Each year, we love putting together some of our favorite gifts that give back in substantial and specific ways — not just some undetermined percentage of your purchase going to “charities.” While we try to share these kinds of gifts year round, it has special meaning to us today on #GivingTuesday, in which we take a moment to count our proverbial blessings, while finding ways that we can do good for others.
Now we know that with Giving Tuesday coming right on the heels of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday (phew) you may be experiencing a little bit of shopping burnout. But we hope there’s still room in your hearts — and your budgets — for some of these lovely gifts that give back.
And while we picked just one item from each of these makers or webshops, be sure to look at the rest of their collection too. These are some truly good people selling a lot of gorgeous gifts for worthy causes out there. If we had more time, we’d have picked 119 and not just 19.
Altruette Charm Bracelets and Necklaces
Choose from lots of gorgeous bracelets or necklaces, then add charms, each one supporting a specific charity in the categories of children, animals, community, education, women, education and the arts
Charms $75 and up, Altruette | Significant percentage of proceeds support your choice of charity
Kate Spade Blue Leather Wristlet
Handcrafted by the women artisans of Masoro, Rwanda
$158, Kate Spade NY On Purpose Collection | creating sustainable income for a community of 20,000
Handcrafted Wooden Hanukkah Dreidels
Designed by illustrator Suzy Ultman, and painted on solid karo wood
$2.79 each on sale, Crate & Barrel | supporting Florence Hospital, the premier medical center in Kashmir
Beaded Wrap Bracelet
A gorgeously mix of brass African beads, Czech glass, and Masai seed beads, finished with a hand-carved tag.
$44, 11 Main | supports hearing impaired artisans employed by Sasa Designs for the Deaf
Handcrafted Abera Leather Crossbody Tote
Named for Abera, of the Ethiopian women who creates the bags and are supported by her trade, we also included it in our list of awesome gifts for a mother-in-law who can be hard to shop for.
$178 at FashionABLE (add $8 for personalization) | Profits positively impact the lives of at-risk Ethiopian women and their families
Limited Edition Dumye Dolls
Handcrafted, organic heirloom dolls with linen and cotton blend lace clothing
$98-168 at Dumye or Pemberley Rose | For each doll, an orphan in need will be gifted her own doll
Hermosa Bamboo + Lemongrass Candle
Hand-poured soy wax candle infused with nature inspired aromas, all made in LA.
$22 each with quantity discounts, Raven + Lily | Purchases support women artists who have transitioned out of homelessness
Barr Hand & Body Cream
98% natural shea butter and aloe leaf body cream in three different scents
$24, Shop Good | 5% donated to Special Care, an innovative year-round school for children with special needs
Adult Stowe Scarf by Krochet Kids
A soft, unisex, handknit acrylic-alpaca blend cable knit scarf that provide fair wage opportunities and ongoing business training for women in need
We’re sorry, but this item is no longer available.
$40, Shop Good | Profits help change the life of the woman who made it
Natural Dyed Clothbound Journal
Made by Borderline, a fair trade collective supporting families in the dangerous refugee camps on the Thai-Burmese border.
$20, Global Goods Partners | Proceeds help provide food, health care and economic opportunities for refugee women and their families.
Aspen Trees for Wildlife Card Set
One tree is planted domestically for each US-made, recycled card purchased.
$24.99-34.99/set, National Wildlife Federation | Purchases help protect wildlife for our children’s future
The Enlighten Bracelet
With embossed words for mother, sister, daughter in various languages on the inside.
$39 at Stella and Dot | 20% donated to Every Mother Counts
Buttermilk Babies Swaddlers
Beautifully designed two-pack created in partnership with The Birthday Party Project
$50, Buttermilk Babies | 100% of proceeds support the charity’s mission of bringing joy to homeless children through the magic of birthdays
Heifer International Charm Bracelet
Can be worn as a multi-wrapped bracelet or single strand necklace.
We’re sorry, but this item is no longer available.
$16, Heifer Int’l | supporting women artisans in Industry to help break the cycle of poverty
We love these so much, they’re even in our holiday gift guide as one of the coolest gifts for women.
$199 and up, To the Market | Creating a sustainable living and economic opportunities for artisans in Kashmir
Caliber Collection Jewelry
A series of hand-forged bracelets and cufflinks created with metal from shell casings and engraved with the serial numbers from illegal guns obtained through buyback programs in Detroit, Newark, Hartford and San Francisco. Every bracelet worn means one more illegal gun off the streets.
$160 and up, Caliber Collection | 20% of proceeds donated to Caliber Foundation to support victims and communities devastated by illegal gun violence
Tumi Luggage Tag
No one will ever mistake your black Tumi bag for their Black Tumi bag with this hanging off the handle.
$40, Tumi | $35 of the purchase price goes directly to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
Men’s Handknit Beanies
This company has grown from cool US-made socks to a nice little accessory collection on a mission.
$21 and up, Mitscoots | Your purchase employees transitioning homeless in the US; for each purchase in the shop, an identical one is donated to a person in need.
Body Shop Frosted Plum Gift Set
A lovely heart soap and body lotion set, wrapped and ready to go
$7, The Body Shop | Provides one day of safe water for a family in Ethiopia through Water Aid
