The Ultimate Way To Give Back: 15 Charities To Support

Regardless of whether or not you take part in holidays and observances, like Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Festivus, Christmas or Kwanzaa; this time of year is often an opportunity to focus on giving back, spreading kindness and showing love.

Throughout the month of December and stretching across the Winter season, there’s a noticeable increase in people making charitable contributions. This could be for any number of reasons; from knowing our actions will do something worthwhile; recognising this can be a challenging time for many, or even doing it for an end of year tax benefit — being supportive (altruistically or otherwise) produces a knock-on effect that does something good.

There are numerous organizations, communities and groups who work to provide relief, care and positive transformation within the world; it’s meaningful to celebrate and assist them whenever we can. Giving back, of course, is something that can be done all year round but not everyone has the means to do so. No matter how often we’re able to donate money, time or resources; it’s a worthwhile thing to do. We can also support charities just by raising their profile and sharing information about their work.

Charities You Can Trust

When it comes to donating money or advocating for a particular charity, it’s essential we check they are legitimate and make proficient use of the funding they receive. There’s a lot of information to look through before deciding on who/what to support; however, it’s imperative we identify the difference between a good organization and a bad or scam one.

Some charities adeptly use the money they receive while others spend more on administrative and crowdsourcing overheads than they do on the causes they’re championing. As you would expect, some expenditures are necessary, but we undoubtedly don’t want our hard earned cash going to charities with wasteful or “creative” accounting — or to those that overstate the good they’re doing.

We should always be well-informed about where our contributions are going, including what percentage the organization dedicates to management and fundraising costs (it should be 25% or less). Thankfully, charity checkers can perform this function for us.

To be more transparent, I’ve included ratings from GuideStar and Charity Navigator in this article. GuideStar provides up-to-date information on more than 2.7 million tax exempt nonprofits registered with the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) as well as data on former nonprofits; it uses a bronze, silver, gold or platinum rating. Charity Navigator lists nearly 200,000 charitable organizations and evaluates cost-effectiveness, stability, efficiency and sustainability (also utilizing IRS data); they use a zero to four-star scoring system.

Charities To Support This Season

Action Against Hunger | For more than 40 years, this humanitarian organization has taken decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. They focus on long-term change that aims to ensure individuals and families can provide for themselves and that their communities thrive.
Geographical Reach: Global
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator 4-Star (96%)

Meals on Wheels America | A leadership organization supporting more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. Serving virtually every community in America; staff and volunteers deliver meals and safety checks that ensure seniors live with independence and dignity.
Geographical Reach: U.S. (with subsidiaries in UK, Ireland and Canada)
Ratings: GuideStar Gold | Charity Navigator 4-Star (97%)

World Institute on Disability (WID)
This disability-led organization is dedicated to advancing the rights and opportunities of more than one billion people globally with disabilities; creating a world in which they live in communities embedded with access, inclusion, equity and resilience.
Geographical Reach: Global
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator 3-Star (82%)

Earthworks | Since 1988, this U.S. based organization aims to provide solutions that fight against extractive industries that harm the environment; helping communities secure protections for their health, land, water and air. They’re the only group nationally (along with international advocates) to focus exclusively on preventing the destructive impacts of oil, gas and mineral mining.
Geographical Reach: U.S. (with international ties)
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator 4-Star (96%)

Rainforest Alliance | An international nonprofit organization comprised of farmers, Indigenous Peoples, companies and consumers committed to developing a world where people and nature exist in harmony. Their work focuses on preserving the forests while also promoting the livelihoods and human rights of those who live and work there; helping them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.
Geographical Reach: Global
Ratings: GuideStar Silver | Charity Navigator 4-Star (100%)

Oceana | Dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans on a global scale; this international advocacy organization seeks to make our seas more biodiverse and abundant by winning policy victories in the countries that govern much of the world’s marine life.
Geographical Reach: International
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator 4-Star (94%)

Pollinator Partnership | This is the largest nonprofit organization in the world dedicated exclusively to promoting the health of pollinators and their ecosystems; focusing on conservation, education and research. To date they have protected over 30 million acres of agricultural landscapes and over 280,000 acres of managed timberland to support honey and native bees.
Geographical Reach: International
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator 4-Star (90%)

Marine Mammal Center | As the world’s largest marine mammal hospital; this ocean conservation institution rescues and rehabilitates marine animals using its state-of-the-art veterinary facilities and science/education programs. Since 1975, they’ve saved more than 24,000 marine mammals along 600 miles of Californian and Hawaiian coastline (as well as offering global outreach).
Geographical Reach: U.S. (with global advocacy)
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator 4-Star (95%)

Make-A-Wish America and Make-A-Wish International | This foundation creates unforgettable experiences for children with critical illnesses between the ages of 2.5 and 18 years old. Working to fulfil wishes based on individual dreams; this nonprofit manages to provide moments of fun and joy for children and their families.
Geographical Reach: U.S. and International
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator U.S. 3-Star (79%) International 4-Star (90%)

Pay Away the Layaway | This organization’s mission is to help families pay off their Christmas layaway balances; easing the financial burden that buying presents at this time of year can bring. Layaway is offered by various big-box retailers and is essentially an installment payment plan that spreads purchase costs over weeks or months.
Geographical Reach: U.S.
Ratings: GuideStar Gold | Charity Navigator (currently unlisted)

Dig Deep | A human rights nonprofit working to ensure every American has clean, running water — forever. While most Americans take access to this utility for granted, more than 2.2 million still don’t have basic plumbing. Through locally led water projects that leverage community experiences and resources; this organization advocates for real change.
Geographical Reach: U.S.
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator (currently unlisted)

Dress For Success | A global nonprofit that helps women to achieve economic independence by providing them with professional clothes that facilitate success in interviews; equipping them with confidence and knowledge for the workplace.
Geographical Reach: International
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator 3-Star (89%)

Malala Fund | Established by Malala Yousafzai, this organization fights for quality education for girls around the world; supporting activists and advocates who challenge local policies and practices that prevent girls from attending school.
Geographical Reach: Global
Ratings: GuideStar Platinum | Charity Navigator 4-Star (100%)

The Trevor Project | An incredible organization that provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention to LGBTQ+ youth. Confidential assistance and trained counselors are on hand to support users and provide encouragement and guidance. 
Geographical Reach: U.S. (International with TrevorSpace)
Ratings: GuideStar Silver | Charity Navigator 4-Star (99%)

Equal Justice Initiative | A nonprofit that seeks to reform the criminal justice system and eradicate racial bias. Not only does this organization investigate/expose unsafe prison conditions, it assists people who have been wrongfully convicted or given excessive punishment. It also educates about America’s history of slavery and the direct contribution this has had on the current state of unequal criminal justice.
Geographical Reach: U.S.
Ratings: GuideStar (currently only listed) | Charity Navigator 4-Star (100%)

Hopefully reading this list has encouraged you to give back in some way and share the remarkable work that these charities are doing. Every gesture (no matter how big or small) makes a difference — and that’s something worth being a part of!

Which organizations do you support? How are you making a difference during the holiday season?

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Further Info:

How to Help This Winter – Coalition for the Homeless

The 10 Pet Products That Animal Shelters and Rescues Need Most This Winter – Chewy