It’s hard to believe December is here already. If you’re like most people, now that Thanksgiving is over, you’re trying to find the best holiday gifts for family and friends, as well as thinking about year-end gifts to your favorite charity(ies). The giving aspect of the holidays is part of what makes this such a special time of year. The act of giving – whether charitable or otherwise – has been shown to be beneficial to the giver, creating happiness over time. As Churchill famously said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

Following are a few gift ideas for the holidays and throughout the year.

The Gift of Charity
For the person on your list who has everything or insists they don’t want more stuff, consider making a gift to their favorite charity in their honor. If you don’t know what cause is important to them, give them a gift card that they can use to support a charity of their choice.  The organization tisbest provides gift cards that can be purchased and then redeemed to support one of the charities on their comprehensive list.

The Gift of Experience
A unique experience is another great option for someone who’s tough to buy for or who doesn’t want more clutter – and it reduces wasteful packaging. A quick Google search can produce some great options depending on the recipient’s location and interests: sailing, whale watching, cooking classes, bartending classes, etc. The website MasterClass has a wide range of courses providing instruction on topics as varied as southern cooking, poker, story-telling, design, dog-training, and science and problem-solving.

Support Small Businesses
If you would like to give a more traditional gift of something tangible, consider buying from small businesses that give a portion of proceeds to charity, support their communities, and/or are run by people who are underrepresented in business.

For the spa-lover:
Based in Mississippi, Musee Bath makes handcrafted, natural bath products and provides dignified work for vulnerable individuals.

For the foodie::
Based in Bellingham, Apple State Vinegar produces shrubs and vinegar made with ingredients from organic farms in Maui and Washington, and gives a percent of proceeds to save marine wildlife.

For the hostess:
Hester and Cook has beautiful home and paper items. They donate a portion of all sales to the Wonderful Life Foundation, which offers direct assistance to families experiencing financial hardship in conjunction with life-threatening illnesses.

Estelle Colored Glass is a luxury brand of beautiful stemware and cake stands founded by Stephanie Summerson Hall in memory of her grandmother, Estelle.

Using plant-based ingredients, L’Avant Collective produces highly effective household cleaners, candles, and hand soap.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season and a great start to the New Year! Warmest wishes from the Fulcrum team.