This diary is a corollary to the “What’s Your Main Political Concern?” diary. Most of the concerns mentioned in that diary have organizations that are actively working to address them. So here’s a chance to promote organizations that you think are worthy of our hard-earned bucks and limited free time.
I have a particular fondness for organizations that focus on incremental change because they appeal to both my pragmatic nature and my dislike of deferred gratification.
My List
I greatly admire this organization. They are amazingly successful at both making incremental change and turning a series of incremental changes into larger victories.
If only the federal housing program was good as Habitat’s.
This organization works with women in countries suffering from the effects war and civil strife through economic, civil, and emotional support. Their programs include micro-loans and vocational training.
Perhaps the original incremental change organization. Go to the web site or check your phone book for the local shelter. They’ll be happy to accept your money or your help at the shelter.
And by special request from my husband (a teacher).
Court-Appointed Special Advocates
This organization trains and assigns volunteers from the local community to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system.
Tell us about your choices.
http://www.doctorswithoutborders-usa.org
http://www.prandicenter.org/
This organization and center is devoted to making sure that children that were victims of abuse, specifically sexual abuse, are not traumatized again during the judicial process.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/
I learned about this site from Welshman sometime last year and have since been a strong supporter of their work.
http://www.one.org is cosponsored by U2’s Bono and many others. It is a worldwide organisation to fight poverty, hunger and aids throughout the world but especially Africa right now. Check out their site and video. I am wearing the white “one” bracelet now.
I’ve heard that mention before (here or at Kos) and I think by you 🙂
I’ll check it now, thanks!
FINCA international makes small loans to poor individuals around the world so that they can establish a business and support their families, with special focus on women.
I love this organization – It helps people to make their way in the world with dignity and pride.
thought of doing this within the U.S.?
As for the international organization, it’s an idea I’ve heard about and long favored. Thanks for the link!
ACLU, because I believe in civil rights for all.
NRDC and Greenpeace, because BushCo is destroying our Earth.
A Planned Parenthood office in the town where I went to college and lived for many years, because women should be able to make decisions about their own bodies.
A drug rehab in the same town, because everyone deserves a second chance.
I research charities each year around Christmastime before I send out my annual donations. Specifically, I look for charities addressing worldwide poverty, disease, and dislocation, as I believe that’s where my dollars literally save the most lives. I also see giving to such charities as helping to reverse a bit of the damage my country does around the world.
There are some good resources to find the best charities. Charitywatch.org is operated by the American Institute of Philanthropy. They give charities letter grades, and I go to their Top-Rated section and choose only charities that get a solid ‘A’ or an ‘A+.’ Another good resource is Give.org, operated by the Better Business Bureau. I use them to confirm what I see on Charitywatch — Give.org provides a lot of details, and I like the pie-charts in their individual charity reports. Charity Navigator also provides some interesting information like the Top Ten lists I linked, but I’m less fond of them than the first two.
Over the years I’ve found the International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps to be consistently top-rated, and Doctors Without Borders really is as good as people think. On the other hand, the Red Cross and CARE and Oxfam, which I was disappointed to see got the most blog mentions in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami, don’t have records quite as sterling. They’re good, but not the best.
In addition to some of the ones above:
Ashoka a social entreprenuer type thing that works with people all over the world.
And the various places that provide simple and easy things one can do, like buying a goat for someone in a poor country, or a sewing machine or something like that.
So far this FAMILY’s MONEY has gone to
News
Mother Jones
Rolling Stones (don’t laugh – it’s great!)
Orgs/Agencies
Sierra Club
Amnesty International
I’m forgetting something I just know it!
so far! We “ain’ts” done yets.
Not to mention we recycle and redeem like maddogs at this house. We try very hard to make wise purchases regarding purchasing, labor, enviro, made in USA.
Basically we are working hard to live what we believe without betraying our planet, our souls, or our future… or our politics.
Which is pretty “radical” nowadays (sadly)
We have changed where we shop. Buyblue.org helps me with some decisions.
And we have a very happy and very loved member of the family that is a Grateful Mojo Kitty. (aka rescued feline)
Janet thanks for reminding me of my spare time hours. LOL
Since I spend so many hours a week involved in buyblue that I forget that it is a “cause”. Although the goal and purpose is to get corporate money out of politics and educate consumers.
So I guess as an officer and director of http://www.buyblue.org I should shout out support of the cause!
Remind me to talk to you about buyblue.
I’ve got a few ideas on how to make that more… user friendly.
Plus, I don’t see why you guys don’t accept ads and sponsorships from blue businesses :). Some small companies that are struggling to be blue and true would kill (well not kill) to have some access and press to people who also want to make better shopping decisions. Hell, they should be coming to you with the information and proof 🙂 Make them do your job.
Anyways, it’s helped me make some switches and also has made me more concern with the products I do buy… and aren’t yet rated 🙂
American Red Cross
Susan G Koman Breast Cancer Foundation
I support a number of NGO’s and non-profits already listed, but I’ll just add the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. They do great work with civic infrastructure and human rights, especially feminism.
The charity that recieves most of my attention and money is a local one. The Good Samaritan Hospice. They take 0% of donations for administration. Everything goes directly into running the hospice services.
Most Charities have huge admin expenses, 25-80% some even 90%. I have no desire to support anyone’s big admin salary.
Plus we do support a few national organizations, but most of our money stays local when possible.
Democracy For America 🙂 (thanks momagainstthedraft)
is the big struggle to save democracy. We figure it’s make or break time now.
Otherwise it’s just little stuff. We tip high, we donate to thrift stores, recently adopted an old rescue dog, and like everyone else we stumble blindly past any number of things we should’ve handled better.
I am one and support the organisation.