In recent years, we’ve seen a gradual shift toward giving more meaningful gifts rather than extravagant items. These can be thoughtful gifts that simply show how well you know your family and friends. As many families have scaled back during challenging times, being with loved ones and showing appreciation for one another is, as always, what’s important.

This holiday season, give back by shopping for unique gifts from nonprofit online stores. In this gift guide, you’ll find selections from nonprofits that you won’t see in regular shops. These thoughtful gifts are perfect for friends and family that are passionate about an important cause or a hobby they greatly enjoy.

What’s more, your purchases from nonprofit shops will support the essential work of these organizations and the individuals they help year-round.

Our Holiday Gift Guide is arranged by organization type. Feel free to browse the table of contents if you are looking for anything in particular, and don’t forget to check out Donation Style Gifts at the end of this guide. Happy shopping, and thank you for giving back this season!

Agriculture & Horticulture

Denver Urban Gardens

Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) connects people with the earth and the food they eat for a sustainable urban future. DUG “provide[s] access, skills, and resources for people to grow healthy food in [the] community and regenerate urban green spaces.”

Check out their online store to get stickers, shirts, and accessories for the gardener in your life. And be sure to check out their online resources while you’re at it! 

American Orchid Society

The American Orchid Society is a leading expert in worldwide orchid research and conservation. The AOS provides resources for everyone who is interested in Orchidaceae, whether they are casual hobbyists or aspiring experts.

The AOS store has fun and informational books for orchid enthusiasts of all ages!

Animal Advocacy

Big Life Foundation

Big Life Foundation partners with communities in East Africa to create sustainable conservation solutions that support both animals and people. Big Life’s work has helped reduce poaching, animal trafficking, and habitat loss for African wildlife through sustainable solutions developed alongside the Maasai people.

Shop in their online store for prints, apparel, drinkware, and jewelry made in Kenya to support their mission to protect wildlife!

Motley Zoo Animal Rescue

The Motley Zoo Animal Rescue “is a rock N’ roll themed, volunteer-powered, foster-based, no-kill, 501c3 nonprofit corporation.”

Since 2009, this nonprofit has saved thousands of animals and placed them in loving homes.  Additionally, they have established daycare, training, and boarding services to support their rescue animals. Proceeds from their online store go directly toward animal rescue efforts!

Save the Chimps

Save the Chimps provides “life-long care for chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, the pet trade, and the entertainment industry.” Chimpanzees are an endangered species, and as one of the world’s largest chimpanzee sanctuaries, Save The Chimps works to ensure that its rescued residents enjoy a life that is free from exploitation.

Shop for gifts at their online shop to support the life-long care and protection of chimpanzees at the Save the Chimps sanctuary. For a truly unique gift, be sure to look at the artwork created by rescued chimpanzees as part of their enrichment!

Art & Culture

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is dedicated to preserving the original work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright for future generations. In addition to preservation, the Trust provides educational tours and programs so that students and adults can learn about innovative design.

The Shop Wright store contains a plethora of furniture, home decor, accessories, and other unique gifts, all inspired by the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. Not sure where to start? Take a look at their gift guides!

Words Beats & Life

Words, Beats & Life (WBL), “is DC’s longest running, dopest Hip-Hop based arts educational nonprofit. We are here to break down those barriers that keep our cities’ outstanding young creatives from taking full advantage of the opportunities that come along with living in the Nation’s Capital.”

“Our goal is to invest in Washington, DC’s creative ecosystem to employ our extensive list of artists and creators to be living examples of what our city’s creative youth can accomplish with the right tools and the best role models. We achieve this goal through our many workshops, after school programs, concerts and festivals.”

All proceeds from the Words Beats & Life Shop benefit their mission of making art education accessible to young creatives. Find unique gifts for your art-loving family and friends.

Here are just a few of our favorites:

Building Communities

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that advocates for affordable housing and helps families improve their homes. They work in over 70 countries and have helped more than 39 million people improve their living conditions since 1976.

You can support Habitat for Humanity’s essential work by donating or shopping their online merchandise. These purchases help to build strong communities and improve the lives of families around the world.

North Shore Exchange

North Shore Exchange describes itself as “luxury on a mission.” This unique nonprofit combines luxury consignment with philanthropy. 100% of profits from sales benefit families living in poverty in the Chicagoland area.

Treat a loved one (or yourself!) to designer clothes, accessories, furniture, and home decor while supporting those in need!

