The 50 Best Charities to Give to Right Now
The 50 Best Charities to Give to Right Now
It’s the season of giving — and doing your part is more important than ever. There are so many ways to give back: you could volunteer, start a fundraiser, or do a random act of kindness. But one of the easiest ways to make a difference is to donate money to a charity or nonprofit. The options are endless, and there are organizations that support almost every cause. Before you make a decision on where to give, set aside some time to find a charity you trust. That way, you can rest assured that your donation will go as far as possible and reach the people who need it most.
To help you do that, we've found the best charities to donate to in 2020. To vet these organizations, we combed through Charity Watch and Charity Navigator, two trusted watchdog groups that assign charities a grade or number rating for financial health and transparency. We also included our two Good Housekeeping Humanitarian Seal holders, Feeding America and No Kid Hungry. With organizations that focus on everything from the environment and animal welfare to veterans and refugees, you're bound to find a charity you're excited to support. The toughest part might be picking your favorite.
Environmental Defense Fund
With Charity Navigator's highest four-star rating, the Environmental Defense Fund works to institute clean energy solutions, reduce emissions, and find sustainable ways to grow food and supply water. Along with influencing legislation and conducting research, the organization builds partnerships with corporations to help them become more environmentally friendly. It currently works in 26 countries and has helped protect four million acres of land.
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Rainforest Trust
For more than 30 years, Rainforest Trust has worked toward its goal of saving threatened tropical ecosystems and the wildlife that calls them home. In 2019, the organization protected 3.4 million acres of land via land purchases and designations. If you give to Rainforest Trust, you'll be able to choose exactly where your money goes. For example, you could help secure a black rhino habitat in Kenya, save the blue-throated macaw from extinction in Bolivia, or protect the cotton-top tamarins in Colombia. It’s totally your call.
Environmental Working Group
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) provides consumer advocacy and research regarding the safety of food, cosmetics, water, children’s products, and more. (It’s famous for its “Dirty Dozen” list of pesticides in produce.) The goal: to help consumers understand what is in their food and other products so they can make safe, informed choices. The EWG also pushes government agencies to work in the best interest of public health.
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Center for International Environmental Law
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) defends your right to live on a healthy planet. To do that, it strengthens international environmental law and finds ways to hold corporations accountable for their impact on the environment and public health. CIEL’s ultimate mission is to reduce public exposure to toxic chemicals, transition away from fossil fuels, protect ecosystems around the world, and ensure a just and sustainable society.
Acadia Center
Acadia Center's goal is to develop a clean energy economy that will help mitigate the ongoing climate crisis. Among the organization's initiatives, there’s a focus on modernizing power grids and other utilities, promoting cost-saving and energy-efficient technologies, and encouraging the use of low- or no-carbon electricity to heat and cool buildings and power vehicles. Acadia Center also provides guidance to government organizations, businesses, and community groups that need help implementing clean energy initiatives.
WildAid
WildAid’s mission is simple: to reduce the consumption of wildlife products and to increase local support for conservation efforts. To do this, it works to persuade the public to avoid illegal and unsustainable wildlife products and to make better lifestyle choices in order to reduce climate change. Its work helps all types of creatures, from sea turtles and manta rays to tigers and elephants. WildAid has a perfect score on Charity Navigator and counts Prince William and Lupita Nyong'o among its ambassadors.
PAWS Chicago
PAWS stands for “Pets Are Worth Saving,” and this Chicago-based organization lives by that mission. The no-kill shelter for cats and dogs is the largest free spay and neuter clinic in the Midwest; in 2019, it facilitated 5,271 animal adoptions through its adoption centers and spayed and neutered 15,174 pets. PAWS has received a perfect four-star rating on Charity Navigator for 18 years in a row, something that fewer than one percent of all organizations in the country can say.
