How to Choose Charities to Support on #GivingTuesday

As global moms, we want to be a part of positive change around the world, and supporting organizations at home and abroad is one important way to do that. Sometimes the choice of WHERE to give can be overwhelming. Of course, giving locally is a great way to make an impact on your community, and it can be easier to vett a local nonprofit–you can see the fruit of their labor with your own eyes. But if you want to support global causes, you often won’t have the chance to see for yourself what is being done with your money.

If you have worked in international development or with nonprofits, you know that sometimes small organizations have little oversight and large organizations spend way too much on administrative costs. And, as much as you hate to admit it, you know that there are some organizations that simply can’t be trusted. How can you be sure that the money you sent for a mosquito net wasn’t spent on a chai break for the office? How can you be certain that the money you sent to spruce up an orphanage did not spruce up the director’s living room? How can you know that the CEO of the international NGO is not taking home a salary that’s bigger than the salary of the CEO of Apple? Nonprofit work can get sticky, which is why I like to give to people or organizations that I know personally, organizations that I can see obvious impact from, or organizations that are very transparent.

If you don’t have personal connections with people or organizations overseas, you can either trust someone you know who has those connections, or do some more research yourself. I’m going to point you towards some of my favorite charities as well as two organizations that have already done due diligence for you in finding out which charities are the most effective with the funds that they receive.

Charity Navigator has top ten lists of the best and the worst in nonprofit accountability. From the 10 Best Charities Everybody’s Heard Of to the 10 Charities in Deep Financial Trouble, these lists can give you a lot of information about the best places to place your donations. Check out these lists before giving to even well-known nonprofits.

Give Well also has done scientific research to determine the effectiveness of donations. (Turns out buying mosquito nets for kids is one of the most effective ways to stop malaria and one of the ways to get the most bang for your buck.) They are looking for organizations where your donation will go a long way, and they list some little-known but highly efficient places to give. Look here for some unique options.

NPR also had a short story on #GivingTuesday that explains some of the rationale for choosing a charity.

Causes at the top of my list:

As I said, I look for charities that I have a personal connection with or that I feel are transparent and worthwhile causes. Below are a few of the causes that are important to me this year and the organizations that I will be looking to support.

proVISION ASIA: This nonprofit helps people with disabilities in Bangalore, India. It’s the organization that I used to work for there and I know the staff and directors who are still there today. Funds are used to provide wheelchairs, job training, transportation, and medical care to people affected by polio, cerebral palsy, blindness, and a host of other physical disabilities. What I love about this org. is that people with disabilities are up front in the office, fundraising, and training others. Oh, and they also have a small school!

Epilepsy Foundation: Did you know that 65 million people around the world live with Epilepsy? My son is one of them. There is still very little known about this disease or how to treat it, and right now, 3 million Americans live with a question mark about why they have seizures and what can be done to treat them. I’m happy to give to this org. that is funding research and programs to help people who struggle with epilepsy.

Standing Rock: You’ve heard about the Standing Rock situation, although you may not understand it all. This article from The Guardian helped me understand the who, what, and why of the crisis. November is also Native American History month, and I believe it is important to somehow show our support. This list gives lots of reputable organizations to contribute to.

Flint Kids: As of today, Flint, Michigan still has polluted water. The Community Foundation of Greater Flint’s Flint Kids Fund is doing everything it can to provide supportive programs to Flint kids affected by the crisis. From incredible early childhood programs to medical support, to providing water and meals to needy children, this org. is truly making an impact in an otherwise dire situation.

Carry the Future: Baby carriers truly changed my life in the early months and years of parenting. This org. delivers carriers and boxes full of baby gear to Syrian refugees in Greece. The stories are amazing. I featured founder Cristal Logothetis on Episode 11 of TGMS, and she shares how the organization started with a dream to help 100 families. I love what this organization is doing!

Giving What You Can Where You Can

I can’t always afford to give to charity. I know that seems crazy, but it’s true. Maybe you are strapped for cash this year, and giving is just not an option. During the times when I can’t give money, I look for ways to give that involve donating things I have around the house. Even if I can’t give money, I can give to support people and places who may have less than I have. This year and in years past, I look through our clothes to find good-quality clothing that can be donated to our local second-hand shop that provides high-quality, low-cost items for local residents (I sometimes shop there too!). Now is also a good time to look through your children’s toys and find the ones that can be loved again by someone new. If you are like us, and have very generous extended family who you know will be blessing your children with lots of new goodies, now is a great time to make some room for those by passing on the toys your children have outgrown or forgotten about. You can also donate used electronics to multiple places online that will refurbish them and find them a good home. The point is, you don’t have to give cash to be a part of Giving Tuesday or to make giving a priority this holiday season. You can give time, goods, food, or services. Everything is worthwhile, and every gift has a positive impact.

Let the Giving Begin

#GivingTuesday is just the start of what should be the season for giving. I love the idea of starting the holiday season with charitable giving, instead of letting it fall by the wayside amidst the hustle and bustle of  holiday preparations. If we take some time today (or this week) to commit some of our budget to causes we care about, we can be certain that we’ve started the season off in a way that we intend to continue. My hope is that my small donations will combine with the gifts of others to do some real good around the world.

Happy Giving Tuesday!

What charities do you love? Where are you planning on giving to this year?