28 Gifts That Make The World Better: 2020
If you’re in the holiday shopping mindset, here are 28 reasons to put your money towards gifts that make a positive impact. ThatHelps researched and found gifts for adults, teens, kids, and babies that actually make the world a better place—and almost all of them are easy on the wallet. More people and organizations than ever are in need this holiday season, so why not pick holiday gifts that truly make a positive impact for important causes?
Each and every gift on ThatHelps’ list makes a difference for a cause you care about, from fighting climate change to poverty and hunger to supporting the arts—and much more. Even better: whoever receives one of these gifts will be thrilled to know their present did some good. Visit ThatHelps’ app to learn even more about more people, products, and companies that do good. Download the app here.
Let’s do more good together this holiday season. (And don’t forget you can easily repurpose fabric scraps, magazines, or newspapers for eco-friendly gift wrap!)
Gifts for (Almost) All Ages That Make The World Better
Gift: Kor Water Bottle With Filter
Interest it helps: Clean Water, Sustainability
Why it makes the world better: Plastic water bottles contribute to a growing problem of discarded plastic pollution in our world. With Kor’s Nava Filter Water Bottle, you can get clean, filtered water that won’t create waste.
Buy it for: Anyone who drinks water!
Gift: Benevolent Brownies from Greyston Bakery
Interest it helps: Poverty + Hunger
Why it makes the world better: Greyston Bakery’s More Than Just a Brownie helps employ people stuck in a cycle of generational poverty. As the bakery’s motto says, “We don’t hire people to bake brownies, we bake brownies to hire people.”
Buy it for: A teacher, neighbor, or the choco-holic in your life.
Gift: Bird + Stone Upcycled Love Necklace
Interest it helps: Climate Change
Why it makes the world better: This wear-with-anything necklace is handmade in NYC from recycled materials. Each necklace donates 10% to NY Renews, a coalition working to help New York State transition to clean energy, protect workers, and invest in communities at risk of climate change.
Buy it for: The Greta Thunberg admirer in your life.
Gift: Endangered Species Chocolate Bars
Interest it helps: Wildlife & Habitats
Why it makes the world better: This tasty chocolate offers more than just a sweet bite. Ten percent of the profits earned from Endangered Species’ milk and dark chocolate bars are donated to support conservation efforts for at-risk species.
Buy it for: Stocking stuffers, or an animal and/or chocolate lover.
Gift: Wildfang’s Pronoun Pin
Interest it helps: LGBTQIA
Why it makes the world better: In 2018, Wildfang raised over $400,000 for charities that support reproductive, immigrant, and women’s/human rights. But we like the company’s pronoun pin because it can be worn both by trans people and allies in a show of support—and simply lets people know your pronouns without having to say a word.
Buy it for: A member of the LGBTQIA community or an ally. If you buy for someone else, make sure you know their preferred pronoun—then grab a pronoun pin for yourself, too.
Gift: Found My Animal Collars
Interest it helps: Animal Welfare
Why it makes the world better: Found My Animal lets your adopted animal speak for themself: encouraging rescue over purchase with a brass tag that says “FOUND.” Part of the proceeds from their sales support animal welfare and rescue organizations, and they even help facilitate pet adoptions! Plus, these creative collars and leashes will make your furry friend stand out in any crowd.
Buy it for: Your pet or the pet parent in your life.
Gift: Bookshop.org Books and Calendars
Interest it helps: Culture, Family & Community, Social Justice
Why it makes the world better: Bookshop.org is helping hard-hit local bookstores across the country stay in business. The B-Corp business also donates over 75% of profits to stores, publications, and authors.
Buy it for: Any bookworm or history buff. The Ruth Bader Ginsburg fan in your life will definitely appreciate this Sourcebooks’ 2021 wall calendar in tribute to the icon—a portion of profits from it will benefit causes RBG supported throughout her life.
Gift: Love Your Melon Knitwear
Interest it helps: Children, Health & Wellness (Pediatric cancer)
Why it makes the world better: Love Your Melon is on a mission to make sure all kids who are battling cancer receive a warm beanie to enjoy. They donate a whopping 50% percent of net profits to help fund donations to programs that support cancer-fighting kids and their families.
