Charitable gifts

The holiday season is also about helping those less fortunate. Below are some places to pick out the perfect gift while benefiting others, too.

(PRODUCT) RED

A variety of companies like Apple, Converse and Starbucks are donating revenue from certain products, such as the red iPod nano, to benefit AIDS victims in Africa. Visit joinred.com.

eBay Giving Works

Sellers on eBay can now choose to donate a portion of their profits to the charity of their choice. Buyers are able to see how much of each purchase will go to charity and which cause it will support. Visit eBaygivingworks.com.

iGive.com

This Web site offers products from more than 700 companies, ranging from Barnes & Noble to Gap to Pottery Barn, which will donate a percentage of the purchase price to a charity of the buyer’s choice. Visit iGive.com.

Target

The profits from certain gifts will benefit either the Salvation Army or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Visit target.com.

Experience gifts

Interested in getting your mom a gift that you can share together? Run out of ideas for what to get your best friend? Below are some Web sites that offer the gift of experience. Warning: These can be pretty expensive.

Excitations

This company offers mostly outdoor experiences, such as archery lessons and hot air balloon rides, but also offers cooking classes and a “brew your own beer” option. The excitations.com Web site separates the various experiences by proximity to large cities across the country.

Cloud 9 Living

From different kinds of massages to golf outings, Cloud9Living.com has experiences for just about everyone. The Web site boasts more than 1,700 different opportunities.

Xperience Days

While similar to both Excitations and Cloud 9 Living, Xperience Days has more locales and is slightly less pricey. For example, for less than $100, those in the Los Angeles area can climb into a fighter pilot’s seat and experience a high-performance military flight simulator. Visit xperiencedays.com for more information.