If it is a charity that the recipient has donated to in the past and/or is passionate about (such as the Humane Society if they are a dog lover, Food Bank, or a gift given to an underprivileged family in their town) then I think they would really be touched. However, if it is a charity that the recipient has no emotional connection to (e.g., buying a goat for somebody thousands of miles away) then I don't think they would appreciate it as much because they are too emotionally removed.

If you would like to do a donation through WorldVision, perhaps you should ask people to give that to you for Christmas in lieu of gifts.

Good for you for thinking of people less fortunate than you during the holiday season.