Save the rainforest

Our rainforests are in trouble, and without big help, they’ll be gone before we know it. If you have a friend or family member who supports this cause, save a piece of the rainforest in that person’s name. By donating $100 to the Rainforest Alliance, you’re preserving one acre of rainforest, along with the precious ecosystems and animals you’ll find there.

Offset a carbon footprint

There are many things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, but you can’t make it disappear. A $100 donation to Carbonfund.org provides enough funding to carbon-offsetting projects to offset 1 ton of carbon emissions, which adds up to about a year’s carbon footprint for one person. Receive a gift card to give your recipient as proof of that weight off your friend’s shoulders.

Give clean water

All over the world, there are people that don’t know what it’s like to turn on a tap and drink fresh, clean water. Help bring safe drinking water and sanitation to developing countries and get a filtered drinking bottle to give as a gift. For every CamelBak Groove water bottle purchased, $10 goes toward Water.org’s cause.

Plant a tree

So many gifts we give are here today and gone tomorrow. This year, give something that will stick around for a while. Plant a tree in memory or honor of a loved one through Tree People. Single trees start at $25, but multiple trees can be purchased for a discounted rate. Looking to make a big statement? Plant an entire grove for $100.

Give an animal

Want to give a gift that matters? Give a chicken or a cow! Heifer International works to end hunger and provide income to families in need by gifting farm animals to poverty-stricken families. Start small and give a flock of chicks or ducks for $20, or give a camel for a cost that ranges from $85 to $850. Give the gift in the name of a loved one, and they’ll give you a card to pass on to your recipient.

Let them decide

You’ve made the decision to give a gift of charity, but now you don’t know what charity to choose. With Network for Good, you pick the amount, and your gift recipient chooses the cause. When you choose to give the Good Card, you pick the amount and pay that plus a $5 handling fee. Then either email it to your recipient or print it out. Your caring friend can log on later and choose a charity to which to donate the amount.

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