There are hundreds of ways to help out the less fortunate – whether it’s volunteering your time, making monetary donations, participating in charitable events, or donating to Goodwill. Charitable giving is something that we should all be doing year-round, but most especially this holiday season.
Christmas is a season of giving, and I’m pretty sure your gift lists are already prepped and finalized for shopping day. But aside from simply buying gifts to give your loved ones this year, why not do your holiday shopping while benefiting a worthy cause? Yes, I mean shopping on retailers that donate to charities with every purchase.
Here are 6 online retailers that allow you to combine shopping with charitable giving.
1. Amazon Smile
If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, AmazonSmile is the company’s program that donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases on Amazon to a charity of your choice (e.g. World Wildlife Fund, ASPCA, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital). Choosing a charity is very easy and you can change the charity recipient any time you want.
Here’s how to shop on AmazonSmile:
- Visit smile.amazon.com
- Sign in with your Amazon.com credentials
- Choose a charitable organization to receive donations, or search for the charity of your choice
- Select your charity
- Start shopping!
Millions of products are eligible for donations, just look for “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on its product detail page.
2. Product (Red)
Another charitable program that is also available on Amazon is “SHOP (RED) SAVE LIVES,” where you can purchase exclusive (RED) products for a limited time like this red Echo, for example. This concept was developed to raise money for the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.
3. UNICEF Market
What better way to buy gifts for your kids than to shop on UNICEF Market and help children in need? UNICEF has been providing proper healthcare and nutrition for children since 1946, who unlike yours, don’t get the chance to have the life that every child deserves. The site does not only offer toys, accessories and coloring books, but also home décor and cards.
4. Giftback
From fruit boxes to wine baskets, cookies, chocolates, gourmet cheeses to dried fruits & nuts in a box, or combined all together in fancy gift baskets, Giftback is home to thoughtful gifts that gift back. For every purchase, 10% will be donated to one of Giftback’s designated charities, which you can choose from. Aside from your gift card message, your recipient will also be notified that a portion of their gift was also donated to charity.
5. Charity Wines
For the wine connoisseurs and sports aficionados in your life, I’m sure they will appreciate these unique bottles from Charity Wines, a company that teams up with professional athleteees who donate their name and image to a unique wine brand. &0% of the sale proceeds go to the athlete’s designated charity.
6. Best Friends Store
And let’s not forget the gifts for your furry friends. Shop accessories and pet gears from the Best Friends Store while supporting the Best Friends Animal Society, an organization that helps save dogs and cats from dying in shelters.
There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing that you are able to give back while shopping for gifts for the special people in your life. So make things a lot different and more amazing this year by doing your holiday shopping on one or all of the sites mentioned above.
Happy holidays!
