Change.org’s 2009 Holiday Gift Guide

Are you sick of all the corporate malls and discount chains this time of year? Would you rather shop for social change this holiday season? Here at Change.org, we believe you have the power to create change in your community and around the world. One way to do that is to ditch the mall and buy better – better for the planet, for people, and for you. And we’re here to help, with the 2009 Change.org Holiday Gift Guide.

The Change.org Holiday Gift Guide has tons of creative suggestions for gifts that benefit a number of social justice causes, as well as the recipient. From Fair Trade tea to gay pride jewelry to organic gifts for Grandma, we’re here to help you continue your amazing activism with your wallet. If you choose to buy gifts this holiday season, we hope you consider using some of the resources in this guide to help you buy better. The ideas, websites, guides, and other resources featured in the Change.org Holiday Gift Guide were contributed by Change.org writers across all our cause areas.

As with everything you buy, we strongly suggest you do your own research on the companies and organizations in this guide that you choose to support financially. Change.org supports conscious consumerism — knowing about what you buy and choosing better products whenever possible. This guide is far from exhaustive, so please add your favorite places to buy gifts in the comments section.


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PART 1: How to Find Gifts that Create Change

We all have one among our friends and family – that person who seems to have everything and is totally impossible to buy gifts for. So how do you shop for the friend who has it all? Give a gift that benefits more than just the recipient. Dog-obsessed Aunt Trudy would love some free-range dog chews, and dad’s corny sense of humor will be tickled by Steven Coblert’s Wriststrong bracelets that support returning American troops. Even your moody little sister will melt when she tastes Dagoba organic chocolate. And we’ve got these gifts and more, here.

• “All I Want for X-Mas Is. . .the Same Rights As You!” T-Shirt supports LGBT rights.
• You can gift a share of a local farm land through Community Supported Agriculture.
• The Dog Lovers Wine Club offers the perfect gift for the person who has everything. Choose an animal charity to benefit from your order of bottles with art print or custom labels, or you can order from one of their special collections, such as the “Vicktory Dogs” series that benefits Best Friends Animal Society.
• Defenders of Wildlife has over two dozen endangered species up for “adoption.” Gift packs range from $25-90 and include a stuffed animal, photo, and certificate.
• Free Range Dog Chews are made from naturally shed antlers and come with the “Happy Deer Guarantee: No deer were harmed, bullied, or even teased during the making of these treats.”
• International Fund for Animal Welfare offers gift packages ranging from $15-500. Choose from protecting seals from commercial hunts, saving orphaned bear cubs, and rescuing cats and dogs.
• Love and Pride Jewelry gives 10% of their proceeds to The Matthew Shepard Foundation and Lambda Legal Fund.
• Made By Survivors products are made by human trafficking survivors around the world and proceeds benefit nonprofits which work with survivors.
• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans has a program specifically for helping women veterans.
• Out in the Cold DVD, is a documentary to raise awareness about homeless LGBT youth.
• Planet Dog offers toys which are durable, recyclable, and non-toxic, and the company supports adoption efforts. Proceeds from the “Glow for Good Ball” benefit the Planet Dog Foundation’s mission to support canine service programs.
• Rancho Gordo bean company sells amazing heirloom beans the likes of which you’ve never tasted.
• Smithsonian bird-friendly coffee program tells you where you can get eco-friendly java.
• Stop Traffick Fashion sells jewelry and accessories made by human trafficking survivors and a portion of revenues benefit nonprofits which work with survivors.
• Wriststrong Bracelet from Colbert Nation offers affordable gifts whose proceeds go towards the Yellow Ribbon Fund supporting injured troops returning from war, and their families.
• Dagoba organic chocolate will rock your world.
• Duchy Originals, Prince Charles’s organic food company, offers organic gifts with British flavor.
• Evision Arts has some cool “foodie style” T-shirts.
• Foodzie’s producer map lets you browse local producers by area.
• The natural and organic section of the Gourmet Food Mall has gifts aplenty.
• Vegan Chic offers stylish, animal-friendly shoes and accessories. The products are vegan and the company donates to animal charities. Gift certificates available.

Have you already found an awesome spot to buy gifts that benefit a social cause? Share it in the comments section below.


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PART 2: How to Shop Ethically and Sustainably

Too often, the holiday season is about spending too much money on stuff we don’t really need – stuff that pollutes the planet, exploits the people who make it, or hurts animals. But the great news is that you can get holiday gifts and supplies that actually help instead of hurt. From local and sustainable holiday meals to sweatshop-free t-shirts to vegan groceries, we’ve got the places to shop for a better holiday season. And whether it’s visiting an independent bookstore or supporting an end to child hunger, you can make a difference with your dollars.

