The best charitable gifts to give with purpose this season
These best charitable gifts can make giving feel so good. Why stop at buying just one?
Giving the best charitable gifts for the festive season is a way to treat your loved ones while also doing good for the world and the people in it.
Christmas is a time when many of us take stock and feel thankful for everything we have in life. But, for those less fortunate, it can be the worst time of the year. That's why making at least one of your gifts a charitable one can really help to make the world a better place.
Some of the best charity gifts are donations straight to the charity, while others involve buying a gift with a portion of the profits helping a project or charity continue its good work. So whether you're looking for Christmas gifts for neighbors, coworkers and friends, Christmas gifts for parents, siblings and other family members or even cheap Christmas gifts to save a bit of money, you can really make a difference with any of our best charitable gift picks below.
Best charitable gifts to give in 2021
1. Ayesha Curry Cast Iron Enamel Skillet: $29.99/approx. £22.60 | View at Amazon
Charity or project: No Kid Hungry | Donation or gift: Unspecified | Delivery: Dependant on retailer | Refundable: Dependant on retailer | Region: US and UK
One of w&h's best cast iron skillets for cooking up big meals for the family, every purchase of this pan helps to support the No Kid Hungry charity, with Ayesha Curry helping to provide up to 500,000 meals to children in need.
2. Monica Vinader EACH Charity Friendship Bracelet: $225/£150 | View at Monica Vinader
Charity or project: EACH | Donation or gift: 100% | Delivery: Dependant on region | Refundable: 100-day refund policy | Region: US and UK
Not only will this striking bracelet make one of the most lovely Christmas gifts for her, 100% of the profits from this bracelet will also be donated to EACH, an organization that supports children with life-threatening conditions and their families.
- View EACH Charity Friendship Bracelet at Monica Vinader in the US
- View EACH Charity Friendship Bracelet at Monica Vinader in the UK
3. Jo Malone Charity Home Candle: $72/£50 | View at Jo Malone
Charity or project: Various charities | Donation or gift: 70% (US)/75% (UK) | Delivery: Dependant on region | Refundable: Non-refundable / 28-day refund policy | Region: US and UK
Jo Malone London makes some of the best scented candles that adorn our homes, so gifting one of their charity candles is a lovely way to give an impressive and useful present while also supporting a good cause. In the UK, there are four scents to choose from—Peony & Moss, Iris & Lady Moore, White Lilac & Rhubarb and Lily of the Valley & Ivy—while US shoppers can buy only the White Lilac & Rhubarb.
4. Mens Rotary Limited Edition Prostate Cancer UK Chronograph Watch: $265.28/£199 | View at Watchshop
Charity or project: 10% | Donation or gift: Prostate Cancer UK | Delivery: Dependant on region—express delivery available | Refundable: 30-day refund policy | Region: US and UK
A great Christmas gift for men in your life who aren't the best at getting their medical check-ups, this will raise awareness of prostate cancer while making a fashion statement on their wrist too.
5. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex with Pink Ribbon Sleeve 50ml: £82 | View at John Lewis
Charity or project: The Estée Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer Campaign | Donation or gift: 20% | Delivery: Express delivery available | Refundable: 35-day refund policy | Region: US and UK
One of the best skincare products you'll come across, this serum is renowned for infusing hydration and glow into the skin and this special edition goes towards supporting breast cancer so that you can do good while keep your loved ones' complexions healthy. It would make a great Christmas gift for moms who want to perk their skin up.
6. Allsaints X Launch Foods Unisex Charity T-Shirt: £45 | View at Allsaints
Charity or project: Launch Foods | Donation or gift: 100% profits go towards offering free hot nutritious meals to children | Delivery: Express delivery available | Refundable: 28-day refund policy | Region: UK
Glasgow-based charity, Launch Foods provides hot and nutritious meals to children by teaming up with large food producers in order to use up unwanted surplus food—and all profits from this bright and comfortable t-shirt go towards supporting them. A thoughtful Christmas gift for husbands, brothers or sons—or for any of the ladies in your life who love an oversized tee.
7. Barry M Cosmetics Wildlife Eyeshadow Palette $11.10/£7.99 | View at Look Fantastic
Charity or project: Various conservation and wildlife charities | Donation or gift: 20% | Delivery: Dependant on region | Refundable: 14-day refund policy | Region: US and UK
If you're looking for Christmas makeup gift sets, why not do some good at the same time and give this pretty eyeshadow palette instead. It features nine trendy shades and profits go towards supporting conservation and wildlife charities who are working to make a difference.
