Know your nonprofits in the new year
Happy New Year! With the advent of 2014 and the rampant New Year’s-resolution-making I’ve been thinking about the numerous organizations working to make the world a better place. And wouldn’t it be good to become more familiar with some of them and maybe even get involved? So I took to the internet and found several websites with wonderful, comprehensive lists of nonprofit organizations (provided at the end of this post).
With such an unbelievable number of nonprofits associations in the world, let alone in your hometown (the DC area alone has over 25,000!) it can get a little overwhelming trying to find the right one. While we are all familiar with the bigger organizations, I focused on getting more involved with local groups where you can directly help your community as well as see the good you’re doing. So here are 10 nonprofits that caught my eye right in the DC area (found with help from these websites: american.edu and nonprofitlist.org). Note: this isn’t a comprehensive list, but just a few ideas to get you started. Keep in mind – there are 24,990 more to visit!
1. Humane Society
The Humane Society helps animals and fights animal cruelty through advocacy, education, and rescue. As they put it, “We are America’s mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the human-animal bond.”
[clear]
2. Clagett Farm
Clagett Farm works to use truly sustainable farming methods and has a number of programs including: providing food to low-income people, growing trees to help prevent erosion in the Chesapeake Bay, and being the site for field trips for students and adults.
[clear]
3. Common Good City Farm
Common Good City Farm is an urban farm that works to grow food, educate, and help low-income members of the DC community. By teaching healthy eating habits, sustainability, and food production they’re hoping to put in a dent in unhealthy eating habits and lack of access to fresh foods, while strengthening the community.
[clear]
4. National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
The NCHV is working to end homelessness among veterans and provides “emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year.”
[clear]
5. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The NMNH “is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s preeminent museum and research complex.” The museum’s goal is to educate and inspire one about the world through its research, collections, exhibits, and educational programs.
[clear]
6. Academy of Hope
Academy of Hope is an adult education program that provides basic education to help combat illiteracy and to give adults the necessary education and training to enter the workforce.
[clear]
7. Anacostia Community Museum
“The mission of the Anacostia Community Museum is to challenge perceptions, broaden perspectives, generate new knowledge, and deepen understanding about the ever-changing concepts and realities of ‘community’ while maintaining its strong ties to Anacostia and the D.C. Metropolitan region.” It explores these themes through research, exhibits, lectures, performances, enrichment programs, and many more.
[clear]
8. Food and Friends
Food and Friends is the only specialized organization in the DC area that provides nutrition services to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. They prepare and deliver meals, as well as provide nutrition counseling and education.
[clear]
9. A Wider Circle
The mission of A Wider Circle is to end poverty. They furnish homes and provide a wide variety of educational workshops. They focus on addressing the “whole person” needs of adults and children, not just the tangible or inner needs.
10. Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity builds and repairs homes for low-income member of the community. Their mission is to “reduce poverty housing and homelessness in the nation’s capital by building decent, affordable, energy-efficient homes for those in need; Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.”
[clear]
December is historically the month when online giving peaks, especially the last three days of the year, according to Network for Good. In the spirit of the new year, perhaps a few of the nonprofits I have listed will inspire you to carry out that generosity through 2014.
What nonprofits are you involved in or planning to become involved with?
For more lists of nonprofit organizations check out these websites:
American.edu
Nonprofitlist.org
Top Nonprofits
LovetoKnow Charity
GreatNonprofits.org
How an Awards Program Can Stay Productive
Happy Holidays from awardsCMS!
Filter resources
Explore Posts by Topic
Best Resources
The Ultimate Guide to Awards Management
