Global Exchange is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting environmental, political and social justice. Since our founding in 1988, we have increased the US public's global awareness while building partnerships worldwide.
Through programs such as Reality Tours, Public Education, Human Rights, and Fair Trade, Global Exchange works for human rights and social and economic justice through grassroots citizen empowerment.
Visit the Global Exchange website for information on Reality Tours and our campaigns for human rights and economic justice. Please direct information requests about all these programs to the appropriate member of our staff.
Check out our Global Exchange Originals section, filled with books, videos and other resources written or produced by Global Exchange staff members. This section also includes Global Exhange t-shirts so you pick one out and proudly support the social justice movement.
Our Mission: The mission of Global Exchange's Fair Trade Program is to successfully market fairly-traded products in order to (1) increase benefits for producers and consumers through economic fairness, mutual respect, and understanding, and (2) build support for a more sustainable system of trade. We strive to pay a fair price to disadvantaged producers and to support producer-initiated efforts to improve their quality of life. In addition, we seek to increase understanding and activism of U.S. consumers about unfair trade practices and the fair trade alternative.
Global Exchange Store Description: All of our Fair Trade Stores set an example of working responsibly with world craft producers. We generate income for thousands of artisans and their families in over 40 countries, by operating according to Fair Trade Criteria. Global Exchange Fair Trade Stores feature products from around the world, with fair prices for consumers-- and fair prices paid to producers. Our San Francisco store is one of the highest grossing retail Fair Trade stores in the nation, and our Berkeley store has more than doubled since it opened in 1991. Growing at an even faster pace is the Global Exchange Online Store, one of the highest rated stores among all of Yahoo!'s 20,000+ stores online!
Global Exchange Store Locations:
Global Exchange operates an Online Store and five brick and mortar stores; two in the California Bay Area, two in the Washington DC area, and one in Portland, OR. For
store locations, please visit our Contact Us section.
To learn more about the producers of the products we carry, please visit our Producer Section.
There are many ways to get involved in the Fair Trade movement. Here are some ideas, big and small, to help you become more involved in making this a better world and planet for us all.
If you're interested in selling products with Global Exchange, we choose our trading partners based on:
- Whether or not it is a Fair Trade group, based on Fair Trade criteria
- Whether or not we think we can sell the merchandise (based on quality, style, merchandise mix, uniqueness)
Groups who sell products to our Fair Trade Stores are either Fair Trade Federation members, Transfair certified, or carefully screened through our vendor form to ensure that they qualify as Fair Trade. Filling out a vendor form and meeting Fair Trade criteria unfortunately does not guarantee that Global Exchange will be able to enter into a business relationship with a company. Products must also be considered marketable, desirable, at the correct price and available, among other factors.
Each of our stores does their own buying independently. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by the buyer at each individual Global Exchange store. Before we consider product(s) for our stores and begin the process of screening, we make certain the products are from:
- A producer group that receives a fair living wage and humane, healthy working conditions.
- A producer group with whom you have a long term, continuing business relationship.
- Environmentally sustainable sources.
Every item we sell has been carefully selected to meet Global Exchange's high quality standards as well as stringent international Fair Trade certification criteria. If you or someone you know has a Fair Trade product that you would like to see us carry, visit our Potential Vendor Information Page to learn more about our purchasing guidelines and other useful information.
Please visit our Press Room section for information.
Volunteer Opportunity
If you would like to volunteer with us at our Online Store for a day, a week, a month or even longer, we'd love to consider you. Please visit our Intern and Volunteer page for more information about our program in general, or email Derek Hines if you're interested in volunteering specifically with our Online Store. Don't forget to include your contact information. Thanks!
COLLABORATORS
The Global Exchange Online Store works in collaboration with several Fair Trade organizations and local community organizations to build a strong foundation that is rooted in the community in which it operates, while simultaneously working towards a more just system of trade that builds people-to-people ties.
Fair Trade Collaborators
Aid to Artisans
Catholic Relief Services
Coop America Fair Trade Alliance
Fair Trade Judaica
Global Good Partners
International Labor Rights Forum
Oxfam, Make Trade Fair Campaign
The Craft Center at CHF International
The Fair Trade Resource Network
The Fair Trade Federation
Transfair USA
United Students for Fair Trade
United Students Against Sweatshops
Women�s Funding Network
Through working with local community organizations, the Global Exchange Online Store operates a business in which its values touch every aspect of its operations and supports the local San Francisco community.
