57 Rad Nonprofits

Hi There!

I’m selling postcards and prints of my acrylic painting, “Women’s March 2017," based on my local march in Eugene, OR, to benefit 3 rad nonprofits: American Civil Liberties Union -Oregon, Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide, and Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon.

(To buy an affordable 3 nonprofits benefit print, see my SHOP!)

I wish I could benefit all rad nonprofits! While no org is perfect, some seem close, so I'm sharing these 57 rad nonprofits, in random order, organized into 6 categories (CIVIL RIGHTS, GUN AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION, ENVIRONMENTAL, WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, POVERTY/HUNGER/HEALTHCARE, and ANIMAL WELFARE) for your donate list!

I’m humbled and inspired by so many humans who, despite major obstacles, focus on love, compassion, and work for a better, more peaceful future.

Thanks, friends, family and everybody for your compilation help and support!

This list is on going!

*Note: starred entries are either movements/organizations with local chapters that are registered nonprofits, or do not yet have registered 501c3 status.

57 RAD NONPROFITS

CIVIL RIGHTS:

1. Fair Vote

Formed in 1992, this is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that seeks to make democracy fair, functional, and more representative.

Charity Navigator Score: 92.38

2. Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights

The Young Center is a champion for the rights and best interests of unaccompanied immigrant children, making sure that wherever they land, whether here in the U.S. or in their home country, they are safe. They are based out of Chicago, Illinois.

3. The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services RAICES is a nonprofit that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families and refugees in Central and South Texas. RAICES is the largest immigration non-profit in Texas with offices in Austin, Corpus, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.

4. Civil Liberties Defense Center

CLDC supports movements that seek to dismantle the political and economic structures at the root of social inequality and environmental destruction. CLDC provides litigation, education, legal and strategic resources to strengthen and embolden their success.

5. American Civil Liberties Union

ACLU is a foundation that preserves and promotes civil rights and liberties as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, through legal representation and education.

Charity Navigator Score: 94.07

6. *Indigenous Women Rise

IWR is a collective aiming to ensure Indigenous women’s voices are heard and to raise visibility of Indigenous people’s rights and issues. Recognizing that vibrant and diverse communities are the original protectors and strength of this country, IWR helped to organize and mobilize a large circle of Indigenous women and organizations to march on Washington, D.C. on January 21.

7. Association of Black Women Attorneys

Founded in 1976 by Howard University School of Law Graduates, ABWA is a not-for-profit bar association that promotes and supports the professional development and personal growth of black women attorneys. ABWA's membership consists primarily of successful women in the NY Metro area practicing in various areas at various entities including law firms, corporations, solo practice, city, state, and federal government agencies, and the judiciary. Past presidents range from federal court judges to partners at AM Law 100 law firms.

8. Centro Latino Americano (Eugene, Oregon)

(Recommended by my Sister-In-Law, Tuck)

A bilingual, multicultural agency dedicated to the empowerment of the Latino community of Lane County by offering social services, access to community resources, and advocating for fair treatment.

9. *Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter Global Network is a chapter-based, member-led organization whose mission is to build local power and to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. BLM is a global movement with some local chapters registered as nonprofits.

10. *Women’s March

The mission of the Women’s March is to harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change. Women’s March is committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect. The Women’s March is a movement with some local chapters registered as nonprofits.

11. United We Dream

United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led community in the country. They create welcoming spaces for young people – regardless of immigration status – to support, engage, and empower them to develop their leadership, their organizing skills, and to develop campaigns to fight for justice and dignity for immigrants and all people. This is achieved through immigrant youth-led campaigns at the local, state, and federal level.

12. Lambda Legal

Founded in 1973, Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Charity Navigator Score: 89.56

13. B Stigma Free

A small organization that works to end stigma for all who are different (marginalized of all shades, LBGTQ, HIV survivors, mentally ill, physically disabled, etc.), and works to embrace diversity, also providing educational information from doctors, scientists and PhDs.

14. Transgender Law Center

Transgender Law Center changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. TLC envisions a future where gender self-determination and authentic expression are seen as basic rights and matters of common human dignity.

Charity Navigator Score: 86.98

GUN AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION:

15. Peace Over Violence

Formed in 1971 by feminist activists, POV is a sexual and domestic violence, intimate partner stalking, child abuse and youth violence prevention center headquartered in Los Angeles. It is a multicultural, community based, volunteer centered nonprofit that manages five departments delivering the services of Emergency, Intervention, Prevention, Education and Advocacy.

