Nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in addressing social issues, supporting communities, and driving positive change. Whether you’re passionate about environmental conservation, education, healthcare, or social justice, there are countless ways to support nonprofit organizations and make a meaningful impact. In this article, we’ll explore various ways individuals can contribute to nonprofits and help them thrive in their mission.
1. Donate Financially: One of the most direct ways to support nonprofit organizations is through financial contributions. Consider making a one-time donation or setting up a recurring donation to provide ongoing support. Many nonprofits rely on individual donations to fund their programs, initiatives, and operations, so every dollar counts. You can make a cash donation through GreatNonprofits. We help organizations raise millions of dollars each year.
2. Volunteer Your Time and Skills: Volunteering your time and skills is another valuable way to support nonprofits. Whether it’s serving meals at a soup kitchen, tutoring students, or assisting with fundraising events, there are endless opportunities to get involved. Consider your interests, expertise, and availability, and find volunteer opportunities that align with your passions. Learn more about how to use GreatNonprofits to find great volunteer opportunities here.
3. Get Social: Raise awareness about nonprofit organizations and their causes by sharing their mission, impact, and accomplishments with your network. Use social media platforms, blog posts, or community events to amplify their message and reach a broader audience. By spreading awareness, you can inspire others to get involved and support worthy causes.
4. Share Your Story: Your story has the potential to inspire others and drive change in our community. Share your journey, your triumphs, and the impact that the nonprofit has had on your life by writing a review on the GreatNonprofit website. Whether it’s a heartfelt testimonial or a captivating success story, your narrative can illustrate the tangible difference that this organization makes every single day.
5. Advocate for Change: Advocacy is a powerful tool for driving social change and influencing policy decisions. Stand up for causes you believe in by advocating for legislative reforms, raising awareness about pressing issues, and mobilizing support within your community. Contact elected officials, participate in advocacy campaigns, and use your voice to advocate for positive change.
6. Attend Events and Fundraisers: Support nonprofits by attending their events, fundraisers, and community activities. Whether it’s a charity gala, a fundraising walk, or a volunteer appreciation event, your presence and participation can make a significant difference. Show your support by purchasing tickets, making donations, and engaging with the organization’s supporters and stakeholders.
7. Donate Goods and Resources: Many nonprofits rely on donated goods and resources to fulfill their mission. Consider donating items such as clothing, food, school supplies, or household goods to organizations that serve vulnerable populations. Additionally, you can donate professional services, such as graphic design, legal advice, or marketing expertise, to help nonprofits improve their operations and outreach efforts.
8. Become a Sustaining Member or Patron: Consider becoming a sustaining member or patron of a nonprofit organization by making a long-term commitment to support their work. Sustaining members provide reliable funding and stability, allowing nonprofits to plan and execute their programs effectively. Explore membership options, benefits, and perks offered by nonprofits and choose a level of support that fits your budget and interests.
9. Participate in Matching Programs: Take advantage of matching gift programs offered by employers, foundations, or other organizations to maximize your impact. Many employers offer matching gift programs that match their employees’ charitable contributions, effectively doubling the impact of your donation. Check with your employer or search online databases to see if your contributions qualify for matching gifts.
10. Create a Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaign: Harness the power of your personal connections and networks to raise funds and awareness for causes you care about. By participating in peer-to-peer fundraising, you become a vital advocate for the nonprofit’s mission, inspiring others to join you in supporting their programs and initiatives. GreatNonprofits enables you to turn any donation that you make on the site into a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.
Remember, supporting nonprofit organizations is a powerful way to make a positive difference in the world. Whether through financial contributions, volunteering, advocacy, or spreading awareness, every act of support helps nonprofits fulfill their mission and create lasting change. By finding ways to support causes you’re passionate about, you can play a vital role in building a better future for all.
There is a growing number of vulnerable children around the globe. In fact, there are nearly 11 million children living in poverty in America alone. Childhood poverty has been exacerbated by factors like rising inflation costs that affect the price of basic commodities and the housing crisis. At the same time, the sudden closure of schools and shift to distanced and virtual learning has reinforced the barriers to quality education for low-income children.
Did you know that when you donate through GreatNonprofits to support a charity, you can dedicate your donation in honor of someone else? We think this is a perfect solution for meaningful, last-minute gifts.
It’s been a busy year! Perhaps you haven’t had time to tackle everyone on your holiday gift list. Maybe you’ve realized a few more people to whom you’d like to show your love and appreciation. Or you might be looking for the perfect token for colleagues, employees, and partners at work.
We can help you with that.
Donate through GreatNonprofits in honor of a friend, colleague, or family member, and you’ll get a personalized certificate sharing your generosity to present to them. It’s fast, easy, and secure. Most importantly, it’s available right now – no waiting for shipping or processing.
What do your loved ones care about most? Find amazing organizations working for more than 50 causes with the 2022 Top-Rated Nonprofit Guide.
