Where to Find Gifts That Give Back

Double your joy this holiday season by purchasing awesome presents that are also gifts that give back! This post has tons of cute ideas to help!

I am often completely overwhelmed by the amount of need in the world. From right in my backyard to countries on the other side of the earth, there are needs upon needs upon needs. It breaks my heart to see the number of people struggling, whether it’s with poverty or sickness or hunger or those caught in terrible slavery.

I often feel so helpless. I’m only one person, and these problems are enormous. I have absolutely no hope of fixing all of them all by myself. Often I find myself feeling so overwhelmed by the enormity of the need that I am paralyzed into inaction. Because I can’t fix alllll the things, I do nothing.

So silly. It makes no sense.

So recently my mantra has become, “Just do something.” Yes, maybe it is something small, but it is better than doing nothing. One of the little “somethings” that I’ve done recently was trying to purchase some of my Christmas gifts from places that give back to a charity or cause in some way.

I think that half the battle can sometimes be finding these types of companies or organizations, so I thought I’d include a quick list of some of the ones that I’ve purchased from in the past in case you’re looking for a “little something” to do as well.

I make $0 from any of these links I’m about to share. They are not affiliate links. Just companies that I thought had a cool mission behind them. 🙂

Where to Find Gifts that Give Back

1. World Vision

World Vision holds an extra special place in my heart. They are a a global Christian humanitarian organization that partners with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

I had the absolute honor of traveling to Ecuador with World Vision in September 2019 to witness their incredible work firsthand. The trip included kicking off their new #chosen child sponsorship initiative that gives children the power to choose their own sponsors.

I’ve talked to many, many readers who love to give the gift of child sponsorship through World Vision. And World Vision also has a Charity Gift Catalog where you can give everything from medicine to soccer balls to animals to clean water to education and more. 

You can also give to the World Vision Fund and choose beautiful handcrafted gifts, some of which were designed by celebrities who are also supporters of World Vision’s mission.

In 2021, 90% of World Vision’s total operating expenses were used for programs that benefit children, families, and communities in need. You can learn more about their work here.

2. Cuddle + Kind

I originally found Cuddle + Kind on Instagram and absolutely fell in love with their mission (and their cute hand-knit dolls)!

For every ethically produced hand-knit doll sold, they provide 10 meals to children in need. They also sell cute prints. Each print provides 5 meals to children in need.

Read more about Cuddle + Kind’s mission here.

3. Love Your Melon

A friend of mine told me about Love Your Melon a few years ago, and I couldn’t order a cute knit hat fast enough! (I now own 2 beanies and a headband!)

Love Your Melon is an apparel brand dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer in America. They also support nonprofit organizations who lead the fight against pediatric cancer.

50% of profit from the sale of all Love Your Melon products is given to their nonprofit partners. You can learn more about LYM’s mission here.

4. Preemptive Love Coalition

Preemptive Love Coalition works to bring relief to war-torn families and create jobs so that refugees can rebuild their lives. They are hard at work in Syria and Iraq and also have aided in disaster relief in the US.

They sell handmade soaps and candles and also allow purchasers to give gifts of food, shelter, and other necessities to refugees in need.

You can read more about their work here.

5. Sunshine Nut Co.

Don Larson left his job as a high level executive with Hershey to move to Mozambique and start Sunshine Nut Co., where they employ primarily adult orphans and support orphanages and community programs throughout Mozambique with 90% of their profits.

Their delicious cashews would make a perfect stocking stuffer or add-on to any gift. Read their story here.

6. Headbands of Hope

For every cute headband sold at Headbands of Hope, they give a headband to a child with cancer. (You can see some of their adorable recipients in their giving gallery.) They also donate a percentage of their profits to cancer charities.

You can read more about HoH here.

7. Thistle Farms

Thistle Farms, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, helps women who are recovering and healing from trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. They provide them with a safe place to live, a meaningful job, and continue to help support them even after the women have “graduated” from their program.