8. Adopt an animal: From $4/£3 a month | View at WWF
Charity or project: WWF | Donation or gift: 100% | Delivery: Immediate email delivery | Refundable: Non-refundable | Region: US and UK
A lovely Christmas gift for kids who are obsessed with animals and wildlife, this gift will let you adopt an animal in their name to support the conservation of that animal. There are lots of different species available and you'll even get an email certificate that you can print off and gift to them. Plus, UK shoppers can get a free cuddly toy too.
9. Carrie Elizabeth Jewellery 14k Gold Plated "A Change Is Gonna Come" Coin Necklace: $109/£80 | View at Carrie Elizabeth
Charity or project: Blueprint for All (formerly The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust) | Donation or gift: 100% of profits | Delivery: Dependant on region | Refundable: 14-day refund policy | Region: US and UK
Not only does this necklace look stunning, but it's great for inspiring change. The bird symbolises freedom, with the hope that change is on the way. It's hoped it will bring more awareness of systemic racism, and inspire people to educate themselves to change the world for the better. What's more, 100% of the profits are donated to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
- View Coin Necklace at Carrie Elizabeth Jewellery in the US
- View Coin Necklace at Carrie Elizabeth Jewellery in the UK
10. Room To Read's Be Brave book: $29.99/approx. £22.61 | View at Room to Read
Charity or project: Room to Read | Donation or gift: All profits from sale | Delivery: Dependant on region | Refundable: Non-refundable | Region: US and UK
What better gift for young children this year than the gift to read. This book is ideal for children who are nervous or scared to attend school. Plus, profits from all sales goes to children across Africa and Asia who are struggling to stay in education during Covid-19. Not only is the charity aiming to end global illiteracy, but they also want gender inequality in education. A great buy.
11. Treedom Plant A Tree: From €16.90 (approx. $19.05/£14.37) | View at Treedom
Charity or project: Treedom | Donation or gift: Plant a tree remotely and reduce CO2 | Delivery: Virtual | Refundable: Non-refundable | Region: US and UK
Christmas Eve and not done your shopping? Then send the gift of a tree instead. The lucky recipient will be sent a virtual gift of a tree which will help farmers in rural communities. But, one better than that, your tree will be photographed and geolocated so you can follow its journey. Choose from Avocado trees in Kenya, coffee trees in Guatemala and many more.
12. Avon Breast Cancer Share the Love Necklace Set: $20 | View at Avon
Charity or project: American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer | Donation or gift: 15% | Delivery: Dependant on area of US | Refundable: 45-day refund policy | Region: US
An adorable Christmas gift for friends that does good and will give you and your closest friend a special token to bond over, this set comes with two friendship necklaces that support the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
13. Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé Matte Lip Cream Duo: $20 | View at Rare Beauty
Charity or project: Mental health charities | Donation or gift: 1% | Delivery: Dependant on area of US | Refundable: 30-day refund policy | Region: US
If you're looking for beauty gift ideas for Christmas, this is a great present to give as the matte lip cream will make for a comfortable and long-lasting wear and the company donate 1% of their annual net profit to mental health charities.
14. Cool Earth Shop Terrific Toilet: £25 | View at Cool Earth Shop
Charity or project: Cool Earth, who support rainforest conservation | Donation or gift: Direct gift to help stop deforestation | Delivery: Virtual | Refundable: Non-refundable | Region: UK
What do you get someone in your life who has got everything? Something for someone going without, that's what. A gift of a Terrific Toilet will really help a community in Papua New Guinea who are struggling with sanitation. Your gift recipient will get a certificate and news about the project, plus a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
15. Toybox "Not Just a Gift": From £3 | View at Toybox
Charity or project: Toybox | Donation or gift: Direct to the children who need help | Delivery: Virtual | Refundable: Non-refundable | Region: UK
Looking for a virtual gift that will help change a child's life? Toybox's "Not Just a Gift" campaign aims to do just that. Starting from just £3, you can donate a hot drink and warm meal to a street child in need. If you have more to spend, you can "buy" a birth certificate for a child when you donate £32. This will not only help them enrol in school, but also gain state benefits, and even be able to get married in the future.
