We first recommend researching the cause that most resonates with you. If you’re still unsure, visit our featured charities to explore some of the most impactful organizations across the globe. Perhaps you already have a charity in mind, but it’s not an option on our site - simply add it here.
Register Your Event
Once you’ve decided on your charity or charities, follow these simple steps to register:
Enter your name, wedding date, and email.
Enter up to 3 charities to sponsor. That’s it!
Once completed, use the direct link to embed on your wedding website or direct them to our website, where they can search for you by name.
Say Thanks
As donations arrive, they will be tracked in your registry. Every person’s gift, including name, amount, and organization, will be disclosed to you so you can send thank you cards.
Over the years our founder, Beth Helmstetter, has worked with many couples who’ve chosen to donate their registry either in totality or partially to charity. However, due to the nature of many charitable organizations, this process has been less than smooth. Many organizations are simply not set up to accept and track multiple donations from small groups of people in a way that allows couples to track, acknowledge and thank guests appropriately. Not to mention that guests have to call each organization directly to give and are often faced with leaving messages, unreturned calls and more. The Good Beginning streamlines the giving process by allowing couples to choose their organizations and having an interface that allows for identifying, giving and tracking of gifts to occur in one place. After the gift has been received, The Good Beginning generates a list of who, how much and which organization each guest gave also making the acknowledgement process very simple.
How does it work?
Please click here to read all about how The Good Beginning works and how you can get started right away. To see a sample registry, click here.
What if the charity I want to support is not on the website?
If you don’t see the organization you want to give to, simply click here to add them to our site. We will then do all of the backend paperwork needed to get the organization set up to receive gifts.
How do I know the charity is in good standing?
Before giving to any charitable organization, it is recommended to do your due diligence by researching their work and how they spend their funds to ensure they align with your personal values. We recommend reviewing annual reports and forms 990 prior to selecting your organization of choice. You can find this information for a majority of organizations by visiting guidestar.org.
How can I get my charity featured on The Good Beginning?
We love learning about new organizations and telling The Good Beginning couples all about your amazing accomplishments. Kindly email hello@thegoodbeginning.com for consideration and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Is The Good Beginning a 501(c)3?
Yes, The Good Beginning is now recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This designation allows us to operate as a tax-exempt, charitable entity, ensuring that your contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
How does the donation process work?
Once a donation has been made, all funds are held in an account on behalf of the couple. 30 to 45 days following the wedding date (as many guests continue to give after the wedding), one lump check is submitted to each charity on the couple’s behalf. We will not have a receipt for this donation until after the wedding, however, once we receive confirmation of receipt, we are happy to share copies of the donation confirmation for your reference. Please note as the funds are directly given to The Good Beginning, the receipts from the organizations will also be sent to The Good Beginning and will not name each individual wedding guest as a donor.
How is The Good Beginning funded?
The Good Beginning’s number one goal is connecting couples with charitable organizations and is proud to have the goal of generating millions of dollars annually for charities worldwide. 89% of every donation goes straight to the organization of your choice to help us meet this mission. 3% of the remaining funds go towards credit card processing fees and the remaining 8% of the donation is considered an administrative fee used to pay salaries, operating expenses and to ultimately grow The Good Beginning.