Depends on the recipient really, Monnie. For example: I have a friend who is a campaigner on issues around globalisation and poverty. She'd probably really dig a donation in her name.
I'm not getting her one though :P She'll get some funky stuff from the Amnesty catalogue instead. That's my way of donating whilst shopping.
Specifically: she's getting a beeswax candle, in a terracotta pot. The pot has a pic of a sunflower on it and the legend 'use me and then use the pot to grow a flower to thank the bees'. She's also getting a 'World in your kitchen' recipe calendar, and a set of woven leaf disposable party plates
I usually get about a third or so of my gifts either from the Amnesty catalogue or the Oxfam catalogue.