Animal Welfare Institute
No matter which types of animals you love most — whether it's cats and dogs, farm animals, marine life, wildlife, or laboratory animals — the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is out there serving them. The AWI engages with policymakers, scientists, and the public to abolish factory farms, implement alternatives to experimentation on live animals, protect endangered and threatened species, and more. The organization also makes it easy to write to legislators on issues ranging from shark finning to racehorse conditions.
Marine Mammal Center
The Marine Mammal Center advances ocean conservation by providing care for orphaned and in-need animals with the goal of releasing them back into the wild. In fact, the Center responds to more stranded marine mammals than any other organization in the world. Through its Adopt-a-Seal program, you’ll know exactly how your donation is making a difference in a sea mammal’s life.
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
This organization is all about gorilla conservation. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund plays a direct role in the protection of gorillas in the wild in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo. They also conduct scientific research, train future conservation and scientific leaders, and help communities living near gorillas through livelihood, food security and education initiatives. A simple way to donate is to sign up for its Adopt a Gorilla (in the wild) program.
Homes For Our Troops
This nonprofit builds and donates custom adapted homes to severely injured post-9/11 veterans, many of whom have experienced limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, traumatic brain injury, burns, or blindness. The organization also provides a pro-bono financial planner for three years to help with financial planning and budgeting, as well as homeownership education and peer mentorship with other veterans and spouses in the Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) program. Since 2004, HFOT has built more than 300 homes.
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Wounded Warriors Family Support
This organization provides support to families of service members who have been wounded, injured, or killed in combat. Its programs offer caregiver respite, veteran job training, and family retreats, among other things. It also operates the Dunham House, a residence that provides long-term care for veterans with spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries.
K9s For Warriors
For veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, a trained service dog can be a godsend — and that's why K9s For Warriors is so important. The organization rescues and trains dogs from kill shelters to be paired with disabled veterans — in essence, saving two lives at once. It even provides ongoing training, legal and emotional support for the service dog-veteran team. In 2019, the nonprofit paired 92 veterans with service dogs; since 2011, the program has rescued more than 1,200 dogs.
Bob Woodruff Foundation
The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) funds programs that serve veterans and their families. It honors journalist Bob Woodruff, who was hit by a roadside bomb in 2006 while covering the war in Iraq. The foundation seeks to meet the emerging and long-term needs of today’s veterans, including suicide prevention, mental health, caregiver support and food insecurity. Since 2006, it has invested more than $70 million in programs that empower impacted veterans, service members, and their family members.
The Mission Continues
The Mission Continues develops volunteer opportunities for veterans with the goal of connecting former service-members with under-resourced communities. By participating, 85% of veterans said they felt more connected to other veterans and 78% said they felt a greater sense of community. In 2019, the nonprofit organized 1,479 service projects that empowered veterans to build leadership skills and transform communities. In 2020, it has focused on mobilizing veterans to fight food insecurity caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
No Kid Hungry
A Good Housekeeping Humanitarian Seal holder, No Kid Hungry is a national campaign run by the non-profit Share Our Strength. The organization focuses on ending childhood hunger, which typically affects more than 11 million children in the U.S. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, that number could reach 18 million (that's one in four youngsters). No Kid Hungry improves access to child nutrition programs, including school breakfasts, summer meals, and after school meals, and works with elected officials to improve the food programs that kids and families rely on.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
When children become ill or need an important surgery, their families sometimes need to travel far for treatment. This can be an expensive endeavor and require lots of back-and-forth. In order to keep families together, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) provides overnight stays in its accommodations. The organization also offers nutritious meals for its guests, as well as education programs for outpatients and their siblings, and peer support for families.
Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger aims to end life-threatening hunger for good within our lifetimes. For more than 40 years the organization has been working to treat and ward off hunger in more than 45 countries. Its programs promote food production, prevent COVID-19 and waterborne diseases, and provide aid after disasters; in 2019, the organization served more than 17 million people.
