What charities do you recommend?

[milestogo]

I'm getting a lot of asks this time of year. Two of my faves are Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

What groups do you give to?

[TexasBushwhacker]

1. Planned Parenthood and Feeding America

Meals on Wheels
My local animal shelters

[dembotoz]

3. all worthy

[dembotoz]

2. i know they are hated here but in terms of feet on the street doing stuff..salvation army

i wish someone else would do the work but not seeing it

the safety net has become a joke and they are now front lines

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. I prefer local organizations for helping the homeless

There's a great one in Austin called Mobile Loaves and Fishes. They have food trucks that go to areas where the homeless congregate and they've recently built a village small RVs and cabins to provide housing for the chronically homeless. It 's pretty cool.

https://mlf.org

[bitterross]

10. They are disliked for Good Reasons. Never give them money.

They are first and foremost, a Christian charity. They prove that with their stance on marriage equality.

They are the largest provider of addiction and recovery services and in that community they are known as The SLAVE-ation Army. They provide services to people who can work in their warehouses and stores. People who cannot work at the level they think they should work are pushed out of the recovery program. They say they provide their services without proselytizing but that's simply not true. They require people in their programs to attend services on a daily basis.

There a plenty of other, secular, charities that are just as deserving of funds.

[dembotoz]

39. Trouble is nobody else here does it

Until someone else does....

[Cal Carpenter]

4. Almost entirely local organizations

because I can see what they are doing on the ground, how efficient they are, etc.

Mostly food assistance, animals, literacy and housing.

National orgs? The SPLC & ACLU. So vital these days.

[bitterross]

11. +10000 What Cal Says

I completely agree with Cal's statement. I couldn't have written it any better.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood, local food bank, homeless shelter and

no kill animal shelter.

[mitch96]

16. " Doctors Without Borders"

I go with these guys every year... 90% of the donation actually goes to helping people.
You can get a review of charity expenses thru Charitywatch.org.

m

[milestogo]

20. "Reporters Without Borders" is also a good one

and is very important right now.

[Arkansas Granny]

23. They cover all aspects of humanitarian aid from clean water and nutrition to

disaster relief and field hospitals.

[madamesilverspurs]

6. Habitat Restore and

local organizations that help people in the immediate community.

.

[ananda]

7. Planned Parenthood and Meals on Wheels

I think MoW is Visiting Nurses Association

[LBM20]

9. The Carter Center, Local Salvation Army, Fisher House (for families of wounded vets) and,

others to consider are: Secret Santa toys programs for needy kids, homeless shelters, animal shelters, hospitals/programs for people with addiction/mental illness, educational institutions/programs. We give small donations to all of these at this time of year.

[cloudbase]

12. United Against Human Trafficking,

Girl Scouts of Greater New York (Troop 5000 for homeless girls)
Didwell-Liebling Opportunity Scholarship (provides assistance to students at Lone Star College)

[Vinca]

13. I give to local charities so I know where the money goes.

[lunatica]

14. I try to cover all the categories

Amnesty International
A couple of nature preservation charities
Doctors Without Borders
The humane Society
UNESCO for children and
UNHCR for refugees

I give a running donation to these. They’re small minimum amounts but for the recipients they add up and are a part of a steady monthly income.

I also belong to the ACLU.

Plus I donate during disasters.

[WeekiWater]

15. Please take a look at local free clinics in your area.

Not all of them are created equal. I’m lucky to have an amazing one close to me. They provide an amazing service for the uninsured and fill the gap for many who are underinsured. Many run on shoestring budgets. The one I donate to has a considerable budget and serves a considerable amount of people in the area. They also get a large amount of financial support from local hospitals. The free clinic offers top notch care for people who often use the emergency room for treatment and they do it at a fraction of the cost. How healthcare is provided today it really is a lifesaver and thing of beauty. And unlike what happens far too often in a hospital when you are uninsured, they treat you with respect and do not tailor treatment based on cost.

[Atticus]

17. The ACLU and The Southern Poverty Law Center. nt

[elleng]

29. GOT IT!

[Loge23]

18. Food and Education

We prefer our local food bank and local community college for need-based scholarships for our giving.

[Boomerproud]

19. St. Jude Research Hospital and ASPCA.

Many worthy causes.

[GeorgeGist]

21. Drs without borders, St Jude's, Planned Parenthood, ASPCA ...

American Cancer Society.

[dameatball]

22. Don't forget our furry friends!

[Demovictory9]

32. yep. I give to a local group. A woman who pulls animals from the shelters and

gets them homes.

[dameatball]

33. Good for you. I have adopted 3 of the over the years. Still have one left and she's a sweetheart.

[iamateacher]

24. Doctors Without Borders

and the Legal Defense Fund.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

25. Varies...Nature Conservancy, Humane Society, Environmental Defense Fund, Planned Parenthood

But always, Nature Conservancy.

[Sanity Claws]

26. I give small amounts to several

If you have questions about the worthiness of particular charities, check out Charity Navigator or Guidestar. They rate the charities in terms of how much money actually goes to the work, how transparent the charity is, etc.

It helped me make a few decisions this year when I was deciding where to donate.

[elleng]

27. Medecins sans frontiers,

SPLC, ACLU

[Croney]

28. St. Jude, Planned Parenthood, and the local Boys and Girls Club.

Those clubs make a real difference in children's lives. And for $200 a year, I have unlimited use of the fitness center and pool. So I help them.

[spicysista]

30. Depends...

Baton Rouge Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, Wounded Warriors, and the March of Dimes. Each year, the family usually decides which groups/organizations/ causes we're going to support. This year it was " Break Bread, Not Families" and Together Baton Rouge.

[Demovictory9]

31. ACLU, organizations fighting to protect voting rights like ACLU

I also give to a group that helps mothers in prison keep in contact with their kids.

[Behind the Aegis]

34. Jews, gays, animals, sometimes others...

The US Holocaust Museum

The Anti-Defamation League

The Trevor Project

International Fund for Animal Welfare

Best Friends (animal shelters)

Planned Parenthood

True Colors Fund (LGBT Homeless Youth)

Rescue Me! (Animal Shelters/Adoption)

American Jewish World Service

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (Immigration relief and the reason 11 Jews were massacred in Pittsburgh)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

[sprinkleeninow]

35. The Puppy Rescue Mission

[link:http://www.puppyrescuemission.com/|

[Takket]

36. Toys for Tots, Make a Wish, and my local food bank

and one thing for the food bank....... everyone gives canned and boxed foods so I always donate jars of baby food, diapers and feminine hygiene products. These are desperately needed but rarely thought of by people donating. Of course cash always works too so the food bank can decide what they need most.

[obamanut2012]

37. St. Jude, and my local animal rescue which does a huge amount of good things

[Ron Obvious]

38. The Innocence Project

Which we started donating to after watching the West Memphis 3 documentaries.