As we approach the end of 2022, GreatNonprofits took a look back at the major giving trends of the year. We looked into what drove and affected generosity across the United States including parameters such as: gender, age, income, geography, timing, devices, top causes & influencers to donate.
We were pleased to find out that we had donations coming from across the entire United States and that donating is moving quickly from desktops to mobile devices. We are also proud to share that 85% of donors said that reading reviews about nonprofits influences their donation decisions.
Check out the infographic below to dive into the findings!
GreatNonprofits 2022 Giving Trends
GreatNonprofits encourages you to influence the upcoming year’s Giving Trends. Find a cause you love and donate at www.greatnonprofits.org
I believe you are a good person. I think you care deeply about making the world better, perhaps in a few specific ways. Perhaps you haven’t figured out how you’ll do it yet, but I know you will.
Here’s the thing, though: you are probably not a billionaire or even a millionaire. Like so many of us, you may struggle to figure out how to make ends meet and support your dreams. How can you make the biggest possible difference with what you DO have to offer?
No matter what cause or issue you care about, there are plenty of nonprofit organizations working to address it. The question is, which ones are doing the best job? These are the ones to whom you should give your hard-earned money. You need a way to make smart giving decisions.
Here we are, wending our way through another Autumn. We may be admiring the colorful leaves, bundling up during cold mornings, or preparing for fun-filled holiday celebrations. This time of year brings another exciting milestone: the release of the 2022 Top-Rated Nonprofits.
GreatNonprofits is thrilled to congratulate all of the amazing charities who achieved top-rated status by being positively rated by their communities this year.
2022 Top-Rated Award Winner Highlights
2022 boasts the largest list on record, with more than 2500 nonprofit organizations.
Every state, plus Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are represented in the list.
The last time the federal government convened such a focused gathering on this issue was 1969, more than 50 years ago. Not a good look. Still, the last conference paved the way for critical programs like school lunches, SNAP, WIC, and important changes to food-labeling practices. We need new and better advancements like these more than ever to address the chronic health, hunger, and poverty issues we’re facing in this country.
According to the USDA, more than 34 million people are food insecure in the USA. This includes about 9 million children. There are people in every community in the country struggling with hunger.
Discover and support top-rated nonprofit organizations working to end hunger.
The toll of hunger and diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension is not distributed equally, of course. Underserved communities are disproportionately impacted, including communities of color, people living in rural areas, people with disabilities, older adults, LGBTQI+ people, military families, and military veterans. A major problem is lack of access to healthy food and healthy lifestyle resources, and this lack of access has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic to deepen an already horrific crisis.
I didn’t attend the White House Conference (I’m just a regular person, remember?) but here are my notes and major takeaways after reviewing reports from those who attended:
Hurricane Ian is one of the strongest storms to ever hit Florida. Since making landfall on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, it has devastated communities as it moved across the state with record-breaking winds, rains, and storm surges that left people trapped and in mortal danger. As we write this post the storm continues to rage, and we know all of you in the generous GreatNonprofits network are waiting anxiously for reports of damage, injury, and lives lost.
Fortunately, we can do more than sit idly as we follow the news reports; we can act now by supporting nonprofit organizations who are already working on the ground to help storm victims. By donating to organizations reviewed on GreatNonprofits, you can be confident your money is going directly to charities that help real people – because you can read community stories about their impact right here.
Below we’ve highlighted a few of the great nonprofits working right now to help victims of Hurricane Ian:
It’s December 22nd, and you’ve just spent a few hours digging through all your emails and files. The deadline to process charitable donations is coming up fast, and you still haven’t found all your receipts – sound familiar?
This year, we’re helping you get ahead of that end-of-the-year crunch.
GreatNonprofits helps you maximize your end-of-the-year tax benefits by keeping all your charitable giving in one place.
Giving USA reported that individual Americans donated more than ever in 2021 – more than $325B! As more people become donors, it is essential to understand how your contributions impact both the organization and your finances.
GreatNonprofits helps you maximize your end-of-the-year tax deductions by keeping all your charitable giving in one place. Our nonprofit marketplace makes it so easy to choose, give, and track donations to causes you care about, plus it’s a HUGE time saver.
We’ve pulled together a few guidelines to consider when making charitable donations.
Research and compare nonprofits before you give. So you’ve found some community organizations that center the values and causes important to you. It is critical to confirm the charitable status of the organizations you want to support and look into each organization’s reputation and quality. A nonprofit marketplace with consistent, unbiased reviews is a fast and easy way to find crucial external insight into charitable organizations.
Keep all necessary tax documentation available and accessible. To receive a tax deduction, you must prove that your donation was made to a legitimate nonprofit organization. Work with an organization that issues itemized tax receipts, and keep them readily available when you file your taxes and deductions. If you plan to make donations across multiple nonprofits, it is beneficial to work with a single entity that can consolidate all of your tax documentation needs.
