www.tisbest.org

www.tisbest.org

Last night I was talking to my "adopted" daughter Gabrielle (No I don't have a child you don't know about, it's my sorority sisters daughter.) I asked her what he wanted Santa to bring her for Christmas.  She went on to become shy and say she didn't know.  When mom got on the line I inquired about the confusion. 

Mom went on to say that this was a very giving year for Gabrille and that she wanted the homeless to have homes, kids to have yummy food and the like.  Now this girl "get's it". 

I suggested that they together consider this option as part of her Christmas. www.tisbest.org is an online web store that allows you to purchase things that change the world.  You may want to check it out to as a way to teach your little one about giving things that make the world a better place.

Gifts that Give

When I initially conceptualized this blog I thought there would be a lot of blogs like it out there.  What I am finding is there are a lot of products and a few online malls that offer the ability to purchase for good.  Today's post takes it to a new level.

What if you want to create a doing good program for an organization you are passionate about?  Here is a simple way to start one.

Gifts that Give

http://www.giftsthatgive.com/

You pick charity, you pick the items, and you promote in your community.  It is simple and effective.
So say your son or daughter has autism.. you can create a program for the local organization of your choice.

https://apps.facebook.com/shopformycause/

Check it out!

Online Shopping On Purpose

With the Christmas countdown clock quickly counting down today is almost the drop dead day to buy online and assure you get it in time for slipping under the tree.  Here's a place to go make those purchases and do good at the same time.

http://www.shoponpurpose.com/

Shop on purpose allows you to pick the charity and the shop you want to buy from.   Up to 31% of all you give goes to that charity.

Spiritual Mall - Help NW Veterans

This gift is a triple win.. you buy an inspirational book - Put a Zip in Your Day, by Dorothy Manin and the proceeds go to Dorothy's Dream Foundation that gives loans to NW Veterans and their families. 

http://www.thespiritualmall.com/store.php?product_item_id_select=product_item_444e3dfc8c53281853188&select=single_item

I'll take two...

Gifts without the Guilt

Looking to do some guilt free shopping?  Here's a few more mainstream ideas.  How about buying something from the Red collection where proceeds benefit Aids Awareness,  Tom's Shoes where for every pair purchased a pair goes to a child in need around the world.  Looking for childrens gift this link has teddy bears to books and all things in between that give to a variety of causes at great prices.

http://nonprofit.about.com/od/fordonors/tp/guiltfreeshopping.htm

Global Giving - Present Aid

Ok, I admit from the start you have to truly be a global citizen to appreciate this post. Where else can you go and purchase a Butterfly business. What a cool gift for all the gardners on your list.

http://www.presentaid.org/gardeners/butterfly-business/invt/butterfly-business/

Not into butterflies, this web page has a whole host of global gift opportunities sorted by category for any of those hard to buy for people on your list.

www.kiva.org

Give the gift card that changes lives.  Don't know what to buy the person who has eveything.  Here's a new idea a Kiva gift card.  With Kiva you can empower small business owners around the world with as little as a $25 gift card.Take the best of microfinancing put it together with microvolunteering and you have the perfect combination for social entrepreneurship.

http://www.kiva.org/gifts/kiva-cards#/print

www.uso.org - Bedtime Stories

How can you not love this way to give back to our troops this holiday season.

You select from the troop wish book.  Purchase the items ranging form $15 - $100's and then dedicate that gift to a family or friend.


https://usowishbook.uso.org/templates/product.aspx?id=44&rid=34

I'll dedicate three of these this holiday season to my niece and nephews.  Knowing that in their honor 3 other kids will get a bedtime story and audio from their mother or father serving overseas.

www.causes.com

We all love to complain about recieving those impersonal gift cards at the holidays.  We love them, cause well we can do what we want with them and the gift giver doesn't even have to know.  Yet, we hate them because we feel they are so impersonal.  How's this for a new spin on gift cards.

http://www.causes.com/gift_cards

You buy the card and the recipient gets to choose what chairty gets the money.  Now this is an idea that keeps on giving.

www.worldofgood.ebay.com

This page is full of so many gifts that do good in the world.  I'm so excited it's hard to choose.

Oh boy, what a dilema if my friends see this one.  Cause this may be what they get this year.

http://worldofgood.ebay.com/Global-Girlfriend-Recycled-Plastic-Market-striped-Tote/360344325043/item

Not into this tote, I still recommend this web page for gifts that give back!

Altruette.com

Idea #1 - for the man who has no clue what to buy any woman in his life.  A charm bracelet but not just any charm bracelet.  Check out this page.  Each charm you buy corresponds to a charity that gives a percentage of the proceeds back to charity.

Now that's a gift that that keeps on giving.

12 Days of Charitable Giving - Why

Anyone who knows me knows I do NOT need another thing to do at the holidays.  This idea is too good I can't pass it up.  So here's a blog with my 12 top charity gift ideas for 2011.  Ways to give a gift that brightens the day of the person who recieves it and does good in the world.