10 Charities You Should Donate To Right Now
Remember how bad we all thought 2016 was, all our favorite celebrities were dying like Prince and David Bowie, and then instead of teaching young women they too could one day grow up to be the next president, we elected a grandpa aged Cheeto. Not to mention my boyfriend broke up with me-all because I texted my girlfriend saying he bought me dead flowers. Looking back on it though, it was kind of punk which is hot, but at the time I was like come on dude, spring for the flowers not on sale for my birthday. Whatever , you only turn 21 every year for the rest of your life. Anyway woof, 2016 was bad, at least that is what I thought. Fast forward to 2020, which may actually be the worst year in history, unless you were like a dinosaur sixty-six million years ago, and was just wiped out by an asteroid. If not, you may agree with me when I say 2020 has been a flaming dumpster fire, and unfortunately it may get worse after November 3rd. Why it’s important to vote, like P Diddy said, “vote or die.” And please don’t be like Paris Hilton, and rock a “vote or die” shirt to then not only not vote, but wasn’t even registered. Oh the early 2000s, when things were so simple. On the bright side just because the world sucks doesn’t mean you have to. And now more than ever all kinds of people and charities need your help. Especially the people who are directly affected by the actions of a Klan backed, internet troll, misogynist.
So if you can afford the time or money, here are some organizations that are worth supporting…
1. Planned Parenthood or the Center for
Reproductive Rights
If you pay attention to what’s going on in the world even a little bit, then you will know that more than ever women’s reproductive health and rights are under attack. And if you don’t know this let me enlighten you. Our current administration as well as anti-reproductive health ideologues are forcibly taking every chance they can get to roll back reproductive rights, and cut off programs that help women get the medical attention they need.
To support women’s health, and rise up against the extreme agenda, you can donate to Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org) or the Center for Reproductive Rights (reproductiverights.org). According to Planned Parenthood’s official website, “Planned Parenthood Federation of America is a nonprofit organization that provides sexual health care in the United States and globally.” “Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 13-1644147. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.” “The Planned Parenthood Action Fund works to advance access to sexual health care and defend reproductive rights.” Okay Planned Parenthood is technically not a charity, but 100 percent needs your donations- so don’t at me!
2. The Natural Resources Defense Council
If you don’t believe man made global warming is a dumb issue, and science is real. Then you should definitely donate to the Natural Resources Defense Council (nrdc.org). According to the NRDC website, the “NRDC works to safeguard the earth—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.” “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.” Seriously this would be a great charity to donate to since the planet is literally dying. I know Al Gore would be happy you gave to this charity.
3. The International Refugee Assistance Project
If you don’t think refugees are secret terrorists trying to infiltrate America under the guise of creating a better life for themselves and their family, then the International Refugee Assistance Project (refugeerights.org) would be a great charity for you to donate to. According to the International Refugee Assistance Project website, “The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides legal advocacy for refugees and displaced people in need of a safe place to call home. We work with our clients to identify and navigate pathways to safety through free direct legal representation, systemic advocacy, and litigation. Everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.”
4. NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
If you are sick of living in a world where people are treated less than because the color of their skin, then please donate to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund (naacpldf.org). According to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, “The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. LDF also defends the gains and protections won over the past 80 years of civil rights struggle and works to improve the quality and diversity of judicial and executive appointments.” Again not really a charity, but 10/10 one of the best ways to spend your money.
5. The Trevor Project
If you believe love is love, then you should totally donate to The Trevor Project for LGBT youth (thetrevorproject.org). According to The Trevor Project website, “Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.”
6. The Mexican American Legal Defense and
Education Fund
If you believe the large majority of Mexicans are good people, and not just a select few like a certain moron I know, then please donate to The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (maldef.org). According to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund website, “ALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Our commitment is to protect and defend the rights of all Latinos living in the United States and the constitutional rights of all Americans.”
7. ProPublica
If you believe facts are important, and support journalism, you can do so by subscribing to a newspaper, and donating to ProPublica (propublica.org). According to their website, “ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.” Fake news is not a charity.
8. Every Town For Gun Safety
If 2019 me said to you what happened in El Paso, TX, and “Dayton, Ohio was crazy. Would that mean anything to you, or would you be confused. If the answer is the latter, that’s kind of scary because in 2019, 22 people were killed in a shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas and nine victims were shot dead in a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio. But don’t feel bad it’s not your fault really as much as it is this country’s. By the end of 2019 there were more than 417 mass shootings in the U.S just in that year, THAT IS NOT NORMAL. If you are like me, and are sick of mass shootings being a casual thing, like literally they are a blurb in the news now, then donate to Every Town For Gun Safety (everytown.org). According to their website, they need your donations to “sustain our most vital work — blocking reckless gun bills, passing common-sense laws like background checks on all gun sales, mobilizing grassroots supporters to educate communities about gun safety, electing gun sense candidates, and defeating the NRA’s dangerous agenda across America.”
9. The Sentencing Project
If you are like me, and Kim Kardashian (who is doing the lord’s work) and think are prisons need some serious reform- Like I can’t stress enough how much we need prison reform, like it’s inhumane how people in this country are treated in prison, you can donate to The Sentencing Project (sentencingproject.org). According to The Sentencing Project website, “The Sentencing Project works for a fair and effective U.S. criminal justice system by producing groundbreaking research to promote reforms in sentencing policy, address unjust racial disparities and practices, and to advocate for alternatives to incarceration.”
10. Me
Some could argue I’m a charity case… That is a half joke, I just have a lot of student debt, and am scared of seeking arrangements. So find me on Venmo, if you want to hook a girl up.
In all seriousness, these are amazing charities you can- no SHOULD donate to right now. Even if that means sacrificing just one pumpkin spice latte a week, even if its just one a month, every cent counts toward making the world a better place. Like charity is total vibes. One of my biggest role models in life is Fred Rogers, or more famously known as Mr. Rogers, he once said “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”” Why my life motto is, why be a dick when you can be a helper.