Monitor your charitable donations in one place. Most philanthropists, large and small, make donations to multiple organizations. Therefore, it is wise to keep your contributions organized by using a nonprofit marketplace that can manage a wide range of charitable gifts. Using a platform such as GreatNonProfits, you can easily track and monitor your donation amounts, impact, and updates.
Example of a GreatNonprofits “My Donation History” page
Whether you haven’t started making charitable, tax-deductible donations or want to make more, GreatNonprofits helps you find, compare, and contribute to top-rated organizations. It also assists you in monitoring your charitable contributions and organizing all of the critical documentation needed to monetize your benefits.
Explore how you can save hours searching for receipts and never miss a tax-deductible charitable contribution with consolidated giving through GreatNonprofits.
The US Supreme Court recently overturned the constitutional right to abortion, leaving the decision in the hands of each state. We understand that people feel strongly about the issue and have varying points of view. Nonetheless, women and families across the spectrum will likely need more assistance. Below we have compiled lists of top-rated nonprofits in a variety of categories that strive to support women and families in the midst of these changes.
Gun violence in the United States has continued to escalate, with the number of mass shootings already at 213 this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The nation watched in horror as one of the deadliest school shootings in history unfolded and people are yet again left wondering if there is some way they can help to stop these tragedies.
In light of the most recent horrific shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas which killed 19 students and 2 adults, we have compiled a list of nonprofits working to solve this problem as a resource for people who want to contribute in a meaningful way.
Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown is a movement of Americans working together to end gun violence and build safer communities. They focus on reform in four main areas: background checks, domestic violence, preventable deaths, and gun trafficking.
The Brady Campaign strives to “create a safer America for all of us that will lead to a dramatic reduction in gun deaths and injuries.” They are aiming to cut the number of U.S. gun deaths in half by 2025 by focusing on background checks, stopping ‘Bad Apple’ gun dealers, and voicing the dangers of keeping guns in the home. The organization’s name honors former White House Press Secretary Jim Brady, who was shot and seriously injured during an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
Following the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, residents of Newtown, Connecticut founded the Newtown Action Alliance. They are “dedicated to reversing the escalating gun violence epidemic in this nation through the introduction of smarter, safer gun laws and broader cultural change.”
Sandy Hook Promise is a national nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. Sandy Hook Promise’s mission is to prevent gun violence (and other forms of violence and victimization) BEFORE it can happen by educating and mobilizing youth and adults to identify, intervene, and get help for at-risk individuals.
We have also created a Giving Fund for donors to easily contribute to several top organizations in this space. With a giving fund, you can make one donation to help multiple organizations all working on a vital single issue. We vet each nonprofit included in the fund and then evenly split your donation among the fund’s organizations.
Cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading cause of death. Nearly 18 million people around the globe die of heart-related illnesses each year, including heart attack and stroke. And in America, heart disease ranks as the No. 1 cause of death.
In an effort to educate people about heart health and reduce the number of cardiovascular deaths, President Lyndon B. Johnson created the first proclamation in 1964 to recognize the dangers of heart disease. Each year in February, American Heart Month focuses attention on issues like heart health, prevention, healthy diets, exercise, smoking cessation, and access to medical care.
As we celebrate Black History Month, we are focusing on Black-led organizations who are working to close the equality gap. The origins of Black History Month unofficially began as early as 1915, though the month did not take on an official observance until 1976 when President Gerald Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Since then, each February has been a month dedicated to the contributions and achievements of African Americans in U.S. history. These Top-Rated Nonprofits focus on impacting communities of color, working to create equal opportunities for all citizens.
‘Tis the season for charitable giving! Which also means tax season is right around the corner. And with that in mind, we’re here to help you make the most of your charitable donations and claim those donations on your taxes.
The holidays are here! While you’re probably familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there’s one holiday that gives back: Giving Tuesday. What is Giving Tuesday? And how can donors make an impact this holiday season?
On November 11, 1918, fighting ceased on battlefields in western Europe. More than 110,000 Americans lost their lives in the conflict. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 “Armistice Day,” a day to reflect on the war, honor those who served and remember those lost in battle. After the unconscionable losses sustained in World War II – nearly 420,000 Americans alone – President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed “Armistice Day” to “Veterans Day,” a national holiday to be observed on November 11 every year.
It’s all too common in schools: being taunted, teased, and even physically abused by peers. An estimated one in five kids will experience bullying before they graduate high school. The internet and easy access to social media have added a new layer to this issue. Parents, teachers, and lawmakers are all working to raise awareness about bullying and make our schools a safer place.
Look at your calendar and find the second Monday of October. You’ll likely see the words “Columbus Day” written there, a national holiday made official in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
On World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2021, the world will be a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic. Around the world, people are experiencing a heightened sense of fear, anxiety, and isolation. As new variants of the illness create unknown risks, many are weary and disillusioned.
This year, more than 333,000 Americans will receive a life-changing diagnosis: they have breast cancer. Nearly 45,000 of them will not survive. But there is hope. Those who are diagnosed early – when cancer is in its early stages and localized – have a 99% survival rate.
Loading ...