What’s the issue? Wondering where to donate your money this giving season? I have some recommendations! Below are some top-notch organizations that have grabbed my attention this year. (Plus, I still stand behind my 2017 round-up, here).
Things to keep in mind while giving:
- Charitable donations make great gifts for others too! I love it when friends and family honor me by donating to a cause I’m passionate about. It’s all the joy of giving and receiving and helping make the world a better place rolled into one.
- Check to see if your place of employment matches your donation. You could double your impact!
- If you plan to claim a tax deduction for your gift, make sure you donate to a 501(c)(3) non-profit and get a receipt. You can double check that your donation will be eligible here.
So, without further ado…
The list (by issue area):
Immigration
There are few things that have made me angrier and more viscerally upset this year than our country’s treatment of migrants and those seeking asylum. These organizations are performing daily heroics in the face of this atrocity:
Immigrant Families Together– this New York based organizations focused specifically on immigrant families and ending child separations. They also have a cute Etsy store, but do know that while goods bought through the store do benefit the organization, they are not tax deductible.
Immigration Justice Campaign (Home of the Dilley Project)– The primary goal of the Justice Campaign is to increase access to legal counsel for thousands of immigrants held in detention centers.
RAICES– This large, Texas-based non-profit promotes justice by providing free and low-cost assistance to under-served immigrant children, families, and refugees through legal services, social programs, bond assistance, and an advocacy team focused on changing the narrative around immigration in this country. (PS- if you live in or are traveling to Texas, check out their volunteer opportunities too).
Democracy and Voting Rights
In case the impeachment hasn’t made this abundantly clear, this is a perilous time for democracy in the United States. These organizations are working to make sure all of us have the right to vote in 2020. (I also highly recommend giving to your favorite political candidates ~don’t forget the House and Senate as well as local elections~ but remember that those donations are not tax deductible).
Indivisible (not tax deductible)- Brought together by a practical guide to resist the Trump agenda, Indivisible is a movement of thousands of group leaders and more than a million members taking regular, iterative, and increasingly complex actions to resist the GOPs agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies. (While you’re on their site, check out how you can get involved in preparation for 2020!)
Rock the Vote– Focused on increasing voter turnout among young people, this is a tax deductible democracy option!
Supermajority (not tax deductible)- Supermajority is building the power of women of all backgrounds, races, and ages to create a future where we are truly equal. We believe there’s strength in numbers—and that women can be the most powerful force in America if we work together.
Reproductive Rights and Justice
The state of reproductive rights is looking pretty bleak in the United States right now. Comprehensive reproductive healthcare- including abortion- is increasingly only available for the most privileged. Support these organizations and give the gift of health and bodily autonomy:
carafem: carafem provides convenient and professional abortion care and family planning so people can control the number and spacing of their children. carafem was created to provide simple, safe abortions and ensure a non-judgmental, welcoming, and professional abortion experience.
Planned Parenthood– Still the largest abortion provider in the US and a strong voice for reproductive rights.
Sistersong– SisterSong is a Southern based, national membership organization; aiming to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities.
Local DC Organizations
I think it’s important to invest in the community where you live. Here are some of my favorites this year in Washington DC:
DC Abortion Fund– The DC Abortion Fund is an all-volunteer, nonprofit that makes grants to pregnant people in the DC area, as well as those traveling to the area, who cannot afford the full cost of an abortion. DCAF is the only organization in the DC region that focuses solely on providing this service in the community.
N Street Village– N Street Village empowers homeless and low-income women in Washington, D.C. to claim their highest quality of life by offering a broad spectrum of services, housing, and advocacy in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. They help women achieve stability and make meaningful gains in their housing, income, employment, mental health, physical health, and addiction recovery. They are located right around the corner from where we used to live, and even have a special focus for women living with HIV.
Whitman-Walker Health– Whitman-Walker offers affirming community-based health and wellness services to all with a special expertise in LGBTQ and HIV care. Through multiple locations throughout DC, they provide stigma-free care to anyone who walks through the doors. They are proud and honored to be a place where the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer communities, as well to those living with or affected by HIV feel supported, welcomed and respected.
Persistence 
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