Despite the headlines and the news reel, there’s so much good happening in the world. I wanted to crowd source this post to celebrate a wide range of organizations around the world doing incredible work in honor of Giving Tuesday. (I give you full permission to give and support—however you can—any day of the year).

I decided not to credit who shared each one, as today is really about supporting the groups doing amazing work. Many people who wrote are directly involved with these organizations and associations, while others just believe in their work and want to help support their mission.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this post!  Without further ado, a handful of organizations (in no particular order) around the world doing inspiring work to make the world better.  🌍

• Girls on the Run works to encourage pre-teen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games, culminating in a celebratory 5k run.
• Ovarian Cancer Research Fund is a charitable organization dedicated to advancing ovarian cancer research while supporting women and their families.
• Be Girl World: raise a girl who travels is a Philadelphia based organization that empowers teenage girls through global education and travel. bGw challenges girls to think beyond their neighborhood, dream bigger than their city limits, and create possibilities outside their country borders.
• Greenlight for Girls is an international organization that shares the fun in science with girls of all ages and backgrounds. Donate via GlobalGiving.
• Change for Kids bridges the opportunity gap for kids in need by investing in New York City public elementary schools in underserved communities.
• Challenged Athletes Foundation assists, supports, and provides opportunity to people with physical challenges, so that they can lead active lifestyles and compete in athletic events.
• Justice Rising transforms war zones through education, currently active in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Syria.
• CREATE Arts Center. The organization is small and local but it has a big heart and offers amazing arts education and art therapy programs to both children and adults. In addition to serving the general population of art lovers, CREATE also offers art education for at-risk youth and art therapy for mentally ill adults.
• Règles Elémentaires is a French association collecting feminine hygiene products ending period poverty for women who can’t afford them.
• Period Movement is a global, youth powered non-profit that strives to provide for menstruates in need through service, education, and policy.
• Homeless Period Ireland collects sanitary products for women in need.
• The Red Box Project ensures no young person misses out on their education because they have their period. UK based.
• Period Project provides sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene training to women and girls in Barut, Kenya
• Yiya Engineering Solutions provides engineering education in Northern Uganda. Donate via Global Giving.
• Asian Pacific Development Center helps immigrants & refugees in Colorado access mental & behavioral health care (which is SO needed in Asian communities because Asian culture tends not to talk about mental health, never mind seek or have access to care!), plus victims rights services, adult education classes, etc.
• BecomTech a French association that empowers girls from poor neighborhoods to learn tech straight at tech companies.
• Doctors without Borders is an international humanitarian organization that treats people where the need is greatest.
• Libraries without Borders is dedicated to the education and information of those who are most vulnerable. (A French/US association)
• Apopo trains rats to save lives from detecting TB, or unexploded bombs.
• Heifer International is a charity organization working to end hunger and poverty around the world by providing livestock and training to struggling communities.
• Sojourner House is a local shelter for women and children in Milwaukee that also provides a drug and alcohol rehab program.
• Asylum Resource Center (Australia) is an independent not-for-profit organization, whose programs support and empower people seeking asylum. As a movement, we mobilise and unite communities to create lasting social and policy change.
• Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that provides sexual health care in the United States and globally.
• PBS (Public Broadcasting System) provides high quality, educational television.
• NPR (National Public Radio) is American privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization providing high quality programs.
• Susie’s Senior Dogs brings awareness to the plight of homeless senior dogs who are often overlooked due to their age. (There are also many other local dog rescue groups worldwide.)
• ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
• Thread.org engages underperforming high school students confronting significant barriers outside of the classroom by providing each one with a family of committed volunteers and increased access to community resources. They foster students’ academic advancement and personal growth into self-motivated, resilient, and responsible citizens.
• Project Jump Start Training provides a construction training program for Baltimore City residents with a high school diploma or GED.
• Southern Environmental Law Center works at national, regional, state, and local levels because they believe that everyone in this region deserves to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live in a healthy environment.
• Feeding Matters brings together the parents of infants and children who struggle with eating and the physicians who treat them.
• FareStart operates a job placement and training program benefiting homeless and disadvantaged men, women, and youth in Seattle.
• Mary’s Place in Seattle provides safe, inclusive shelter and services that support women, children and families on their journey out of homelessness.
• Maryland Family Network works to ensure that young children and their families have the resources to learn and succeed.
• Restos du Coeur is a French charity whose main activity of which is to distribute food packages and hot meals to those in need.
• MIND UK is a mental health charity in England and Wales.
• PHAME is a Performing Arts Academy for adults with disabilities in Portland, Oregon.
• Young Audiences Arts for Learning‘s mission is to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts. You can also search for local chapters.
• Preservation Maryland is dedicated to preserving Maryland’s historic buildings, neighborhoods, landscapes, and archaeological sites through outreach, funding, and advocacy.
• Lights Out Baltimore‘s goal is to make Charm City safe for migratory birds.
• Maryland Humanities is a statewide, educational nonprofit organization that creates and supports educational experiences in the humanities that inspire all Marylanders.
• Casa de Amparo works to treat and prevent child abuse and neglect in San Diego.
• IRC (International Rescue Committee) supports families fleeing violence
• Fistula Foundation funds fistula (preventable childbirth injury that devastates the lives of mothers) treatment in Africa and Asia.
• Arts on the Horizon theater for kids ages 0-6 in the DC area
• AFSEP (Association Française des Sclérose en Plaques) fighting sickness for 50+ years.
• Orangutan Land Trust supports a variety of activities to protect orangutans and their rainforest habitat.
• United way of Northern California is doing a telethon on Tuesday for the victims of the wildfires. The fires are now contained but was the most deadly and destructive we’ve had.
• Chico State university has set up a fund set up to allocate financial resources to those who were directly impacted by the Camp Fire. Donations to this fund will support students, faculty, and staff in need of aid for clothing and household goods, electronics such as phones and laptops, transportation, childcare assistance, temporary housing, school supplies, or meal assistance.

Find an organization that speaks to you. Here are some prompts to get you thinking about other organisations you know and love (or want to discover).

• Your local food bank
• Your favorite local or regional theater
• Your favorite museum
• Your favorite park
• Your favorite animal organization
• Your favorite environmental organization
• Your favorite health related organization
• Any local or neighborhood organization (mentoring programs, libraries, senior center)
• Schools + universities (particularly in the use US many schools have been hit hard by changes in legislation and public funding)

I encourage you to consider where and how you can give back. If you work for a corporation look into if they will match your gift. Remember, no contribution is too small. If money is not an option, consider how you may contribute your time or skills. Or just spread the world but sharing the organization on your social media channels, and what their work means to you.

I hope this post can also be an inspiration for the organizations featured, to look for ideas in how others are approaching the challenges of communication and support. All the work being done is very much needed and appreciated. There is room for everyone. Keep doing your part spreading the word.

If you share this on social media today consider using the hashtag #GivingTuesday to help give greater visibility to giving back and the organizations highlighted.