16. Urban Peace Institute

(Found via Million Hoodies website)

UPI, formed by civil rights leader Connie Rice, was originally a side program of the renowned Advancement Project, and is now an independent, recognized leader in the field of community safety, just policing, and systems reform to end violence and mass incarceration. UPI’s expertise in violence reduction has been sought to transform cities throughout California, and across the country.

17. Advancement Project

(Found via Million Hoodies website)

AP works locally to help communities identify and dismantle discriminatory legislation to promote racial justice and just democracy for all.

Charity Navigator Score: 91.2

18. Trayvon Martin Foundation

Established by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin in March 2012, this not-for-profit’s purpose is to create awareness of how violent crime impacts the families of the victims and to provide support and advocacy for those families in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin. The scope of the Foundation’s mission is to advocate that crime victims and their families are not ignored in the discussions about violent crime to increase public awareness of all forms of racial, ethnic and gender profiling, educate youth on conflict resolution techniques and to reduce the incidences where confrontations between strangers turn deadly.

19. *Million Hoodies

Million Hoodies is a human rights membership, chapter-based organization building next generation leaders to end anti-black racism and systemic violence. This is not technically a registered nonprofit, however, it is a wonderful organization and resource to find more rad nonprofits (like some entries here).

20. Coalition To Stop Gun Violence / Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence:

Non-profit organization that resists the NRA, works to end domestic partner violence (a leading cause of death in pregnant women), homicides, and all forms of gun violence through research-based policy development, strategic engagement and advocacy.

21. Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America:

A part of Everytown for Gun Safety, was created in 2012 by Shannon Watts to demand action from legislators, state and federal; companies; and educational institutions to establish common-sense gun reforms.

22. *States United to Prevent Gun Violence

SUPGV is a grassroots network of 32 state affiliates working to make our communities and families safer. As part of our 50 State Solution to end gun violence, we support existing state-based gun violence prevention groups and bring new partners into the movement. Two branches are registered nonprofits.

23. Violence Policy Center

VPC works to stop gun death and injury through research, education, advocacy, and collaboration. Founded in 1988 by Executive Director Josh Sugarmann, a native of Newtown, Connecticut, the VPC informs the public about the impact of gun violence on their daily lives, exposes the profit-driven marketing and lobbying activities of the firearms industry and gun lobby, offers unique technical expertise to policymakers, organizations, and advocates on the federal, state, and local levels, and works for policy changes that save lives.

Charity Navigator Score: 90.06

24. Alliance for Gun Responsibility Foundation (Washington State)

(Sounds excellent)

The Alliance for Gun Responsibility is a nonprofit that works to end the gun violence crisis in Washington by working on gun responsibility issues, policy and programs in communities across Washington.

25. National Coalition Against Gun Violence

Founded in 1974, CSGV’s guiding principle is simple: They believe that all Americans have a right to live in communities free from gun violence. They pursue this goal through policy development, strategic engagement, and effective advocacy.

ENVIRONMENTAL:

26. Rainforest Action Network

Rainforest Action Network preserves forests, protects the climate and upholds human rights by challenging corporate power and systemic injustice through frontline partnerships and strategic campaigns. RAN works toward a world where the rights and dignity of all communities are respected and where healthy forests, a stable climate and wild biodiversity are protected and celebrated.

Charity Navigator Score: 93.60

27. The Indigenous Environmental Network

(AKA The Indigenous Educational Network of Turtle Island)

(Found via Standing Rock Sioux Tribe website)

Established in 1990 within the U.S., IEN was formed by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues (EJ). IEN’s activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of both tribal people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities.

28. Environmental Defense Fund

Wide-ranging environmental organization that efficiently uses 79.1 of its expenses on program solutions for climate change, oceans, wildlife and health.

Charity Navigator Score: 94.48

29. Prairie Rivers Network (Illinois)

(As former temp staff, I am biased in my love, but these folks are awesome!)

PRN advocates for clean water and healthy rivers. It is an independent, state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation in Champaign, Illinois.

OREGON ENVIRONMENTAL:

30. Coast Range Forest Watch

(Friends of a friend started it and said they were crucial to saving the Elliot Forest)

A grassroots organization of citizens concerned about the health of forests and watersheds in Oregon’s coast range. Through educational events and community science, CRFW’s mission is to provide scientifically sound information to managing agencies and residents.

