10+ Top Alternatives for Gifts in the Spirit of the Season

I’m getting tired of supporting the big-box stores every holiday, so I’ve been looking for options that enable me to find great gifts and help someone else in the process. I’ve also been looking for alternative gifts that appeal to my children’s gift giving spirit – and budget. Local artisans like those I’ve mentioned in previous posts offer one option.

If you’re looking for a way to spread goodwill farther a field, here are 10+ great fair and alternative trade gift resources.

1. Adopt a … - World Wildlife Fund is one of several organizations that let you “adopt” an animal, putting your contribution to work saving endangered animals and supporting conservation efforts. The Nature Conservancy offers gifts of “adopting an acre”of rainforest in Costa Rica and rescuing a Coral Reef, and makes it easy to shop by putting together packages for him, for her, for kids, and at different monetary levels. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation lets you “give a gift of a tree.” Most of these organizations also have merchandise stores and provide other gifts of donations, like gifts in memory or in honor of a loved one.
   
2. Heifer International – Probably the most well-known alternative trade organizations and my favorite. This is one organization that truly represents the meaning of Christmas. The concept of giving a “gift of a goat” or other animal to someone in need is motivating in itself. But what really got me is Heifer’s great marketing. Their catalog is a series of stories about real people. Each recipient of a Heifer animal promises to give back to their community by passing one of their animal’s offspring on to a neighbor in need. Heifer now has a gift registry which makes it easy to share your wish list with family and friends. Even if you aren’t up to giving mom a llama this Christmas, visit Heifer’s “Explore the World of Heifer” site and learn more about this incredible organization.
3. Oxfam Unwrapped – Another organization that embodies the spirit of the season, Oxfam International’s gift shop’s categories include Emergency Essentials, Furred & Feathered, Green Gifts, Making a Living, Women & Children, and School Days.
4. Alternative Gifts International – AGI describes their gifts as “gifts of peace and justice, gifts that are sustainable and that build security.” Browse AGI’s wide range of projects. You’re sure to find one that speaks to you. AGI also has a gift registery.
5. Unicef - Unicef’s cards and gifts help children around the world. This is where I’m buying my holiday cards this year. They need my support more than Hallmark.
6. Global Sistergoods – If you’re looking for wonderful handmade gifts, try Global Sistergoods. This sister-owned small business imports fairly-traded crafts from women around the world. In their words, they “… provide a living wage to economically disadvantaged women in fragile economies by supporting entrepreneurship, self-reliance and micro enterprise development … [and] sustain traditional craftmaking techniques as we provide high-quality products and educate consumers about women’s issues in the countries our artisans live in.”
7. A Greater Gift – SERRV international, a nonprofit alternative trade & development organization works with artisans and farmers around the world. It was interesting to find out that they offer these partners up to 50% advance payment on orders, which helps them not only purchase raw materials but sustain a somewhat more regular income.Other organizations that provided fair trade arts and handcrafts from around the world include:**Two Hands Worldshop – this store was founded by a couple in Lawrence, Kansas after they returned from working in Guyana, South America. Live in Lawrence? Watch for a Two Hands Worldshop opening on Massachusetts Avenue soon.
   **Lotus by LoA – looking for more luxurious gifts? This League of Artisans effort offers “responsible luxury” products, helping to build sustainable businesses in India.
   **World of Good – another fair-trade organization that works with artisan cooperatives around the world. Does fair trade really make a difference? Read their 2006 Social Impact Report.
   This weekend – December 1 & 2, 2007 – 50% of all World of Good proceeds will fund health and education projects in artisan communities.Find more fair trade certified products through the Fair Trade Federation or look stores where you can find fair-trade goods at TransFairUsa’s website.
8. Shop the Frontier – Looking for something closer to home? This nonprofit rural marketplace created by StoneSoup, serves rural women in the U.S. and their communities. All their profits support “business training and micro-lending programs for women and small business and, as we grow, we’ll fund local youth technology and area business start-ups.”
9. Women for Women – this organization offers more than a one-time gift. Women for Women International helps women survivors of war by giving them the resources to gain economic self-sufficiency. Your sponsorship will pair you directly with a woman in need.
10. Kiva - Kiva lets you lend to a specific entrepreneur. While loan requests range from $200 to $1,000 or more, Kiva’s micro-loan program through PayPal lets you loan as little as $25 at a time. You can also purchase gift certificates, which gets your gift recipient involved by letting her select her own loan recipient.

Have a recommendation? Share it with us.

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