Be the Change

Environmental Charities to Support for a Better World

Support Environmental Causes for Random Acts of Kindness Week

Environmental charities and random acts of kindness are near to my heart. This year to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness week, February 11-17, I decided to share my favorite environmental charities working to make a better world.

The problems facing our planet should concern us all. Pollution, lack of clean water, deforestation, and so many other issues cause suffering for our fellow humans all over the world.

Charities like the ones from Damon Burton Utah know there is no greater act of kindness than working to heal our planet and help the people who live on it.


Environmental charities and random acts of kindness are near to my heart. This year to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness week, February 11-17, I decided to share my favorite environmental charities working to make a better world for us.

Zero Waste Gift Idea

More and more people are shedding the burden of ‘stuff’, so they’re asking for gifts of experience or donations in their name. If you know someone, who is trying to live an eco-friendly, minimalist or zero waste lifestyle, donating to a charity that aligns with their interests is a great gift idea.

If you feel self-conscious about just gifting a donation, you can pair it with an ornament, seed packets, their favorite meal, a plant, or another repurposed gift.

Check out these other great charities for a variety of causes.

Environmental Non-Profits for Consumers

Environmental charities helping citizens stay informed through the muddle of consuming marketing and exaggerated messaging are more information that ever.

Cornucopia Institute

This non-profit supports sustainable agriculture and often challenges Big Ag and even the USDA — and wins. On Cornucopia’s website, you’ll find the latest updates regarding toxic pesticides, genetically modified foods and more, along with “score cards” that rate the sustainability of different food brands.

Environmental Working Group

This environmental charity strives to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. With breakthrough research and education, they drive consumer choice and civic action. Their website is full of helpful information to help more informed choices as a consumer.

Environmental Charities

These environmental charities help promote a variety of environmental causes.

350

This grassroots movement is named after the top of the safe levels of CO2, which we are now at 400. They have three goals: to keep carbon in the ground, help build a zero-carbon economy and encourage governments into limiting emissions. Check out the 350 website for more information.

The Arbor Day Foundation

The acts of kindness from trees are never random. Trees are essential to our survival. Give back and support the Arbor Day Foundation.

Earthjustice

This non-profit public interest law firm is dedicated to protecting oceans, land, and wildlife—”because the earth needs a good lawyer.” Check out their website for major cases and projects.

Friends of the Earth

This nonprofit is a hard-hitting voice pressing for change locally, on the global stage, and politically in the halls of Congress. Some of their projects included exposing corruption in Keystone XL pipeline proposals or persuading thousands of grocery stores not to carry genetically modified salmon.

Global Coral Reef Alliance

This group provides acts of kindness for an especially delicate eco-system and it has shown some of the biggest impact from climate change. This group focuses on coral reef restoration, marine diseases, and other issues caused by global climate change, environmental stress, and pollution.

Great Plains Conservation

Four individuals pooled their wide ranging skills and experience to create innovative, world-class conservation tourism projects in a number of diverse and threatened habitats throughout Africa, the Indian Ocean and eventually in India. They create sustainably funded opportunities for sensitive, low volume, low impact tourism. Together, these private sector initiatives create the capital needed to help fund the overall conservation initiatives. They start conservation programs in areas which previously have been deemed lost to being rehabilitated.

Greenpeace

Thirty years ago this organization sent inflatable dinghies into the high seas to stop Russian whaling ships, thereby ushering in the Save the Whales movement. This environmental charity is probably a well-known group. It’s a hardcore group for perfect for political activists interested in stepping up to fight injustice where it is happening, lobbying to protect the environment and promote kindness towards the Earth. In addition to anti-whaling efforts worldwide, Greenpeace works to preserve deep sea life and protect oceans from pollutions and oil spills.

Heifer International

Heifer International brings sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. People can donate animals to provide both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market.
Check out their gift catalog.

The Hunger Project

The Hunger Project pioneers sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies to end hunger and poverty.

