Charity gifts

Nobody gets a goat

Be clear about what you are giving. With almost every gift on this list, the money goes into the charity's wider program, and the goat, chicken or well is a way of describing what that program does. The person you are honouring gets a card, a printable PDF or an e-card. Nothing arrives at their door except, in the case of the wildlife adoption kits, a plush and a certificate.

That is fine, and most charities say so plainly. It only goes wrong when the recipient expects a present to open. If they do, add something small and real: a card written by hand, a bar of chocolate, a book. The donation can be the main gift without being the only thing in their hands.

Who should get one

Charity gifts work best for three kinds of people. The person who says, and means, that they want nothing. The coworker, teacher or Secret Santa match you barely know, where a donation is safer than guessing at taste. And the group gift, where a family or an office pools money for one larger donation in someone's name.

They work badly for children who are expecting presents, for anyone who has said they find them preachy, and as a substitute for something you promised. Use judgment. A donation to a charity they already support will land better than one you picked for its catalogue.

Picking the charity

Start with what the person cares about. A gardener may like bees. A teacher may like books or school kits. A pet owner may prefer a local animal shelter over a farm animal on another continent. Someone who lives in the country may care most about the flying doctors who cover it.

Then decide between near and far. Some gifts here stay in the buyer's own country, like shelter animals in British Columbia or books for Canadian kids. Others fund work abroad. Neither is better. It is about which one the person would choose for themselves.

Timing and tax

Because nothing ships, these are the best last-minute gifts there are. Most let you schedule the e-card for a date you choose, so you can buy in advance and have it land on the birthday. If you want a printed card for the table, allow time for the post or print the PDF yourself.

Any tax receipt goes to the person who paid, not the person honoured. Rules vary by country, so check the charity's page if the receipt matters to you.

What we would give

For a coworker or teacher, a small livestock gift with an e-card: chickens or chicks cost little and the story fits on one line. For the relative who wants nothing, a bigger gift pooled by the family, with everyone signing the card. For an animal lover, a local shelter gift over a plush adoption kit, unless there is a child in the house who will love the plush.

Whatever you pick, write one sentence in the card about why. That sentence is the part they remember.

Questions people ask

Does the person actually receive anything?

Usually a card. Most charity gifts come with an e-card, a printable PDF or a posted card that explains what the donation paid for. A few, like wildlife adoption kits, ship a small plush and certificate. If you want something to hand over in person, print the card and pair it with a small treat.

Is my money spent on the exact item I picked?

Rarely. Most charities pool these gifts into the program the item represents, so your goat money funds livestock and farming work in general rather than one named animal. The charities on this list say so on their pages. If you want a specific project, give directly to it.

Can I get a tax receipt for a charity gift?

Often, yes, but it goes to you as the buyer, not to the person you are honouring. Whether the donation is deductible depends on your country and the charity's registration. Check the charity's page before buying, since it usually states how receipts are issued.

Is a charity gift a cop-out?

Only if you pick it to avoid thinking. For someone who has asked for no more things, or a coworker you do not know well, it is a sensible choice. Choose a charity that matches what they care about and write a line in the card saying why you chose it.