Meaningful Holiday Gift Guide: 30(ish) Wonderful Gifts That Give Back

In time for Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday. Also, the rest of the year.

First of all, thank you so much for the wonderful feedback on my guide to 25 Meaningful Gifts for People You Love! It gives me so much joy to hear that you found the perfect gift for your kids, your nieces and nephews, your parents, or yourself. Especially while supporting a small business. So keep shopping there and be sure to take advantage of the generous exclusive discount codes!

Next up, I wanted to create one of my favorite kinds of gift guides: Gifts That Give Back.

What a perfect thing to shop for on Cyber Monday. And Giving Tuesday! And every day thereafter!

So many of us are grateful to have all we need, and a tribute donation in someone’s name to a cause they care about is always a perfect gift. But if you like giving a little something that’s gift-wrapped, these all give back in impactful ways to meaningful causes, or come from shops that incorporate substantial giving as part of their mission.

Archd

Once again: The Powers That Be feel very strongly that I should put this gift guide behind a paywall, to build my paid subscribers. In all honesty, I would like more of you to become paid subscribers. But I’ve decided to keep my guides public for everyone, so that we can help support more worthy makers and shops.

If you value the time and love I’ve put into my guide — and the rest of my posts — I hope you’ll consider an annual subscription, currently 20% off (just $5/month!).

Or hey, just buy me a coffee through Venmo.

Wonderful Gifts that Give Back: Favorite Gifts Supporting Impactful Causes

Of course I can’t account for every cause that I care about — or every cause that will desperately need our support more than ever in the coming year. Still, I hope you find something you love here.

And don’t forget to take advantage of 💫 discount codes!💫 The exclusive codes I’ve requested from some generous small businesses are good at least through the 25th; the rest may be expiring Monday or Tuesday (or tonight, eek) so hurry!

Note: This will probably read best on desktop or in the app

Voluspa Reed Diffusers and Candles | Boundless Giving
Supporting meaningful charities through The Cause Connection

This fantastic new online marketplace not only heavily discounts beautiful gifts, they donate 50-80% (!) of every purchase to meaningful nonprofits. It was founded by my cousin (hi, Ry!) and I helped with the branding at launch. But I’d recommend them anyway. Look around for tons of gifts that give back generously to different causes.
💫 Save an additional 25% off already deeply discounted prices

Native American-Made Wool Blankets | Eighth Generation
Supporting Native artisans and giving back to the Inspired Natives Award for emerging arts entrepreneurs

There’s so much to love from this Seattle-based art and lifestyle shop owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe, featuring items made by Native artists around the country. Here, the Coast Salish Pattern Blanket by Eighth Generation founder Louie Gong (Nooksack), also available as gorgeous and affordable crew socks.

La Femme Collection and Hand Gestures Collection of Jewelry | GLDN
Supporting the Global Fund for Women and Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

I’m a fan of the hand-illustrated NOPE necklace and the Au Natural boob necklaces, but look around for plenty of other options supporting other good causes.

Nature Lovers Bundle | Parks Project Shop
Protecting, preserving, and advocating for U.S. Parklands

This certified B-Corp started as a grassroots project ten years, ago and has grown to be an impactful NPS partner selling so many wonderful gifts that give back. Remember how much Trump’s budgets cut funding for the National Parks and the EPA last time around? I do.
💫 Up to 50% off sitewide for a limited time

Love Conquers Hate Tees and You Are…Candle | Human Rights Campaign Store
Supporting LGBTQ+ equality

The tees come in languages including Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, and Korean. The candle is in English. Maybe we need to keeping saying these things everywhere, in every language, until we make it so.
💫 Free shipping on orders $75+

Ethically Handmade Leather Totes and Bags | Parker Clay
Providing a living wage, educational opportunities, benefits, and dignified working conditions for craftspeople in Ethiopia

This luxury ethical lifestyle site makes stunning gifts, all made of sustainably sourced leather to support a majority-female workforce.
💫 Up to 40% off everything for a limited time

The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope | Bookshop.org
Supporting WCK’s mission to feed people in need, wherever it’s needed

With contributions from Michelle Obama, Marcus Samuelsson, Tyler Florence, and of course Chef Jose Andres, it’s a celebration of dignity, perseverance, and building longer tables instead of higher walls.
💫 Free shipping!

See my bookshop.org storefront for more gift book ideas supporting independent bookshops.

Feminist Ornaments and Bookend Sets | Archd
Supporting National Network of Abortion Funds

Do not even think of browsing “feminist gifts” on Amazon. No disrespect to anyone shopping on Amazon, but buying a “Burn Down the Patriarchy” mug shipped from China from a brand called XTEMXIFWIG is not really doing the job of burning down the patriarchy, right? (Also, I personally tried it and it was depressing.)

Coffee of the Month Club | Fire Department Coffee
Supporting firefighters injured on the job or facing health challenges.

