12 Magical Gift Ideas to Benefit Sanctuaries, Rescues, and Nonprofits this Holiday Season

Earlier this month, we shined a light on vegan, fan-made, wizarding world-inspired gifts. Now, we’re casting that light on nonprofit animal rescues, sanctuaries, and organizations that care for all magical and non-magical creatures in the Muggle world. 

Some of these may have expedited (or two-day) shipping, so if you play your (exploding snap) cards right, you might be able to have these wrapped and under the tree before December 25th. 

But, more than likely, at this point (and if you only have a broken Time-Turner at your disposal), physical gifts won’t reach your doorstep before the 25th. 

But don’t make like Moaning Myrtle and doom and gloom yourself down the toilet. Just because the winter holidays are nearly over, it doesn’t mean that there’s an expiration date on any of these items. All of the proceeds from these items go directly towards caring for animals in need. In other words, they embody the holiday season spirit of generosity. And that, friends, never goes out of style. 

So, we proudly present 12 gifts (be they for holidays, birthdays, or an unexpected treat) that support rescues, sanctuaries, and nonprofit animal rights organizations. 

You can take comfort and find joy in knowing that each of these purchases made with your Galleons, Sickles, Knuts, and Muggle money is going directly to animals in need!

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1. Rescued! Strategy Card Game
Board games and card games have been seeing a significant revival this year. And if you’re looking to spice up your board game night or surprise the animal lover in your life, you have to play “Rescued!” 

100% of this game’s proceeds go to Charlie’s Acres, a nonprofit, vegan farmed animal sanctuary based in sunny Sonoma County, California. 

This fast-paced game features 25 real-life rescued animals from sanctuaries in California and is both wildly entertaining and informative! The object of the game is to save all of the farmed and companion animals. How? 

By answering trivia questions about each animal! For one, did you know that a chicken’s average lifespan is 8 - 12 years? But that chickens raised for meat only live six months?! 

This board game has an official website if you want to get a closer look at the beautifully designed cards and some of the thought-provoking questions they pose. ​

2. Piney the Goat Nanny Pillow 
Goats of Anarchy is a vegan nonprofit sanctuary in New Jersey specializing in rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing homes for special needs goats. Whether they’re blind, missing limbs, have neurological disorders, or have physical deformities, Goats of Anarchy provides a loving refuge for all goats. 

This cotton-polyester pillow celebrates eight goat residents at GOA and Piney, the rescued pig who took it upon himself to tend to the baby goats who call GOA home. This pillow comes with both a gorgeously printed pillowcase and a polyester insert. 

This goat-tastic pillow is a striking addition to any couch or piece of furniture! And it makes a great conversation starter about farmed animal sanctuaries for visitors who will most certainly notice and admire it.

3. Sleepy Pig Farm Quarter-Zip Pullover  
Sleepy Pig Farm is a nonprofit, vegan farmed animal sanctuary based in Redding, Connecticut. Founded in 2019, the sanctuary’s mission is to save farmed animals and educate the community about the need to show them compassion. 

This cozy cotton-polyester blend quarter-zip pullover is embroidered with Sleepy Pig Farm’s logo. Available in 3 colors and in youth and adult sizing, this is a cute and compassionate addition to any animal lover’s wardrobe. The fleece material is incredibly cozy for chillier winter days! ​

4. Compassionate Cuisine Cookbook
Catskill Animal Sanctuary is a vegan, nonprofit farmed animal sanctuary based in upstate New York. This acclaimed cookbook features 125 delicious recipes from the sanctuary’s vegan kitchen! 

An in-depth look at the sanctuary, complete with vibrant, glossy photos and intimate stories about the rescued animals who call Catskill Animal Sanctuary home, make this as much a coffee table book as a cookbook! 

With its informative and straightforward explanations of what is and isn’t vegan (including the notorious egg debate) and how to veganize your kitchen, this is an excellent gift for new vegans or the vegan-curious. Recipes include Homestyle Granola with Vanilla Cashew Cream, Moroccan Vegetable and Chickpea Tagine, Chipotle Sweet Potato Stew with Lime Cashew Crema, and more.   

5. Beagle Freedom Project 2021 Pawsitive Thoughts Calendar
The Beagle Freedom Project is a nonprofit animal rescue and advocacy organization. As the name suggests, this rescue focuses on rescuing and rehoming beagles used in experimental research. Yes, these energetic and loving dogs are still subject to often lethal laboratory research. 

This 2021 calendar features Beagle Freedom Project survivors living their best lives on each beautifully printed, glossy page. The proceeds from this calendar go towards the BFP’s efforts to end cruel and unnecessary testing on beagles by rescuing dogs, educating the public, and lobbying for legislative change.

