This story has been updated with additional gift ideas. It was originally published on November 26, 2015. The holidays are often a season for giving, not just to friends and family but also to people in need.
Some gifts allow you to check both those bow-wrapped boxes at once.
Whether you give a donation to a nonprofit in a friend's name or pick up a trinket crafted by artisans working in developing economies, there are no shortages of options for the shopper in search of a present that has a social impact. As if a gift that keeps on giving wasn't enough of a draw, these items are often one-of-a-kind or released in limited qualities. Read: another perfect present idea for that friend who has everything.
An added bonus? Research shows giving to charity helps you feel good, too. So go ahead and add a few items to your shopping list that might help you deter those holiday blues.
Click through for a collection of awesome gifts that give back to causes and communities around the globe.
No matter who you're shopping for, or what your budget is, Refinery29 has all the holiday picks you need right here.
Looking for a one-stop shopping destination for gifts that actually make a difference? The Shop for Syria online auction showcases a wide range of must-have products, including art prints, hotel stays, and this adorable vegan bunny bag. The auction, launched in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is raising funds to help the ongoing refugee crisis. Check out these options ASAP, though — the sale is scheduled to stay live through December 16.
Mandy Coon Vegan Bunny Bag, $395, available at Shop for Syria.
Help your favorite host share the love (and food) far beyond her living room. Local + Lejos features stylish home decor made by talented artisans around the world. The Neri Tray, for example, is handcrafted in Rwanda by members of the Kwizera Cooperative. Each sale allows the artist to add a chicken or a rabbit to her farm.
Kwizera Cooperative Neri Tray, $72, available at Local + Lejos.
Because you can never have too many pairs of cute (and functional) underwear. Lingerie brand Empowered by You has teamed up with designer Rebecca Minkoff for a new panty line that supports female empowerment. A portion of the profits goes to a program that helps lift women out of poverty through small-business loans. The seamless thongs are produced in a Sri Lankan factory that has received United Nations Women certification, the company says.
Empowered by Rebecca Minkoff Set of three thongs, $65, available at Rebecca Minkoff stores.
Take a walk on the wild side with these animal-inspired kicks. The wildlife print espadrilles — inspired by endangered species — are part of a capsule collection from Joy & Mario created in conjunction with theWorld Wildlife Fund. The brand says it is donating $75,000 to WWF as part of the partnership.
Joy & Mario WWF Collection Panda, $80, available at Joy & Mario.
Drink up for a worthy cause with a case of OneHope wine. A glass of the merlot, for example, can help prevent deadly diseases. OneHope says 2,000 children have been provided with medicine through its partnership with the nonprofit End 7.
OneHope California Merlot, $18.99, available at OneHope.
For a truly life-changing gift, try providing a farm animal to a family in need. Options offered through Heifer International range from rabbits ($60) to a heifer ($500). You can even donate a llama ($150) on behalf of that friend who was glued to the television during the great llama chase of 2015. If a full animal is beyond your budget, you can contribute a share. Either way, the impact will be lasting. "Giving an animal is like giving someone a small business, providing wool, milk, eggs, and more," Heifer says on its website. "Animal donations can provide families a hand up, increasing access to medicine, school, food, and a sustainable livelihood."
Heifer International Llama, $150, available at Heifer.
Looking for a pretty gift that has a major social impact, too? The eco-friendly accessories from 31 Bits (beads are made from recycled paper!) are produced as part of a five-year program that helps empower women in Uganda with training on health, finance, and business.
31 Bits Eloise Necklace, $58, avalable at 31 Bits.
Sudara's chill T-shirts and comfy-but-cute pajamas help end sex slavery in India. That's a momentous task, given the high rate of human trafficking there — the country is home to an estimated more than 3 million sex workers, many of whom are believed to be victims of exploitation. Sudara forges partnerships with indigenous organizations to create sewing centers that employ survivors and "offer these women a fresh start and place to heal."
Sudara This Shirt Does Good, $32, available at Sudara.
Almost 20 years ago, four women came together to sew and sell placemats in Nairobi, Kenya. Today, that small gathering has grown to become Amani ya Juu, a network of more than 200 women that produces high-quality goods through training centers across Africa. The women gain experience in all aspects of running a business, from stitching to bookkeeping. Sales of their products on the website help support those training centers.
Amani Ya Juu Cow Bone Hors D’oeuvres Set, $14, available at AmaniAfrica.org.
The refugee crisis that has displaced more than 19 million people worldwide isn't coming to an end anytime soon. As part of our ongoing coverage of the experience of refugees and the conflict in Syria, Refinery29 has partnered with USA for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to collect donations to help support those in need.
