Now that I’ve been covering gifts that give back for a while, I can confidently say that finding the best ones is a true balancing act. There’s the built-in donation part to consider — where’s the money going, and what’s an actual philanthropic amount? (One percent usually doesn’t cut it.) And you want the thing that does good to look good, too, as too many ugly T-shirts abound. So if you’re planning to shop with a little extra purpose (on Giving Tuesday or any other day), I’ve rounded up the best gifts I could find that also benefit organizations fighting for racial justice, food security, reproductive rights, and much more. Some come from brands previously featured on the Strategist, like a travel pillow that’s more of a swaddle, while others required a little extra sleuthing, like a necklace seen on a New York editor’s Instagram. Rest assured that each is a gift that someone on your list would be happy to receive (and you’d be proud to wrap up). Meanwhile, if you’d like to donate directly to a near-and-dear cause, we also have handy directories of organizations supporting Black and brown lives and Asian communities.
Madewell and Kule teamed up for what would’ve been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade — here’s a reminder to donate to an abortion fund — for a limited-edition sweatshirt emblazoned with the words “my body.” The entire purchase price will benefit the National Network of Abortion Funds.
Every purchase on Social Goods goes toward a nonprofit — whether it’s the Anti-Defamation League or Everytown for Gun Safety (you can even shop by cause if you click the “nonprofits” tab to see the full list). This brooch takes inspiration from the ones made in support of the Equal Rights Amendment — in the shape of a groovy-looking flower — and supports Equality Now.
Maximalist accessories–maker Lele Sadoughi has a collection of bejeweled Awareness Ribbons with the colors representing different causes. This yellow brooch is for pediatric cancer; 10 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Another noble Kule partnership — this time with Prinkshop — is this striped T-shirt with the luxury label’s signature tag on the hem. It’s part of the 1973 collection, named after the year of the Roe v. Wade decision. Thirty percent of every 1973 sale is donated to the National Institute of Reproductive Health (NIRH), which works to ensure access to reproductive-health care across the country.
Lingua Franca is known for its stitched sweaters with phrases like “give a damn” and “we the people” in looped lettering. Its “enough” crewneck gets right to the point — and 20 percent of the proceeds from the knit will go to Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization focused on ending gun violence.
Toting this “Boobs on Drugs” bag from Flower by Edie Parker nods to that very Reagan-era, anti-drug PSA and gives back to the Women’s Prison Association, with 15 percent of profits going toward the organization’s efforts to help women adjust to life post-incarceration.
Our sister site Vulture named Zadie Smith’s newest novel, centered on a criminal trial, one of the best books of 2023; consider it for the friend who has a dog-eared copy of White Teeth. And consider buying the book from Bookshop — you can choose an independent bookstore to support with your purchase or send your dollars to a “profit pool” that’s shared by over 1,000 bookstores.
Parks Project’s mission centers on preserving public lands with sales supporting projects across the country’s national parks. The site is chock-full of items for outdoorsy types, including this cooler made in collaboration with Igloo that’s illustrated with the Grand Canyon and Yosemite.
You’ve probably heard a Bombas ad before: For every pair of socks you buy, a pair is donated to someone in need. (Specifically, the company works with overnight shelters and rehabilitation centers.) This ready-to-gift box of socks is holiday-themed — there’s a scarf-wearing penguin on one pair and a beanie-topped narwhal on another.
Through November 30, Rachel Comey is donating 15 percent of all full-price Barla Boot sales, both in-store and online, to Dress for Success. The winter boots have pull tabs in the back for an easy on-and-off plus treaded outsoles for traction in slippery weather. These have also appeared on a Strategist editor’s wish list to boot.
Farmacy Beauty — which makes Strategist-approved toners and salves — is donating five meals to Feeding America for each sale of this set, which contains a trio of the brand’s hydrating, made-with-honey best sellers: a moisturizer, mask, and night serum.
Strategist writer Kitty Guo describes Public Spirit’s soaps as “in the lineage of Aēsop” with their notes of cardamom, violet, and sandalwood. The company also bills itself as a brand of “personal care with purpose,” giving 10 percent of its profits to nonprofits, including Mercy Housing for low-income families and ScholarMatch for underprivileged students.
British brand Rixo — a favorite with the Instagram influencer set — is donating 25 percent of the sales of its Zadie dress in this lovely poppy print to Smart Works. The charity offers bespoke dressing consultations and interview coaching to women who are unemployed.
