Need a Last Minute Christmas Gift? Consider Donations to These 3 Non-Profits

By Jody Bell

'Twas the night before Christmas, 

When all through the house not a creature was stirring, 

Not even a mouse;

Yet you don’t feel peaceful; 

You feel anxious and fraught,

About gifts you want given,

But haven’t yet bought!

Jokes and corny Christmas references aside – are you like me and accidentally left some people off your holiday shopping list? No worries – consider making a donation in a loved one’s honor for a thoughtful on demand gift! 

Below are a few charities to get you started, but try to customize your donation choice to their beliefs and passions. 

1. Heifer

Heifer International works with 21 countries to provide sources of income to farmers, families, and impoverished individuals in need.

As a donor, you’re able to donate various packages – such as a cow, flock of chickens, or even training which helps farmers with pre-existing animals scale their businesses. The organization is large enough where you can truly personalize your donation and gift – you can actually take this quiz on behalf of a loved one to see what form of donation would be most meaningful. This would make a great gift for a younger child/teen who wants to easily grasp the impact of their present as a cow, goat, chickens, etc – as opposed to purely monetary.

2. Girls With Impact

Of course this may be a bit bias, but with a 95.5% satisfaction rate, and outcomes such as full ride college scholarships, long-term confidence boosts, and public speaking skills, our data speaks for itself. 

Girls With Impact is the nation’s only online mini MBA program – our Academy actually helps young women launch businesses. Not only is the release of a functioning venture a potential source of income, but girls are able to gather real-world business skills and distinguish them in college and the professional world. If you have a feminist in your family that’s passionate about closing the wage gap and increasing female participation in the corporate world, consider sponsoring a girl’s education!

3. Clean Air Task Force

With 25 years of environmental support, the Clean Air Task Force has tremendous reach and impact.

Their focal point is decarbonizing the energy system that we rely on – focusing specifically on electricity, infrastructure, industry, and transportation. This is obviously a huge goal that requires rethinking the entire status-quo and working with policy makers and innovators to think of new technology to fill society’s needs. 

If you’re looking to get a gift for a loved one in STEM, or just someone passionate about climate change and the protection of our environment, a donation to the Clean Air Task Force is a great choice!

Hopefully this gives you some ideas for those last minute gifts so you can sit back and enjoy the holidays without running around scraping the already-empty shelves at your local mall.

Happiest of holidays from the Girls With Impact team — we hope you and your family stay joyful and well!

Jody Bell, 20 is Girls With Impact’s Editor in Chief and a program graduate from Greenwich High School. Girls With Impact is the nation’s only online, business and leadership program for girls 14-24, turning them into tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.