40 Thoughtful Gifts That Make a Difference, Giving Twice the Joy with Every Purchase

While the newest tech gadgets or beauty essentials are popular holiday gifts, for something more meaningful, consider giving a gift that gives back. These gifts benefit specific nonprofit organizations or causes, allowing you and your recipient—be it your sister, best friend, or coworker—to support a charitable cause together.

These gifts not only bring joy to your loved one, but they also ensure that your purchase helps make the world a better place. We've curated a variety of food, clothing, and accessory gifts that support different causes, allowing you to choose the perfect gift that your loved one will appreciate.

Food & Beverage Gifts That Make a Difference

Give them the gift of global flavors with this tea set, featuring everything from Golden Chai from India to Mate Lemon from Brazil. These teas are certified organic and Fair Trade, and Numi contributes through its foundation and Together for H2OPE to provide clean water, food assistance, and education to communities in need worldwide.

This Black-Owned Spotlight Box from Packed with Purpose is a remarkable alternative to the usual fruit baskets. It includes chocolate chip cookies, cold brew coffee, heirloom popcorn with sea salt, seasoned potato chips, granola clusters, and shortbread cookies. Each product in this box is sourced from a Black-owned business that champions causes such as improving food access, supporting education, preserving agricultural diversity, and donating meals to local soup kitchens.

For those striving to cut down on waste but who still want to avoid paper straws, the collapsible metal straw is an ideal gift. With its stylish carrying case, it's easy to take on the go. Besides helping reduce plastic waste, the brand contributes a portion of its sales to environmental charities.

Patagonia, renowned for its outdoor clothing and gear, also excels in offering food products that are sustainably sourced and environmentally conscious. The Responsible Seafood Sampler, which includes salmon, mussels, and anchovies, features canned and boxed seafood that supports, rather than harms, natural ecosystems. As with many of their products, 1% of the sales price is donated to environmental and conservation causes to help preserve our planet.

For enthusiasts of Indian cuisine, this Masala spice kit, designed by Chef Floyd Cardoz and Barkha Cardoz, is the perfect way to bring authentic, rich flavors to their home cooking. Additionally, $1 from each jar purchase is donated to charity, making it a gift that gives back.

Surprise your loved ones with the Fire Dept. Coffee Spirit Infused Coffee Bundle, featuring a selection of non-alcoholic coffees flavored with Irish whiskey, bourbon, rum, and tequila. You can also choose the spirit-infused club, which sends out a fresh limited-edition flavor every month. This veteran- and firefighter-owned business supports first responders in need through its Fire Dept. Coffee Foundation.

World Central Kitchen has been instrumental in providing meals to communities in crisis. This cookbook highlights both the stories and the recipes behind their efforts, such as chicken chili verde made for firefighters in California and Ukrainian borscht served to families affected by the war. Notable supporters like José Andrés, chefs Marcus Samuelsson and Guy Fieri, and former First Lady Michelle Obama have contributed their recipes. All proceeds from the book will be donated to the charity to support their ongoing work.

Add a pop of color to your kitchen with these bold cutting boards, offering a fun alternative to traditional wooden options. Plus, 50% of the proceeds from the To Pó-Po, with Love cutting board support Heart of Dinner, an organization dedicated to delivering fresh meals and heartfelt notes to elderly Asian communities in New York City.

These cookies are a treat that also gives back. Baked fresh each day to ensure a homemade taste, every penny of the profits is dedicated to advancing childhood cancer research.

Fashion Gifts That Give Back

These soft and festive calf socks are the perfect cozy accessory for the season. For every four-pack sold, Bombas gives a four-pack to organizations such as shelters, rehab centers, schools, and others in need.

These vibrant and joyful dresses are sure to be cherished in both her wardrobe and her heart. Each one is ethically crafted in Africa or India, with cotton sourced from smallholder farms, African textile designers creating the unique patterns, and SOKO artisans sewing the garments. SOKO empowers the local Kenyan community by providing sustainable job opportunities, free childcare, and distributing reusable menstrual pads to help keep young women in school.

Allbirds' Wool Loungers offer a simple slip-on design perfect for everything from casual at-home lounging to city adventures. Made from renewable materials and machine washable, these slippers reflect the brand’s commitment to sustainability. Plus, each pair comes with a 30-day guarantee, and lightly worn returns are donated to communities in need through Soles4Souls.

Conscious Step is dedicated to making a positive impact. Their socks, available in fun and unique designs, each contribute to a specific cause such as providing clean water, supporting education, conserving rainforests, rescuing dogs and cats, and even aiding space exploration. Every purchase goes toward supporting a nonprofit organization.

