In my previous article, I wrote about the problems the Salvation Army has and why no one should donate to them this holiday season. There are many charities out there like Salvation Army that parade as a charity but in reality, what they stand for is some of the least charitable stances out there.
Since the holiday season is the time for giving, here are 7 charities to donate to this holiday season that will be worth your money.
1. Pencils of Promise
Pencils of Promise is a for-purpose organization that builds schools, trains teachers, and funds scholarships for low-income students. It's a different type of organization since it mixes a humanitarian purpose with a great business approach to make sure every dollar they get is spent in a way that will benefit their purpose. One-hundred percent of the money Pencils of Promise generates goes to the schools they build and the scholarships they offer, since they are funded by private donors, events, and companies. Plus, they do lots of work in local communities to come up with curriculum and programs for students.
2. The 777 Project
Since Pencils of Promise is a great organization to donate to, why not also check into one of their partnership projects? The 777 Project is a partnership between Pencils of Promise and Impossible Ventures to provide educational opportunities for low-income children for whom a basic education seems impossible. Joel Runyon, the founder, runs seven ultra marathon on seven continents in order to raise money and awareness to build seven schools with Pencils of Promise, hence the name, 777. This mission is funded through travel hacking and other initiatives, and every penny goes toward building the schools.
3. Charity: Water
Charity: Water is an organization whose mission is to provide clean drinking water to people in developing countries. It was started when a volunteer photographer for a Christian aid group that performed surgeries in developing countries and saw how much impact people like him could have on the less fortunate, which inspired him to found Charity: Water. The organization ensures that all the money will go straight to their projects, and to date, Charity: Water has funded over 13,000 water projects.
4. Medecins Sans Frontieres
Medecins Sans Frontieres, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is an international medical humanitarian organization whose mission is to provide medical aid to people in need due to natural disasters, armed conflict, and exclusion from healthcare. People of all races, religions, gender identities, abilities, and political beliefs get help from them since the organization focuses more on providing help that is needed. Most of their funding comes from private sources, and 80 percent of that money goes toward resources for humanitarian support (the other 20 percent goes into their management, administration, and fundraising activities).
5. All Hands Volunteers
All Hands Volunteers, also known as All Hands and Hearts is a U.S.-based organization that gives hands-on help to communities around the world. It aims to provide immediate and sustainable support to those in need and to be as effective as possible. They raise their money through special events, advertisements, grant proposals, direct mail, internet appeals, and many other approaches.
6. Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance is a conservation organization that aims to protect the rainforest by making it financially appealing for businesses and communities to protect it. They certify businesses to help improve their standards so their practices are sustainable and rainforest-friendly. Once a business meets their standards, they can become certified by the organization. Some of the Rainforest Alliance's certified businesses include Scholastic, McDonald's, and Kraft. More than 90 percent of their funds go towards directly helping the rainforest and the other 10 percent goest towards fundraising efforts.
7. World Wildlife Fund
The World Wildlife Fund is an organization that aims to protect endangered species and their habitats. They are known all over the country and aim to have as big of an impact as humanly possible by encouraging others to make choices that are animal-friendly. They receive over half of their funding comes from donations, and over 80 percent of the organization's income goes towards program expenses. About 10 percent of the remaining money goes towards fundraising efforts.
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