UNHCR, donate here.
Because we can never have too many temporary tattoos, Tattly partnered with Charity : Water to create these teardrop tats. Sales support efforts to provide clean water to communities around the world.
Charity : Water/Tattly Temporary Tattoos (set of 2), $5, available at Charity : Water Store.
Don't let dress restrictions leave girls on the sidelines. A donation made through CARE helps provide culturally appropriate Islamic sportswear for female students in rural schools around the world. CARE, which recently got a shout-out from New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, features opportunities to donate to many different causes and campaigns. Search through topics that include education, agriculture, and one of our favorites, women's empowerment, to find the perfect altruistic gift for everyone on your list.
Care Culturally Appropriate Islamic Sports Wear for Girls in Secondary Rural Schools, $61, available at gifts.care.org.
A little glam can go a long way in brightening up our lives during the winter months. This black-and-gold vase was handcrafted in Peru through a partnership with the artisan group Allpa. It's available through Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit, fair-trade group that sells products made by disadvantaged artisans from around the world.
Ten Thousand Villages Black and Gold Striped Vases, $69-$89, available at Ten Thousand Villages.
Oh, the calendar — that perennial holiday standby gift. This one from Bordahan is hand-embroidered by women in the town of Anapla in the Philippines. "We are working to empower the native women of the Philippines to have the opportunity to send their children to school and provide for their families — most of the women we work with did not have a reliable source of income before this cooperative was created," the company says on its Etsy site.
Bordahan Hand Embroidered Calendars, $28.99, available at Etsy.
The Brave Collection features beautiful jewelry that is handmade by women in Cambodia. The artists, mostly mothers, "come from underprivileged backgrounds or suffer from disabilities," the company says. "All artists work in a free, fair, and dignified work environment where they are paid above-average wages and receive benefits such as health insurance and stipends for their children's education," the company says. Ten percent of the proceeds are used to combat human trafficking in Cambodia — a huge issue impacting women and girls there. This bracelet's lettering translates to "brave" in Cambodian.
The Brave Collection Teal, $38, available at The Brave Collection.
This one's a triple threat: practical, eco-friendly, and carrying a serious social impact. Lunapads, a company based in Canada, produces a wide array of reusable products to help manage menstrual flow. Purchases made through the company's One4Her partnership shop support a program that provides pads to girls and women in developing countries. That one pad can make a big difference — one in 10 girls in Africa misses school or drops out because of her period, according to one UNICEF estimate.
Lunapads Maxi Pad & Insert, $16.99, available at Lunapads.
More than 700 million women living in the world today were married before the age of 18. A donation to a group such as Girls Not Brides can help girls like these across the globe escape that fate.
Girls Not Brides, donate here.
Sseko Designs' beautiful bags and sandals are helping women go to school. The fashion brand, which employs 50 women in Uganda, says it has helped at least 60 former employees go on to university. The leather used is derived from local sources, with more than 90% coming from subsistence farmers who allow cattle to live free-range. This bag flew off the (online) shelves after Sophia Bush was seen rocking one — but you can still back-order one from the next batch.
Sseko Designs Weekender Duffle Bag, $349,available at Sseko Designs.
Give the gift of a clear mind this holiday season. Sales of Incausa's incense, soap, and meditation sets support indigenous communities in founder Vieira de Vieira's native Brazil. "With this work, we hope to uplift the appreciation for their own traditions and stimulate a return of indigenous peoples back to their own cultures while giving them an opportunity to sustain a living on trade,"he told one publication recently.
Incausa Singing Bowl Bath & Meditate Set, $49, available at Incausa.
Because who doesn't need some sweet (and sustainably produced) shut-eye. The India-based company that makes this block-print masks wins ethical marks for its support of local artisans, use of wastewater recycling, and reliance on solar energy. The mask is one of loads of great gifts sold by Accompany, an online shop that curates beautiful and ethically sourced items from around the world.
Kerry Cassill Block Printed Eye Mask. $24, available at Accompany.
No gift guide would be complete without one super-cute buy for the baby in your life. These booties, sold by Accompany, are handmade in Patagonia from natural materials. The female artisans behind the booties learn management skills and sustainable business practices as part of a model that has won international awards for design and social responsibility.
Chilote Baby Shoes, $49, available at Accompany.
Click here for more great gifts.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Inside The Calais 'Jungle' Camp – What Refugee Women Take With Them
"Stoner Sloth" Takes Pot PSAs To A New Level
How One Iraqi Refugee Is Learning To See Herself In A Whole New Way