17 Gifts for the Holiday Season That Give Back
This holiday season, give the gift of giving back. During a year when so many communities have struggled, show the people you love how much you care by donating to a cause in their honor. When ticking the boxes on your annual holiday list, ask yourself, “How I can shop mindfully?” There are many ways to do so, from brands like Everlane, whose 100% Human initiative donates 10 percent of proceeds to the ACLU with each purchase; and Grounds & Hounds coffee, which gives 20 percent of its profits to animal rescue organizations throughout the country. Through initiatives including In Good Taste—which supports immigrant and BIPOC communities in NYC—or Reframing the Future, an artist collective bringing awareness and proceeds to various community organizations through the sale of photography and graphic tees, relief is on the way. Get shopping generously, below.
Gift this gorgeous glazed tentacle from Camilla Hanney found at the Sarabande Foundation, which is the foundation that Lee McQueen started. —Sara Moonves
Get cozy in this lounge set from Parachute Home. The brand gives back by partnering with the United Nation’s Nothing But Nets campaign to send life-saving malaria-prevention bed nets to those in need. —Laura Jackson
This chic hair clip from Winden is one small gift that anyone would be excited to open. Winden is committed to redefining what it means to be a sustainable brand, putting their partnerships out in the open for their customers to see. Partners include 1% for the Planet and Carbonfund.org. —Erin Meagher
Lather up in this Mab & Stoke body butter made with decadent oils. With every purchase made, the brand plants one tree in your honor. Help defend reforestation with each body rub! —Allia Alliata di Montereale
In Good Taste, a fundraising initiative that supports immigrant and BIPOC communities in NYC, has tasked comedians, chefs, and designers alike to create their own ‘NYC Starter Packs.’ Packs include covetable goods from cookware and spices to wine and candles. At $25 to enter, all proceeds will benefit NICE – New Immigrant Community Empowerment. —Brooke Marine
When purchasing this chic sneaker, Saucony will donate 10% of every sale to She Should Run, a nonprofit organization that supports female leadership in politics. —Julia McClatchy
8 emerging and established designers have joined with Reframing the Future’s creative forces to raise funds for various organizations through their graphic t-shirt sale benefitting the Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project, Okupa Bloque Negro, Rogue Climate, Brave Space Alliance, Marsha P. Johnson Institute, For The Gworls and The Sentencing Project. With each t-shirt purchased, proceeds will be donated to the investment of long-term community building and organizing. —Oona Wally
Don’t only make a purchase, but a difference when giving these wool socks from Bombas. One sock purchased = one sock donated. —LJ
Jewelry designer and artist, Rebecca Mapes, uses only recycled metals in her unique pieces with purchases mailed in 100% recycled boxes. They will also send you a free barrette if you send proof of a donation to the NAACP or Color of Change. —EM
Apartamento magazine’s fifth annual cookbook is dedicated to the medicinal magic of herbs and spices. It’s a great gift for any food lover in your life—not to mention 20% of the cookbook’s revenue will support the Enriqueta Villavecchia for Child Oncology. —Tilden Bissell
Must love dogs should be your lifelong motto, but especially during this holiday season. Grounds & Hounds coffee gives 20% of their profits to animal rescue organizations and initiatives through the sales of their eco-friendly coffee blends. —Jenna Wojciechowski
A new initiative called Green Future Project makes it incredibly easy to offset your carbon footprint by helping preserve and restore forest ecosystems in the Amazon, Madagascar and Indonesia from deforestation and development. You can gift a monthly subscription to an ecologically conscious friend for a few dollars a month, and GFP will use that money to plant hundreds of trees, pay the salaries of park rangers, and support partnerships with local climate positive projects. —Andrea Whittle
Everlane’s 100% Human initiative advocates for 100% Human Rights. With each product sold, Everlane donates 10% to the ACLU, an organization fighting for fundamental freedoms. This transit bag is made entirely from recycled materials, so that special person in your life will feel and look good at the same time. —JM
This graphic tee from Fleur du Mal is both cute and for a cause. 15% of the proceeds will go to Free Arts NYC, whose mission is to empower the youth through art and mentoring programs. —JW
Perfect for your stressed-out coworker who needs to revitalize their WFH space, this essential oil blend from woman-owned brand Pink Moon is an uplifting mix of orange, mandarin, lavender, rosemary, and cedarwood. 2% from each purchase goes towards the Malala Fund, plus Pink Moon gives you the option to donate 10% of your first purchase to the charity of your choice. —TB
Through their Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program, Warby Parker has distributed over 7 million glasses to those around the world, lacking the resources to care for their vision impairments. As of spring 2020, through the majority of glasses purchased, Warby Parker has distributed PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to healthcare workers and communities in need. Give generously this season with these modern classic sunnies. —LJ
100% of the proceeds from this leather crossbody bag by Cuyana go towards HEART, an initiative that helps educate women about the signs and symptoms of heart attacks. —AM
