10 Non-Material Gifts That Come Straight from the Heart

Got a friend or family member who’s always nose-first in the latest bestselling book? They’ll love the idea of helping to build a library full of educational and entertaining reads for children in need, thanks to a donation in their honor to Save the Children.

Get little ones excited about healthy, delicious food with an enrollment in the kid-friendly Cooking Club from Raddish. In each kit (available in packages ranging from $24 per month to $240 annually), families will receive illustrated recipe guides and access to online supplements, including instructional videos, bonus meal ideas, and themed playlists.

Founded by two opera singers who wanted to use the power of their art for social good, Sing for Hope uplifts hospitals, schools, and other community facilities through music. Through initiatives like this personalized singing telegram gift, performed virtually by a Broadway or opera star, you can contribute to the organization’s dual missions: community outreach and supporting working artists.

With a custom commemorative brick, you not only provide your giftee with an indelible memento, you also give them an incentive to visit a landmark to see their inscription in person. Several museums and other places of interest across the US offer the feature, including the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.

Furnished by Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, this kit stocked with blankets, heaters, insulation, and tarps helps to provide comfort to families without adequate housing during cold winters.

Teachers, parents, and anyone else invested in the next generation will be delighted by this creative, education-focused find. With a gift card for Donors Choose, your recipient can browse a catalog of teacher-initiated classroom projects that need funding and donate to the initiative that really speaks to them.

This kit from Save the Children – which contains warm blankets, hygiene essentials, and backpacks full of school supplies – can help to provide comfort and a sense of security to children facing uncertainty at the US border, helping them prepare for a new future.

Nonprofit organization The Trees Remember partners with conservation groups across the US to support reforestation efforts. Commemorate someone special by planting a tree in their honor in one of several locations selected by the US Forest Service.

Is wanderlust calling their name? No matter their IRL travel plans, they can get globetrotting via Amazon Explore’s immersive virtual sightseeing tours, led by knowledgeable local hosts. Whether they want to feel the rush of Tokyo’s bustling Harajuku district or scale the heights of Ollantaytambo in Peru’s Sacred Valley, they’ll have a passport at their fingertips (without the massive customs lines).

Animal lovers of all ages will go wild for this charming adoption package, which lets them support conservation efforts for a number of endangered species, from elephants and sloths to penguins and baby orangutans. Along with the warm and fuzzies, they’ll receive trinkets including a plush version of their chosen critter, a tote bag, and more (depending on the gift level — most packages start at $60). Plus, they'll receive an official adoption certificate.