Looking for a gift that benefits the poor and disadvantaged or religious communities as much as the person who receives your gift?  Make a donation to an organization that helps the poor ... consider a "fair-trade" gift which helps indigenous workers earn a fair living, protects the environment and preserves natural resources ... or choose a gift created by Catholic sisters, brothers, nuns and monks to support their religious communities.

Please contact us if information on this page is incorrect or if you have suggestions for new entries.

Organizations Working for Social Change

Here's a list of organizations through which you can make a life-sustaining gift to those in need.  Ratings, where available, are provided by Charity Watch.

 • Amos Trust
    Collaborates with grassroots partners to support creative local solutions to global problems such as 
    poverty and injustice.
 • Catholic Relief Services
    Official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the U.S.; provides assistance 
    to the poor overseas by responding to emergencies and fighting poverty.
    Charity Watch Rating: A+. Direct Program Spending: 91%
 • Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
    Official international development and relief organization of the Catholic Church in England and 
    Wales; partners with local organizations and other aid agencies to provide support to those in need in 
    developing countries.
 • CrossCatholic Outreach
    Partners with Catholic and secular aid agencies to provide food, water, housing, education, orphan 
    support, medical care, microenterprise and disaster relief to the marginalized in developing countries.
 • Foundation for International Community Assistance
    Invests in sustainable solutions that expand access to financial services, clean energy, products and 
    services that help marginal individuals and communities built economic resilience.
   Charity Watch Rating: A. Direct Program Spending: 98%
 • Gift of Hope
    A mission and aid agency of the Reformed Church in America; provides emergency relief, water, medical 
    care, child care, shelter, education, livestock and microenterprise support to individuals and 
    communities in the developing world.
 • Global Giving
    An internet-based crowdsourcing platform; facilitates social and economic investment by individuals 
    or organizations to health care, environment and education projects throughout the world.
 • The Heifer Project
    Provides livestock, seeds and training in sustainable crop production and animal management to 
    marginal, small-scale farmers in the developing world.
 • International Rescue Committee
    Responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises to help people whose lives and livelihoods are 
    shattered by conflict and disaster
    Charity Watch Rating: A. Direct Program Spending: 87%
 • Mary's Meals
    Establishes school feeding programs in communities where poverty and hunger prevent children from 
    gaining an education.
 • Mennonite Central Committee
    Worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches; responds to basic human needs and works for peace and 
    justice throughout the world.
    Charity Watch Rating: A-. Direct Program Spending: 78%
 • Oxfam America
    Works with individuals and local groups in the developing world to create sustainable solutions to 
    poverty, hunger, and injustice.
 • Save the Children Federation
    Supports programs which create educational opportunities, health care, and improved economic 
    opportunities for children in the developing world.
    Charity Watch Rating: A-. Direct Program Spending: 84%
 • Unbound/Christian Foundation for Children & Aging
    Partners with families living in poverty to empower them to become self-sufficient and fulfill their 
    desired potential
    Charity Watch Rating: A+. Direct Program Spending: 90%
 • Worldvision
    Works with children, families, and communities worldwide to address the root causes of poverty and 
    injustice.
    Charity Watch Rating: A. Direct Program Spending: 84%

•   •   •

Fair-Trade Gifts

Here's a list of organizations which sell socially-responsible, fair trade items which benefit local producers around the world:

LOCAL VENDORS

• World's Window. 214 Main St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
http://www.worldswindowcf.org/

ONLINE VENDORS

 • Equal Exchange
 • Fair Indigo
 • Food for the Poor
 • Gifts with Humanity
 • Grounds for Change
 • The Hunger Site
 • Ignatian Solidarity Network
 • Maggies Organics
 • Mayaworks
 • Novica
 • Serrv International
 • Ten Thousand Villages
 • World Wide Child

•   •   •

Gifts from Religious Communities

Here is a list of sources which sell a variety of gifts manufactured by Catholic nuns and monks to support their religious communities.

Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey. Dubuque, Iowa.
 (candy and caramels)
http://www.monasterycandy.com/

Assumption Abbey.  Ava, Missouri.
 (fruitcake)
https://www.assumptionabbey.org/fruitcakes

 Carmelite Monks of Wyoming.  Powell, Wyoming.
 (coffee and tea)
https://www.mysticmonkcoffee.com/

Genesee Abbey. Piffard, New York.
 (bread, spreads, soups, coffee, sauces, dressings, baked goods)
https://shop.monksbread.com/

Gethsamane Farms.  Trappist, Kentucky.
 (fruitcake, fudge, and preserves)
https://www.gethsemanifarms.org/

Holy Cross Monastery.  West Park, New York.
 (fruitcake, truffles, and creamed honey)
https://www.monasteryfruitcake.org/

Ministry of the Arts/Congregation of St. Joseph.  LaGrange Park, Illinois.
 (art, cards, calendars and assorted gifts)
http://ministryofthearts.org/

Monastery Icons/Sacred Arts Foundation. West Chester, Ohio.
 (icons, statues, religious art and gifts)
https://www.monasteryicons.com/

Monastery of Bethlehem, New York
 (ornaments, china)
https://www.monasteryofbethlehemnewyork.com/shop

 Printery House.  Conception, Missouri.
 (greeting cards, religious art and gifts)
http://www.printeryhouse.org/

Redwoods Abbey.  Whitethorn, California.
 (creamed honey)
http://www.redwoodsabbey.org/Store/Honey

St. Joseph Abbey.  Spencer, Massachusetts
 (ale and preserves)
https://www.spencerabbey.org/we-live-by-the-work-of-our-hands/

 Sisters of St. Francis.  Sylvania, Ohio.
 (arts and religious gifts)
http://www.allgoodthingsosf.org/store

More options are available here:

 Monastery Greetings Catalog
www.monasterygreetings.com

 A Nun's Life Ministry Catalog
http://anunslife.org/blogs/nun-talk/handmade-gifts-by-nuns-and-monks

 Gifts from the Holy Land
https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/48678

•   •   •

Catholic Gift Guides

[Last update: 01.02.25]