How to Donate to a Cause That You're Passionate About
There's a cause out there just waiting for you. Here's how to find it.
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You are probably not Warren Buffett. (If you are, the world thanks you, and you can skip this part.) But your dollars still make a big difference: More than two-thirds of all money donated to charity last year came from individuals, according to the report Giving USA 2017. So where do you find your perfect philanthropic match? It depends on your goals.
1. If you simply want the absolute most bang for your buck...
Check out Givewell, a charity evaluator that focuses on "effective altruism," the philosophy that resources should be used to make the biggest difference in the most lives possible. Created by hedge funders, Givewell runs the numbers on a charity's administrative and program expenses against the cost of saving a life or changing a "life-year" (an additional year of income, for instance); it then compiles an annual short list of recommended organizations. Most are global health charities because their operating costs tend to be lower and their results are quantifiable: For $5 or less, the Against Malaria Foundation—one of Givewell's top charities—can install an insecticide-treated net that will protect an average of two people for three to four years. Malaria nets may not be the stuff of heartwarming brochures, but they help prevent one of the leading killers of kids under 5.
2. If you have a cause in mind but don't know where to start...
Charity Navigator also evaluates nonprofits and scores each on a four-star scale based on financial health and accountability. Search its database—which rates more than 8,000 organizations—for your favorite cause, and you'll get a list of charities and their scores, along with detailed administrative and financial information. You can use the advanced function to narrow your search by geographic area, or get even more granular (for example, charities that don't receive government funding). If searching feels overwhelming, you can also find curated lists with themes such as charities worth watching (highly rated organizations with small budgets) or support for women and girls.
3. If you want to feel an emotional connection...
GreatNonprofits is like Yelp for charities, featuring ratings and reviews from volunteers, donors, and beneficiaries. Search for specific causes and/or geographic areas, and you'll find stirring stories, photos, and videos from mostly smaller organizations, such as RedRover, which shelters pets after natural disasters. A cautionary note: The reviewers are doing the ratings, so there's no guarantee of the charity's effectiveness. If one piques your interest, look it up on Charity Navigator, which includes basic information on every nonprofit registered with the IRS; even if there's no official rating for your organization, you'll find the Form 990 that discloses annual financials, which is a good place to start. (Learn more about how to check out nonrated nonprofits on Charity Navigator under "Tips for Donors.")
1. If you simply want the absolute most bang for your buck...
Check out Givewell, a charity evaluator that focuses on "effective altruism," the philosophy that resources should be used to make the biggest difference in the most lives possible. Created by hedge funders, Givewell runs the numbers on a charity's administrative and program expenses against the cost of saving a life or changing a "life-year" (an additional year of income, for instance); it then compiles an annual short list of recommended organizations. Most are global health charities because their operating costs tend to be lower and their results are quantifiable: For $5 or less, the Against Malaria Foundation—one of Givewell's top charities—can install an insecticide-treated net that will protect an average of two people for three to four years. Malaria nets may not be the stuff of heartwarming brochures, but they help prevent one of the leading killers of kids under 5.
2. If you have a cause in mind but don't know where to start...
Charity Navigator also evaluates nonprofits and scores each on a four-star scale based on financial health and accountability. Search its database—which rates more than 8,000 organizations—for your favorite cause, and you'll get a list of charities and their scores, along with detailed administrative and financial information. You can use the advanced function to narrow your search by geographic area, or get even more granular (for example, charities that don't receive government funding). If searching feels overwhelming, you can also find curated lists with themes such as charities worth watching (highly rated organizations with small budgets) or support for women and girls.
3. If you want to feel an emotional connection...
GreatNonprofits is like Yelp for charities, featuring ratings and reviews from volunteers, donors, and beneficiaries. Search for specific causes and/or geographic areas, and you'll find stirring stories, photos, and videos from mostly smaller organizations, such as RedRover, which shelters pets after natural disasters. A cautionary note: The reviewers are doing the ratings, so there's no guarantee of the charity's effectiveness. If one piques your interest, look it up on Charity Navigator, which includes basic information on every nonprofit registered with the IRS; even if there's no official rating for your organization, you'll find the Form 990 that discloses annual financials, which is a good place to start. (Learn more about how to check out nonrated nonprofits on Charity Navigator under "Tips for Donors.")
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