Buy it for: Anyone—they have cozy capes, hats, blankets, and sweaters for folks of all ages.
Gifts for Adults That Make The World Better
Gift: Epimonia Embracelet
Interest it helps: Crisis Relief, Family & Community, Sustainability
Why it makes the world better: 50% of profits from Epimonia’s unisex bracelet go to their charity partners, like the U.N. Refugee Agency, and helps provide support for refugees. The Minnesota company was founded by a former refugee from Kenya who wanted to help provide opportunity and advancement for refugees from across the globe. Plus, each bracelet is made from recycled life vests! How cool is that?
Buy it for: The person in your life who loves to make a statement.
Gift: Vickery Trading Company COVID-19 Face Masks
Interest it helps: Family & Community, Health & Wellness, Sustainability
Why it makes the world better: Face masks are here to stay for a while because they help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. That’s why Vickery’s stylish masks are a win/win/win in the gift department—the company also employs and mentors women fleeing conflict, so you’re making a positive impact for public health and families, too. For an extra $8, you can sponsor a face mask for a medical professional. And there’s another, sustainable reason to give these masks this holiday season: they’re made from donated scrap fabric and elastic.
Buy it for: Literally anyone.
Gift: One Hope Wine Sparkling Rosé
Interest it helps: Health + Well-Being (Ovarian cancer)
Why it makes the world better: When you purchase a bottle of One Hope wine, the company donates to a variety of charities and causes. Our pick: the festive Sparkling Rosé that helps fund education programs that teach women about the risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Buy it for: The wine lover—or yourself.
Gift: Sword & Plough Bags, Backpacks, and Accessories
Interest it helps: Veterans & Military, Sustainability
Why it makes the world better: Sword & Plough supports veterans by offering jobs in every step of the bag-making process. Even better? Their made-in-the-U.S.A. products use repurposed military surplus materials, so the bags are a fashionable way to recycle and reduce waste.
Buy it for: Any family member or friend who cares about supporting America’s military heroes—or just needs a sleek, functional, and gender-neutral bag.
Gift: Bombas Socks
Interest it helps: Poverty & Hunger
Why it makes the world better: When you buy a pair of socks from Bombas, one pair gets donated, fulfilling a need in homeless shelters across the U.S., where socks remain the most requested donated item.
Buy it for: Husband, dad, brother, or Grandpa.
Gift: Hand in Hand Clean Hands Set
Interest it helps: Clean Water, Health & Wellness
Why it makes the world better: Since we’re all washing our hands more than ever, great-smelling soaps are a perfect gift. For every bar of soap purchased, Hand in Hand donates one bar of soap and one month of clean water to a community in need. Not among the soap’s ingredients: planet-unfriendly palm oil.
Buy it for: Stocking stuffers, friend, neighbor, or coworker.
Gift: Roma Rain Boots
Interest it helps: Poverty & Hunger
Why it makes the world better: When you purchase a pair of these fashionable, waterproof boots from Roma Boots, the company will donate a pair to someone around the world who needs them.
Buy it for: The gardener in your life.
Gift: Fazl Suryast (Sunset) Earrings
Interest it helps: Children, Poverty & Hunger
Why it makes the world better: Half of profits from Fazl products—made from artisans in India who are paid a fair wage—go to local orphanages. (The word “Fazl” is an Urdu word that means “grace.” ) We like these festive $15 earrings, but don’t miss out on Fazl’s cozy knitwear, too.
Buy it for: Sister, mom, daughter, or aunt.
Gift: Ocelot Wild Market Aden Cotton Napkins
Interest it helps: Culture
Why it makes the world better: Ocelot Market sells ethical, handmade products from artisans all around the world and features the artists’ stories on their website. You can shop by country, so learn while you shop!
Buy it for: Ocelot sells a wide range of products, but these chic, locally-sourced cotton napkins made by Ethiopian artisans are a standout gift for the design or eco-conscious loved one in your life.
Gift: Lush Cosmetics Charity Pot Body Lotion
Interest it helps: Animal Welfare, Sustainability
Why it makes the world better: Lush Cosmetics has a long history of doing good, like fighting animal testing and innovating waste-free packaging. And the Charity Pot Body Lotion is a continuation of this planet-friendly tradition: 100% of profits (minus taxes) from the product goes to small grassroots organizations working on regenerative agriculture. This company = goals.
