FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Light the World is the annual Christmas initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It invites everyone to celebrate the birth and life of Jesus Christ and follow His example of caring and serving others.

The Giving Machine is one component of Light the World. These unique vending machines provide a convenient, fun, and memorable way for the public to give to those in need. Light the World and the Giving Machine initiatives are done in the Christmas season, and so Giving Machine kiosks are not available year-round.

Instead of buying candy or snacks from a vending machine, individuals at a Giving Machine purchase goods and services for people in need, no matter who they are or where they live. When a purchase (donation) is made, an animation that simulates a purchase of a regular snack machine is shown, along with an image of the item being delivered. At the end, a QR code is displayed for obtaining a confirmation of purchase.

In Japan in 2026, the Giving Machine will be hosted in Tokyo and Osaka. Venues will be announced as soon as they have been firmed up.

For your information, the Tokyo 2025 Giving Machine digital kiosks were in Ootemachi Tower B2F floor Mori no Plaza, and ran from November 24 through December 25 daily from 11:00AM – 7:30PM.

The Giving Machine Initiative is in select cities worldwide. This year it is planned to have more than 100 locations, and these will be announced in November in the press and on GivingMachine.org.

Items are chosen by participating charity organizations affiliated with each city. Some sample items that were available for donation for the Tokyo 2025 Giving Machines were winter clothing, food, emergency preparedness kits, a solar powered lamp, vegetable seeds.

In participating cities outside Japan, Giving Machine often include food, clean water, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education assistance, hygiene kits, bedding, job and career training, and more. Chickens, goats, pigs, ducks, sheep, and beehives are also sometimes available.

Payment options for the Tokyo 2025 Giving Machine Initiative were JCB, American Express, Diner’s Club, and Discover credit cards for on-machine checkout, and extended to Visa and Mastercard via a web-based checkout system you can use with your smartphone on site. Payment in cash (unassisted, no change available, donor puts the correct amount of cash in an envelope with a donation slip) was also an option. We intend to keep these payment methods for 2026 in both Tokyo and Osaka, and hope to have Visa and Mastercard also available via the on-machine checkout.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept Suica and other such pre-paid cards.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all operational costs, ensuring that 100 percent of every contribution goes to the participating nonprofit organizations. The Church receives no financial benefit from this initiative. The Church provides each nonprofit with a summary of items donors purchased, and they have twelve months to fulfill these orders. If an item substitution is necessary, replacements remain in the category of the original item.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints generously underwrites all operating expenses for the Light the World Giving Machine initiative. This ensures that 100% of every donation is given to the intended charitable organization(s). In many international locations, donors have the opportunity to cover credit card fees if they desire. Otherwise, the Church will cover those fees. For Tokyo and Osaka 2026, the Church is covering the credit card fees.

Since the first Giving Machine was switched on, US$70 million has been donated.

Every participating Giving Machine charity represents a cause with pressing needs. Before visiting a Giving Machine, spend a few minutes learning about the vital work of these charities. We‘re confident that a cause will resonate with you and you will know that your gift will bless a life!

Where possible, we invite all to visit a Giving Machine and experience “the fun of choosing, the joy of giving, and the warmth of making someone happy”. However, if circumstances do not permit it, you may want to consider donating to the participating charities by going directly to their websites. In this case the donation is simply cash that the organization will use as it sees fit rather than “items” like the Giving Machine offers. Links to participating charity organizations will appear on the site as they are determined.

Where possible, we invite all to visit a Giving Machine and experience “the fun of choosing, the joy of giving, and the warmth of making someone happy”. The Giving Machine is not set up to receive donations from individuals which are not tied to the purchase of an item from the Giving Machine kiosks.
If you would like to make donations of cash, we would encourage you to check the websites of participating charities and donate directly to them.

Sharing your light with others goes far beyond a donation at a Giving Machine kiosk.

For more information about the Light the World initiative, visit LightTheWorld.org.

For more information about Giving Machines, visit GivingMachine.org.

If you would like to participate as a volunteer in the Tokyo or Osaka Giving Machine initiatives, feel free to inquire using the contact form on this website.