e-Commerce Development for Latin American Artisans

Dear GlobalGiving Supporter,

I’m writing this on October 31—Halloween—when the spooks are out. And speaking of mysteries, you, our donor, are one to us.

Several years ago, GlobalGiving stopped sharing donor details with us. Your name now appears as “anonymous,” and while we’re grateful for your support, it feels a little spooky not knowing who you are.

We’d love to know where in the world you’re from, what drew you to our project among the thousands on GlobalGiving, and what you hope to see from us. Without that connection, we’re left guessing—and we’d rather respond with intention. So, please excuse us if we sound a bit distant.

Unfortunately, we’ve also encountered some unsettling activity: individuals outside of SoulGives have created projects using our name on GlobalGiving that have nothing to do with us. We’ve reported these fraudulent actions, but we also want to make sure you’re aware.

On a brighter note, our e-commerce site, SoulGives.org, has undergone a major refresh this past quarter. Navigation is now simpler and faster, and you’ll find updated photos, product descriptions, and even customer reviews. If you’ve ever purchased from us, we’d love for you to leave a review—it helps others discover the beauty and integrity of our producers.

We’re also excited to share new products and fresh options for many of our long term partners. For example, Lorena—our artisan who crafts all-natural cosmetics and soaps—has launched new packaging and labeling that meet USDA guidelines, allowing us to sell her products in the U.S. Thanks to your support, she’s now able to hire staff and strengthen her community’s sustainability.

We’re always eager to hear your thoughts. What would you like to see more of? What stories or products resonate most with you?

As always, thank you for standing with us. We continue to meet incredible artisans and growers, but financial constraints limit how many we can support. Your generosity makes a real difference.

Warmly, 

SoulGives Team

Links:

• The SoulGives Website Home Page

Dear Supporter,

As we begin July, the SoulGives team is happy to report on an incredible first half of the year. Our e-commerce site, soulgives.org, now hosts the largest collection of handcrafted products we’ve ever offered—each representing the talent and creativity of our artisan and grower communities throughout Latin America. The newly redesigned site is not only faster and easier to navigate, but it’s also more intuitive, helping visitors quickly find what interests them.

One of the most exciting additions is a dedicated catalog page for every artisan and grower, complete with background stories, visual content, and rich descriptions that detail their craft and culture.

In response to feedback from our producers, we’ve invested in two new support initiatives: professional advice on product labeling to align with USDA standards, and social media training to help them amplify their presence online. These improvements were made possible through generous donations from our supporters.

Another tangible example of your impact is a new electric pottery wheel that was purchased for one of our Costa Rican potters. Until now, they had only used manual wheels. This upgrade has made their work more efficient and less physically taxing. While this small-motor wheel is ideal for creating smaller items, we hope that with continued success, they'll soon be able to afford a larger model capable of shaping bigger pieces.

Finally, we’re proud to announce that customers can now leave reviews directly on the site. If you’ve ever purchased something from SoulGives, we warmly invite you to share your experience and help others discover the soul behind each product.

Looking ahead, we will begin using the Google Ad Grant funding we were awarded—up to $10,000 per month in advertising credits—to promote our creators and their amazing work to a wider audience. If you happen to see one of our ads online, we hope you’ll click through and take a look.