Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting some holiday gift ideas on this blog, and as I think ahead towards different gift recipient groups I’d be interested in hearing back from you on which people you find the hardest to shop for. Your mother-in-law? Your husband? Your sister’s spoiled kids, the ones who already have three roomfuls of crap? Let me know, okay?
In the meantime, I thought we could talk about some charitable alternatives to traditional gifts. It’s the time of year when we’re all aggressively encouraged to spend, spend, spend on all sorts of material objects, and while I do love finding the perfect present for a loved one there are sure a lot of reasons to cut back on the rampant consumerism. Whether you’re concerned about environmental impact, saving money, avoiding potential recalls, or alleviating some of your must-buy-something-for-everyone-in-my-huge-family-including-Great-Aunt-Myra stress, giving money to charities instead of big box retailers this holiday season is a great option.
So, today’s list: a few charities that offer the capability to purchase a donation in the form of a gift. Maybe Great Aunt Myrna doesn’t need another candy dish, you know?
One Laptop Per Child. “During Give One Get One, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution.” Buy a laptop for a child at $399, get another laptop free for your own use (or additional donation).
Heifer International. “Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Heifer does this by providing appropriate livestock, training and related services to small-scale farmers and communities worldwide.” You can purchase donation items from their gift catalogue here, or create a wish list for yourself here.
Alternative Gifts International. “The global mission of AGI is to send authentic, life-giving gifts to a needy world–gifts that build a partnership with people in crisis and that protect and preserve the earth’s endangered environment–to nourish and sustain a more equitable and peaceful global community.” Gift catalogue is here.
JustGive. “JustGive is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people with the charities and causes they care about and to increase overall giving.” Purchase charitable gift certificates here, or create your own wish list here.
Secret Santa. “SecretSanta.org is a non-profit organization that connects individuals with local toy drives — helping drive much-needed support, gifts and donations to children during the holiday season.” Find a local toy drive here. (Also: Toys for Tots.)
Humane Society.“The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest and most effective animal protection organization.” You can send a gift donation here.
Network for Good. “This is a website where you can give to your favorite charity/charities and have all your donation records stored and accessible at any time.” Buy a gift card for charity here.
Have you ever bought a charity donation as a gift before? I never have, but I’m planning to this year. It seems like a fine tradition to start, along with my admittedly far more shallow Bring Back the Fruitcake campaign.
I have the hardest time shopping for my grandparents. I have everyone else covered, but I can’t come up with any ideas for them! I think I shot my wad last year with these memory books that they’re supposed to fill out for me that made my granddad cry.
jaime | November 27th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
We always suggest people donate to the local MDA office whenever we are asked what we might want as a gift. My husband has MD and the MDA is a wonderful organization.
Amy | November 27th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Ok, quick question. For my husband’s grandma, I was going to make maybe like 10 or so meals and freeze them with a vacuum sealer. Then, for Christmas I was going to put them all in a styrofoam cooler and wrap it up. She lives with her disabled son and disabled daughter. I figured I could give them the gift of pre-made homecooked meals. Does this seem too corny? I’m trying to be on a budget for Christmas and this is a good way for me to save money but also give a meaningful gift. What do you think?
Jaime, what about this idea (assuming it doesn’t stink) for your grandparents? I think there are some websites out there that specialize in mailing prepared food if you don’t want to do the cooking yourself and they will even stick to a specific diet. Just an idea. (www.dinewise.com)
Leticia | November 27th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Leticia: that doesn’t seem corny AT ALL. That seems really sweet and actually provides your husband’s grandma with something useful. Awesome, awesome idea.
Jaime: check out this link, which I thought had some good ideas for grandparent gifts: http://www.flylady.net/pages/ClutterFreeGiftsG.asp
milkandcookies | November 27th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Honestly, we have three baby boys in our family (ages 14-20 months) and other than clothes (all we seem to buy them), I’d love to get each a gift that is equal parts useful and original (ha, right?). Oh, and if that task isn’t challenging enough, reasonably priced?
Oh, and also I’d love to bake some cookies or brownies or baked goods of some kind for my co-workers/other random people that aren’t super close friends/family. Do you have any great (and easy!) bulk recipes and possibly some presenting tips? I thought of velum takeout boxes with tissue paper or decorative bags, but maybe you have a better idea?
You’re fabulous with gift ideas, so thank you for doing this “series.”
She Likes Purple | November 27th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
For She Likes Purple, I gave these cookies in a jar to my coworkers last year and they went over well. I know they are so early 1990s in the craft world but they are easy to do in bulk and wrap up pretty and folks can save the mix for mid-march when they actually want junk food again. Instructions here: http://underconstructionblog.typepad.com/under_construction/2007/11/chocolate-cranb.html
Also, I think the homemade meals for your grandma. Leticia, is PERFECT. Gives me an idea actually for my bro in law who is impossible to buy for and who’s name I of course drew in the family secret santa. He is milk/dairy and wheat intolerant so gets the shaft on food but maybe I could make him several individual serving meals to heat when the family is having something he can’t enjoy… My wheels are turning.