Thistle Farms offers beautiful candles, bath and body products, apparel, jewelry, and more. You can read about their mission here.

8. The Arise Box

The Arise Box is a quarterly subscription box that fights human trafficking. They use 10% of the profits to build care packages for human trafficking survivors in the USA, AND all of the items in their boxes make a positive impact on the world in some way. From sustainable and fair trade items to other products that help fight trafficking themselves, each box is full of amazing goodies that also have amazing impact.

You can check out the latest season’s box and learn more about The Arise Box’s mission here.

9. Fire Department Coffee

Donnie is a HUGE coffee drinker, so I am always looking for coffee-related gifts for him! Fire Department Coffee is run by active and retired firefighters. Ten percent of FDC’s net proceeds are donated to help provide essential resources and assistance to first responders who have been injured on the job, mentally or physically, or who are facing other serious health challenges.

I realized just how important this need was when a friend lost her firefighter husband recently, so I truly appreciate FDC’s mission and purpose. You can learn more about them here.

Even More Gifts that Give Back!

I asked my friends on Instagram to share some of their favorite companies with gifts that give back as well, and they had some great ones! Check them out here:

Clothing Companies that Give Back

• Bombas [T-Shirts, Underwear, Socks, and Slippers] – Donate products to the homeless for every product sold.
• Krochet Kids [Headwear for Kids and Adults, Toys] – Employ those in poverty in Uganda and Peru.
• Darn Good Yarn [Yarn, Crafts, and Clothing] – Focus on providing employment in areas of India where women face discrimination.
• Known Supply [Clothing and Accessories] – Work with underserved populations to create clothing and highlight the makers.
• State Bags [Purses, Backpacks, and Other Bags] – Support American children and families in need by providing backpacks and partnering with charities and schools.

Jewelry Brands that Give Back

• Purpose [Jewelry] – Help women and girls escape from human trafficking.
• The Giving Keys [Jewelry] – Donate a portion of their profits to provide employment resources and support those transitioning out of homelessness.
• Starfish Project [Jewelry] – Equip exploited women and girls with the tools they need to build an independent life.
• Lee Marie [Jewelry] – Give 100% of profits to different charities throughout the year.

Food and Drink Brands that Give Back

• JusTea [Tea] – Partner with small-scale farmers in Kenya and reinvest in their communities.
• This Saves Lives [Snack Bars and Cereal] – Work to end child hunger around the world.
• Theo [Chocolate] – Organic, fair-trade, ensure their farmers in the Congo earn a living wage.
• Rebbl [Drinks] – Donate to help fight human trafficking.

Home Brands that Give Back

• Bridgewater Candle Company [Candles] – Provide meals to children in orphanages around the world.
• Serrv International [Food, Home Accessories, Clothing, and Other Gifts] – Fight global poverty through fair and ethical trade.
• Simply Earth [Essential Oils] – Donate 13% of their profits to help fight sex trafficking.

Other Brands that Give Back

• Good Paper [Greeting Cards] – Employ women escaping sex trafficking in the Philippines and young adults orphaned by disease in Rwanda.
• Who Gives a Crap [Paper Products] – Donate 50% of profits to provide clean water and toilets around the world.
• Kiva [Crowdfunding Loans] – Help people living in poverty start businesses, attend school, invest in equipment, and more.
• Eden Reforestation Projects [Global Reforestation Projects] – Employ people in African communities to plant trees and work toward reforestation.

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Just like I feel inadequate when it comes to meeting all of the needs that exist in the world, I know this post only scratches the surface when it comes to listing all of the amazing organizations out there that give back when you purchase gifts from them.

I would love for you to leave your favorite organizations in the comments so we can make this list even larger and provide even more resources for people who are looking to do “a little something.”

Because all those “little somethings”? They add up. I may feel like I am just a little drop in the bucket by myself, but together, we really can make an impact. <3

Have a wonderful holiday season, my friends!