Local Community Collaborators
Goodwill Industries
The Global Exchange Online Store accepts interns from the Community Jobs Program, a program that places people, previously dependent on government assistance, into internships with non-profits.
Hands On Bay Area
Hands On Bay Area (HOBA) creates opportunities for people to volunteer, learn and lead in their communities. The Global Exchange Online Store partners with HOBA four times a year to lead volunteer projects centered around Fair Trade chocolate.
Presidio School of Management
One of the first business schools to focus on sustainability, Presidio students work on consulting project for the Global Exchange Online Store.
Project 20
The Global Exchange Online Store accepts volunteer from the Project 20 Fine Alternatives Program. The program was designed for people who cannot afford to pay their parking tickets or traffic violations, and instead elect to do community service hours in lieu of paying.
Sunset Scavengers
A San Francisco waste removal company, refers residents to the Global Exchange Online Store to recycle their cardboard boxes, packing material and Styrofoam peanuts, which the Global Exchange Online Store then uses for shipping.
The Arc
The Global Exchange Online Store works with volunteers from the Arc, an organization that serves, supports and advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities
Partner with Global Exchange
Interested in partnering with the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store? A great way to do so is through our
Affiliate Program.
Visit our the Fair Trade section of our Frequently Asked Questions page for a complete list of answers to your questions about Global Exchange.
Please visit our Contact Us section.
Our Online Store makes every effort to re-use and recycle as much packing material as possible. To learn more about our efforts, visit our Recycling Program section.
The Global Fair Trade Online Store is committed to supporting other non-profits and educational institutions reach their full potential. Throughout the years, the Global Fair Trade Online Store has donated thousands of dollars worth of merchandise to fundraising events and worthy causes. Below is a list of some of the organizations we've supported in this capacity:
Donation Recipients
- Adoption Ministry at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church
- A Sense of Peace
- Audubon Society of Greater Denver
- Autonomie Project, Inc.
- CARE International
- Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
- Center for Health Environment and Justice
- Center for Third World Organizing
- ClothingChange
- Crown Point Farm and Education Center
- Cultural Survival
- East Maui Animal Refuge
- Eco-Cycle
- Fiddleheads Food Coop
- Food For Thought Film Festival
- Go Veggie
- Guatemala News and Information Bureau
- Haleakala Waldorf School in Maui, Hawaii
- Herrera Environmental Consultants
- International Development Week, Yale University
- Karma Market
- Midwest Rabbit Rescue
- Music for America
- National Council of Negro Women
- Net Impact Northern California
- Orion School, Redwood City, California
- Oxfam, Brown University
- Popular Springs Animal Sanctuary
- Ramah Presbyterian Church
- Reed College
- San Francisco Zen Center
- San Jose State University
- Saving Antiquities for Everyone
- Seed Coalition
- Skyline College
- Snow Leopard Trust
- Social Justice Club, Concordia University College of Alberta
- Social Venture Network
- Solo Flamenco
- Susan G. Komen Foundation
- Tahoe Regional Environmental Education
- The Association for Enterprise Opportunity
- The Children's Nature Institute
- The Drew School, San Francisco
- The Glimpse Foundation
- The Green Fest at Rowan University
- The Intersection for the Arts
- The Rotary Club of Fremont-Union City-Newark Sunset
- The Vancouver Humane Society
- The Women's Center of Greater Cleveland
- Tibetan Aid Project
- Women Helping Women
Donation Program Guidelines
If you are interested in requesting a donation for your event or organization, please follow these guidelines:
A formal written request must to be emailed to our Donations Coordinator or mailed to:
Donation Request
Global Exchange Online Store
1705 SE Rhine Street
Portland, OR 97202
All donation proposals must be submitted to us at least one month before your event.
Donation proposals should include:
- Description of your group/organization
- Event description
- Expected event attendance
- Promotional Opportunities: List ways in which the event will promote the work of the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, such as our logo on your event material, a link to our website from your website, ability to display/include our marketing materials at event.
to Global Exchange Fair Trade Program
