What to Gift Someone Who Has Everything

Every gift list has one: the person who, when you ask what they want, says "Oh, I don't need anything." Maybe it's your dad, your boss, or the friend whose home already looks like a catalog. They're not being difficult. They genuinely have what they need.

The good news is that this makes it easier to give them something that actually means something. When a gift doesn't have to fill a need, it's free to say something instead.

Why they're so hard to shop for

Most gifts solve a problem: something they need, something that's worn out, something they've had their eye on. For someone who has everything, another object often just becomes clutter, one more thing they feel obligated to find a place for.

The best gifts for these people aren't about more stuff. They're about meaning, time, and memory.

Meaningful gift ideas that skip the clutter

A gift in their honor

Make a donation in their name to a cause they care about. It honors who they are, does real good in the world, and takes up zero shelf space. Pair it with a personal message and a digital card, and it becomes one of the most memorable gifts they receive all year.

Our guide to making a donation in someone’s name as a gift explains how to arrange the dedication and personal card.

An experience you share

A cooking class, concert tickets, a wine tasting, or a day trip somewhere new. Shared time turns into a story you'll both keep telling.

Your time and skills

Offer something only you can give: a homemade dinner, a Saturday spent on the project they keep putting off, or a lesson in something you're good at.

Something they'll use up

Pick a treat they'd never buy for themselves, like really good coffee from a local roaster, a special bottle of olive oil, or the best box from their favorite bakery. They get to enjoy it without having to find a permanent place for it. No clutter left behind.

Words that last

Write a handwritten letter, or collect notes from friends and family about what this person means to them. It costs almost nothing, and it's often the gift people keep the longest.

How to match a cause to their personality

The secret to a great gift in someone's honor is choosing a cause that feels like them. A few ideas to get you started:

• The foodie: a local food bank or hunger relief organization
• The traveler: a conservation or national parks organization
• The bookworm: a literacy or library program
• The animal lover: a local shelter or rescue
• The gardener: a community garden or tree-planting group
• The coach at heart: a youth sports or mentoring program
• The music lover: a music education program for kids

Still not sure? Think about what they talk about most, where they volunteer, or what makes them light up in conversation.

What to write in your message

The message is what turns a donation into a gift. A few ideas:

• You have everything, so I gave something in your name instead. Happy birthday!
• For the person who's always feeding everyone: a gift to [cause] in your honor.
• Another year of you making the world better. Here's a little more of that, in your name.
• No wrapping paper, no clutter. Just something good happening because of you.

The easiest gift on your list

With GivingPals, choose an occasion, select a digital card and add a message, then choose from more than 2 million nonprofits. At checkout, set the donation amount and arrange delivery. You can send it right away or schedule it to arrive the morning of their birthday.

For the person who has everything, it might be the one gift they didn't see coming.

If a donation fits their interests, choose an occasion, select and personalize a digital card, then choose a charity they care about and complete your gift.