It’s getting down the wire—Christmas is a week away, and Hanukkah is already underway! At this point, you may be in a frenzy trying to find the perfect holiday gifts for friends and family members. If you want to give your loved ones something they’ll really appreciate, why not skip the mall this year and try giving them gifts that give back?

We’ve collected the best gifts for your friends and family that also give back by supporting communities and people in need. It feels great to give from the heart, and it feels even better to know you played a part in helping people all over the world.

For Your Significant Other

For her: This clutch would make a fabulous accessory for New Year’s Eve, but if you look closely you can see it’s made out of recycled bottle tops. Bottletop’s bags and belts are handcrafted and proceeds benefit the Bottletop Foundation, which uses art and music to raise awareness and funds education projects that tackle teenage health issues in Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Brazil, and the UK.

For him: If your partner can’t leave home without his headphones, give him a stylish and classic pair that sound just as good as they look. A portion of the proceeds from each pair of LSTN headphones goes to the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which provides hearing aids to those in need worldwide.

For Your Friends

For the host: You’re already planning to bring a bottle of wine to your friend’s holiday party, so why not choose one that helps furry friends in need? Real Dogs Wine donates 10 percent of its proceeds to animal rescue and adoption organizations. You can even personalize the photo on the wine bottle with a picture of your friend’s pet to make it a truly special keepsake.

For your coworker: We all have a friend who’s a java junkie, so a coffee gift set is a no-brainer. This year, give a present that will support your friend’s caffeine habit and help new entrepreneurs at the same time. The profits from these gift sets from Laughing Man Coffee and Tea benefit educational and business development efforts in small communities both here and abroad.

For Your Family

For Mom: Give your mother a subscription to Causebox for a gift that keeps on giving! She’ll receive a quarterly shipment of the newest socially conscious products for women, and at the same time, Causebox will donate $7 to one of seven partner charities. You can let Causebox choose where to donate, or you can designate the charity that you know is closest to her heart.

For Dad: This stylish new addition to Dad’s closet will help clothe those in need. With each purchase of a Twillory shirt, a prepaid envelope is included, making it convenient for him to donate gently used garments to those who are jobless, homeless, or victims of a disaster. Dad will thank you for this much-needed closet purge, and those ill-fitting shirts in the back of his closet will go to good use.

For Kids

For a budding fashion plate: These cute and fun winter hats are just as charitable as they are whimsical. Krochet Kids is a nonprofit organization that employs artists in Uganda and Peru to create hats and accessories. Their business model pairs work with education and mentorship to help craftspeople obtain a steady income and provide for their families.

For an animal lover: This cute stuffed puppy is the perfect snuggle buddy, and 100 percent of the proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which treats children with cancer and life-threatening diseases. Donations to St. Jude ensure that the families of children treated at the hospital never get a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food.

Now it’s your turn! Please take a moment to share your ideas for gifts that give back. And happy holidays!

 

Rose Caiola
Inspired. Rewired.