Travel Tips

Non-Profit Organizations You Can Support on #GivingTuesday

Locations in this article:  Paris, France

gt2There’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday…you’ve already heard about those two mega shopping dates. But what about #GivingTuesday? This year, it takes place on December 1. It’s a great idea, it’s global, and it’s a chance to donate to those organizations doing the hard and essential aid work all over the world. Here’s your guide for this year:

Organizations Supporting People All Over the World

UNICEF

If you are looking for an organization that helps Syrian refugees, check out the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This organization identifies children who need the most assistance, then puts a plan into action to best assist each particular situation. UNICEF has many causes, but if the Syrian refugee crisis is one that you find particularly concerning, you can find out how to donate at the top of the website.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières

Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, provides humanitarian aid to areas in crisis all over the world. Recently, these countries have included Nepal after its devastating earthquake, Syria, Jordan, and South Sudan. Throughout the month of December, Paypal will add 1 percent to all transactions as a part of #GivingTuesday.

Save the Children

Non-profit organization Save the Children does just what the name states, helping children in developing nations and promoting their rights. If you’re interested in helping Syrian children—or children affected by any crisis—you can make a donation or sponsor a child.

American Red Cross

If you are looking for a way to help the victims of the recent tragedies in Paris and Kenya, the American Red Cross is always a good resource for any international crisis. The Red Cross provides medical assistance, food, and other resources needed across the world when tragedy strikes.

Community Outreach

If you want to give back to your community on a local or global level, consider donating to one of the Community Outreach options. There are always communities in need of a little help and you can be part of the solution by donating.

Projects For All

Projects For All is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to communities in Africa. It helps with educating these communities so additional aid won’t be needed in the future. A few of the ways you can participate include: being an online mentor, submitting financial donations, or volunteering your time with African communities.

Humanity Road

Humanity Road is a volunteer-based non-profit organization that provides assistance during times of natural disasters. The function of Humanity Road is to put people in touch with emergency services during earthquakes, hurricanes, disease outbreaks, etc. In addition, it also spreads awareness around the world through social media.

Lil Cupcake Girls

Lil Cupcake Girls is participating in #GivingTuesday by hosting a bake sale. Lil Cupcake Girls works with No Kid Hungry, and every donation counts. Just $1 can help provide a hungry child with 10 healthy meals, and $46 can help keep a child fed all year long.

Double The Donation

Double The Donation allows companies the opportunity to match the donation of employees, doubling them for non-profit organizations. In the past, various companies like American Eagle Outfitters, Coca-Cola, and DirecTV have donated over $20,000 to several charities. You can follow Double The Donation on Twitter with the tag @DoubleTheDonation to find out which companies are participating this year. Click here to find out more information and to see if the company you work for is participating.

Wildlife

Maybe you enjoy a good hike through nature or maybe you love animals. You can utilize #GivingTuesday to give back to both nature and the wildlife. With a donation to any of the following organizations you are maintaining a happy, healthy natural environment.

Wildlife SOS

Established in 1995, Wildlife SOS is an organization based in India that focuses on rescuing animals in distress, fighting animal cruelty, and creating healthy, permanent homes for rescued animals. They are well known for saving many “Dancing Bears” in India, but they also work extensively with animals such as leopards, reptiles, and elephants that are living in dire conditions. This #GivingTuesday, Wildlife SOS is raising $40,000 to rescue the temple elephant Suraj. Once they reach the desired amount, they’ll receive another $10,000 that can go toward rescuing him and providing him with veterinary care. Click here to learn more or to donate.

Wildlife Alliance

Wildlife Alliance is dedicated to both the preservation and protection of natural habitats of many wild animals. If you are an animal lover, this is the organization to best serve and protect those furry critters or endangered species that could quickly go extinct otherwise.

Safari Magazine

Last year, Safari Magazine did a social media campaign on #GivingTuesday to protect orangutans. This year, after the death of Cecil the lion, it is focused on big cats. The magazine is encouraging donors to “cause an uproar this #GivingTuesday” by raising funds to expand understanding and create conservation initiatives for different species of big cats.

The Nature Conservancy

Not sure what to get someone who already has everything? This year, you can buy an acre of land for The Nature Conservancy in their name. The program Adopt an Acre lets you adopt an acre of land that will be preserved for generations to come. This particular campaign started in 1991, and more than 600,000 acres of land have been adopted. This is an ongoing campaign. Click here to learn more or to donate.

Click here to learn more about how you can make a difference on #GivingTuesday.

Want to learn about more ways you can help others and give back on your next trip? Check out:

By Kandice Martellaro for PeterGreenberg.com