Disability Support

Art Enables

Art Enables is “dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to make, market, and earn income from their original and compelling artwork.” The gallery’s programs provide diverse artists with the tools and opportunities they need for successful careers.

You can support their artists directly by purchasing their one-of-a-kind artwork! You can also support the studio by purchasing limited edition prints, ornaments, accessories, and more in their merchandise store, all featuring work by their artists.

Arts of Life

Arts of Life provides a space and community for working artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities to strengthen their practice.

Their shop features stationary, apparel, poetry, and more, all created by Arts of Life artists.  You can also check out their artists’ artwork and contact them to inquire about any pieces you are interested in!

Education

Boys and Girls Clubs of America

Boys and Girls Clubs of America have a mission to enable all young people to reach their full potential.  They have a strong commitment to inclusion and believe that every kid has what it takes. We were impressed to learn that “97% of Club teens expect to graduate from high school, and 88% expect to complete some kind of post-secondary education.” 

Shop at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America E-store to support the brand and bring awareness to their mission. 

Churchill Northern Studies Centre

Based in Manitoba, Canada, The Churchill Northern Studies Centre has been facilitating research in the subarctic for nearly 50 years. In addition to hosting researchers year-round, The Centre welcomes anyone who wants to discover the North to visit by taking a tour or an all-inclusive Learning Vacation.

The Learning Vacations make a great gift for loved ones who prefer experiences over items. However, if you aren’t ready to physically visit the North yet, you can still get a taste of it while supporting scientific research by purchasing a gift from the CNSC shop!

Environmental

Earthwatch

Earthwatch “connects people with scientists worldwide to conduct environmental research and empowers them with the knowledge they need to conserve the planet.”

Founded in 1971, this nonprofit organization has partnered with volunteers from around the world to protect biodiversity and natural resources through the power of citizen science and community engagement. Earthwatch also emphasizes the importance of education and scientific research, currently supporting over 40 research projects globally.

Shop their online store for a wide selection of designs for shirts, stickers, bags, phone cases, and more! These make perfect gifts for the science enthusiast and environmental advocate in your life.

P.E.T.A.L Wildlife

P.E.T.A.L (Protecting Ecosystems, Territories, and Animal Life) Wildlife is a nonprofit that creates hand-designed, educational products that teach kids about endangered species. The organization believes that by educating children about the Earth’s species at a young age, kids will grow up wanting to protect biodiversity for generations to come.

100% of P.E.T.A.L’s net profits are donated to wildlife organizations and schools in the hopes of advancing wildlife protection and education. Shop for unique gifts at P.E.T.A.L Wildlife this holiday season and support their essential mission!

Health & Fitness

Survivingbreastcancer.org (SBC)

Survivingbreastcancer.org offers free support, programs, resources, and community for those who have been affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. This includes programs for those diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as their families and caregivers. Surviving Breast Cancer aims to break down barriers to breast cancer education by combining evidence-based research with anecdotal experiences.

You can support SBC and breast cancer awareness by shopping for clothing, stickers, and decor in their online store! All proceeds support SBC programs.

Three Jewels

Three Jewels is a nonprofit organization that offers yoga and meditation classes to over 5,000 students per year.

Additionally, Three Jewels “provides services to the city and internationally by giving free meditation and yoga classes to homeless families, school teachers, children, people recovering from addiction, trauma-sensitive care to refugees and earthquake survivors, and much more. It is also run almost entirely by volunteers!”

Help support their work by shopping for a yoga lover at their online store this holiday season.

Museums

American Civil War Museum

The American Civil War Museum helps the public understand the Civil War Era in the United States while “exploring the unparalleled significance the American Civil War holds to complexities we face today.” In addition to preserving historic sites and artifacts in Virginia, the ACWM provides online exhibits and events for those who aren’t able to visit in person.

Any U.S. history buff would have plenty to explore on the ACWM website, but you can also find a great gift for the history lover in your life in their online store! You can find art prints, ornaments, historic models and replicas, quilt patterns, and much more.

Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation

The Balloon Museum is dedicated to sharing the history and wonder of balloon flight. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this museum hosts a plethora of inspiring and educational exhibits.

You can bring the joy of ballooning into your life by visiting its online store! Uplift your loved one with fun balloon-themed items from the Museum Shoppe.

Veteran Support

Operation Red Wings Foundation

Operation Red Wings Foundation is dedicated to helping active service members and veterans navigate and manage service-related trauma. The organization hosts retreats where service members receive tools and resources from licensed professionals to help navigate their healing.