Robin Hood Foundation
Robin Hood’s mission is to elevate families out of poverty in New York City. This year, the organization is supporting more than 500 programs around the city, including ones that provide job training to low-income women, support high-quality education programs citywide, and provide assistance to immigrant and minority-owned small businesses. The Robin Hood Relief Fund provides food, housing and other help to the communities most impacted by COVID-19.
Water Mission
According to the World Health Organization, around 2.2 billion people lack access to safe water. The Christian organization Water Mission is working to change that by building clean water engineering solutions for people around the globe. In 2020, Water Mission made it possible for 617,000 people to receive safe drinking water from community systems, according to Charity Navigator, where it's received an impressive four-star rating for 14 consecutive years.
Save the Children
Save the Children's mission is to ensure kids grow up healthy, educated, and safe. The organization works all around the world, particularly in areas where children are most vulnerable. In the U.S., the charity works in rural America ensuring children have access to education and nutritious meals; globally, its programs provide emergency relief, education, and healthcare services to children in poverty and refugee children in conflict zones.
City of Refuge
This nonprofit serves a struggling Atlanta community where 40% of the residents live below the federal poverty line. The organization serves three hot and healthy meals a day, provides health and dental care, offers workforce training, hosts youth development programs, and offers housing for single mothers, women, and children who are experiencing homelessness. In 2019, it helped 485 participants gain employment, provided housing for 455 women and children, and served 350,000 meals.
The 50 Best Charities to Give to Right Now
This global nonprofit partners with people in communities in the U.S. and worldwide to build and improve safe and affordable shelter. Habitat for Humanity homeowners help build their own homes and pay an affordable mortgage. The organization also has a disaster response team that steps in after natural disasters strike.
National Immigration Forum
The National Immigration Forum knows that our country thrives when immigrants do — and that's why it works to promote responsible federal immigration policies. The Forum also focuses on immigration reform, integration and citizenship, along with other policy initiatives.
Hispanic Federation
The focus of this nonprofit is to empower and advance the Hispanic community, support Hispanic families, and drive initiatives in education, health, immigration, economic empowerment, and more. Its COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund has provided $14 million to help low-income families with direct cash assistance for basic needs like food and rent; the fund has also contributed aid to struggling small businesses in 25 states and Puerto Rico.
Refugees International
With nearly 80 million refugees around the world, this nonprofit steps in to advocate for lifesaving assistance and protection for people forcibly displaced from their homes. Every year, Refugees International conducts about 20 field missions around the world to speak directly with displaced people and identify their needs. The organization prides itself on being independent, as it does not accept money from the United Nations or the U.S. government.
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is on the ground serving people who have been displaced by conflict and natural disasters; it has a footprint in more than 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities. Currently, it is responding to COVID-19 in Yemen, providing much-needed clean water and medicine. In 2019, the IRC provided about 1.5 million children with schooling and other education, helped 151,000 mothers deliver their newborns safely, and provided basic hygiene kits to nearly 90,000 people. It also helped resettle 7,627 refugees in the U.S
Mental Health America
One of the first steps in getting help for mental health is knowing when you need it. Since 2014, Mental Health America's (MHA) free online screening tool has provided more than 6.7 million mental health screens. The organization also advocates for legislation to create a nation that’s more supportive of the mental health of its citizens. It fights for early intervention, reduced stigma and discrimination, better treatment, and decreasing incarceration and homelessness among people living with mental illness. In 2020, MHA is especially focused on suicide prevention and access to crisis care, early intervention for children and youth, and workplace mental health, among other initiatives.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
People affected by suicide turn to this nonprofit to understand that they’re not alone. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention features real stories from people affected by suicide and provides support programs for those who have lost a loved one to suicide and those who are worried about someone in their life. It's spearheading Project 2025, an initiative with the goal of reducing the rate of suicide by 20 percent by 2025.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people. The organization has set up the Trevor Lifeline (a 24/7 hotline), as well as TrevorChat and TrevorText (a 24/7 instant messaging and text message service connecting young people to volunteer and staff counselors). It also provides training for suicide prevention on campuses and in schools, among other initiatives.