Looking forward to the gift guide, Linda. Here’s a quick food gift guide on my site: http://underconstructionblog.typepad.com/under_construction/2007/11/diy-gift-ideas.html
Melissa H | November 27th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
She Likes Purple: for wrapping/presenting ideas go here: http://www.myownlables.com
They are fabulous and you can customize however you want. I’ve used them for baby showers and it’s always a hit because it’s so unique.
Linda: I’ve used Heifer before for the holidays and it was great. But some people are touchy about getting a cow that is just going to be eaten so I choose animals that will be for work purposes or the honeybees. But maybe the people I know are just funny that way. No matter, just a heads up in case you make someone cry
samantha jo campen | November 28th, 2007 at 12:59 am
My mama’s a nurse at Headstart, and every year she and the teachers take up a collection & buy gifts for the kids they know aren’t going to receive any…lots of parents way below the poverty line, and lots of parents spending their already meager checks on methamphetamines. Those kids really appreciate getting something just for them. We contribute the money we’d normally spend on aunts & uncles to that fund, and send them a card instead.
Tessa | November 28th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Hi there,
I have two favorite charities that I think are unusual and worthwhile.
http://www.kiva.org is a website where you “loan” money to someone overseas who is trying to open or expand their business. Once they obtain their requested loan amount they pay you back and you can loan the money to someone else. Right now I think our money is loaned to a woman who has a business selling eggs in Africa.
http://www.elephantnaturepark.org give you a peak into an amazing corner of the earth- northern Thailand. The founder of the park has tried to show the world how Asian elephants are often mistreated and are rapidly approaching extinction. The park is a place where elephants go to be rehabilitated. When you visit the park you are able to feed and bathe the elephants in the river, as well as learn all of their stories (which are mostly heartbreaking). Elephant shows (where they do tricks) is big business in Thailand but it is discouraged at this park due to the inhumane ways the elephants are trained. As cheesy as it sounds, visiting this park was pretty life-changing. I was never a big elephant fan, but I walked away from this park in absolute amazment.
April | December 4th, 2007 at 2:06 am
Leticia, I think your idea is lovely and perfectly in the holiday spirit. I got a little choked up at how thoughtful you are.
I told my family that if they didn’t have a Christmas wish list to me by Monday, they were each getting a goat from Heifer Intl. I may still get a bunch of ducklings or something else I can afford in my family’s name this year.
chellebird | December 5th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I used to give charity gifts to my grandparents, because they really seriously didn’t want any more crap, and they were very active in their support of certain charities, so it genuinely pleased them to see a contribution in their name.
I don’t think I’d try it with other people unless I arranged it ahead of time. For one thing, I was REALLY ANGRY once when someone made a charitable contribution in my name to a charity I TOTALLY HATE and COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH.
I mean, that’s not likely with a place like the ones you mentioned. But still, I wouldn’t want to open a beautiful handbag from a friend–and then have her open a cow given in her name.
Swistle | December 7th, 2007 at 3:01 am
Oh, and the people I have the hardest time buying for are:
1) My mother-in-law, who doesn’t like anything.
2) My father-in-law, who is crazy and naval-gazing and lives among piles of newspapers.
3) My younger brother and his wife, both of whom are so very much hipper and cooler than I am.
Swistle | December 7th, 2007 at 3:02 am
i need help, my father just pass away, and my mother is in lots of debts and now i can’t finish my study because i can’t pay,
i have a lot of debt myself just for a meal, and even my staying cost have pile up so that this is near the limit of my life pls donate to account number 304-10-08180-3 hope i can help you in any way.
and i’m sorry for doing this.
Ferry | April 15th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I love all your charitable gift suggestions and I think it’s great that you’re promoting the love of giving during this holiday season, which was why I thought you might be interested in knowing about a new way of giving.
Philanthropedia’s gift of charity allow your friends and family to support the top charities of their choice. Philanthropedia is a nonprofit that relies on experts to identify strong nonprofits in different social causes so you can be confident you’re supporting an outstanding nonprofit. We have created the first charitable mutual fund of its kind so you can donate to the top nonprofits in an entire social cause with just one transaction.
Philanthropedia’s charitable gift card give your friends and family the freedom to choose which social cause they care about. They are a personalized, feel-good gift that can be purchased for any amount. To find out more, please visit http://myphilanthropedia.org/gift_card, or email me!
Dawn Kwan | December 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
donation gift idea is great to help and support people in need.
automobile donation charity | February 15th, 2011 at 5:38 am