Good sites for socially responsible charitable giving?

this is a paraphrase of the title of a thread that was originally posted by JoeIsOneOfUs in November. I found it searching for something else and saw that this thread has been archived.

So, let's run it again. What organization do you find worthwhile to support? I've made some kiva loans but want to do more.

I know many DUers are hurting right now, but some of us still have jobs and can contribute something.

Ideas? Please include a link in your reply (if you can) or an address. It would also be good to know what makes you want to support a particular organization. This isn't meant to be a shrink session, just learn more about what's out there. DU is one of my main sources of information.

:thumbsup:

Or address for them?

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

They volunteer in some of the poorest countries on earth, and save many lives every year.

MassEquality
The ACLU
PFLAG
The Sieria Club
The Southern Poverty Law Center
The Sierra Club
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State
Habitat for Humanity

www.heifer.org that is

the Humane Society, no kill shelters, and those organizations that are involved with Animal rescue/rehabilitation.

LOTS of good ideas here from Christmas cards to toys and swag.

These organizations allow you to "adopt" a polar bear or another endangered species, in your name or someone else's. You also get certificates and stuff, PLUS a darling little stuffed toy polar bear or whichever other species you chose. This is a SPLENDID gift! I've done this numerous times. My relatives who have little kids got this for Christmas last year and the year before - and they LOVED it! Some little girls are collectors and this can start a new and earth-friendly collection for them. I also gave this to a couple of grandmothers 'cause it's just nice, and in a couple of other cases, I gave them to girlfriends who'd just lost their beloved pets. This one's a REALLY great gift, whether it's for these holidays or not, and the money goes directly to these organizations and the campaigns they wage.

Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.defenders.org/

World Wildlife Fund: http://www.worldwildlife.org/

National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/

The links are all there at any of these. These have also been on the forefront of fighting several moves of sarah palin's - from her reckless further endangering polar bears and their habitats to that God-forsaken helicopter wolf shoot. GOD SAVE US AND OUR ANIMALS FROM THAT FLOOZY!!!

My nephews I know would love to adopt a polar bear.

I've given loans to them for a couple of years. Also at the top of my list is the Southern Poverty Law Center - Morris Dees has been doing brilliant work for many years and they currently have a Matching Gift drive - any amount you give will be matched by some supporters of theirs.

http://www.splcenter.org

http://kiva.org/

This is the one that I and several members of my family donate to.
You get to be a part of the process, and watch as the people you make micro-loans to succeed and pay off their loans.
Once paid off, you can re-loan the money to someone else.

and donate to a local homeless shelter. My wife and I are regular supporters of this shelter, and it has an immediate, local effect. The donation goes directly into support for the homeless...mostly in food and shelter. In Minnesota, that's a big deal, especially in the winter.

It's going to become even more important as the economy worsens.