6. I Support Special Needs Cats Pins: Watson and Tommy
Milo’s Sanctuary is a nonprofit rescue dedicated to caring for special needs cats and abandoned senior cats. Many of these cats have physical or neurological disabilities, and some have terminal illnesses or conditions that require extensive care. 

Milo’s Sanctuary provides “forever” homes for these cats with their “Lifetime Care” program. As a result, the sanctuary relies on support from donations and monthly sponsorships. 

These two adorably illustrated, button-style pins feature two of Milo’s Sanctuary’s beloved residents. They are a great way to declare your support for special needs cats. They’re also available as magnets and stickers!

7. Homecoming Tales: 15 Inspiring Stories from Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary 
Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary is a nonprofit located in Tennessee. The sanctuary (it’s “not your grandpaws rescue”) is home to over 120 dogs. Each of the Old Friends canine residents are senior dogs. 

Many of them have health conditions, disabilities, or other special needs that led to their surrender. 

This heartwarming book features happy tails of Old Friends’ doggos—fifteen to be exact—as well as a ton of gorgeous full-color photos, drawings, and interactive elements. 

This book urges animal lovers to consider welcoming senior dogs into their lives. Or to lend a paw at rescues, shelters, and organizations that care for them! ​

8. Trupo Treats Chocolate
What would be the holidays without a sweet treat? Actually, no, scratch that. What would LIFE be without the goodness that is chocolate? I mean, c’mon, it’s capable of banishing the hopeless despair that DEMENTORS exude. (Thanks, Professor Lupin!) 

Well, what about a bar of chocolate that also gives back to animals in need? 

Sounds too good to be true? Nope. It’s Trupo Treats! 

These creamy, rice milk chocolate bars have an irresistibly nostalgic crunch and are super allergy-friendly. On top of that, 25% of each chocolate bar’s profits go to animal sanctuaries and rescues in North America! Can Honeydukes chocolate do that?

9. Show Me Your Tips Hoodie 
Puppykitty New York City, also known as PKNYC, is a nonprofit organization based in NYC dedicated to rescuing cats in need, running foster programs, and promoting spaying and neutering. 

NYC has a large percentage of the abandoned, stray, and feral cats in the US, with numbers in the 500,000s! This PKNYC hoodie’s proceeds go towards the organization’s tireless efforts to advocate for these hundreds of thousands of street cats. 

This cotton-polyester hoodie is available in sizes S - 3XL and comes in black or gray. 

10. Monthly Animal Sponsorship
Sometimes you have just too much merch and are trying to have fewer physical items. Enter symbolic gifts! 

Luvin Arms, the Colorado-based, vegan, nonprofit farmed animal sanctuary, offers monthly and yearly sponsorships for their animal residents. 

Monthly sponsorships are genuinely a gift that keeps giving. Your donation goes directly towards providing care for the sheep, goat, cow, or other Luvin Arms resident you choose to sponsor. 

As a token of gratitude, you’ll receive a photo of the animal you sponsor and a certificate in the mail or digitally over email! 

11. Rescue Chocolates “One of Everything” Pack 
If you’re seeking more tasty chocolate this holiday season, Rescue Chocolates is a swoon-worthy indulgence—and it gives back! 

An entirely vegan chocolate company, Rescue Chocolates donates 100% of their net profits to companion animal rescues and welfare organizations. 

Each of their cleverly named chocolates sheds light on specific issues in the realm of companion animals. Peanut Butter Pit Bull challenges pit bulls’ negative image. The Fix highlights the importance of spaying and neutering. And Mission Feral Fig looks at TNR programs and ways to responsibly care for community cats. 

You can find Rescue Chocolate’s full line (including their new vegan paleo chocolates) on their website. ​

12. Protect the Puffs Pin
This nonprofit animal rights and sanctuary gift guide wouldn’t be complete without some official Protego merch! 

Our latest campaign, Protect the Puffs, is dedicated to ending the UK’s badger cull. 

50% of the proceeds of our Protect the Puffs enamel pins go directly to The Badger Trust. 

We ordered a very limited supply of these pins, and once they’ve all sold out, that’s it! So don’t wait to treat your Potterhead and Hufflepuff friends (or yourself!)  to one of these pins. And be sure to spread the word about Protect the Puffs on social media and out in the Muggle world. Badgers need us more than ever! ​

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P.S. If you want a holiday to celebrate, make these New Years gifts! Because let’s be real. We’re all eager for 2021, and what better way to ring in the new year than with some swag that supports the animals we love and fight for?

P.P.S. If you purchase any of these sanctuary and rescue supporting gifts, be sure to show us and tag us on our social media accounts! We’d love to see your generosity in action! 

Written by Victoria Tomis

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