Good Design: Giving Machines

The holiday season at the end of the year is a cherished time for many, but it is also incredibly important for charitable donations. 30% of charitable donations in the United States occur in the month of December alone [1]. One modern source of charitable fundraising is the iconic Light the World Giving Machines, a unique vending machine that showcases the many ways to support the lives of others. These machines can be found in 126 different cities, spanning the globe in 21 different countries [2].

Figure 1: A woman donates via a Giving Machine in the Philippines [3].

From the year that these venerable giving machines were first introduced in 2017, they have provided over one million people the opportunity to donate even small donations. Between 2017 and 2023, $22 million have been raised for charitable organizations such as the American Red Cross [4]. This is the first aspect of the good design of these machines: their accessibility. Making donations can be complicated; it requires research to understand how impactful donations are and how much money actually reaches people in need. 

Figure 2: Several giving machines as pictured by the World Food Program USA [5].

Giving machines, like the one pictured above, offer diverse choices for willing donors. They open people’s eyes to the many ways that others can receive help. Prices range from $5 to $250 for items including hygienic products to animals. [6]. Rather than entrusting a charitable organization to choose how to spend donated money, individuals can choose themselves what gifts to give to those in need.

Another good design aspect of giving machines is that 100% of proceeds go directly to the charitable organization of choice. Operational costs for the machines are covered by the sponsoring organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and even credit card fees are often covered [7]. Many big-name charities need funds to cover overhead, meaning that somewhere between 85 to 98% of donations actually benefit those in need while the rest is required to pay for staff and other costs; exact percentages depend on the organization [8]. Vending machines, fortunately, do not require a salary, and their upkeep is comparatively inexpensive. 

Figure 3: Individuals check out items to donate at a Giving Machine location in Times Square, New York City [8].

Finally, one of the reasons that makes Giving Machines so special is how visible they are. Donating is often a personal, private transaction conducted electronically. Giving Machines, however, bring the donating process to life. In New York last year, Giving Machines took center stage in Times Square, a ubiquitous location for all to see and feel the invitation to donate [9]. Too often, donating is out of sight and thus out of mind.

This year Giving Machine kiosks are being used to kick-off events celebrating Christmas all around the world [10]. Donating to those in need is always an opportunity to usher in the holiday season, and Giving Machines are making these opportunities more possible with each year. If you are interested in donating at a local Giving Machine, check out this site to see if there is a location near you [7].

References

[1] Staff writers. “When donors give: The importance of year-end giving,” Vanguard Charitable. Published 12 November 2024. Accessed December 7, 2024. 

[2] Cobabe, Aimee. “‘Like the Wise Men of Old’: Light the World Giving Machine Initiative Expands to 126 Locations in 2025.” Church News, 12 Nov. 2025, 3:25 p.m. MST, thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2025/11/12/light-the-world-giving-machine-initiative-expands-126-cities-in-2025/. 

[3] Staff writers. “LDS Church announces locations of holiday season Giving Machines,” Gephardt Daily. Published 13 November 2024. Accessed December 7, 2024.

[4] Paul, Keith. “Church of Jesus Christ charity vending machines support Red Cross and hundreds of other nonprofits,” American Red Cross of Nevada. Published 23 November 2023. Accessed December 7, 2024.

[5] World Food Program USA. "Light the World Giving Machines Campaign Features World Food Program USA this Holiday Season." World Food Program USA, 13 Nov. 2024, https://wfpusa.org/news/light-the-world-giving-machines-campaign-wfpusa-holiday-season/.

[6] Rahal, Nour. “Reverse vending machines to support charity coming to Campus Martius for holidays,” Detroit Free Press. Published 11 November 2024. Accessed December 7, 2024.

[7] “Light the World,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Accessed December 6, 2025. 

[8] Cooper, Megan. “Discover What Percentage of Your Donations Go to Charity,” Love to Know. Published 2 November 2023. Accessed December 7, 2024.

[9] Walch, Tad. “How Giving Machines drew major American charity leaders together in Times Square,” Deseret News. Published 2 December 2024. Accessed December 7, 2024.

[10] Cobabe, Aimee. “Light the World Giving Machine Launch Worldwide to Celebrate Jesus Christ.” Church News, 2 Dec. 2025, thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2025/12/02/light-the-world-giving-machine-launch-worldwide-celebrate-jesus-christ/. 

To cite this article:
Smith, Eli and Dylan Conover. “Good Design: Giving Machines.” The BYU Design Review, 8 December 2025, https://www.designreview.byu.edu/collections/good-design-giving-machines.