7 Trusted Charities Plus Charity Watchdog Links
Here are some charities that are reputable and where your dollars will get put to use correctly. These have been cross referenced with the three Charity Watchdogs listed at the bottom of the article.
Protect Animals / Protect People / Protect Earth
Animal Legal Defense Fund
They actively file lawsuits against companies, states and countries that are breaking animal rights laws. They also help fund lawsuits filed by other people and organizations that align with their values.
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide. This 100 year old organization is trusted and well known and is currently being threatened by the Federal Government with possible funding cuts.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/
Earth Justice
Because the Earth needs a good lawyer. Earth Justice has been the legal backbone for thousands of organizations both large and small. Behind nearly every major environmental win, you’ll find Earthjustice. They are the nation’s original and largest nonprofit environmental law organization and they represent every one of our clients free of charge.
Donate to Standing Rock
Donate directly to the Oceti Sakowin Camp (Sioux Nation Native Americans) on the ground in Cannon Ball North Dakota. They are protesting to move the Dakota Access Pipeline route which, if completed, will carry 450,000 barrels of oil per day across their sacred land and under the Missouri River. A spill would jeopardize a source of drinking water and irrigation for 1,000’s. The protesters hold their ground peacefully in the cold winter against a militarized police force. Harsh force has been used continuously on the protesters and the human rights violations have now been acknowledged by the U.N.
http://www.ocetisakowincamp.org/donate
Water Keeper Alliance
Waterkeeper Alliance strengthens and grows a global network of grassroots leaders protecting everyone’s right to clean water. They empower clean energy and litigate against oil companies that pollute the water. They do macro and micro getting down to local areas all over the world to remove pollution from waterways. Donate to water protection.
Environmental Defense Fund
The EDF has a track record of helping pass powerful environmental reform policies such as Cap and Trade. There scope is broad: sustainable agriculture, sustainable fishings, pollution and clean energy policy around the globe.
These charities do great work, but were too small to be included in the 3 Charity Watchdogs.
#SAVELACOUGARS
If you are in Los Angeles and want to make a difference in your own backyard, help save the mountain lion. They are working to build a wildlife crossing project at Liberty Canyon Road in Agoura Hills. They are very close to hitting their funding goal and your donation could put them over the top and green light their design phase. This charity is ran locally and is much smaller in scope than many of the other on this list, therefore it does not appear on watchdog sites. However, The National Wildlife Federation is one of the backers and they are a well respected charity.
https://www.savelacougars.org/
New Story
New Story builds houses for disaster victims. Currently they are building in Haiti, Bolivia and El Salvador. This charity has a very enticing model. 100% of donations go to building the home. No donation money is spent on operational costs. They are all about transparency as well. You will be sent video proof of the family moving into the house that your specific donation helped build. This charity does not appear on any watchdog list yet because they are very new.
Other Resources
Here are 3 trusted Charity Watchdogs which you can use to verify many other great charities. Maybe you’ll find the one that speaks to you!!
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
Charity Navigator
Charity Watch
An informative article by Consumer Reports on some of the best and worst charities.
Consumer Reports – Charitable Donations: Best And Worst Charities For Your Donations