Natural Resources Defense Council

This environmental charity works with lawyers, scientists, and members to create and continues to fight for vital legislation for clean air, clean water, and the protection of our natural world.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy strives to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. They work to make a world where and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.

Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy is working protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. They create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.

Organic Seed Alliance

The leading organic seed institution in the United States, this group conducts organic plant-breeding and seed-production research, educates farmers, and advocates for national policies that strengthen and protect organic seed systems.

SeedMoney

Access to fresh, healthy food even in low-income areas are some of my favorite acts of kindness. Community gardens and school gardens are one way the community can work to provide fresh food for everyone. There is a bit of start up cost, which is why SeedMoney comes into play. They help US and global food garden projects to thrive through grants, crowdfunding assistance and free garden planning software.

Sierra Club

Legendary conservationist John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892. Now it’s a huge grassroots organization that promotes acts of kindness on many fronts to protect the environment. They helped pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act.

Surfrider Foundation

Founded in 1984, this environmental organization is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. They helped encourage the plastic bag ban in California and protected the Atlantic from offshore drilling.

Tree Sisters

These women donate monthly to fund the restoration of our tropical forests as a collective expression of planetary care. Their goal is to make it as normal for everyone to give back to nature as it currently is to take nature for granted.

Water Aid

All over the world, people don’t have access to clean water, but Water Aid plans to solve this problem within one generation.  Water Aid provides long term solutions to create sources for clean water.
Environmental charities and random acts of kindness are near to my heart. This year to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness week, February 11-17, I decided to share my favorite environmental charities working to make a better world for us.

Animal-Friendly Charities

Believe it or not, animals are not just cute and fluffy things to ooh and ahh over. They serve an extremely important role. Each animal serves a role in the eco-system. Without insects we would not have tigers. Without tigers we would be overrun with insects. Each animal serves as a food source for another animal, all working together in perfect harmony. These animal advocate environmental charities make sure these animals are protected, preserving a balance on the planet.

Alley Cat Allies

Like previously mentioned, every animal has a role in the eco-system. When careless owners don’t take care to neuter their pets, there can be a burden on food sources in that area. This group helps feral cats through a trap- neuter- release program and advocates for humane treatment for cats. If you have pets, please do an act of kindness for your area and spay or neuter your pet. If you don’t have a pet, overpopulation can still affect you, so please help in the ways you can and support your local program.

The Audobon Society

The Audobon Society fights for bird species and their habitats.

Defenders of Wildlife

This charity focuses on defending endangered species and their habitats. Defenders of Wildlife drafted and helped enact laws protecting dolphins from tuna nets. The group helped convince the UN to ban high-seas, large-scale driftnet fishing to help save dolphins and other species.

The Humane Society

There are so many pets unloved in this country. Rather than buying from a dog breeder, please try to find an unloved animal in need of a home. It’s such a small act of kindness, but it really can make all the difference.

The National Wildlife Federation

This environmental non-profit group aims to protect American wildlife and maintaining biodiversity on our continent. Preserving the wildlife we have is imperative for our health and our planet.

Save Elephant Foundation

This nonprofit organization is based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Their mission is to increase awareness about the plight of the endangered Asian elephant, educate locals on the humane treatment of their elephants, and provide sanctuary for rescued elephants at their nature park.

Wildlife Conservation Network

This network of organizations, local communities, and scientists saves endangered species all over the world.

World Wildlife Fund

This environmental charity protects animals and preserves biodiversity.

Deceptive Anti-Environmental Groups

It’s important to do your research before donating to any non-profit or charity. They might sound like they’re doing good, but their money goes to support anti-environmental causes. Here are just a few from Mother Jones.

Don’t forget to pin these environmental charities for later!

Environmental charities and random acts of kindness are near to my heart. This year to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness week, February 11-17, I decided to share my favorite environmental charities working to make a better world for us.




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