Last year, our post about gifts that give back included items such as refillable water bottles, wireless headphones and body lotion. All were potential conference gifts made by companies that used the proceeds to support charitable causes.
We were pleasantly surprised to find so many altruistic companies, and still love the idea of using their products in event swag bags and for corporate gifting. Let’s continue our holiday tradition of spotlighting these items.
Here are 11 more gift ideas to consider in 2019 that all give back to a noteworthy cause.
The Bag for the Swag
Let’s start with our most essential item – the bag to hold all that swag.
Every product sold by FEED helps to provide school lunch meals to needy children in countries like Cambodia, Chad and Guatemala. According to FEED’s website, “When a child is given a free, nutritious school lunch, it can break the cycle of poverty she was born into and empower her to change her own life.”
You’ll know exactly how many meals you’re providing with your purchase thanks to a number stamped on each item – FEED offers bags that provide anywhere from 10 to 185 school meals.
FEED also offers coffee beans and coffee mugs. Good feel-good swag to stuff in your new gifted bag!
Where to Buy: https://www.feedprojects.com/
Water bottles
Reusable water bottles are environmentally friendly to start with, and they’re always a hit at events. So why not get them from a company that helps the environment even more?
In hopes of creating a long term solution to the global water epidemics, Faucet Face donates 2.5 percent of all sales of their Hose Water, “TapIs Terrific” and Hummingbird Feeder glass water bottles, which cost $12.50. Also, a complete water filtration system is donated with the sale of five or more individual bottles. Drink up!
Where to Buy: https://faucetface.com/
Snacks
Project 7 is a specialty candy brand that sells gum, gummies and “chewies.”
The company name derives from seven areas of need on which their giving focuses: Feeding the Hungry, Healing the Sick, supporting those who Hope for Peace, Housing the Homeless, Quenching Those who Thirst, Teaching them Well, and Saving the Earth. Project 7 requires itself to donate 10 percent of its profits toward these causes, but usually donates between 30 and 50 percent.
Project 7’s impact to date has includes more than four million meals, 1.6 million months of clean water, and more than 130,000 malaria treatments. Their candy tastes great, too!
Where to Buy: https://project7.com/
Lotions
Hand in Hand’s product line includes lotion($16), bar soap, body wash, sugar scrub and skin essentials sets. They started with a “buy a bar, give a bar” mission to help combat disease among poor children.
Now, they donate a bar of soap and funds toward clean water to Haitian children in need with every purchase. To date, Hand in Hand has donated more than one million bars of soap, and built or repaired four wells that provide thousands of people with water. Your event attendees will love the purpose behind these products.
Where to Buy: https://www.handinhandsoap.com/
Socks
Did you know that socks are the most requested items at homeless shelters and non-profits, but the least likely to be donated?
Skyline Socks donates socks to homeless shelters, veterans and actively deployed military personnel, and eagerly accepts suggestions of additional non-profits for them to give back to. Their unique skyline designs feature dozens of cities, allowing you the option of including a memorable, local AND charitable swag bag item.
Where to Buy: https://skylinesocks.com/
The Ultimate Tech Toy
WakaWaka offers solar-powered cell phone chargers and flashlights, and donates both products and proceeds from their sustainable energy solutions to help the billion people worldwide that live without access to electricity. According to WakaWaka, up to 20% of a family’s income in these places is spent on light and access to electricity for mobile phones.
The products come in black and yellow, and will come in handy for any recipient when they have access to an electrical outlet. The sun is always charged, right?
Where to Buy: https://us.waka-waka.com/
Skincare Products
Tatcha has a variety of skincare products, from moisturizers to masks to sunscreen. They use only natural ingredients, and have won many “Best of Beauty” awards from allure. Rumor has it that Meghan Markle is a big fan.
Every Tatcha purchase helps to fund girls’ education. As of August 2018, their donations have funded two million days of school for girls in Asia and Africa. Way to go, Tatcha!
Where to Buy: https://www.tatcha.com/
Candles
Home candles from the Starling Project ($55) come in scents such as Juniper & Saffron, and Hyacinth & Bamboo. They look great, burn for at least 60 hours and are entirely American made. The candles are composed of soy wax, recycled glass, cotton wicks and ethically-sourced essential oils.
To date, the Starling Project has donated more than $250,000 from its sales toward solar power systems in countries like Rwanda.
Where to Buy: https://starlingproject.org/
Natural Beauty Buys
Thistle Farms’ story might be our favorite. Their natural products for bath, body, and home are handcrafted by women who have survived trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Thistle Farms offers these women a two-year residential program in Nashville, providing jobs along with free housing, food, healthcare, therapy and education.
Their beauty products include items such as soap, lotions and body butter, any of which would be a great swag item that helps a GREAT cause.
Where to Buy: https://thistlefarms.org/
Handmade Soaps
B.A.R.E. Soaps’ company name is an acronym for Bringing Antiseptic Resources to Everyone. It is entirely volunteer-run, and looks to invest in communities to help them become economically self-sustainable.
According to B.A.R.E’s website, the company looks for “projects that empower women by employing them with fair wages, educate children with a tangible trade, or initiatives that incorporate an element of environmental sustainability.”
When you purchase an all-natural mask or any handmade product from B.A.R.E., part of the proceeds go toward helping communities in places like Uganda and India by providing vitamins, soap, and other immediate needs to children.
Where to Buy: https://www.bare-soaps.com/
A Branded Variety
(RED) partners with companies such as Amazon, Apple and Alex & Ani to sell products that support the fight against AIDS. (RED)-funded grants support a diverse range of lifesaving HIV/AIDS programs, including prevention, testing, counseling, and treatment services, sexual reproductive health education, peer mentorship programs and much more.
(RED)-branded items that might be included as event gifts include Amazon Echo speakers, iPhone cases, Beats Pill+ speakers and S’well water bottles. They’re certainly work best for a company whose colors are red, but the wide variety of (RED) products should be able to satisfy just about any need.
Where to Buy: https://www.red.org/products/#shop-all-products
We hope these ideas have inspired your giving spirit this holiday season and well beyond.
Until next year, we’ll continue to keep our eyes peeled for more gift ideas that give back. If you have one we’ve missed, PLEASE SHARE!
Please continue to follow this blog for tips, insights, case studies and more. Happy Holidays!
Eventfully,
Angela
Eventfully Angela is a premier independent event management partner specializing in Corporate Events and Event Branding. Based in Charlotte, NC, Eventfully Angela fills the resource gaps of businesses both large and small, with premium and customized services. Specialties include full-service planning, sourcing and venue selection, on-site day of support, consulting and contract audits, event marketing and branding, experiential event design, and fully customized event registration websites. 704-754-2627 angela@eventfullyangela.com
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