Christmas cards are a great way to spread cheer and let people know you are thinking of them over the festive period, especially when it comes to loved ones that live far away.
And, despite living in an age of digital communication, handwritten cards remain one of the most delightful and popular traditions of the season, right up there with advent calendars, tree decorations and fanciful wreaths.
From snowy scenes to jolly illustrations and photographs of furry friends getting in the festive spirit, there’s an abundance of cards to choose from each year but, here at IndyBest, we believe the best ones are those that allow you to give back.
Numerous charities now have their own Christmas cards with a portion – or in some cases all – of the proceeds from each sale helping organisations provide essential care to those who need it most. Now that’s what we call a win win.
Not only that, but many charities have started to deliver more eco-friendly greetings cards by removing glitter and plastic packaging and ensuring they are FSC-certified – meaning they are made with materials from well-managed forests.
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How we tested
We’ve included a range of charity Christmas cards in our round-up, with careful consideration given to the quality of both the finish and design, as well as the donation amount and its ability to put a smile on your recipient’s face.
The best charity Christmas cards for 2021 are:
- Best overall – Unicef multi-coloured Christmas cards toys and joys, pack of 10: £6.95, Unicef.org.uk
- Best heartwarming Christmas card – Shelter home for Christmas charity Christmas cards, pack of 10: £2.49, Shelter.org.uk
- Best festive scene – NSPCC festive foraging charity Christmas cards 2021, pack of 10: £4.25, Nspcc.org.uk
- Best Christmas card for key workers – Marie Curie nurses Christmas cards, pack of 10: £4.99, Mariecurie.org.uk
- Best contemporary Christmas card – Paperchase deck the halls charity cards, pack of 8: £4.50, Paperchase.com
- Best traditional Christmas card – Parkinson’s UK special delivery charity Christmas cards, pack of 10: £4, Parkinsons.org.uk
- Best Christmas card for dog lovers – Noi Publishing joy to the world dogs charity cards, pack of 5: £6, Fenwick.co.uk
- Best meaningful Christmas card – Alzheimer’s Society dove cards, pack of 10: £3.99, Alzheimers.org.uk
- Best gold-foiled Christmas card – Macmillan Cancer Support Christmas wreath cards, pack of 10: £4.25, Macmillan.org.uk
- Best cut-out Christmas card – British Red Cross Christmas tree cards, pack of 10: £3.99, Redcross.org.uk