Description
OxfamUnverpackt is the online gift shop of Oxfam Deutschland where each “gift” is a donation: a goat for €28, school books for €12 or clean water for 50 people for €44. The person receiving it gets a card that describes the gift, which makes it an alternative to presents bought at the last minute that end up in a drawer.
The goat or the school books are symbolic: the shop says so itself. The money goes where Oxfam needs it most, mainly its emergency aid, long-term development projects and campaigns. If no goats are needed at the time, it pays for other projects that help people earn a living. According to the FAQ, about 80 % of each gift goes to that work and about 20 % covers the shop and general administration. Oxfam Deutschland e.V. runs the shop, holds the DZI donation seal and is audited every year by an independent auditor.
Each gift comes with a printed card with a magnet, an e-card sent by email or a PDF to print, with a personal message and a chosen sending date. E-cards and PDFs can be sent the same day. Payment is by direct debit, credit card or PayPal, and the gift counts as a tax-deductible donation; for totals up to €300 a bank statement is enough as proof. Prices go from €12 to €1,600 for a well (checked November 2026), and a cheaper selection is sold in the Oxfam Shops.
Strengths
- A present that produces no object and no packaging, and funds Oxfam’s emergency and development work.
- E-cards and PDF cards can be sent the same day, so it works as a last-minute present.
- The donation is tax-deductible, and Oxfam Deutschland holds the DZI seal and publishes its accounts.
Weaknesses
- The goat or school books are symbolic: the money goes where Oxfam needs it most, not to that exact item.
- About a fifth of the price pays for the shop and administration rather than for projects.
- Not every recipient likes a present they can’t unwrap or use.
Who it is for
People in Germany looking for a present for someone who already has everything, or who would rather give a donation in their name than another object.
Sources
- OxfamUnverpackt: home, so funktioniert’s, FAQ, Ziege, checked November 2026
- Oxfam Deutschland: Transparenz