Gifts That Give Back

Hedley & Bennett, a popular brand started by Ellen Bennett, creates beautiful, handmade denim aprons in Los Angeles that are quite popular in the chef community. By purchasing Cultivate wines and products, 10% of profits are invested in schools to benefit the Franklin Covey The Leader In Me Program.

$90, cultivatewines.com

Impress the special cook in your life with this large rubber spatula that will add style and color to any kitchen. Ten percent of the retail price from every item in the Le Creuset (RED) Special Edition Collection will go to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, so there's even more incentive to spoil your baking-inclined loved ones.

$16, lecreuset.com

These festive spatulas feature art from St. Jude's patients and are made with Williams-Sonoma's signature silicone head and beechwood handle. With 25% of the proceeds directly benefiting St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, this makes for an equally charitable and useful gift for the bakers in your life.

$13 each, williams-sonoma.com

If your loved ones can't get enough of the outdoors, then this is the perfect gift for them. This pass, which can give them access to over 2,000 federal sites including parks, animal refuges, forests, and grasslands, also gives money back to the organizations that work to preserve and support the nature and wildlife of our country.

$80, www.nps.gov

Not only is this smooth, fragrant olive oil the perfect gift for anyone who loves to cook, but all Oliovera oils also benefit those that are less fortunate. For every bottle of oil that is sold, 11 meals are donated to a child in need through the non-profit organization Feeding America. This gift promote a healthier lifestyle for the person who receives it, and it also helps the individuals that benefit from this giving organization.

$16 oliovera.com

Pepita multigrain bread, pecan currant raisin bread, and Crosstown Sweets' blueberry apricot jam join forces in this tasty gift set for arguably the greatest PB&J potentially ever seen. Hot Bread Kitchen gives back to the food community by creating business incubation programs, where diverse talent is fairly compensated and empowered to grow their start up businesses in the world of food entrepreneurship.

$30, hotbreadkitchen.org

This petite-sized elephant ornament is the ideal gift for a Christmas tree or room decor. Available in many different colors and sizes, this line of colorful ornaments and trinkets from Global Girlfriend are a great solution for simple gifting during the giving season. Available at Whole Foods, Global Girlfriend produces a line of woman-made and handmade ornaments from Nepal, Haiti, and Kenya. All of the profits benefit artisans and their country of origin.

$8, Whole Foods Markets

This marshmallow fudge-flavored hot chocolate mix is just the drink you need to get you through those chilly nights. Topped with adorable, melt-in-your-mouth mini-marshmallows, this rich beverage is the perfect gift for your chocolate-loving friends and family. If an indulgent drink isn't enough, 100% of the proceeds directly benefit St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

$8, giftshop.stjude.org

These are more than your ordinary cuff bracelets. Every piece of jewelry from What's Your Why features a symbolic "Y" in the piece to represent the company's mission to empower and inspire women to find their passion, by way of fashion. Every year, four charities are selected based on customer feedback, so your "why" could be the next cause to receive donations from this uplifting, free-spirited brand.

$41, whatsyouwhydesigns.com

Available in geranium & citrus, lavendar & lemon, frankincense & ylang ylang, and fresh pine (and also available as room sprays), these cozy soy wax candles are an easy gift for anyone. And if that wasn't enough, the sale of these essential oil blends will go towards the nation’s largest social enterprise led by women survivors of trafficking, addiction, and prostitution.

$14-22, Whole Foods Markets

For dogs or cats alike, these 100% wool avocados will bring a smile to both you and your pet. A fair-trade product, it helps employ craftswomen in Nepal. 

$20, wareofthedog.com

Stay in touch with all of your loved ones by ordering this year's holiday cards through No Kid Hungry. Not only are you able to reach out to those you haven't caught up with in a while, but you're giving back to an organization that strives to provide healthy, accessible nutrition to kids that are hungry.

Suggested $10, nokidhungry.org

Partnered with Mississippi artist Tyler Castleman, Do One Thing has crafted this uplifting, one-of-a-kind journal. By purchasing an item from DOT, you are also helping to fund education around the world. Buying school and art supplies from this organization means that you'll fund 1/2 a day of school in some of the poorest countries in the world.

$28, dotproducts.org

Whether your gift recipient has been naughty or nice this year, they are definitely deserving of this "lump o'coal." Each bag is hand sewn, and a portion of the profits go towards providing careers for Burundian women. The bag includes three clarifying and beautifully aromatic facial soaps made from active charcoal for a deep clean you can feel good about.

$10, Whole Foods Markets