As seen in a carousel post from the Cut’s editor-in-chief Lindsay Peoples, the Take Your Seat necklace features a diamond-encrusted folding chair inspired by Shirley Chisholm’s famous line, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” That gives you a sense of Pavé the Way’s ethos (a “genius” lightbulb and “hammer home” pendant are also part of its “empowerment tools” collection). The brand donates 100 percent of its profits to a range of charities, and you can write one in a text box at checkout.
The “mood-boosting motifs” of AAPI-owned Notte include these bok-choy-shaped hoops — which can be bought as a single or pair. The jewelry purveyor promises that 50 percent of the revenue from the earrings will be donated to Heart of Dinner, which helps Asian American seniors facing food insecurity and social isolation.
Maison Miru is famous for its Nap Earrings, which have a flat back so there’s no poking happening behind the ear. The label recently introduced gemstone versions, and through December 4 it will donate 20 percent of the proceeds from these jade and white-topaz studs to Heart of Dinner.
The sustainability-minded Keep Nature Wild, which makes its bags from recycled materials, coordinates litter cleanups after every purchase. Strategist technology writer Jordan McMahon recommends the brand’s fanny pack, which can hold his Kindle and even a Fujifilm, too, if it’s not already overstuffed.
For a jet-setter, this tricked-out passport case is a nod to the always-ready Airport Dad, with four slots to hold passports, boarding passes, and cash, along with a pen strap and zipper pocket for coins. Clare V. collaborated with Jimmy Kimmel on the holder (the comedian designed it himself), with 30 percent of the proceeds going to the St. Joseph Center, which helps find housing for those who are homeless, and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
Get your favorite gourmand this deli-themed box that comes with garlic-and-beef sausages, parmesan-herbed cheese, Dijon mustard, and cracker rounds. Harry & David will donate 20 percent of the proceeds to its philanthropic partner Smile Farms, an organization working to give opportunities to those with disabilities in the agriculture industry.
Although it’s mostly known for its bracelets, Pura Vida has designed a ring that doubles as a wearable fidget toy — you can quietly spin the outer band whenever you’re feeling anxious or stressed. But the stones set into the surface, including amethyst and celestine, make it look stylish and elevated, not like a toy at all. The brand is also donating 5 percent of the ring’s purchase price to Mental Health America.
Tomato-candle-maker Flamingo Estate plants a tree for every sale in partnership with 1% for the Planet (one of the founders of the organization is also the founder of Patagonia). This duo features the company’s status-y, peppery olive oil and bright-tasting vinegar to “drizzle liberally” over salads, soups, and more.
Oui the People, one of our favorite Black-owned body-care brands, worked with Brazilian (and Brooklyn-based) illustrator Niege Borges on a bandana based on those waved by Latin American abortion-rights activists. All of its profits will go to the Whole Women’s Health Alliance, a reproductive-care organization.
Siesta Co., as seen in a past edition of the Strategist’s holiday catalogue, makes tinned sardines, small squids, and mussels, which it sources sustainably from Spain. If you have a tinned-fish fan in your midst, you could gift them one of the brand’s trios and wrap it with this mermaid-patterned bandanna; 20 percent of the sales from the bandanna will go to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
The coffee snob on your list might like the nutty-sweet notes of this roast from La Colombe (the brand counts former Euphoria star Barbie Ferreira and musician Lauv as fans). The company is donating $2 from the sale of each bag — which features graphics from artist Abbey Lossing — to the American Civil Liberties Union through May 2024.
Anyone with a sweet tooth will appreciate this set of chocolate-truffle bars in flavors like “campers’ s’mores” and “hazelnut butter crisp,” all individually wrapped in artfully illustrated packaging. The company behind the chocolates, Seattle Chocolate, always donates 10 percent of its net profits to Girls Inc.
Mark & Graham teamed up with No Kid Hungry on a monogrammable tote (and matching pouch) in the organization’s signature orange. When you buy the bag, there’s a 15 percent giveback included — which provides up to 100 meals for children in need.
It’s a travel pillow that’s more reminiscent of those “velcro-strappy baby swaddling wraps” than the “standard, floppy airport-kiosk” ones you settle for before a flight, according to Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens. I bought one for each of my parents, who took them on a trip to Greece and touched down with no “sore neck” complaints. Ostrichpillow plants a tree for every sale on its site; you can “see” the trees planted here.