16. Miracle's Mission Christmas dinner or gift for homeless dogs and cats: £5 | View at Miracle's Mission
Charity or project: Miracle's Mission | Donation or gift: All profits | Delivery: Virtual | Refundable: Non-refundable | Region: UK
Christmas is a time for family and, for many of us, that means the four-legged members, too. If you want to do something for those dogs and cats who aren't as lucky as yours, then a donation to Miracle's Mission could be ideal. Just £5 will buy either a dog or cat a Christmas meal or gift while they live in a rescue centre waiting to be rehomed. What's makes this charity special is that they work with sick, injured and disabled animals, too.
17. Tokyo Laundry Cardigan: £26 | View at Thrift+
Charity or project: Various charities | Donation or gift: Dependant on product | Delivery: Within 15 working days | Refundable: 30-day refund policy | Region: UK
One that would make a great sustainable Christmas gift too, as Thrift+ helps to do good by reselling used clothes while also donating a certain amount of each sale to a selected charity. So this cardigan will do good in two ways while also keeping your loved one warm and cosy in the winter months.
18. BHF Ladies Knitted Elf Hat: £5.99 | View at British Heart Foundation
Charity or project: British Heart Foundation | Donation or gift: All profits go to charity | Delivery: Within 7 working days | Refundable: 30-day refund policy | Region: UK
Left it late and need a lot of gifts for different people? Then shop in once place online at the British Heart Foundation. They have a range of great gifts, including the Knitted Elf Hat (pictured above) for just £5.99. Not only is there a gift and price point for everyone, but 76p of every £1 raised goes on life-saving research to help fight heart and circulatory diseases.
19. Canford RNLI Rescue Edition: £385 | View at Elliot Brown Watches
Charity or project: RNLI | Donation or gift: £35 goes to the charity | Delivery: 2-3 working days | Refundable: 30-day refund policy | Region: UK
Not only is this watch effortlessly stylish, but £35 goes directly to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), to help save lives at sea. Perfect for the hero in your life, each watch is engraved with the motto "With Courage Nothing Is Impossible." We love this great-looking watch!
20. Kanula Unisex Ultra Premium Zip Hoodie: £47 | View at Kanula
Charity or project: Sea Turtle Conservancy | Donation or gift: 8% | Delivery: Not specified | Refundable: 30-day refund policy | Region: UK
Available in 21 different colours, not only will this zipped hoodie keep you warm in the winter, but it has been sustainably produced to reduce impact on the environment. Plus, 8% of all profits from items sold goes to help the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the world’s oldest sea turtle research and conservation group. A great Christmas gift for teenagers.
21. Framed Red Riding Hood Print: £50 | View at Gender Swapped Fairy Tales
Charity or project: Plan International UK | Donation or gift: 12.5% of sale price | Delivery: Not specified | Refundable: Not specified | Region: UK
Let children discover fairy tales from a different perspective with one of these new prints which helps rewrite how we stereotype genders from a young age. A donation from every print sold goes to Plan International UK to help create a world free from gender.
22. Green People Glow Wild Skin Care Duo: £28 | View at Green People
Charity or project: EDS UK | Donation or gift: 10% | Delivery: Express delivery available | Refundable: 28-day refund policy | Region: UK
A lovely Christmas gift for coworkers, this set contains two cruelty-free and eco-friendly moisturizers that will help them set a clean and vegan skincare routine. And each purchase donates to EDS UK, which is the only UK charity to offer support to people touched by all types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
23. Love, Avon Cancer Care Pack: £20 | View at Avon
Charity or project: Look Good Feel Better | Donation or gift: 100% | Delivery: Express delivery available | Refundable: Until 31st January 2022 | Region: UK
Created in collaboration with cancer survivors, this set contains products that will help anyone going through cancer treatment get a little bit of much-needed TLC. And 100% of its profits go towards supporting the physical and emotional wellbeing of people going through cancer treatment.
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Faye M Smith is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years experience in the magazine industry. Her continued work in the area of natural health won her the coveted title of the Health Food Manufacturers’ Association (HFMA) Journalist of the Year Award 2021. Currently Group Health Director across several magazines including woman&home, Woman, and Woman’s Own, Faye specialises in writing about women’s health, especially menopause, relationships and mental health.