So far, Conscious Step has planted over 700,000 trees and donated more than 100,000 books for children, among other contributions. They also collaborate with pop culture brands like Spongebob Squarepants to raise awareness for ocean conservation.

This T-shirt carries a powerful message for the avid reader in your life—and it also supports literacy. Every purchase helps fund literacy programs and donates books, with Out of Print having already given away more than 5 million books. You can also find similar designs, including those dedicated to specific authors, for the ultimate gift for your favorite reader.

These stunning totes are made in the UK from recycled materials, including reclaimed parachute silk linings and recycled fire hoses and printing blankets for the exterior. The result is a durable, waterproof, and easy-to-clean bag that’s also stylish. Half of the profits from each sale go toward supporting firefighter charities in the UK.

You can never have too many pairs of slippers, and these cozy ones from Toms will keep your feet warm all winter. Plus, while they’re enjoying their new footwear, you can feel good knowing that one-third of Toms' profits go toward creating sustainable change.

These grippy socks are ideal for little ones, featuring slip-resistant soles to keep them steady and safe while they play around the house. With every pair bought, the brand donates another pair to Loved Twice, an organization that provides clothing for newborns in need.

Jewelry Gifts That Give Back

Fahlo offers a unique gift: a bracelet that lets you track the journey of a real animal across a 3D map. Each animal belongs to an endangered species and is linked to a nonprofit Fahlo partners with to help conserve wildlife while keeping it engaging. You can choose from 10 adorable animals to follow, including sea turtles, elephants, penguins, and dolphins. Fahlo has already donated over three million dollars to protect these animals and their habitats, working with organizations like Save the Elephants and Polar Bears International. The bracelets come in 10 different colors.

Pura Vida designs vibrant, handcrafted bracelet sets that support important causes like mental health awareness, environmental conservation, and racial justice. When you purchase the Stand Up to Cancer pack (as seen here), 5% of the purchase price will be donated to Stand Up to Cancer, an organization advancing cancer research. Pura Vida has contributed over $4 million to charitable causes around the globe.

The Dolly Necklace, made from 14K gold fill and sterling silver, is a heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton. It promotes body positivity while providing vital support to families impacted by breast cancer. For the entire year, 50% of the profits from this necklace will be donated to assist these families. Additionally, Hello Adorn selects three items each month, with all sales benefiting charities focused on social justice, body positivity, and racial equality.

This striking bangle is engraved with the word "hope" in 24 languages, symbolizing unity across cultures. Made from military-grade aluminum, often sourced from bombs, military equipment, and war remnants from Vietnam, it is hand-crafted in Laos with fair wages. Every purchase supports the clearance of unexploded bombs in Laos, where 80 million still remain, helping to make the land safer for future generations.

This delightful necklace, made with sterling silver and plated with 18k gold, features a charming bee design. Accompanied by photographs and detailed information about the global challenges faced by bees, all proceeds from each sale contribute to supporting bee-friendly habitats and advancing pollinator research through the University of California Davis.

The right piece of jewelry can truly enhance any outfit, and Beads by Tara has a diverse collection of jewelry ideal for both casual and formal occasions. Our top pick is the mini bead necklace, which can be worn alone or stacked with other pieces. The brand is committed to fair wages for its employees, and every purchase helps support this mission.

Home Gifts That Give Back

Dream cloths are the perfect alternative to all those paper towels—and Who Gives a Crap's colorful versions are a sweet gift for someone who's interested in sustainability. Who Gives a Crap may have an odd name, but their mission—to ensure that everyone has access to clean water and a toilet within our lifetimes—is a lofty one. They donate 50% of their profits from selling these cloths—along with their eco-friendly bamboo toilet paper and paper towels—toward making it happen.

Give the gift of a good night's sleep with this weighted blanket made from Oeko-Tex certified, 100% chemical-free cotton and lead-free glass beads. It comes in throw, full/queen, and king sizes with weights ranging from 12 to 25 pounds. A portion of each purchase is donated to nonprofits Pajama Program, which provides the materials, information, and support kids need to for healthy sleep; and SeaTrees, which helps restore ocean ecosystems like mangrove and kelp forests, coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and more.

This hand-dyed, adjustable, and colorful leash is not only stylish but also meaningful. Its standout feature is a solid brass tag, uniquely numbered to track the number of animals Found My Animal has assisted through their commitment to animal welfare and rescue.

