Simple Gifts January 3, 2008

This is a take-off on my annual Holiday Shopping List, in which I try to highlight ways you can give back to charity with some of your gift-giving consumerism. This list is in no way comprehensive. I don’t get any kind of kick-backs for posting this (I don’t even alert the folks in any way) and I make no promises about what you’ll find. But I do believe in voting with your dollars and that a great gift can do more than just make a recipient smile. If you have any suggestions, be sure to leave ‘em.

[Before I launch into the list, Charity Watch is a great site to check up on any organization. You can also cull through a lot on Charity Navigator.]

Charity Malls:

• Justgive is a great site! It has links to gift and donation options for several charities benefiting children, the homeless, people with AIDS and cancer, the environment and animals. I particularly like their recommendations for sites with holiday cards and on another page they have a link to use if you are shopping on Amazon.com, which will automatically give to charities supported by Justgive.org. They also have links to charity malls and charity auctions. Sweet!
• A great charity mall site is Igive.com. If you start your shopping there and select participating stores (many of them like locally owned Femail Creations support small, women-owned businesses) then a certain percentage of your purchase is automatically credited to a charity or cause of your choice. (No extra charge to you.) Awesome! I have been using this site for 6 years (to benefit Henderson’s SAFE House). And it works all year long! And I found a new store through that site: Uncommon Goods, which has some unique stuff, including a lot of recycled art and jewelry.
• Another charity mall site is Greatergood.com. They support a few different charitable causes including helping the rain forest, fighting breast cancer, promoting child health and literacy.
• Similarly, check out Goodshop.com.
• World of Good supports arts cooperatives.
• Global Exchange specializes in fair-trade items made from recycled materials with a focus on benefiting human rights.
• eConscious Market features socially responsible goods from progressive, ecologically minded companies. The site gives 50 percent of net profits from each purchase to the charity of your choice.

Individual Causes:

• Sexual Assault: Nationally there is the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (aka RAINN). It’s a tough cause because no one likes to think about rape and incest. I highly recommend their gift options. Locally there’s the Rape Crisis Center. They don’t have gifts but they do accept desperately needed donations all year long.
• AIDS: Product RED. Motorola, AmEx, GAP, Emporio Armani, Converse, Ipod, Hallmark and so many more have joined the RED campaign since it’s launch last year. This campaign is perhaps the best embodiment of what mindful capitalism can be (at least to me). They’ve already invested $30 million in aide. If you’re already going to buy the Ipod or whatever, check first to see if there’s a RED version. The Body Shop continues to offer the silver AIDS bracelet. The bracelets can also be found at Until There’s a Cure. Bath & Body Works has teamed up with Elton John’s AIDS Foundation again this year - this time with a travel tin scented-candle. MAC Viva Glam lipstick and greeting cards.
• Domestic Violence: The Body Shop has a line that donates money toward ending domestic violence. Eco-bonus: This year they’ve added a reusable tote bag to the line. This one’s a three-fer (gift, charity and eco-friendly reusable shopping bag all in one!) The Avon Foundation has gifts that benefit causes including breast cancer and domestic violence. Donate the old one to help victims of domestic violence through programs like Call to Protect (the Body Shop takes phones for this cause as does some retail cell phone stores) or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
• Cancer: There are a shit-load of sites catering to breast cancer such as The Susan G. Komen Founation and FordCares.com. Lance Armstrong’s ubiquitous Livestrong charity. (I bought a bag of their bracelets last year and used them as bows on my gifts.) Also, the American Cancer Society sells gifts. I hate skin cancer, but I love Marc Jacob’s $20 tees that spread awareness about melanoma. Robert Montagnese is donating all proceeds from his book Lucky 7 to Ovarian Cancer Research.
• Literacy: One of my biggest passions! Since 2005 Borders Books has teamed up with First Book, which strives to make sure every child has at least one book. For $5 you can get a book or a plush toy that benefits Kohl’s Cares, a program that promotes literacy in communities across the country.
• Banned Books: Yes, it gets it’s own special category. The American Library Association has a nice little site with goods to promote open minds and open thought. Good for stocking-stuffers.
• Poverty: Natalie Portman’s Big Change: Songs for FINCA is an iTunes-only collection of songs, the purchase of which benefits FINCA International, an organization dedicated to ending poverty in developing countries. 100% of sales of the $100 Ten Thousand Things “Trickle Up” necklace benefits Trickle Up, a global charity that grants money for new businesses to low-income women and people with disabilities.
• Hunger: Donate food! Salvation Army, local shelters, even local schools in low-income neighborhoods. In Henderson, there is St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church downtown, which offers hot evening meals and takes donations every day. Perhaps the most unique gift you can give is an animal through Heifer International, which helps impoverished people in developing countries by giving them a hand-up not just a hand-out.
• Education: The American Indian College Fund has a shop with gifts and cards. If you’re upgrading your laptop send your old one to a child in one of 61 countries through Worldcomputerexchange.org.
• The Arts: The Art Institute of Chicago (one of my favorite places in the world) has an amazing catalog of gifts and cards, which benefit the museum. Ditto, the Smithsonian. And for music lovers, there’s the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation.
• Animals: For my money the World Wildlife Fund is where it’s at. They have some good donation options with gifts attached. (And don’t try to get me to list PETA, because they piss me off.)
• Environment: American Forest has partnered with companies like Ikea to offer ways to plant trees, offset carbon emissions and generally help the earth. Liberate someone from their junk mail and help the planet at the same time by giving a gift subscription to Green Dimes. For the music fan: For every song downloaded through Tunes for Trees (an offshoot of iTunes) a tree is planted.
• Africa: 50% of the profits from the Simmons Jewelry Co. “green bracelet” goes toward education and empowerment programs in Africa.
• National Disaster Victims (Katrina, CA wildfires, etc.): For Katrina survivors try this Budding Hope pendant, the St. Christopher charm bracelet, or this New Orleans blues CD from Putumayo Music. Or you can be a part of the Make It Right sustainable rebuilding program in New Orleans. They’ve got merch, including some items donated by Mr. Brad Pitt himself. Tide is donating all proceeds from its vintage tee sales to help victims of natural disasters.
• Mental Health: Like the show House? Me too. And even more I like the show’s T-shirt campaign to support the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Greeting Cards & Gift Wrap:

• UNICEF. Oldie but a goodie with great cards and gifts.
• With Good Cause Greeting Products you can buy holiday cards that benefit the charity of your choice from a pretty healthy list. It’s kind of awesome.
• Drawbridge is a San Francisco-based arts program for homeless children. They sell cards with designs by homeless children as well as gifts.

Don’t Forget Your Favorite Orgs:

• Local causes need your help all year long so check out their websites for their wishlists (such as Safe Nest, SAFE House, Shade Tree, HACA). For a donation of just $1.79 you can buy someone a hot Thanksgiving dinner at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. Miracle Flights for Kids is based here but helps children all over the country get to medical care they need.
• National causes, too. Planned Parenthood, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Boys & Girls Clubs, Red Cross — whatever floats your boat.
• Amnesty International: Like John Lennon? How about Amnesty International? Then Make Some Noise is for you. It’s covers of Lennon’s songs, the sale of which benefit AI.