You can support ORWF’s mission to help veterans heal from their invisible wounds by checking out its online store!

Semper K9 Assistance Dogs

Founded by veteran Christopher Baity and his wife Amanda, Semper K9 rescues dogs from animal shelters and trains them as service dogs for veterans with disabilities. Each dog is custom-trained to meet the needs of the veteran it has been paired with. Semper K9 also provides a Family Integration Program to help the families of veterans adjust to life with a service dog.  All of these services are provided at no cost.

Support Semper K9’s mission by shopping for gifts this season at their online store!

Violence Prevention

Sandy Hook Promise

Sandy Hook Promise is a national nonprofit organization founded and led by several family members who lost their loved ones at the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012. They are dedicated to “protecting America’s children from gun violence in honor of the precious lives that were lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School.”

“Sandy Hook Promise envisions a future where children are free from shootings and acts of violence in their schools, homes, and communities.”

Support their essential mission of protecting children by shopping at their online store this holiday season. 

Donation Style Gifts

Have a loved one who is hard to shop for or doesn’t like getting “stuff?”   

If you have a family member passionate about a cause, you could include a donation honoring them as their gift this year.

There are so many impactful organizations to choose from. Here are a few examples to help you get started.

For Celebrating Hanukkah:

If you’d like to give back to the Jewish Community this holiday season, consider donating to a Jewish human service agency. These organizations provide a variety of services to the local community for individuals of all backgrounds, ranging from healthcare to vocational training. Check the agency locator on the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies website to find a nonprofit in your area to make a gift to! Some organizations, such as the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Arizona, even have festive e-cards to send to your loved one to let them know about your donation! 

For the Sustainability Lover:

Solar Sister empowers women in Africa to create sustainable clean energy businesses by providing tools, training, and mentorship. Solar Sister works to alleviate both poverty and climate change by helping female entrepreneurs bring clean energy to their rural communities. You can “invest in the planet’s bright future” by donating to their programs!  

For the Animal Lover:

Kennel to Couch partners with shelters across the country to help “at-risk” Pit Bulls find their forever homes. This nonprofit harnesses the power of social media to help long-time shelter residents finally get adopted. The organization also provides online resources to dispel harmful myths about the breed. Donate in honor of your loved one to help give Pit Bulls a second chance at life!

The Sea Otter Foundation & Trust (SOFT) funds sea otter research, conservation, and education. 100% of donations go directly to SOFT’s grant programs to help sea otter populations. You can symbolically adopt an otter as a gift for the animal lover in your life. All otter adoptions come with an adoption certificate and a cute sea otter plush! Higher adoption levels also include a sports backpack and a grocery tote.

For the Book Lover:

Read to Them creates literacy programs that “show schools and families the wide array of benefits that come from reading aloud together.” Read to Them believes that creating a positive relationship with literacy at an early age will set a child up for a lifetime of learning. By donating to their program, you help provide students with books to nurture their love for reading.

For the Arts and Crafts Lover:

Hope Walks provides treatment for children who were born with clubfoot in low-income countries. This year, you can provide a unique and interactive gift that gives back with their Stocking Stuffer program! In exchange for your donation, Hope Walks will provide paint pens and a pair of leather that will be transformed into a brace for a child. Once completed, your loved one will receive a photo of their artwork after it has been transformed into a life-changing brace!

For the Sports Lover:

PHIT America provides physical education programs in elementary schools across the United States to combat the “inactivity pandemic”. Nearly half of schools do not have PE programs, and schools in lower-income areas are disproportionally affected. PHIT America has created programs for over 1,500 schools to help kids experience the physical and mental health benefits of exercise. A $5 donation is all it takes to help a child be active. You can choose to donate to any school in need, or to a school in your area!

Or, let them choose.

Global Giving– “GlobalGiving is a nonprofit that supports other nonprofits by connecting them to donors and companies. Since 2002, we’ve helped trusted, community-led organizations from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe (and hundreds of places in between) access the tools, training, and support they need to make our world a better place. Give the gift of giving with a GlobalGiving Gift Card.” 

We hope you have found something special for your loved ones. With so many amazing nonprofit organizations in the world, we couldn’t possibly include them all! If you didn’t see what you were looking for here, we encourage you to research the nonprofit of your choice. Additionally, please consider supporting these nonprofits or any nonprofit you are passionate about. Changing the world takes teamwork. Thank you for reading!