This lotion is formulated with nourishing argan oil, hydrating avocado oil, and calming lavender oil for smoother-looking skin. Violets are Blue partners with Mount Sinai’s Dubin Breast Center so that 10 percent of the purchase price of all its products go toward gift packages that are donated to cancer patients at the hospital.
San Francisco–based fine-jewelry company Goldstories calls this necklace a “tribute to women’s bodies.” It features diamond-cut rubies for the nipples, 10 percent of the proceeds fittingly go to Every Mother Counts, an organization focused on equitable maternity care.
I learned about Marianna Fierro, whose illustrations reference Italian ingredients like farfalle and mortadella, from writer Emilia Petrarca’s newsletter — and was happy to find out that for every order, Fierro makes ten meal donations. I’m sort of a sucker for this sweet tomato kids’ tee, which is available in toddler sizes as well as a onesie.
It’s a Bloomingdale’s annual tradition to launch a limited-edition Brown Bear, and the 2023 release features a set of two: a larger one wearing a sweater and toting a smaller one inside the iconic Little Brown Bag. For each sale of the collectibles through the end of 2023, Bloomingdale’s will donate $5 to the Child Mind Institute, which helps children with mental illness and learning disorders.
Half of the purchase price of this adorable teddy “thumbie” will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The underside of the bear is made to be blankie-like so it feels extra cuddly.
The Beatrix Rose Bath Soap from bespoke soap-maker Caswell-Massey has undercurrents of black currant and bergamot along with notes of rose and wild fig. It’s part of a collaboration with the New York Botanical Garden, which supports the garden’s research, conservation, horticulture, and education efforts.
Home cooks will love chopping away on the reBoard from Material Kitchen — our pick for the best cutting board out there — which has a texture that doesn’t make you feel like your knife is slipping, according to food stylist Judy Kim. Half the profits from the beige-toned version called “To Pó Pó With Love” will be donated to Heart of Dinner.
GLDN, a Strat-approved fine-jewelry start-up, has an entire Give Back Collection. The Embrace Ring offers what might be the most generous giveback: 50 percent of the profits are donated to the Global Fund for Women, a foundation focused on gender equality.
Surprise the beauty-advent-calendar collector with this selection of miniatures from Olaplex, Dr. Barbara Sturm, Sisley, and Charlotte Tilbury approved by Vogue editors — the boxes feature illustrations from the magazine’s covers dating back to 1916. The calendar’s proceeds will be divided between a trio of charities: Sistah Space, the Albert Kennedy Trust, and Women for Refugee Women.
[Editor’s note: The calendar’s price is listed in euros, so this is an approximation to dollars.]
French candlemaker Maison La Bougie has a delightful Zodiac collection with notes specific to each sign — the wax is set in ultragiftable vessels patterned with constellations — that happens to be available on Olivela. Twenty percent of the proceeds from every purchase on the site goes to causes like girls’ education, climate change, and health services (you can find all of its partners here).
This line of handcrafted, blown-glass votives comes in dozens and dozens of colors and patterns, each with a tea light included. The company donates a portion of all its proceeds to a range of nonprofits with some designs earmarked to contribute to a specific cause. The In Real Life votive is a beautiful swirly mix of shades of purple, the color of the Alzheimer’s-awareness movement, with $3 from each sale going to the Alzheimer’s Association. (And if candles aren’t your thing, Glassybaby also makes a line of drinkware in a similarly vast range of shades.)
Status nail-polish-maker J.Hannah is known for its neutral shades, which come in colors with names like “marzipan” (shaded like a sponge cake) and “artichoke” (a “hearty green”). This “dune” hue is meant to evoke the sands of the desert, and all profits from its sale are donated to an ever-evolving catalogue of human-rights organizations — right now, the recipient is the L.A.’s Downtown Women’s Center, which helps women who are experiencing homelessness.
Helen Levi’s ceramics are known for their charming splatter and marbled patterns, and her “Do Good” mugs feature a hand-drawn squiggle. Half of the proceeds from sales of the mugs are donated to a charitable organization — currently, Levi is supporting Bushwick City Farms, run by neighborhood volunteers and providing free food to Brooklynites.
For every piece you buy from Macabre Gadgets — including this olive-branch earring, which is sold as a single — the company plants a tree with the help of One Tree Planted. The jewelry maker also donates monthly to environmentally conscious organizations like World Land Trust and The Ocean Cleanup.
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