The Best Charitable Organizations & Non-Profits to Contribute To Right Now

  • By Declan McManus
  •  Aug 07, 2020

We are truly going through an unprecedented moment in history right now. From the global crisis set on by COVID-19 to the struggle for racial justice in the US to the recent catastrophic explosion in Beirut, communities around the world are hurting in complex and tragic ways. As Engage continues to host virtual pop-up events and sweepstakes, we are committed to using our platform for good. 

 

As all of our recent events have aimed to help communities in crisis in some way, below is a list of organizations to support during these unprecedented times. 

 

COVID-19 Relief Organizations

While the coronavirus pandemic has touched nearly every corner of the world, some populations are more vulnerable to the economic and health detriments of the crisis. Several nonprofit organizations could use your time and money to make sure vulnerable populations are cared for during the pandemic.

 

CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit and the sole entity created by Congress to mobilize philanthropic and private-sector resources to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s critical health protection work. By publicly supporting or donating to the CDC Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund, you will be helping fund medical supplies, increase lab capacities, protect vulnerable communities, boost clinical research operations, and much more.

 

Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders is a global nonprofit organization aimed at quickly deploying and providing medical aid where it’s needed most. For Doctors Without Borders, the ability to respond quickly to medical humanitarian emergencies is crucial to saving more lives. 

 You can donate directly toward Doctors Without Borders COVID-19 Crisis Fund to have your funds directed to COVID-19 relief efforts across the world. If you wish to do so or have any questions, please contact us at (888) 392-0392 or donations@newyork.msf.org.

 

United Way

United Way of America, based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a nonprofit organization that works with almost 1,200 offices throughout the country in a coalition of charitable organizations to pool efforts in fundraising and support. Our recent sweepstakes event with Duncan Robinson was held to benefit United Way, as ALL proceeds from the entry sales will go to United Way. United Way is engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide. United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good.

In its COVID-19 relief efforts, United Way is helping communities by providing funding, medical support, and food and supplies to those most in need. 

 

The Salvation Army USA

As the homeless and home-insecure are one of the most vulnerable populations, COVID-19 is hitting these communities especially hard. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, The Salvation Army has ramped up efforts to slow the spread of this virus among its employees, volunteers, and the homeless and other vulnerable people we serve.

 In the United States, one in six people live in poverty, and more than 550,000 are counted as homeless. These populations severely lack access to proper care, hygiene, updated information, and medical resources, which makes them more susceptible to the virus. This is where The Salvation Army activates its support. 

 

Racial Justice Organizations

From Patrick Schwarzenegger to Dwyane Wade to Aaron Rogers, talent with huge followings are using their platforms to share resources, educate people, and provide ways to contribute to the Black Lives Matter Movement.

 

In addition to conscious advocacy, donations are another key way to support organizations that are fighting against police brutality and racial injustice in America. From the NAACP to Black Lives Matter to The Bail Project, there are countless organizations that are working tirelessly to protect the lives and livelihoods of black people in America. 

 

With all of the activity on the news and social media, it can be difficult to unpack the information overload to find meaningful resources to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Below are some key organizations to support:

 

Black Lives Matter

As a centerpiece of the current movement, Black Lives Matter began as a call to action in response to state-sanctioned violence and anti-Black racism. Its intention from the very beginning was to connect Black people from all over the world who have a shared desire for justice to act together in their communities. The impetus for that commitment was, and still is, the rampant and deliberate violence inflicted on us by the state.

In light of continuing police brutality and racial injustice in the US, Black Lives Matter is amping up its efforts to protect the lives of black people across the country. This is a great organization to donate to for anyone looking to contribute to the movement.


NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. Donating to the NAACP helps further its mission to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.


The Bail Project

The Bail Project is a key organization working to combat mass incarceration and the prison industrial complex in the US. The Bail Project™ National Revolving Bail Fund is a critical tool to prevent incarceration and combat racial and economic disparities in the bail system. The organization has paid for the release of over 11,518 incarcerated individuals to date and is working tirelessly to ensure its mission that Freedom Should Be Free.


Relief Organizations to Help Lebanon

In the midst of a tanking economy and resurgent COVID-19 outbreak, the people of Lebanon must now grapple with the catastrophic impacts of a huge explosion that ripped through the city of Beirut on Tuesday. The blast destroyed part of the city and left more than 100 people dead, thousands injured and hundreds of thousands displaced. Lebanese officials said the explosion was caused by the ignition of some 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, kept for six years in a warehouse at the port.

Below are some organizations to donate to to help the people of Lebanon during this extremely difficult time.

 

Islamic Relief

 Islamic Relief, a British nongovernmental organization is working to provide food, water and shelter for those left homeless by the blast. When an emergency strikes, Islamic Relief aims to be the first on the ground, providing emergency relief and helping those affected immediately. When floods, droughts or earthquakes happen, we’re there: providing life-saving food, water, shelter, medicine and other essential items to families who have lost everything.

 

“In a few days, we will also start helping to clear the streets of the debris caused by the blast, providing people currently out of work with cash to help out,” Islamic Relief Lebanon Country Director Nidal Ali said in a statement. Donate here.

 

UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more.

 

The Beirut office of the UNICEF said it is working to help the government salvage what is left of the medical supplies and vaccines that were stored at the port, while its partners provide counseling to children traumatized by the explosion and its aftermath. Donate here.

 

The Lebanese Red Cross

 The Lebanese Red Cross is helping with the medical response. The organization says it deployed more than 125 ambulances after the explosion. Red Cross emergency workers are helping to find the injured or dead, distributing food and offering shelter to the displaced.

 

“Lebanese Red Cross teams are working around-the-clock to provide first aid, transport people to hospitals, and distribute aid to families,” Jenelle Eli, a global spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, said in a statement. “It’s going to be a long road ahead and I fear there’s more heartache to be discovered. But community members are stepping up to help one another. And that bit of hope is shining through.” Donate here.

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