Imagine a world where every purchase you make nurtures the planet, uplifts communities, and celebrates the unique craftsmanship of artisans and farmers. That's the world we strive to create every day at Ethical Trade Co. 


As we embark on another year, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. To sustain our mission, we're reaching out to our incredible community (yes, that means you!) to help us raise $48,000 to cover our operating costs this year.

Why Your Support Matters

Every dollar you contribute fuels our ability to:

  • 🤝 Partner with more fair trade cooperatives, ensuring fair wages and ethical treatment for hardworking artisans and farmers.

  • 🌱 Invest in sustainable practices that protect our beautiful planet for future generations.

  • 🎨 Bring you an even wider selection of handmade tableware, ethically sourced coffee, Pacari chocolate, and other fair-trade goods.

Our Impact So Far

  • Partnered with more than 50 artisan groups, co-ops, and fair-trade brands across 50 countries.

  • Generated $250,000 in overseas trade to support these artisan groups & fair-trade partners.

  • Served as the primary U.S. distribution & retail channel for more than 10 fair-trade brands.

How the Money Will Be Used

This fundraising campaign helps supplement our operating budget. More than 90% of the revenue from the fair-trade goods we sell goes back into purchasing more products, which means we rely on donations & sponsorships to help us cover our other expenses. 


This operational budget includes items like:

  1. Rent and utilities (30%): While we’re blessed to be rent-free, we pay monthly utilities, like gas, electric, and WiFi, to power our shop in Madison, WI.

  2. Online storefront (10%): Though we do what we can in-house, we have some recurring expenses like website hosting, ongoing development, and occasional product photography.

  3. Our team (60%): Just like we only work with brands and companies that pair fair and living wages, we are also committed to paying our team (2 contractors + 1 intern) a fair wage.

How You Can Help

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a profound difference. Here’s how we can reach our goal together:

  • A donation of $60 pays for 2 months of our online storefront.

  • A gift of $150 can cover 1 month of utilities.

  • A contribution of $500 covers 1 month of our marketing efforts.


We appreciate any amount that you’re able to give – if everyone in our community donated just $30, we’d reach our goal tomorrow! 

Together, We Can Create Waves of Change 🌈

Imagine the impact we can have with your support. More than just covering operating costs, your generosity plants seeds of change that grow into forests of opportunity for communities around the globe.


Ready to be a part of this transformative journey? Make a one-time or recurring donation to support our ongoing efforts.


With heartfelt gratitude,

James & Manuel
Co-Executive Directors | Ethical Trade Co.


P.S. Sharing is caring! 💌 Don't forget to spread the word by sharing our campaign with friends and family. Together, let's amplify our impact!