accept or reject cookies. Consult your browser's Help menu for directions.

I've ordered an animal, but keep getting a pop-up window that says "Your shopping cart is empty." What's happening?

If you select an animal to order and encounter a pop-up screen with a message asking you to "enable cookies," and/or a message that "your shopping cart is empty," cookies may not be enabled in your browser.

You can modify your browser settings to accept or reject cookies. Consult your browser's Help menu for directions. You may need to go back to the catalog homepage to begin your order again after you have done so.

Can I have a picture of the family that receives my gift?

Sorry, no. We understand your desire to find out more about your specific donation, but because of resource limitations, we are simply unable to keep photographic records on each donor's animal and of the specific family or field program to which it was given.

To be good stewards of our donors' gifts, and to be able to assist a greater number of project partners, Heifer has opted not to spend your valuable contributions on additional staff for tracking individual animals for the purpose of reporting back to donors.

However, you can see photos of our work by following us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

Will I have an opportunity to communicate with the family that benefit from my gift? Can I send a letter or care package?

Sorry, no. Our work in our field programs is done in partnership with groups of farm families. They, in turn, elect leadership councils who work with our field staff in deciding how the assistance their program receives is distributed equitably among all the families in the group. In this respect, we are not able to facilitate aid to or communications with particular individuals or families within our programs.