While a bath towel might not be the most thrilling gift idea, this one certainly stands out. The Alta towel is crafted from 100% cotton and enhanced with copper infusion using sonic technology. This makes it hypoallergenic and beneficial for your skin's health and elasticity. Additionally, OURA supports children in need by granting wishes through Make-a-Wish and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times.

Whether placed on a kitchen counter or a bedroom nightstand, this stunning succulent garden will bring a touch of nature into any room. According to the brand, each garden sold helps provide six months of clean water for a person in need in the developing world.

Elevate their bathroom experience with these eco-friendly bar soaps that are both cruelty-free and free from palm oil. With six delightful scents to choose from, including almond creme and island mimosa, you're sure to find the perfect one for them. Plus, for every purchase, the brand donates soap and clean water to children in need.

For those who can't leave home without their water bottle, this Nalgene bottle makes an ideal gift. It's sturdy, leakproof, and dishwasher safe, ensuring easy upkeep. Additionally, $5 from each sale of the Nalgene Water Fund Exclusive Bottle is donated to initiatives that help improve access to clean water in communities facing challenges.

Yellow Leaf hammocks offer incredible comfort, vibrant colors, and are made from weather-resistant materials that won’t degrade if left outside in the rain. Each hammock is handwoven by the women of the Mlabri Tribe in Thailand, who receive "prosperity wages." This allows them to uplift their families, break free from poverty, and contribute to the development and sustainability of their community.

Plant lovers know how beneficial greenery can be for mental well-being. Gifting a plant from Mental Houseplants can extend that benefit, as they donate 2% of every sale to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They offer a variety of popular plants (along with some rare and unique finds) and source all of them from small, local growers.

Support the Human Rights Campaign's work for LGBTQ equality with this rainbow-hued thermal bottle. The double-walled stainless steel insulates the bottle, to keep your drinks hot or cold for up to 24 hours.

Bring some holiday cheer into their home with a Thistle Farms’ Holiday Gift Set. Choose from four festive scents, each featuring a matching candle, room spray, and matches. This nonprofit brand is committed to helping women recover from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction, and each purchase from the holiday collection supports their mission. Additionally, you can shop by artisan partner through the website’s side tab to support a cause that resonates with you.

Beauty & Skincare Gifts That Give Back

The popular Glow Recipe toner is almost too good to be true. Drawing inspiration from K-beauty, this alcohol-free formula is enriched with watermelon extract, cactus water, and glycerin to deeply hydrate and soothe the skin, while BHAs and PHAs work to exfoliate, refine, and clear pores. What's more, 1% of every purchase goes to a nonprofit of your choice. Glow Recipe partners with organizations like Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Heart of Dinner, which provides meals for AAPI elders in New York.

La Mer is renowned for its luxurious Crème de la Mer, a moisturizer specifically designed for dry skin. It features the brand’s exclusive blend of sustainably sourced giant kelp, lime tea, vitamins, and minerals, all aimed at reducing visible signs of aging, smoothing fine lines, and strengthening the skin barrier. Available in five sizes, the jar can even be engraved. La Mer also supports the Blue Heart Oceans Fund, which helps preserve marine habitats worldwide.

Treat them to flawless skin with this award-winning, dewy, and lightweight skin tint. Vegan and free from fragrance, the tint combines skincare with SPF protection, featuring hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and squalane to smooth uneven tone, minimize fine lines, and plump the skin for a radiant, no-makeup effect. ILIA partners with 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of Super Serum Skin Tint sales to environmental causes. It is available in 30 shades.

This beloved skincare line offers starter sets that make ideal gifts, and there are three unique options designed to suit various skin types. If you're shopping for someone who’s already a fan of Tatcha, you can even personalize a gift set with their favorite items. Additionally, each purchase contributes to empowering girls through education in Asia and Africa and provides books to communities in need across the United States through Room to Read's literacy efforts.

For the beauty enthusiast in your life, give a makeup set that not only makes them look good but also makes a difference. With every Thrive Causemetics product purchase, the brand donates either a product or a monetary contribution to partner organizations that support causes such as fighting cancer, aiding those emerging from homelessness, assisting victims of domestic abuse, advocating for racial and social justice, pursuing education, supporting LGBTQ+ rights, empowering marginalized youth, and helping veterans.

This eye shadow palette is a perfect gift for any home makeup artist, featuring three beautiful shades: pearlized almond, matte doe brown, and matte creamy vanilla. Not only does it enhance your makeup collection, but it also supports the Cheetah Conservation Fund and their vital cheetah rescue and rehabilitation efforts in Somaliland.