It’s never too late to give back and make a difference in the world.
Sometimes, we need a little nudge from our friends or family to get us going.
Or sometimes, we just need that one thing that will inspire us to take action.
If you’re ready to make an impact on the lives of others (and reap the benefits yourself), we hope this list of our favorite charity organizations will serve as that inspiration.
Without further ado, here are six charity organizations worth looking into and why we love them so much.
#1. For Animals: Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society started by building sanctuaries for homeless and disabled animals.
What started as building homes for animals that no one wanted, turned into a movement that is changing the face of America’s shelters.
Best Friends Animal Society’s mission is to stop the killing of homeless animals in America by 2025. They are leading a movement for no-kill shelters across the nation and home to over 1,000 animals.
If you’re looking to save animal lives, find out how you can make a difference here.
#2. For Education: Book Trust
As Book Trust themselves say:
“All our work revolves around a single, sad fact: There are thousands of children in America who would like nothing better than to read, but have no books.”
Books are a powerful tool for developing literacy. And sadly, many children from low-income families don’t have books because their parents can’t afford them.
Book Trust is actively changing that by giving disadvantaged little ones the chance to choose books they want to own.
In the past 20 years, they have gifted over nine million books to children across America. If you’d like to add to that number, learn how you can donate here.
#3. For Community: HomeAid America
HomeAid is dedicated to building a future without homelessness.
In 1989 they started out by remodeling two farmhouses, and they have been working tirelessly ever since to build shelters for those who need them.
With the help of builders, suppliers, and community partners, they completed over a thousand developments and effectively ended homelessness for 500,000 people.
You can learn more here if you want to volunteer your time, goods, or money to end homelessness.
#4. For the Environment: Green America
Green America’s mission goes beyond just saving the environment.
It’s a social movement that brings together people from all walks of life — consumers, investors, and businesses alike. These various groups have one thing in common: they want to create an environmentally sustainable society where everyone can thrive equally.
Their blog is full of resources that help educate on how we, as consumers, have the real power to make a change. And their victories are countless.
Visit their website here to see how you can take action. We’re sure you’ll find at least one campaign worth supporting.
#5. For Health: American Federation for Aging Research
As the founder of the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), Irving Wright, says:
“We are tackling the greatest health problem of today and the coming years—the innumerable and complex disabilities of the aging population.”
AFAR is one of our personal favorites since our missions are intertwined — enabling everyone to have a healthy and fulfilled life in their senior years.
Researchers funded by the AFAR Foundation have found many ways to delay or even prevent many chronic diseases. This groundbreaking science is paving the way for innovative new therapies and discovering that it is never too late to improve health.
If you’d like to invest in health innovation, read more on how to give here.
#6. For Human Rights: Human Rights First
Human Rights First has been a shining example of human dignity and freedom for more than three decades. They have been at the forefront of defending those without privilege for over three decades, and their voice never wavers.
They want to make an impact on people’s lives and go beyond just telling them about their mission — Human Rights First works towards concrete goals that will affect real change in society.
If your heart aches when you look at human rights crises, like what’s been happening in Afghanistan or Yemen, you can help by donating here.
Other Charity Organization Resources
Even if none of these charities appeal to you, many others might.
Here are helpful websites to help you find the right one:
Or refer to our list of 20 volunteering websites, some virtual volunteering opportunities, or even exciting travel volunteerism opportunities.
Your Support, Everyone’s Success
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about our favorite charity organizations and the excellent work they do. It’s essential to make an impact in your community, but it can be hard to know where to start.
We wanted to share some of the ones that are close to our hearts in hopes they will inspire you as well.
If you know an organization or charity that deserves recognition for its contributions, please let us know. Our goal is to spread awareness about worthy causes.
Have any of these charity organizations inspired your own philanthropic efforts?
P.S. If you’d like to know more about charity work in general, check out our article that tells you everything you need to know about donating time, money, or goods to charities.
