The holidays are a time of giving. In that spirit, many people opt for gifts that benefit a charity. But when you say “charitable gifts,” some people imagine burlap sacks, cheesy totes or mugs that end up buried in the back of the cupboard. In short: all too often, gifts that do good don’t always look good.
But you don’t need to sacrifice style to give back. Good Housekeeping Style Director Lori Bergamotto stopped by TODAY to share her top finds for charitable gifts that look so good they’d be tempting even if they didn’t benefit a worthwhile organization.
Scroll down to discover Bergamotto’s picks — perfect for kids, adults and everyone in between.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s 2020 Gift Guide to find the perfect present for everyone on your list!
Gift that give back seen on TODAY
1. St. Jude Chunky Two Tone Handwoven Throw
Not only is this cozy throw a perfect gift for upcoming cold winter nights, you can sleep easy knowing your purchase did good. From now until Dec. 30, West Elm is donating 50% of the purchase price of this throw directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
2. Popsockets Love, 2020
Give the gift of ergonomics with this handy little pop-on device. These cute grips and mounts make holding a cell phone easier on the palm. And 50 percent of the proceeds from the “Love, 2020” PopGrip benefits Doctors Without Borders, which provides emergency aid around the world.
3. Vice Wine "Big Napa Red" Gift Box
This family-run, boutique-size wine brand creates only small batches of wine. That means every single aspect of each bottle — from collecting the fruit to crushing to selling — is done by one of the founders. In order to give back to the Napa community this year, The Vice Wine is donating 100% of proceeds from this item to The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund.
4. The Elephant Project
These adorable stuffed animals are more than just a cute face. The Elephant Project donates 100% of net proceeds to various, well-respected organizations that aid in fighting the elephant poaching crisis or care for orphaned, injured and abused elephants.
5. Boy Meets Girl x Pretty Connected Sequined Drinking Mask
One of the unexpected small pains of 2020 was constantly removing and reapplying face masks in order to drink anything. The ingenious design of this face mask allows you to drink without removing your mask. But if you do need to remove it, you’ll never lose it — thanks to a stylish chain.
On top of that, 50% of the net proceeds from each sale will benefit Survivor Corps, an organization working to support COVID-19 survivors and advance medical and academic research about the virus.
6. Merch 4 Relief
Help keep local restaurants alive through some of the most difficult times they’ve ever seen. Pick your favorite restaurant in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Boston or Seattle and browse through designs of T-shirts, hoodies and hats. Not only does the merch do good, it was designed by some of the coolest graphic designers working today.
More Gifts That Give Back
1. Piecework Power Lunch
For the friend who loves spending hours over a jigsaw puzzle, this intricate 1,000-piece set should keep them occupied for ages. But there’s much more to this puzzle than its poppy design. Piecework is donating 10% of profits from this puzzle to the National Women’s Law Center to help fight for equal pay for equal work.
2. Middle Kingdom Laundry Detergent Porcelain Vase
These porcelain vases add a hint of whimsy to floral arrangements. They’re created by artisans in China’s ancient kiln city of Jingdezhen, using techniques from the 11th century. Each artisan is paid well-above-average salaries and the company is women and POC-owned.
But every single product you buy from the Made Trade website will do good for the world. Each project is environmentally minded, and Made Trade buys carbon credits to offset the impact of shipping its products.
3. EvolveTogether We Stand Together Face Masks
Featherweight face masks are the 2020 gifts that keep on giving. But these single-use masks do more than protect against the spread of COVID-19. Each purchase donates to the ACLU to fight for equality and racial justice. EvolveTogether also has a pack of green masks that benefits the organization One Tree Planted.
4. Everlane 100% Human Collection Being Human Long-Sleeve Tee
Everlane’s stylish “100% Human Collection” has already raised more than $1 million for the ACLU. The collection will keep benefiting the organization, with 10% of sales going toward fighting for civil freedoms. Sure, thisTt-shirt does good. But also — the design is just plain cool.
5. Socks That Give Books
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the older you get, the more excited you are about receiving socks as Christmas presents. But this pair of bookish socks is exciting for all ages — with $1 from each sale benefitting Room to Read, a nonprofit providing books and literacy programs to children in need.
6. Bookshop
Bookshop is one of those wonderful ideas that we can’t believe was only recently founded. Each purchase from the online retailer benefits local, independent booksellers. You can support a specific bookstore or opt for proceeds to go towards Bookshop’s general donations.
If you’re looking for a recommendation, may we suggest “A Journey to the Wild Ends of the Earth” by Dan Richards? This dazzling series of real-life journeys from Scotland to Washington to Japan is the perfect read for anyone stuck quarantining at home, dreaming of hitting the open road again.
7. Parks Project National Parks Year at a Glance 2021 Calendar
Each purchase from the Parks Project benefits one of the organization’s 42 National Parks programs, including work in advocacy, education, habitat and wildlife restoration, youth initiatives or visitor programs. Although practically everything on the website would make an excellent gift, this calendar is a perfect choice for the person who's always thinking about where they'll go exploring next.
Still looking for the perfect gift? Be sure to check out Shop TODAY’s 2020 Gift Guide to shop for everyone on your list, including:
- 21 best jewelry gifts at every price point
- It's not too late! 47 last-minute gifts that'll ship in time
- Bookmark this! 34 gifts for the avid reader in your life
To discover more deals, shopping tips and budget-friendly product recommendations, download the TODAY app and subscribe to our Stuff We Love newsletter!