Heifer International
Headquarters: Little Rock, AR
Mission: End hunger and poverty and facilitate long-lasting, positive change.
Give: Buy a water buffalo for $250 or part of one for $25. A heifer is $500 or $50 for a share. Ten people chipping in $90 each for a “Cheeses of the World Gift Basket” means a family gets four animals that will allow them to produce and sell cheeses traditional to their culture. Create your own printable gift cards online.
Contact: 800-422-0474

MercyCorps
Headquarters: Portland, OR
Mission: Alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities.
Give: Supply a household with milk, provide food security, and contribute to economic development with a cow for $75 or a camel for $150. They’ll snail mail or e-mail a card with your personal message—or send you a downloadable PDF file—that describes the gift.
Contact: 888-747-7440

Oxfam America
Headquarters: Boston, MA, and Washington, D.C.
Mission: An international organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice.
Give: Browse the online catalog of gifts for animal options. One goat costs $50, two sheep $90; and $150 buys a “farmer’s flock” of one cow and two sheep. There’s also a registry where you can sign up so others can make a donation in your name. You can have a card with a picture of your gift sent to the recipient.
Contact: unwrapped.com, 800-850-7608

The American Cheese Education Foundation
Headquarters: Denver, CO
Mission: An affiliate of the American Cheese Society that serves those interested in producing, marketing, and selling North American specialty cheeses.
Give: Contributions help the society’s educational efforts and its work to enhance public knowledge of specialty cheeses. Or purchase an American Cheese Society “Enthusiast” membership for $150. An acknowledgment letter will be sent to the recipient of your gift upon request.
Contact: 720-328-2788 c

Written by Laura Taxel