OUR MISSION

Alternative Gift Market Cape Cod's (AGM) mission is to raise funds for worthy local, national and international organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of people and the health of our planet. These organizations work tirelessly to combat the effects of persistent poverty, injustice and climate change.

Each year AGM's Steering Committee, comprised of representatives of the sponsoring religious organizations, chooses the charities to participate in the market. This year’s market includes nine local nonprofits, working on Cape Cod or elsewhere in Massachusetts. In addition, there are four national nonprofits that work throughout the United States and six global nonprofits that address problems in other parts of the world. One of the nonprofits addresses a problem that is challenging the entire world.

"There are two ways spreading light.

To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."       Edith Wharton

                                         AGM aims to be the mirror for worthy organizations

Considerations for selection of the non-profit:

• Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status
• Mission and focus aligned with AGM's mission
• Community served reflects the communities and interests of the sponsoring religious organizations
• Track record of success
• Potential impact of the funds raised
• Size of the organization's budget, with a preference for smaller organizations
• Ratings of charity watchdogs if available
• Balance of causes, sizes and geographic locations.

Co-chairs 

Sandy Rodgers             Church of the Messiah

Fran Senner-Hurley      Falmouth Jewish Congregation

Krista Hennessey         St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Jane Jackson               Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth

Treasurer

Christine Michelson     Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth

Webmaster

Charlotte Harris           Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth

Congregational Representatives

Carol Casey                   Church of the Messiah

Lee Turner                      Falmouth Congregational Church

Jeanne Burton                Falmouth Congegational Church

Judi Hirschfield Bartek   Falmouth Jewish Congregation

Bobye Anderson            John Wesley United Methodist Church

Kate Finemore               John Wesley United Methodist Church

Annie Holden                  St. Barbabas Episcopal Church 

Rev. Nell Fields              Waquoit Congregational Church

Julia Withers                   Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth

For the first 13 Alternative Gift Markets, the Sponsoring Congregations donated the funds needed to pay for such expenses as printing, publicity, and custodial help. During these years, the fair trade vendors contributed a small percentage of their sales to help cover costs and there was a little income from the sale of baked goods and cards. This allowed the Steering Committee to cover the expenses, including credit card fees.

With the AGM online, the committee is able to cover the costs of publicity, printing and the not-insignificant cost of maintaining a website. But with the online market taking in funds primarily through credit card fees, these expenses are much higher. Without the income from fair trade vendors and the sale of AGM cards and baked goods, the committee needs a little help to be able to cover all of the credit card expenses.

So, while the market is an online event, the Steering Committee is asking shoppers to consider making a small donation to the AGM of $1, $5 or $10 at Checkout to help us cover the credit card fees.

AGM Cape Cod is not an incorporated non-profit with its own 501(c)(3). Instead, to ensure that all donations made through AGM Cape Cod are tax deductible, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth (UUFF) acts as our fiscal agent. Therefore, all checks for donations made through AGM Cape Cod are made payable to UUFF-AGM and receipts for donations will come from UUFF.

• 100% of your donations go to the charities you select.