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Black Friday, Cyber Monday-the holiday shopping season has officially begun. Many of us search high and low for the perfect gift. Studies [2] have found that giving gifts helps define relationships and strengthen bonds with family and friends. Psychologists say it is often the giver, rather than the receiver, who reaps the biggest psychological gains from a gift. [2] No doubt about it-it feels great to give a gift. Regardless of your spiritual practice or religion, there is a common theme during the holidays- place others before yourself. There is no better way to do this than to give gifts to the people you love that benefit people in need.
Need some stocking stuffers, teacher gifts or just plain out of ideas? Here are some unique philanthropy-inspired gifts that keep on giving:
- GlobalGiving Gift Cards [3]– Giving a gift card from GlobalGiving lets you give the gift of giving. The recipient gets to pick the project(s) that they want to support and then see how their money has been put to work through regular updates. You can monitor how the funds raised have made an impact to date. Another bonus-the gift cards are biodegradable.
- Jewelry for a Cause [4] A company that that combines cool and hip jewelry with philanthropy-a winning combination. For each purchase a specified amount is donated to charity.
- TreeNex [5] TreeNex provides a truly unique opportunity to have a tree planted in a forest each time you purchase a greeting card from their site. When your tree is planted a tree ID is assigned to you. You can use the ID to login at anytime to check on your tree’s progress. How cool is that?
- Alternative Gifts International [6] A non-profit that inspires support for humanitarian and environmental causes. You can share the gift of giving by sending someone special a gift card. The recipient can choose from the sites Shopping List for the World which lists numerous charities worldwide that are in need of support.
What unique ideas do you have for giving this holiday season?
More on green giving…..
Green Gifts Don’t Have to Suck [7]
Treehugger Holiday Gift Guide [8]