31. Cascadia Wild (Portland, OR)

(Recommended by our bassist, Aaron)

Environmental Quality, Protection and Beautification. Cascadia Wild is a Portland-based non-profit whose mission is to inspire personal connection to nature and community. Lots of educational programs and volunteer programs in Animal Tracking, Botany & Wild Plant Foraging, Wilderness Survival, & Connecting to Place.

32. Oregon Environmental Council

To advance innovative, collaborative solutions to Oregon's environmental challenges for today and future generations.

Charity Navigator Score: 96.66

33. Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide

Based in Eugene, OR, a nonprofit that collaborates across borders to secure climate justice & defend human rights in communities around the world!

Charity Navigator Score: 98.09

34. Oregon League of Conservation Voters

OLCV is an educational, civic league and alliance organization that leads the fight to protect the environment in the state legislature. For more than 30 years, OLCV has published a Legislative Scorecard after every legislative session that rates individual legislators’ voting records on conservation issues. The Scorecard is an essential tool for voters to separate pro-environment candidates from those who just claim they are. OLCV works to elect pro-environment candidates.

35. Audubon Society of Portland

Environmental protection and conservation. Founded in 1902, the largest of 457 chapters of the National Audubon.

Charity Navigator Score: 97

36. National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation, America's oldest and largest conservation organization, works across the country to unite Americans from all walks of life in giving wildlife a voice. (They’ve) been on the front lines for wildlife since 1936, fighting for the conservation values that are woven into the fabric of our nation's collective heritage.

37. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)

EDF works to solve the most critical environmental problems facing the planet, focusing on mitigating climate change, restoring the ocean's bounty, protecting wildlife and their habitats, and safeguarding our health, taking a multi-disciplinary approach in tandem with other businesses and organizations, and avoiding work that is already done effectively by others.

Charity Navigator Score: 92.89

38. Beyond Toxics

Beyond Toxics protects and enhances human and environmental health. They use environmental justice engagement and community-based environmental grassroots organizing to ensure environmental protection and health for all communities. They empower communities to enact lasting solutions to environmental health threats.

39. Nature Conservancy Oregon

The NC was founded in 1951 and has greatly advanced conservation around the world. The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Their vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.

40. Friends of Trees (Oregon-Washington)

Since 1989, Friends of Trees has planted 700,000+ trees and native shrubs in the Portland-Vancouver and Eugene-Springfield metro areas with thousands of volunteers in 120+ neighborhoods.

41. Bring Recycling

Formed in 1971, a local nonprofit that focuses on the the urgent issues of wasteful consumption and climate change.

Charity Navigator Score: 93.48

42. Ecotrust

Environmental protection and conservation. Building a world where people and nature thrive together. In three core program areas - Food and Farms, Forests, and Fisheries - Ecotrust brings the knowledge, technology, and resources we need to build a natural model of development: one that cares for our lands while providing for our communities.

Charity Navigator Score: 90.27

WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE & REPRODUCTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS:

43. American College of Nurse Midwives, Foundation, Inc.

(My bestie, Kathleen, is a recent Nurse-Midwife graduate!)

With roots dating to 1929, the ACNM is the oldest women's health care organization in the U.S. The A.C.N.M. Foundation, Inc., was incorporated in 1967 as the philanthropic arm of ACNM, with a mission to promote excellence in health care for women, newborns, and families worldwide through the support of midwifery. The Foundation collaborates closely with the ACNM by supporting midwifery education, research, practice, and leadership activities that advance the provision of high quality maternal, newborn, and well-woman health care services.

44. Planned Parenthood

PP is a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. PP delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide.

45. NARAL Pro Choice America

(Recommended via a friend, who worked in rape crisis)

The 1.2 million member activists of NARAL Pro-Choice America fight for reproductive freedom for every person in every state. Each day, they organize and mobilize to protect that freedom by fighting for access to abortion care, birth control, paid parental leave and protections from pregnancy discrimination.

46. Northwest Abortion Actions Fund

(Recommended via a friend, who worked in rape crisis)

Serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, we envision a world where people can easily access safe, legal abortion care with respect, dignity, and compassion.

