Why not consider the gift of making the world a better place in your recipient's honor? Find a cause that's dear to their heart and make a donation in their name!  Here is a list of some of my favorite charities to donate to.  (This list will continue to grow and be updated.)

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• Guiding Eyes for the Blind: dedicated to connecting those with vision loss with amazing guide dogs at no cost.
   

• K9s for Warriors: non-profit that rescues and trains shelter dogs and pairs them with veterans experiencing PTSD or other service-related trauma
   

• Disabled American Veterans: non-profit that provides a lifetime of support to veterans and their families
   

• Mercy Ships: offers a wide variety of medical procedures through hospital ships to those either unable to afford it or out of reach from proper medical care. 
   

• Wounded Warrior Project: committed to serving veterans transitioning into civilian life and/or living with PTSD.   
   

• No One Left Behind: non-profit that provides emergency financial aid and offers U.S. relocation assistance to Afghan & Iraqi translators (and their families), who served alongside our American military. 
   

• The Nazarene Fund: locates and rescues those held in modern-day slavery (sex slavery, labor, and even organ-harvesting) in the Middle East, Africa, Haiti, and other parts of the world, and helps them to find new homes where they can safely start a new life.    
   

• Marine Toys for Tots: helps to bring the joy of Christmas by collecting new toys to gift to children in need.  
   

• Habitat for Humanity: non-profit that helps families build & improve places they can call home.  
   

• Heifer International: aims to end poverty & hunger by providing resources & training to local farmers so they can support both their families and their communities.
   

• Days for Girls: increases access to menstrual care & education for girls and women all over the world, "creating a world with dignity, health, and opportunity for all."
   

• The Nature Conservancy: global non-profit working to conserve the "lands and waters on which all life depends." 
   

• St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital: researches cures & prevention of pediatric diseases, where "no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay."
   

• Los Angeles Mission: provides help, hope & opportunity to the poor, homeless and those battling addiction.  
   

• Smile Train: provides training, funding & resources to local medical facilities around the globe, so that they can provide 100% free cleft lip & palate surgery to their communities.  
   

• Covenant House: provides shelter for young people who are homeless or victims of trafficking, as well as provides immediate relief for food, clothing, safety, and medical/mental healthcare. 
   

• Rock to Recovery: provides healing & transformation to those in need through the "powerful experience of writing, playing, and performing music as a group."
   

• Alight: formerly known as the American Refugee Committee, they provide "health care and clean water, shelter, protection, and economic opportunity to more than 3.5 million people in 17 countries each year."
   

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: largest global volunteer organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer and improving their patients' quality of life.  
   

• Save the Children: fights for children's rights, working in places of crisis, war, natural disasters, and more to provide children with health, safety, and education.