The Good Investing Holiday Gift Guide

Hey Tim: Can I buy an impact investment for someone as a holiday gift?

Short answer… yes.

Long answer… yes, but with a little finesse.

Every December, I get some version of this question from people who want their holiday giving to mean something. They don’t want to buy more stuff; they don’t want their money to go to waste; and they love the idea of giving someone they care about a financial gift that also builds a better world.

And you absolutely can give an impact investment as a gift. The tricky part is the logistics.

Impact investments are real investments, so the person receiving the gift has to hold the investment in their own name. That means they’ll need to provide their SIN number and complete the required digital paperwork. You can’t buy it for them without their knowledge and tuck it in a stocking the way you might with socks or chocolate.

So here’s the smoothest way to do it:

Give them cash (cheque or e-transfer), then sit with them to choose an impact investment and walk them through the short online process.

It takes a few minutes, and it turns a gift into a shared experience. You’re not just handing them money; you’re giving them agency, confidence, and a meaningful financial first step.

To help them choose the impact investment that will give them the warmest fuzzies, here’s a list of the options available right now.

Supportive Housing

Services and Housing in the Province (SHIP) - Raising $4 million in Community Bonds to build 52 affordable housing units in Brampton, Ontario to house people with mental health and addiction challenges.

Redwood Park Communities - Raising $10M to finance affordable housing solutions in Simcoe County for people exiting the homelessness shelter system and adults with developmental disabilities. 

Kaleidoscope Social Impact - They do so many amazing things in and around Saint John, New Brunswick. They are building out affordable housing at an impressive scale, and their portfolio includes supportive housing.

Jubilee Fund - Provides financing to social impact projects across Manitoba. They recently helped Red Road Lodge transitional housing in Winnipeg pay of their mortgage guarantee.

Low or Middle Income Housing

United Housing - Renovating a historic Music Hall in Listowel, Ontario into 10 mixed-use rental units.

Housing Forever Bonds - Raising $25 in community bonds to purchase existing rental properties in Ottawa, Ontario and ensure they are rented at an affordable price forever.

Brique par Brique - Acquiring a property in Montreal to convert it into permanently affordable community housing and build a community centre.

Gather Housing - Raising $15 million in community bonds for site acquisition and the pre-development of new affordable construction projects in Southwestern Ontario.

Social Enterprise

Spirit Bear Coffee Company - Refinancing a high-interest loan for Canada’s First National Indigenous Coffee Company based in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.

10 Carden Street - Long-term capital financing for a co-working space in Guelph, Ontario, also home to the Nourish shared community commercial kitchen!

Fair Finance Fund - Supporting local food and farm social enterprises across Ontario in accessing the capital and mentorship they need to grow and thrive.

Think of the list as a menu. Each option has different minimum investments, risk levels, and impact areas, so you can help the gift recipient choose something that aligns with what matters to them — climate, housing, social justice, or community development.

Money grows. Impact grows, too. But the most important part is that you’re giving someone the experience of becoming an impact investor — maybe for the very first time.

You’re helping them build wealth with intention. You’re showing them that investing doesn’t have to feel abstract or intimidating. And you’re planting a seed that may shape their financial values for years to come.

If you want help choosing the right option or talking a family member through the process, reach out anytime.

And to whoever receives your gift — welcome to the world of sustainable investing. It’s a beautiful place to start a new year.