The 2010 goodpurpose study reveals that 66% of consumers would help a brand to promote its products and services if the company supported a good cause; a significant increase from past years. So we hope that you’ll finish up your holiday shopping by proving this statistic correct! As promised previously—and in the nick of time for all you procrastinators—this post will focus on fantastic gifts that give back this holiday season.
We’ve rounded up amazing nonprofits through which you can make donations in a loved one’s name to support your cause of choice, but we also understand that you might want to leave a tangible, usable product under the tree. Check out our coverage from iVillage as well– and these great gift ideas from Nicholas Kristof–and hopefully you’ll find something for everyone!
BiddingForGood was founded on the idea of providing new fundraising opportunities for non-profit organizations of every size and type. Since its first online auction, BiddingForGood has helped thousands of clients around the country raise close to $100 million dollars for their organizations. 91% of sales go back to charity. Search by product, organization or cause, and check out their Lady Gaga tickets here!
Help spread the word about this organization’s work and the global need for clean and safe water. Profits from GelaSkins and the Kwiat diamond waterdrop bracelet help fund charity:water and pay for things like office rent, staff, project development costs and even, yes… paperclips. Your purchase helps charity:water continue to give away 100% of donations to water projects.
Discover The Journey is a team of journalists and story-tellers who expose injustices facing children in-crisis and advocate for intervention partners until change is realized. DTJ filmmakers, writers, photographers, artists, and designers create and use story, media and art to expose injustices facing children and to use that media to advocate for change. DTJ partners with viable and effective NGOs and organizations found within communities to channel human and financial resources to impact people facing injustice. Contribute to help DTJ provide platforms to the voices of children living in crisis around the world.
Inspired by the need to have a bag that carries everything, this tote is an amazing addition to the family. Made from Ugandan cotton canvas, the Treahouse Crossbody is bells and whistles top to bottom. Inside, you’ll find the name of the woman who made your bag, so you can follow her story online. Your purchase supports her goals for her life since her escape from abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
The Indego Africa social enterprise business model is simple yet ground-breaking: partner with co-ops of women artisans in Rwanda; sell the co-ops’ contemporary accessories and home décor products online and at 40+ high-end retailers in the U.S., including Nicole Miller, Anthropologie, and Ralph Lauren; and return 100% of profits to the co-ops for Indego Africa’s award-winning training programs in business, literacy, and computers – all taught by Rwanda’s top university students. If you visit their website today, Indego Africa is currently featuring a holiday sale in which prices start as low as $7.
Riverside Design Group’s Plates with Purpose are custom glass plates designed to raise awareness of the mission of many non-profits like the National Autism Association and Alzheimer’s Association. Choose from 12 different designs all associated with causes that are making a difference in today’s world. 15% of the proceeds from our Plates With Purpose™ collection benefits national and local charities. Plates range from $40-$80, dependent upon size.
All of Equal Exchange’s specialty coffees, chocolates and cocoa gift items are fairly traded and certified organic. They’re actually the company that started the Fair Trade food movement in the U.S. 20 years ago. This means that with these gifts, you’re getting 1) great tasting products, 2) more of your holiday shopping dollar will reach small-scale family farms in places like Peru and Ethiopia and 3) you’re supporting safe, environmentally-sound farming practices.
In 2004, Jedidiah created the Hope Collection line of apparel to help raise awareness and money for various social aid programs and humanitarian organizations throughout the world. With a series of t-shirts supporting 10 organizations and the help of our loyal customers, Jedidah has raised over $395,200.00 for its Hope Collection partners as of June 30, 2010. $10.00 from every t-shirt sold in the Hope Collection goes to the non-profit that help inspire the graphic.
Amharic Kids
These items from Amharic Kids are hand made by women with HIV in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In addition to creating income opportunities for the artists, the project provides adult literacy, math and healthy lifestyle classes for individuals in the community. Shop for necklaces ranging from $21.99 to 27.99 and bracelets through $13.99.
Beats Solo Special Edition Headphones
Not only amazing headphones, a portion of the profits from the Beats Solo HD (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition headphones will go straight to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. Proprietary titanium coated driver technology ensures they preserve every bit of the lush bass and vital details of your music. Plus, the ingenious tri-fold design make for easy storage when not in use. Solo HD’s cable also features Monster ControlTalk™ for iPod® playback control and iPhone™/music phone hands-free calling.
International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. Their holiday gift catalog includes items such as the Aftercare Package, which for just $30 provides basic necessities and tangible gifts of love to an IJM client.
Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF is a global humanitarian relief organization providing children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. Inspired Gifts is an innovative program that gives you the opportunity to purchase actual lifesaving items that will be shipped directly from the UNICEF warehouse to one of over 150 countries where UNICEF serves.
Happy Holidays!
The goodpurpose team
