Charity Navigator

Consider a Donation this Holiday Season

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Day 336 – Finding the perfect gift during the holiday season can be a challenging task. Being able to help a worthy cause would make a great gift. Here are some amazing organizations in the world that will take your donation dollars and do the most good.

Here is a list of 10 organizations, along with their Charity Navigator rating and mission statement.

  1. The Conservation Fund (90.94/100) – The Conservation Fund, working with public, private and nonprofit partners, protects America’s legacy of land and water resources through land acquisition, sustainable community and economic development, and leadership training, emphasizing the integration of economic and environmental goals.
  2. Waterkeeper Alliance (92.61/100) – Waterkeeper Alliance holds polluters accountable. We’re the largest and fastest-growing nonprofit solely focused on clean water. We preserve and protect water by connecting and mobilizing more than 300 local Waterkeeper groups worldwide.
  3. Ocean Conservancy (94.13/100) – Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.
  4. Amazon Conservation Association (95.14/100) – Our Mission is to unite science, innovation, and people to protect the western Amazon – the greatest wild forest on Earth.
  5. Wildlife Conservation Society (94.50/100) – WCS uses science to discover and understand the natural world. This knowledge helps us engage and inspire decision-makers, communities, and millions of supporters to take action with us to protect the wildlife and wild places we all care about.
  6. American Bird Conservancy (94.26/100) – American Bird Conservancy is dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas.
  7. Natural Resource Defense Council (96.11/100) – We combine the power of more than three million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and policy advocates across the globe to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water, and the wild.
  8. The Sierra Club Foundation (95.87/100) – The Sierra Club Foundation promotes climate solutions, conservation, and movement building through a powerful combination of strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy. The Foundation is the independent fiscal sponsor of Sierra Club’s charitable environmental programs.
  9. Environmental Defense Fund (86.78/100) – We take on climate change and other grave threats by identifying what’s most urgent and where we can make the most difference.
  10. National Park Conservation Association (85.62/100) – We’re protecting and enhancing America’s National Park System for present and future generations.

So many options to give a gift that helps the planet.

Tomorrow. ideas for upcycled gifts.

Clothes, Part 2: Donating clothes is easy peasy

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Picture from Getty Images / Sadeugra

Day 60 – So, at some point you will be faced with clothes that you can no longer use. However, they still have plenty of life left. When this happens you have many options. There are amazing organizations that will take those clothes and give them to those that need them most or use the profits from reselling them to help others.

Here is a short list of organizations you can feel good about donating to. They all have high ratings on Charity Navigator. There are many more out there. You just need to do a little research to make sure your selected charity is transparent and accountable.

  1. Illinois AMVETS – AMVETS Department of Illinois is guided by a group of men and women who are dedicated to carrying out the AMVETS mission of improving the lives of our nation’s veterans and their communities they live in. The Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation is supported by donations collected from discarded household goods, bequests, corporate giving, and personal donations. These fundraising efforts are vital in AMVETS doing their best to support Veterans and their surrounding communities. You can schedule a pick-up of your clothing using Donation Town.
  2. Howard Brown Health Center – The Brown Elephant stores will take your donation and all proceeds benefit LGBTQ health and fund care for the uninsured and under-insured at Howard Brown Health.
  3. Cradles to Crayons – Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. They supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities. You can drop off your donations at various location in the Chicagoland area.
  4. Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago – Serving the nearly 140,000 people living with epilepsy in the Chicagoland area, the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago works to help individuals, and their families, in our community live their everyday lives. Through case management, education, and advocacy, we help you seize the narrative back from epilepsy and take control of your story. You can schedule for a pick-up.
  5. 2nd Chance Thrift Shop – A resale store that exists to help support the efforts of the Animal Care League. Their store is unique in that they have adoptable cats. Many customers love to visit the store solely to visit these wonderful kitties. Located in Oak Park, you can drop off donations at the store during store hours.

It’s nice to know that your old clothes can go on to help others. All they need is you, making sure they get where they need to go.

If you have other reputable charities that accept clothing donations, I would love to hear about them.

Tomorrow, dealing with the well lived clothes that are not fit for donation.