Cure Alzheimer's Fund
If you give to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, 100% of your money will go toward research to prevent, slow, or reverse this devastating disease. The organization received GuideStar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency for sharing exactly where your dollar goes. In 2019, the charity funded 72 research projects and provided $22,175,000 in research funding, according to Charity Navigator.
National Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Forty-three kids are diagnosed with cancer per day, but according to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF), only 4% of the billions of dollars spent on cancer research is focused on childhood cancer. Even more sobering: the treatments used to treat pediatric cancer are the ones developed in the 1960s, which means they're harsh and sometimes come with lifelong side effects. The NPCF funds research projects and partners with 26 top children’s medical centers around the nation with the goal of ending childhood cancer.
National Breast Cancer Foundation
The National Breast Cancer Foundation promotes early detection of breast cancer for women of all socioeconomic statuses and educates on cancer care for women in poverty, those without health insurance, and those in need. In 2019, the nonprofit provided 2,924 women with mammograms and guided 53,916 women through their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment options.
American Heart Association
Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide. The American Heart Association provides public health education and advocates to help the nation care for its cardiovascular health through smart lifestyle choices, as well as by learning to spot the early signs of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. It also leads the nation in providing CPR education, sets the bar for healthcare professionals in best heart-health practices, and advocates for legislation that promotes public health; it’s funded more than $4.5 billion in heart disease and stroke research.
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research focuses its efforts on finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. It does that by funding research to find better therapies for the progressive brain disease that affects six million people worldwide. Eighty-eight cents of every dollar it spends goes directly toward its programs, and it calls its approach to identifying breakthroughs in science proudly “aggressive.” In 2019, the Foundation funded $100 million in research grants at 244 institutions in 28 countries around the globe.
NEXT for AUTISM
NEXT for AUTISM creates and supports educational, clinical, and employment programs for people with autism spectrum disorder at every age. It also partners with national, regional, and local organizations like the Arc and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The nonprofit has several initiatives it works on regularly; for example, it's partnered with companies to support the training and employment of workers with autism, piloted an adult community living program in New York, and created a model for schools that are exclusively for children with autism. The goal is for these programs to become models that can be used around the nation.
All Hands and Hearts Smart Response
The next time you see a natural disaster unfold on TV and want to help, consider giving to All Hands and Hearts, which serves communities affected by natural disasters by building schools, homes, community centers, and infrastructure. The nonprofit not only responds to disasters but works to build active disaster prevention programs so that communities can be more resilient in the future.
Center for Disaster Philanthropy
From the wildfires in the Northwest to hurricanes and tropical storms on the Gulf Coast, this North American nonprofit has an expanded view of giving during a disaster. Rather than focusing on immediate help, the organization mainly provides grants to local organizations that fund medium- to long-term recovery efforts to help communities after disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and human-caused disasters. That might include anything from rebuilding homes and businesses to providing mental health support.
Direct Relief
This humanitarian medical aid relief organization provides assistance to people affected by poverty and emergencies. Before hurricane season, the organization stages emergency medical supplies in the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean so those areas can be prepared. Direct Relief also leads wildfire response initiatives to provide needed supplies during wildfire outbreaks in the U.S. and Australia. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Direct Relief has equipped healthcare workers on the front lines with personal protective equipment.
Americares
This health-focused relief and development organization serves people in poverty and those who have been affected by disaster; it has worked in 164 countries. Currently, it supports 4,000 health centers worldwide with transformative health projects and donations of medicine. Americares also responds to emergencies and works in vulnerable communities to prevent disease. For every $10 that’s donated, the nonprofit can provide $200 in aid.
GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving connects vetted nonprofits with donors, so you can feel confident that your money is going to a good cause. The organization also assists nonprofits with development and funding so they can make a real difference. GlobalGiving teams up with a variety of organizations around the world on a range of projects that focus on everything from education and animals to hunger, AIDS and wildfires. Head to its website to find a cause that’s meaningful to you.
Feeding America
A Good Housekeeping Humanitarian Seal holder, the Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. It works with farmers, manufacturers, and retailers to get safe and healthy food to a network of food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens before it goes to waste (as so much of the food that’s processed in the U.S. does). Just $1 helps provide 10 meals to people in need. Last year, the Feeding America network provided 5 billion meals.
Doctors Without Borders
One of the most important initiatives of Doctors Without Borders right now is to keep essential medical programs running during the coronavirus pandemic, including HIV and tuberculosis programs and responding to other outbreaks like measles, cholera, and Ebola. Doctors Without Borders focuses on communities in countries with fragile health systems. Its medical teams are also supporting COVID-19 response efforts around the world. In 2019, the organization treated more than 2.6 million cases of malaria and vaccinated more than 1.3 million people against measles during an outbreak.
Convoy of Hope
This faith-based nonprofit aims to feed the world through children's feeding initiatives, community outreach, and disaster response. Convoy of Hope works with churches, businesses, government agencies and other nonprofits to provide help to those in need. As of October, Convoy of Hope had distributed more than 125 million meals in response to COVID-19.
Heart to Heart International
Providing global humanitarian help in about 40 countries every year, this charity gets a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. In the U.S., Heart to Heart International is currently focused on natural disasters, providing relief during and after hurricanes on the Gulf Coast and wildfires across California, Oregon, and Washington. The organization is also dedicated to COVID-19 relief, setting up information campaigns in Haiti, a helpline in Puerto Rico, and distributing personal protective equipment, hygiene kits, and free testing for essential workers in the U.S.
Equal Justice Initiative
This nonprofit is dedicated to ending mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial and economic injustice; it was founded by Bryan Stevenson, the public interest lawyer and author of the best-selling book Just Mercy, which is now a hit film. The Equal Justice Initiative advocates for criminal justice reform, supports impoverished and marginalized communities, and aids people in their re-entry to society after they have been in prison. It also educates people about slavery and racial injustice with reports, projects, and its museum and memorial located in Montgomery, Alabama. The charity has a four-star rating on Charity Navigator.
National Urban League
With 90 affiliates across 36 states and Washington D.C, this civil rights organization focuses on economic empowerment, equality, and social justice. It progresses these issues through education and job training, housing and community development, and by advocating for public policies that promote parity, health, and quality of life. Its Project Wellness initiative, which aims to bring affordable healthcare to underserved communities, became even more critical this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Public Justice Center
The Public Justice Center uses legal tools to work toward eliminating poverty, racial inequity, and other oppressive institutional barriers. The organization fights for tenants' rights to safe housing, helps workers recover wages lost to employer theft, and challenges school suspensions and expulsions that reinforce the school-to-prison pipeline. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the nonprofit is defending renters from unfair evictions, as well as fighting for worker’s rights related to sick leave, unemployment insurance, and family medical leave.
National Women’s Law Center
The National Women’s Law Center fights on the federal, state, and local levels against gender inequity for women, women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families. The organization focuses on breaking down barriers for women. Initiatives include authoring and promoting legislation that pushes for things like affordable childcare, equal pay, healthcare and reproductive rights, and a tax system that allows for more opportunity for people of all backgrounds.
International Women’s Health Coalition
Women deserve equal treatment in their communities, their workplaces, and the world. The International Women’s Health Coalition focuses on advancing reproductive health and rights for women and girls around the world by providing grants and support to feminist organizations and advocating for better international and U.S. policies and programs that benefit women. The organizations it has funded have progressed everything from sexuality education in schools and access to gender-based violence services to policy reforms that protect access to abortion and advocacy networks for women.
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