by Jessica Gendron-Labbe | photography by Jennifer Grace
Misty Edgecomb grew up on the outskirts of Auburn, where the strong sense of community shaped who she is and what she stands for today. Settling back down in Auburn to raise her own family, Edgecomb’s deep connection to her community has driven her to play an active role in its growth and development. But it wasn’t until her daughter’s fourth birthday party that she became aware of a problem she hadn’t anticipated—gift-giving.
A fresh take on gift giving
When Edgecomb invited her daughter’s entire preschool class to her fourth birthday party, she assumed several kids wouldn’t be able to make it. However, with not much else to do during the chilly month of March, nearly every child showed up—30 kids with one or two parents in tow. While the party was a huge success, it led to many gifts that, while appreciated, didn’t quite hit the mark.
“Kids are happy to tell you just how wrong the gift is,” she laughs, reflecting on how children can be brutally honest. “With Thoughtful Giving, we would all have the info needed to give the perfect gift every time—favorite colors, characters, and hobbies—all in one place.”
Edgecomb felt gift-giving could be more thoughtful, personalized, and even less wasteful, so she reached out to Michael Hynes, a tech guru she knew, and found a talented website developer, Tomas Pozo, owner of Zilo, to help bring Thoughtful Giving to life. Together, they have created a website that stores the giftee’s preferences and interests, making gift-giving that much easier.
Understanding the complexities of launching a new business, especially one with a strong social mission, Edgecomb decided to structure the company as a for-profit organization that donates its profits to nonprofit causes.
“We wanted to give back to our community and ensure our profits went to local causes,” she explains.
Thoughtful Giving comes with one free profile with the option of a yearly fee of $19.99 for up to five profiles or $29.99 for unlimited profiles. However, anyone can view the gift lists without needing to subscribe, making it easier for family members and friends to find the perfect gift.
Although it’s a subscription-based service, Thoughtful Giving is committed to putting all profits back into its users’ communities through donations to nonprofits. Most importantly, users create and manage detailed wish lists with the promise that their data is safe and will never be sold.
Solving a Problem for Moms—and More
Thoughtful Giving first emerged as a problem solver for moms who took on the responsibility of gift-giving and list production, but Edgecomb and her team began to see that the need stretched beyond that. The platform is also a way for adults to become better gift-givers to each other.
“Giving my husband all the information he needs has made him a great gift-giver to me,” Edgecomb shares.
Whether it’s specific sizes, preferred colors, or even skincare brands, the platform allows users to curate their profiles with all the details that make gift-giving successful.
“If we were more thoughtful about how we were giving gifts, our closets and landfills would be emptier, and our earth would be much happier,” she adds.
The platform aims to reduce the waste of unwanted gifts, a problem that clutters our closets and fills our landfills.
Thoughtful and Tailored Gifts
Thoughtful Giving goes beyond it’s own wish lists. Users can import wish lists from popular retailers like Amazon or Target, and the site automatically updates to reflect which items have been purchased.
Edgecomb envisions a future where thoughtful giving is the norm, whether for birthdays, holidays, or other special occasions.
“The more information you have, the better,” she says, emphasizing how easy it is to create profiles for different people in your life—whether it’s your child, spouse, or a friend.
Expanding the Vision
Thoughtful Giving isn’t just for families and friends. It also offers a unique solution for schools and nonprofits. Schools can participate in the Thoughtful Giving Fundraiser, earning $5 for every subscription sold, with no startup costs or fees.
“It’s a two-year fundraiser, and when people start or renew their subscriptions, the school automatically gets the $5,” she explains. “There is no need for parents to stockpile 18 pies in their freezer or go on late evening delivery runs.”
And one day soon, nonprofits will also be able to create profiles, allowing supporters to donate items or services directly to the cause. Whether it’s funding for electrical work or a virtual giving tree, the platform aims to facilitate meaningful contributions.
Growing with the Community
Since launching last year, Thoughtful Giving has seen organic growth driven by word of mouth.
“We never meant for this to be something you use by yourself,” she says. “You use it, and then you share it with someone. Thoughtful Giving is a community.”
Although it is not yet available in the App Store, the site is optimized for mobile use, and users can download Thoughtful Giving as a shortcut that functions just like an app.
Building a Legacy
As the owner of ME Massage Therapy, with three massage therapists on staff, Edgecomb is no stranger to running a business. She understands the value of keeping operations lean and ethical.
Thoughtful Giving is a movement towards considerate, ethical, and environmentally conscious gift-giving.
“We won’t cut corners for growth,” Edgecomb says. “I would rather create the platform in our own time with ethics and feel good about it.”
Edgecomb’s vision for the platform is clear: to create a space where giving and receiving gifts is not just an obligation but a joyful experience that brings people closer together.
“It feels amazing giving gifts that people truly love,” she says. “It just feels different.”
This innovative approach to gift-giving is bound to impact how we celebrate special occasions and how we think about consumption, waste, and the environment. It’s a gift to the community and the world.
Thoughtful Giving