• 100-Mile Diet lists local food options and ideas for your holiday meals.
• BetterWorldBooks.com allows you to buy a book and change the world at the same time.
• Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe (incl. “Holiday Essentials” section) has vegan shopping ideas.
• Etsy features handmade and vintage items created by individual artisans.
• The Fair Trade Federation has a searchable online directory for Fair Trade vendors in your area.
• Fair Trade Shopping Network offers jewelry, clothing, home decor, bags, and more made by workers paid a living wage.
• Global Exchange has a large selection of Fair Trade merchandise.
• Goodguide.com is a good resource for locating safe, healthy and green products.
• The Hunger Site and its sister sites like the Child Health Site and the Literacy Site offer products that benefit specific causes.
• Indie Bound similar to Amazon but will find books at an independent store close to you. This site helps local communities by allowing independently owned booksellers keep a large percentage of the profit.
• Local Harvest lists local food resources, including farmers markets, co-ops, organic grocery stores and much more.
• FoodRoutes brings you local buying guidelines.
• No Sweat Apparel has sweatshop-free, 100% union-made clothing and shoes.
• Novica offers unique, handmade gifts (including a section of animal-themed gifts) made by artists and artisans around the world. Shop through this link and a percentage of your purchases benefit Pit Bull Rescue Central.
• The Organic Consumers Association provides a huge directory of organic food resources.
• Sock Dreams can keep your feet warm this winter season.
• Sustainable Table offers a guide to local food by zip code.
• Herbivore offers stylish clothing produced with animal rights in mind.
• Food Fight! Vegan Grocery offers vegan food items.
• Pangea, The Vegan Store (incl. “Holiday Gift Ideas” section) offers vegan gifts and groceries.
• Ten Thousand Villages: Home decor, jewelry, accessories, recycled products, clothing, etc.
• Vegan Essentials (incl. “Holiday Gift Ideas” section) sells vegan items.
• World of Good let’s you shop for items that are people positive (i.e., good for workers), eco positive, animal friendly, or that benefit a cause.

Do you have a favorite place to buy better? Share it in the comments section below.


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PART 3: How to Give Volunteer Time and Donations as Gifts

The holiday season doesn’t have to be just about buying stuff and giving gifts; it can be about giving back as well. If you need a break from all the commercial activity and shopping pressure, take a deep breath and a few minutes to financially support your favorite charity. You can even give charitable donations as holiday gifts. Wouldn’t Cousin Caitlin be thrilled that you supported an organization that’s fighting for her marriage to be legally recognized? And your ex-Peace Corps buddy would love an irrigation system in Sierra Leone in his name. But if cash is tight this season, remember than a number of local organizations need volunteers to sort donations and help out with festivities. Consider a donation of volunteer time as a gift – for a loved one or yourself.

• American Farmland Trust supports local food and farms.
• Work in a community garden near you.
• Ecotrust supports local food and farm-to-school  programs.
• FarmAid aims to keep family farmers on their land.
• Heifer International seeks donations to give families around the world farm animals and other resources to help them improve their fortunes.
• Hetrick-Martin Institute has a variety of internships and activities geared toward at-risk LGBTQ. youth and also runs Harvey Milk High School, a public school in NYC for LGBTQ youth at risk for violence or abuse at their home schools.
• GLBT Historical Society archives our history and puts on exhibits you won’t find anywhere else.
• youth, and also runs Harvey Milk High School, a public school in NYC for LGBTQ youth at risk for violence or abuse at their home schools
• GLSEN helps keep schools safe for LGBTQ students.
• Immigration Equality provides legal services to LGBT and HIV positive foreign nationals and their loved ones.
• National Center for Lesbian Rights made same sex marriage legal in California (for those few happy months). Works on cases ranging from transgender healthcare to domestic partner benefits.
• Oxfam Unwrapped has a gift catalog of charitable donations that go towards a variety of development activities around the world.
• Mercy Corps donates “Mercy Kits” to help people survive emergency disaster situations and rebuild their lives in catastrophe’s wake.
• You can volunteer in a soup kitchen or food bank to help people escape hunger.
• Urban Farming fights hunger by optimizing urban space for food.
• You can try your hand at farming as a Willing Worker on Organic Farms.
• World Vision features a gift catalog of charitable donations that support international programs for women and children, including trafficking victims and people at-risk for trafficking.

Do you have a favorite charity to volunteer with or donate to? Share it in the comments section below.


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PART 4: How to Use Cause-Specific Guides

Do you know exactly what you want to change? Maybe you’re already dedicated to a cause, like the protection of animals, the end of modern-day slavery, or equal rights for LGBT people. If so, then check out some of Change.org’s cause-specific gift guides. These guides, created by some of our writers, provide a more detailed list of resources for holiday shopping to benefit a specific cause.

End Human Trafficking Gift Guide

Animal Rights Gift Guide

Gay Rights Gift Guide

Sustainable Food Gift Guide

Animal Welfare Gift Guide

Do you have additional cause-specific resources that you’d like to see included? Share it in the comments section below.


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PART 5: How to Find Additional Resources to Shop for Change

In case you haven’t gotten enough ideas from Parts 1-4 of this holiday gift guide, here are a few more resources to help you shop for change this holiday season. Some of these include other holiday buying guides, which can help you find lists of businesses who respect their LGBT employees, sell union-made products, or rescue animals. There are a ton of great resources to help you be a conscious consumer this holiday season.

• American Airlines is a sponsor of P-FLAG, so travelers can use AA’s Business ExtrAA program with the account #527590 and P-FLAG staff will earn travel points for national events and lobbying.
• “Buying for Equality 2010”Human Rights Campaign Buyer’s Guide rates hundreds of popular American brands on their businesses’ treatment of LGBT employees.
• Cruelty-free shopping is available at www.caringconsumer.com or www.leapingbunny.org.
• HealthyStuff.org let’s you look up items, create shopping lists, text message from stores for results…and any product purchases made from the site benefit the project.
• You can find a state-by-state directory of farmed animal sanctuaries to find a sanctuary near you.
• Sweatfree Communities has a great shopping guide with a number of places to buy sweatshop-free apparel for men, women, and children.
• Unite Here has a browseable database of union-made apparel vendors and other union vendors, like hotels.
• And, of course, check out Change.org’s nonprofit partners to learn more about the great work happening across many important causes!

Do you have additional resources to help holiday shoppers be conscious consumers? Share them in the comments section below.

From all of us at Change.org, have a happy holiday season, and remember that you have the power to shop for change!

Photo credits: David Rees,  Jetalone, Wonderlane, Todd Huffman, Britta Bohlinger.