Why I Donate (only) 5% of Every Sale

Giving back has always been part of Divella Designs.

Five percent of every sale is donated quarterly to the nonprofit featured on my Giving Back page. Some people may wonder why I chose 5%, rather than a larger percentage. The simple answer is that Divella Designs is a very small, handmade business.

Every piece is made by me in my Vermont studio. The cost of materials, tools, equipment, packaging, website fees and the many other expenses involved in running a small business all come from each sale. Unlike a large company, there is no separate charitable-giving budget or team behind the scenes. It is just me, making the jewelry, photographing it, packing orders and keeping the business going.

I chose 5% because it is an amount I can commit to consistently—not only during a special promotion or successful month, but throughout the year.

It is also not the only giving I do.

Throughout the year, Divella Designs makes additional donations to organizations such as the Springfield Family Center, which provides a food shelf, daily meals and housing assistance to people in our community. I also support humane societies and other organizations working on behalf of animals and wildlife.

Some of those gifts are connected to particular pieces or collections. Others are simply made when I see a need and am able to help.

I believe steady, meaningful giving matters more than choosing a larger number that may not be sustainable for a business of this size. Every order helps make those donations possible, and together, those individual purchases add up to something worthwhile.

Thank you for supporting handmade work and helping Divella Designs support both our local community and the animals and wild places we care about.