Get a limited edition roast from around the world each month — or just buy a single bag. It’s all for a great cause, from this veteran-owned business and their 501(c)(3) charitable foundation
💫 Use HOT25 for 25% off sitewide for a limited time

Mental Health Mantra Bracelets | Presently Bracelets
Supporting mental health nonprofits including National Alliance on Mental Illness and Child Mind Institute

Designed by a friend and her sister who both suffer from OCD and anxiety, each mantra is based on cognitive behavioral therapy techniques that help reset negative thought patterns. So many of you loved them from my other guide, I had to include them here as well!
💫 Use code LizHoliday for 20% off your entire order, 1 per customer

Handmade Set of 4 Snack Dishes | WonkiWare for Food 52
Providing dignity through work to disadvantaged communities in South Africa

Each set comes with a variety of mixed patterns, all stunning.
💫 Save25% through Monday with code 25OFFHOLIDAY

Arts Advocate Sweatshirt | Public Goods
Supporting performing arts education through Broadway Bridges

As someone lucky enough to have kids attending public NYC arts schools, I love this org that is aiming to get every single public high school student in New York to a Broadway show before they graduate. Art teaches. Art heals.
💫 20% off sitewide with HOLIDAYS20 for a limited time

Ukrainian Ornament Trio | VikaVita for Dissent Pins
100% donated to Ukrainian-led organizations assisting displaced Ukrainians and refugees.

I love everything at this shop, which started out with the original RGB Dissent Collar Pin. (I own one!) Since then, they have raised hundreds of thousands for incredible nonprofits — including nearly $300,000 to Ukraine support organizations. These ornaments are designed by Ukrainian sisters Victoria and Vitalina Lopukhina, artists and teachers from Kyiv. Buy one or the set of three at a discount.
💫 Currently 24% off for a limited time

---

Also see:

---

Therapy Bath Bombs | Mameni Beauty
Creating job opportunities for women in the Nashville area in need of second chances

You all loved the kids’ bath bombs from this lovely company, and they make an affordable adult version as well. Sweet gift under $10 — and perfect to accompany holiday cash for sitters, tutors and your favorite service providers.
💫 Use code LizHoliday for 20% off your purchase or shop through the link here.

Banned Book Socks and Book Nerd Socks | Social Goods
Supporting access to books through PEN America or through local libraries

A little on the nose? Good. Can’t be too direct right now. Check out all the socks there from Gumball Poodle, supporting all kinds of great causes.
💫 20% off sitewide with HOLIDAYS20 for a limited time

Chantecaille Philanthropy Blush | Chantecaille
Supporting wildlife conservation efforts

From the makers of my favorite dumb-expensive mascara, a collection of 6 flattering cheek shades, each one giving back to orgs like the Monarch Butterfly Fund, the Sheldrake Wildlife Trust (love them) or the Marine Conservation Science Institute.
💫 25% off with code CYBER through Monday

Chinese Zodiac Necklaces | Peggy Li
Supporting Stop AAPI Hate

In addition to the Weather the Storm Necklace in my other guide, which supports World Central Kitchen, find even more options in Peggy’s giving back collection of jewelry. (PS a Year of the Snake necklace is a cool gift for someone expecting in 2025!)
💫 Use code WALK20 for 20% off your purchase

Wine and Wine Gifts | One Hope Wine

Giving 10% to any 501(c)3 of your choosing, from a global charity to your local library or public school PTA

So many great gift ideas here, and I love that you get to pick your own cause
💫 20% off everything for a limited time

Hand-Knit Baby Animal Plush | Cuddle & Kind
Donating meals to children in need

I’ve been supporting this wonderful company for ages; they were founded for the purpose of giving back and I love that. (They’re not just for babies by the way!)
💫 20% off sitewide for a limited time

Bee-Cause Handcrafted Raw Honey Body Bar | Philanthrobee
Supporting beekeeping conservation and education

This new-to-me brand makes their own butters from their own apiaries, grows their own herbs, and sources the rest from fair-trade farms. They sent me a sample of this moisturizing, “flower-to-table” soap and it’s wonderful. Great hostess gift to have on hand.

Handmade Modern Tzedakah Boxes | Emily Rosenfeld
Supporting the ACLU

The perfect meaningful Hanukkah gift, honoring Jewish values of generosity and acts of service to those in need.
💫 Free shipping for a limited time

Between the Lines Coloring Book Vol. 9 | RxArt Supporting the healing power of art in children’s hospitals

Coloring pages by nearly 50 contemporary artists, plus…stickers! They’ve not only donated 150,000+ coloring books, they’re responsible for dozens of stunning murals and installations.

Keep Going Cap | Moms Demand / Everytown Store

Making impactful change to reduce unnecessary gun violence
A reminder — if only to yourself — that we’re not going anywhere. The sweatshirt is great too.

Science is Real Pin Set | Dissent Pins
Supporting Black Girls Code, DIY Girls, ChickTech

Here we go again.

---

I hope you like my finds! If you have a favorite shop or gift that gives back, by all means, share it here in comments. I’m sure it will be helpful to other readers.