A few people have reached out to me and asked if there are any specific charities that I would recommend donating to, so I’ve compiled a list of charities that I’ve either personally donated to, participated in a fundraising event, or that has been recommended to me.

Crisis Text Line offers free 24/7 crisis counseling by text to anyone. Not only do I recommend donating to them, but if you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or overly anxious you can text 741741 from anywhere in the US to be connected to a trained crisis counselor. Needless to say this is a particularly helpful resource for people struggling with anxiety and depression during this time of year as well as with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and is definitely worthy of any donation you can give them

National Alliance to End Homelessness strives for a world where homelessness is a distant memory by focussing on trying to shape federal policy and finding solutions to end homelessness, like short-term rental assistance programs and community education.

World Central Kitchen provides over 250,000 fresh meals to those without access to food each day, in addition to supplying meals to those that are currently suffering from food insecurity they are working directly with restaurants in an effort to help them stay in business during COVID-19.

Heart to Heart International has given over $2 billion in aid to the less fortunate, and shipped medical supplies to over 131 countries. Recently it has created Stay Healthy kits that include standard hygiene products, but also gloves, masks, and bottles of hand sanitizer to help combat the coronavirus.

The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund has created new relief campaign that supports organizations on the front lines serving those affected by COVID-19. This charity has been helping those in need since 1911.

The Trevor Project provides the LGBTQ community with counseling via phone, text, and online chat with trained counselors. The leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people under 25 in over 100 countries. Every $1 donated allows people to get one more minute of counseling.

The Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of crisis, disaster, poverty and climate change to create a world where everyone can prosper. Beyond delivering aid to meet urgent needs, they develop long-term solutions to make lasting change possible. Recently The Mercy Corps has been raising awareness to an extremely upsetting side effect of COVID-19 lockdowns, lockdowns that are meant to keep people safe, but have instead resulted in a surge of domestic abuse cases across the country and world

Action Against Hunger, with help from donations, hope to fight malnutrition in over 20 countries, and make sure that the approximately 800 million people that currently go hungry every day get the nutrition that the need and deserve.

Relief International provides food, education, and medical care works in 16 different countries. Since COVID-19 its workers are building isolation and treatment centers in refugee camps for patients, as well as delivering care packages to the homes of refugees, and opening more health clinics. 

Operation USA has worked in 100 countries since 1979, delivering aid in a spectrum of ways from hurricane relief in Central America and the gulf coast to earthquake recovery in Ecuador and Nepal to emergency materials and supplies to fight California wildfires to gift drives and helping and educating underserved communities.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s mission is to take bold action to improve the lives of everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer by advancing scientific research, building community, sharing knowledge and advocating for patients.

JDRF is the world’s largest nonprofit funder of type 1 diabetes research. Their in-house scientists oversee a diverse portfolio of research tracks, leaving no stone unturned in their search for a cure. While their focus is on curing type 1 diabetes (T1D), they also pursue new treatments to keep people with T1D healthy until that day comes.

The Foundation for Philippine Progress, Inc. is dedicated to empower and engage communities in programs and projects for the Philippines to secure quality health, education, and basic human rights for every Filipino.

Feeding America is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, working to connect people with food and end hunger. Donors, staff, and volunteers all play an important role to end hunger in the United States. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, 50 million people may face hunger in the U.S. during 2020 — including more than 17 million children.

The World Resources Institute is a research organization that goes beyond research to create solutions to sustain our natural resources. The nonprofit works in over 50 countries to address the topics of climate, food, water, energy, cities and transport, and forests.

The Alzheimer’s Association aims to fight and cure Alzheimer’s Disease from all sides. Donations provide care to those already affected by Alzheimer’s and connects them with support groups. The organization also funds research and clinical trials.

Hope for the Warriors provides what it calls a full cycle of care to service members, veterans, and their families. It focuses on health and wellness, fostering a sense of community, and providing support for those transitioning from military to civilian life.

Mental Health America helps Americans understand, prevent, and treat mental health issues that can interfere with their overall wellness and ability to live a healthy life. They also focus on educating Americans about mental health issues through their online hub of information and tools

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the highest-rated breast cancer organization in the US. They fund over 300 researchers across the globe who are working to find a cure for this pervasive disease once and for all.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been defending the constitutional rights of individuals for almost 100 years. Whether it means fighting for LGBTQ rights or ensuring that women are able to make their own choices about their reproductive health, its mission is to protect the civil liberties of every person in the US.

The Center for Reproductive Rights envisions a world where every woman is treated as an equal and is free to make crucial decisions related to her own reproductive health. Its attorneys fight both nationally and internationally to give women access to birth control, safe abortions, and all manners of reproductive care.

The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has defended the rights of low-income immigrants in the US since 1979. It works to provide immigrants access to health care and fights unconstitutional immigration policy. The nonprofit also works to educate the public on the impact new laws would have on this marginalized group.

The Government Accountability Project (GAP) states on their website that courage is contagious. It believes that one whistleblower will inspire more truth-tellers to come forward. This non-partisan group is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization and works to defend those who bravely expose wrongdoing.