47. Center for Reproductive Rights

(Introduced via my friend, Sarah)

The CRR uses the law to advance reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right that all governments are legally obligated to protect, respect, and fulfill. Since 1992, their attorneys have boldly used legal and human rights tools to create a world where every woman participates with full dignity as an equal member of society. They are the only global legal advocacy organization dedicated to reproductive rights, with expertise in both U.S. constitutional and international human rights law.

POVERTY / HUNGER / HEALTHCARE

48. *Punks with Lunch (Oakland, CA)

(My friend, Marlo, is a co-founder!)

Punks With Lunch makes approximately 150 lunches a week for people in West Oakland experiencing homelessness and distribute them with needle kits, hygiene packs and miscellaneous items such as dog food and tarps depending on funding and donations. This is not a registered 501c3, but it is a completely incredible and high functioning organization, worthy of donations.

49. White Bird Medical Clinic (Eugene, OR)

(My husband introduced me)

Founded in 1969 by medical workers, grad students and counter-culture citizens (hippies), White Bird Clinic's priority is to serve people who are unserved, underinsured, disabled and/or homeless, offering a wide range of programs and services, including 24/7 crisis and medic emergency response, homeless case management, accessible medical care, counseling, behavioral health and dental care. It is a collective environment organized to enable people to gain control of their social, emotional and physical well-being through direct service, education and community.

50. Food For Lane County (Eugene, OR)

(This org is amazing; I’ve seen it. My coworker, Ashley, introduced me)

Food for Lane County, founded in 1984, is dedicated to eliminating hunger by creating access to food. They accomplish this by soliciting, collecting, rescuing, growing, preparing and packaging food for distribution through a network of more than 100 social service agencies and programs. through public awareness, education and community advocacy; and through programs designed to improve the ability of a diverse population of low-income individuals, including children, families, seniors and single adults, to maintain an adequate supply of wholesome, nutritious food.

Charity Navigator Score: 91.61

51. SquareOne Villages (Eugene, OR)

(AKA Opportunity Village)

(Introduced to me by my husband)

A local, community funded initiative, creating self-managed communities of cost-effective, environmentally conscious, tiny homes for people with low-incomes in need of housing in a massive, sustainable effort to solve homelessness. It has been been featured on The Guardian, CNN, PBS, Smart Magazine, and more for its innovation and positive impact in the initiative to end homelessness.

52. United Nations Children's Fund (USA)

UNICEF has helped save more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood.

Charity Navigator Score: 84.39

53. *Catholic Worker Houses:

(I’m neither Catholic nor religious per-say, but I love so much of the amazing work these organizations do and had friends who worked at them):

A movement begun in the 1930's during the Great Depression, 240 Catholic Worker communities remain committed to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer, and hospitality for the homeless, exiled, hungry, and forsaken. Catholic Workers continue to protest injustice, war, racism, and violence of all forms. Many CWH's are registered nonprofits which you can donate to or volunteer with.

ANIMAL WELFARE:

54. Cascades Raptor Center (Oregon)

(I love this place!)

The Cascades Raptor Center is a nature center and wildlife hospital founded in 1987. Its wildlife hospital provides high quality medical treatment and rehabilitation to over 250 sick, injured, and orphaned raptors each year. With one of the largest collections of raptors in the PNW (hawks, owls, eagles, falcons, etc.), Cascades Raptor Center’s resident birds are housed in large outdoor aviaries on a wooded hillside property and are an integral part of CRC’s educational mission to create awareness and respect, and to foster care of the wild world.

55. Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary (Oregon)

(My friend, Sylvia, is on the board of directors)

As the largest farm animal rescue in Oregon, LSF is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and, when appropriate, rehoming of abused and neglected farmed animals. LSF is home to over 200 animals including pigs, cows, horses, chickens, sheep, and goats. LSF aims to help shine a light on the realities of animal agriculture and lead the way to a more compassionate world.

56. Animal Legal Defense Fund

(My friend, Chris, was the executive director for two years)

ALDF fights to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life. ALDF files groundbreaking lawsuits to stop animal abuse; provides free legal assistance to prosecutors handling cruelty cases; works to strengthen anti-cruelty statutes; encourages federal enforcement of existing animal protection laws; nurtures the future of animal law; and provides public education.

Charity Navigator Score: 96.56

57. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Founded in 1866 and the first humanitarian organization of its kind in the Americas, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the U.S. They lead locally and nationally in animal-assisted therapy, animal behavior, animal poison control, anti-cruelty, humane education, legislative services, and shelter outreach.

Charity Navigator Score: 83.75