Stressful as holiday shopping can be, science suggests it’s good for you. Plenty of studies support the benefits of giving, confirming the old adage “it’s better to give than to receive.” For example, a study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Harvard Business School found that people report dramatically greater happiness if they spend money on gifts for others.
If you want to kick the good feels up a notch, consider spending money on a gift that also gives back. Charitable gifts are basically a double helping of warm fuzzies: You get one fuzzy dose from gift-giving and a second fuzzy dose by contributing to the greater good. You can find options that fuel a number of worthy causes, from skin care gifts that give back to the environment to food gifts that give back to addiction recovery.
To help you hunt down the perfect philanthropic present, we’ve rounded up the coolest gifts that give back in 2023. These are brands offering some or all of their proceeds to organizations that support causes like animal rescue, mental health and human rights.
Gifts That Give Back to the Environment
Parks Project: Big Sur 600 Polaroid Camera
The official nonprofit arm of the National Park Service, the Parks Project, contributes funds and resources to the national parks across the U.S.
The nonprofit offers a slew of super cool gift ideas — from park-scented candles to two-person hammocks — but our favorite might have to be this refurbished vintage Polaroid camera featuring a hip retro “Big Sur” design. The working camera uses Polaroid 600 Film, which you purchase separately.
Price: $190 at ParksProject.us
Uncommon Goods: Fitness & Recovery Massage Cube
Designed by women-owned, certified B-Corp KOA+ROY, this fitness cube is massaged on your muscles during pre- or post-workout. The cube is made with menthol, cocoa butter, essential oils, and other ingredients to reduce pain and inflammation.
Where does the “give back” come in? For every one of these nifty cubes sold, KOA+Roy plants a tree via the nonprofit organization One Tree Planted. Bonus: The cube is packaged in locally sourced, plastic-free packaging.
Price: $29 at UncommonGoods.com
Lush: Charity Pot Body Lotion
A gift that gives back to noble causes and makes your body smell like ylang-ylang and rosewood? Put us down for two. Charity Pot Body Lotion, from beloved ethically sourced skin care brand Lush, contains ingredients sourced from projects that support regenerative international agriculture.
With every purchase of the Charity Pot, 100% goes to grassroots organizations that support noble causes like environmental protection.
Price: $9.50+ at Lush.com
Gifts That Give Back to Animals
Grounds & Hounds Coffee: Sunrise Rescue Gift Pack
Grounds & Hounds is on a mission to use organic, eco-friendly coffee sales to help support homeless pups.The organization donates 20% of every sale of their coffee beans, mugs, and merchandise to animal rescue partners. The Sunrise Rescue Gift Pack includes three six-ounce bags of its favorite whole bean or ground blends, along with a mug and tote bag. It’s perfect for the person in your life who likes coffee and dogs (and that’s everyone, right?)
Price: $50 at GroundsAndHoundsCoffee.com
Doggy Parton: Backwoods Barbie Throwback LP Record Dog Toy
In honor of her very first record, “Puppy Love,” human saint and dog-lover Dolly Parton released “Doggy Parton” — a line of accessories, toys and gear for pups. Every Doggy Parton purchase funds the Willa B. Farms Animal Rescue, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of homeless abandoned animals.
The collection is full of fun gifts that give back to animals with a Dolly flair. We love this plush record dog toy, which pays tribute to her ninth concert tour, Backwards Barbie. It’s perfect for the person in your life who likes Dolly Parton and dogs (again — everyone, right?)
Price: $6.09 (reg. $9.97) at Walmart.com
Gifts That Give Back to Mental Health
Pottery With a Purpose: Flower Vase Pottery Kit
Designed with pottery newbies in mind, this Flower Vase Pottery Kit comes with everything you need — locally sourced, air-dry clay, nontoxic, naturally based paint and step-by-step instructions — to hand-sculpt your very own vase. It even includes a mini bouquet of dried flowers to display in the finished product. Every kit purchased at Pottery with a Purpose supports mental health initiatives and nonprofits like the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) and The Trevor Project.
Price: $84.50 at PotteryWithAPurpose.com
PopSockets: Rainbow Pride Llama
Committed to driving long-lasting environmental and social change, PopSockets partners with nonprofits and strives to reduce its carbon footprint through free recycling. The brand offers different collections that support hundreds of global nonprofits, helping fund causes like racial equality, COVID relief and women’s empowerment.
The “Rainbow Pride Llama” PopGrip is not only adorable, but 50% of its proceeds go to supporting the It Gets Better Project — a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting, empowering and connecting LBGTQ+ youth.
For the uninitiated, a PopSocket PopGrip is a plastic circle you attach to your phone that extends like a small accordion, allowing for a more comfortable, tighter grip.
Price: $17 at PopSockets.com
Gifts That Give Back to Homelessness
Conscious Step: Socks That Build Homes
These aptly named socks support Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit housing organization dedicated to building safe and affordable homes across the U.S. and around the world.
Every pair of socks purchased donates $1 to the organization. Beyond their philanthropic pull, these socks are ultrasoft and cozy, and fair-trade, GOTS- and vegan-certified to boot.
Price: $14.95 at ConsciousStep.com
Social Goods: New York, New York Sweatshirt
This isn’t just a stylish sweatshirt. The cute, comfy crew neck supports Win (Women in Need), the biggest provider of shelter and critical services for unhoused women and their kids in New York City. If you aren’t feeling the sweatshirt, the site offers a whole collection of gifts that give back to homelessness, including Win T-shirts, beanies and baseball caps.
Price: $80 at Social-Goods.com
Food Gifts That Give Back
Doughp Bestseller Pack
You might recognize Doughp from an episode of Shark Tank back in 2019 (and again in 2022). The ingenious edible cookie dough can be baked or safely eaten raw, making it the best culinary invention since instant noodles (in our humble opinion). This bestseller pack comes with four pints of Doughp’s most popular flavors, including Cookie Monster, Brownie Best, Dunk On ‘Em and Ride or Die. Inspired by the founder’s journey to sobriety, Dough donates a portion of every sale to the She Recovers Foundation, a nonprofit movement dedicated to empowering women to break free of addiction.
Price: $50 (reg. $60) at Doughp.com
Cookies for Kids with Cancer
As its name suggests, Cookies for Kids with Cancers is committed to battling childhood cancer through the power of tasty cookies. With every purchase, the organization donates 100% of its profits to research at leading pediatric cancer centers. Their cookies are available by the dozen in a dizzying array of delicious flavors, including chocolate chip, rainbow sprinkle and Snickerdoodle.
Price: $35 per dozen at CookiesForKidsCancer.org
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