Hard as it is to believe, 2017 is nearly over. I know many people do the bulk of their charitable giving in this season, and I also know many of you have given generously throughout this year of unprecedented need, events, disasters, and policy shifts.
As I get ready to do my own final charitable giving, I am hard-pressed to know where to start.
I am a big fan of monthly giving to organizations whose missions I strongly support. As such, there are about a half-dozen organizations to which I make a modest monthly donation through a credit card. This works for the nonprofit, because they know they can count on the money coming in (you can stop these payments any time). Also, that way I know I am supporting those orgs, and don't have to remember to write a check once a year, and I'm racking up miles on this card, so....win-win. As you think about the causes you care about, I would urge to consider signing up to be a monthly donor.
But, we also know that life is messy (and boy howdy did this year illustrate that!), so I'm also a fan of being nimble in times of crisis or emergent need. And this year gave us no end to situations that needed response, and that still need responses.
Some organizations to consider as we wind down 2017.
Crisis response (hurricanes, fires, floods, oh my!)
Center for Disaster Philanthropy has a number of disaster funds to which you can contribute. CDP focuses on the mid- and long-range recovery, and brings a wealth of resources to the table.
Save the Children continues to impress me with both their immediate responses to disasters, as well as the way they stay in communities for long-term recovery.
World Food Programme is working across the globe in many disaster and humanitarian crisis zones. As their name suggests, they focus on hunger in disaster zones, and ongoing work around food access and nutrition.
Oxfam also works world-wide, and has an approach deeply rooted in cultivating capacity in local communities. Of note is that while they generally work in deeply impoverished developing nations, they are continuing to respond in Puerto Rico, particularly around access to clean water.
Doctors Without Borders likely needs no introduction, but I will note that they are responding to the Rohingya crisis, as well as in Yemen.
There are several different California wild-fire funds, including:
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
United Way of Ventura County (other parts of SoCal)
North Bay Fire Relief (Northern Cal)
The needs in Puerto Rico, and for the diaspora, continue to be overwhelming:
Heart of FL United Way
Give Directly
Hispanic Federation Relief Fund
Civil Rights / systems change
There has been what feels like a concerted effort to attack civil rights and liberties. Advocacy organizations are critical in responding to these attacks. In addition, we continue to need work to fundamentally shift the way our systems work. Some organizations to consider:
The ACLU is active in defending free speech rights, the LGBTQ community, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations. Please note that the ACLU is a c4, which means that donations to them are not deductible. They have an associated 501(c)(3) foundation, to which donations are deductible, but from my perspective (YMMV), it's the c4 work that is so needed.
National Advocates for Pregnant Women does outstanding work advocating for the reproductive rights of all women.
National LQBTQ Task Force focuses on building a future where everyone is free to be themselves in all aspects of their lives. They are focused particularly on building a diverse, young cadre of activist leaders.
Full Frame Initiative is a fantastic organization that is helping public systems rethink and reframe how they are delivering services so that people can be seen in the "full frame" of their lives, recognizing the messiness inherent in all of our circumstances.
Some of my favorite Boston area organizations
I live in the greater Boston area, and am committed to making my giving local, as well as national or even international. Some organizations I love:
The Lenny Zakim Fund - doing amazing work helping to lift up, build capacity, and strengthen social justice, grassroots organizations.
Hyde Square Task Force working with young people helping them figure out their college and career paths, as well as how to be leaders. HSTQ youth were the ones that uncovered the fact that the Boston Garden had never made the payments to support youth recreation that it should have. Read about it here
Massachusetts Bail Fund provides bails for people who have bails of $500 or less and can't afford them. In a system that literally criminalizes poverty, they are an equalizing force for equity. And, in posting over 800 bails, they have a less and 1% no-show rate.
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center New England's largest Asian-serving organization. They do smart, thoughtful multi-generation work.
As always, I welcome your suggestions of your favorite nonprofits.
Thank you for all you do. Thank you for all you have done. Thank you for being out there.