Buy it for: The skincare fanatic in your life—or someone who could stand to practice more self-care.
Gift: FinalStraw Portable Straw
Interest it helps: Clean Water, Sustainability
Why it makes the world better: At ThatHelps, we’re obsessed with single-use plastic straw alternatives, because millions of plastic straws are polluting our oceans and marine life every day. FinalStraw is super-easy to carry—it fits on a keychain—and most importantly, it’s super-easy to clean. Better still, it comes in lots of fun colors.
Buy it for: The iced coffee/smoothie/soft drink addict. (But we think it makes the perfect gift for just about anyone.)
Gifts for Teens That Make the World Better
Gift: Happy Earth O Ka Honua Plant-Based Performance Leggings
Interest it helps: Sustainability
Why it makes the world better: Happy Earth’s unique, sporty leggings with convenient side pockets are made in part from corn. Yes, corn. They’ll also land on your doorstep in recyclable and post-consumer materials. Need another reason to add it to your shopping cart? Happy Earth is fully carbon neutral.
Buy it for: A teenager, student athlete, college student, or anyone who lives in leggings.
Gift: Bureo Ahi Performance Cruiser Skateboard
Interest it helps: Clean Water, Sustainability, Wildlife & Habitats
Why it makes the world better: Discarded fishing nets make up an estimated 10 percent of all of the plastic polluting the Earth’s oceans. Bureo helps mitigate the danger fishing nets pose by using them to make quality products, like this rad skateboard. Among its other recycled products: sunglasses, board games, and more.
Buy it for: A young person who lives to shred or wants to learn how.
Gift: STATE Backpacks
Interest it helps: Education, Sustainability
Why it makes the world better: STATE donates fully stocked knapsacks to kids and funds special projects with partner charities. These stylish, practical bags come in a variety of fabrics and colors, and many are made in part from recycled materials.
Buy it for: The student or worker bee in your life.
Gifts for Babies + Kids That Make the World Better
Gift: Sustainimals
Interest it helps: Sustainability, Wildlife & Habitats
Why it makes the world better: These adorable stuffed animals are made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic and 20% of proceeds from each sale are donated to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Each animal from the “Arctic” Collection is named for an endangered species, like the Klondike the Polar Bear (above), so kids can learn about conservation and help the planet. Start ’em young!
Buy it for: Any little kid or big kid who loves animals.
Gift: BirdRock Baby Moccasins
Interest it helps: Children, Poverty & Hunger
Why it makes the world better: For every pair of these affordable, adorable moccasins sold, BirdRock feeds a child in need for one day through Feed My Starving Children.
Buy it for: The mom-to-be or little one in your life.
Gift: MoMA Design Store Rock and Roll It Drum
Interest it helps: The Arts
Why it makes the world better: Every purchase from the Design Store supports MoMA’s educational programs. Plus, these drums come with an ear-phone feature so the budding rocker can drum away without bothering anyone else in the house. Bonus: it rolls up for easy stashing.
Buy it for: Any kid over age five.
Gift: UNICEF Kid Power Band
Interest it helps: Crisis Relief, Health & Wellness
Why it makes the world better: This fitness band for tykes tracks steps and movement, so it encourages kids to get active. Their activity unlocks therapeutic food packets that UNICEF delivers to severely malnourished children. So the more they move, the more good done for kids who need it most. Also good to know: the fitness band doesn’t track the kid’s GPS or location.
Buy it for: The kid who covets an adult’s smart watch or geeks out over wearable tech.
Gift: Krochet Kids
Interest it helps: Family & Community
Why it makes the world better: Krochet Kids provides job opportunities to women in need. You can even meet the woman who made the product you bought and visit her online profile to learn more about her.
Buy it for: Krochet Kids offers products for all age ranges, but this panda hat would make an adorable lid for any tot.
Gift: cuddle + kind Dolls
Interest it helps: Children, Poverty & Hunger
Why it makes the world better: cuddle + kind’s hand-knit dolls are produced in Peru by artisans who are paid fair trade income. Better still: for every doll purchased, the company donates 10 meals to kids in need around the world through established giving partners.
Buy it for: Any little person.
