15 beautiful Mother's Day gifts that give back, beautifully

If you’re struggling to shop for Mother’s Day gifts for the mom who has everything, we always say, turn to Mother’s Day gifts that give back in some way.

Some of the most memorable gifts our own kids have given us are ones that support other moms and families who weren’t born with the same advantages I have, or charities and organizations that do fantastic things for the world. From accessories to beauty products, gifts like these are also wonderful reminders to us that our kids have learned to think of others.

How could a mom or grandma not love that?

So, this year, show a special mom that she’s raised you well, with one of these ideas for Mother’s Day gifts that give back. And…cue tears. – Kate + Liz

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Visit all of our 2018 Mother’s Day Gift Guide posts:
–20 wonderfully creative, personalized Mother’s Day gift ideas
–18 fantastic Mother’s Day gifts for stepmothers, mothers-in-law, or godmothers
–17 wonderful Mother’s Day gifts for grandmas
–13 Creative DIY Mother’s Day gifts that kids can make and give
–15 beautiful Mother’s Day gifts that give back, beautifully
–32 cool (really!) affordable Mother’s Day gifts all under $15
-8 of the sweetest mother-daughter necklace sets

Bright Endeavors Scented Soy Candles

We are longtime fans of Jane Mosbacher Morris’s exquisitely curated collection of gifts that give back from To the Market. New to the shop: these lovely scented candles from Bright Endeavors, which is all about investing in new moms. In fact 100% of the proceeds support a new mom in Chicago in need who helped create the candles. Buy lots.
($14.99 ea for 8oz tins; $26.99 for 11oz glass jar candles, To The Market)

Personalized Bar Necklace

We’ve been longtime supporters of the work of FashionABLE (now just called ABLE) which supports women locally and around the globe in truly tangible ways. Their collection has expanded to include lots of jewelry options, include these personalized necklaces. You’ve got up to letters for initials, a name, or the word (fierce, strong, loved) that’s perfect for a Mother’s Day gift that gives back. The necklaces even come in rose gold, natch.
($54, ABLE)

Handcrafted Black Leather Ring Bag

Raven & Lily is one of the very first boutiques we covered (going back to 2010!) that’s entirely dedicated to gifts that give back and wow, how they’ve grown since then. They’re now a certified B Corporation and members of the Fair Trade Federation, offering so many incredible gift ideas that support women artisans around the world, like this stunning handmade Ethiopian leather ring bag that converts to a roomy crossbody.
($364, Raven & Lily)

Slay Mug
Mother’s Day gift perfection. Especially with 10% of the profits donated to Charity:Water and another 10% at checkout, to a charity of your choice.
($18, Society B)
Note: If this mug is sold out– sad face — there are some other cool mugs and home goods available, and plenty more at this shop.

Chantecaille Philanthropy Cheek Shade

Liz looooooves Chantecaille beauty products, which are a worthy splurge — especially when it comes to Mother’s Day gifts. For one that give back, we are so taken with this line of Cheek Shades, each one debossed with an image of the charity that shade helps to support, from the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary (above), to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a favorite org of ours that does incredible work to help save orphaned elephants.
($40, Nordstrom)

Hand-Stitched Kantha Turban or Scarf
Each one of these gorgeous cotton head scarves are handmade by women survivors in West Bengal and fashioned from vintage saris. It’s a beautiful statement piece that actually makes a difference in the lives of women, and the 70″ length means it can be worn as a regular scarf or shoulder wrap, too.
($28, Kantha Bee)

With You Locket Dog Tag-Style Necklaces
Maybe you’re shopping for a mom who’s in the service, or want to honor your own veteran or military family. Our friends at With You Lockets now offer four gorgeous lockets in the style of dog tags. They’re eached named for real people, including a WWI “Harlem Hellfighter” and the daughter of With You’s CEO, who is himself a 24-year veteran. If that wasn’t lovely enough, each locket donates 10% to the American Fallen Soldier Project.
($99-149, With You Lockets)

Hand in Hand Ultimate Essentials Lavender Gift Set

We immediately fell in love with the gorgeous smelling Hand in Hand Sustainable Bar Soaps years ago; they give back in meaningful ways, providing clean water and soap to children in need around the world. Now the line has grown to include more body products, including this gift set that’s just ready-made for Mother’s Day gifting.
($45, Hand in Hand Sustainable Suds; bar soaps start at just $6)

Alex & Ani Charity By Design Queen Bee Bracelet
Whether she’s a card carrying member of the Beyhive, or just a Queen Bee in her own right, this lovely, affordable little bracelet gives back in a big way: 20% of the purchase price to the wonderful folks at Habitat for Humanity.
($34, Nordstrom)

Hello Gorgeous Makeup Clutch

We love supporting the wonderful work of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and their excellent online gift shop is one great way to do that. How sweet is this affordable makeup clutch? Fill it with a few favorite beauty products (maybe that Chantecaille cheek tint?) or a gift card, so she can buy more of her own.
($8, St. Jude Gift Shop)

Whiting & Davis Pink Heart Clutch
She already has your heart, and now she can wear one to remind her all the time, with this stunning, sparkling minaudière bag from Whiting & Davis. What’s more, 25% of the proceeds from purchases go directly to The Breast Cancer Foundation to help support other women, too.
($178, Nordstrom)

Handcrafted Glass Beaded RED Collection Navajo Cuff

Hint to our kids: Mama wants one of these stunning glass-beaded cuffs, created in partnership with Navajo artisans to provide meaningful impact to artisans who live on the Navajo Nation, where jobs are hard to come by. The red color for this new collection was chosen to honor feminine strength, and Navajo associations with earth and the blood of kinship. They’re handmade from materials sourced locally in New Mexico, and each design is slightly different, but they’re all beautiful — and yes, a bit spendy. But worth it. You can read the full story about Etkie here. It’s pretty great.
($215+, Etkie)

Letterpress Blank Notebooks
For sketching, list making, writing or dreaming. Buy one or buy all four; part of the purchase price from this wonderful give-back Etsy shop helps support the I Have a Dream Foundation to provide all kinds of needed support to low-income youth around the US. In fact, it’s so affordable, maybe pair it with one of the shop’s REBUILD candles which supports Puerto Rican relief.
($7/ea or $28 for all four, GoodsthatMatter)

Altruette charm bracelet
Each charm on an indulgent, very special keepsake bracelets from Altruette can represents a passion Mom has, and even better: a significant portion of the proceeds of each charm goes to support a related cause. You can even shop by cause like children, global good, education, women, or the arts.

Put together your own, order a single charm for a bracelet or necklace she already has, or check out the ready-made options including a newly introduced new mom charm necklace ($175) now with three sweet charms to support Every Mother Counts and Operation Shower.
($75+ for each charm, Altruette; this ultimate Founders Circle Bracelet, $3,135 in gold )

Charity Scratch-Off LottoLove Cards

For the mom who has it all, a gift card to a favorite charity is always thoughtful. But you can also get a little more creative with these pretty gold-foil greeting cards that include three scratch-off cards inside. Match your “giving icon” and see which of their fantastic charitable partners you’ve just helped, with causes including the environment, education, healthcare and more.

This is one case where every single card is a winner.
($20 with three cards inside, LottoLove)