Daniel and I have serious concerns about the incoming administration’s attitude and commitment to the environment and the rights of anyone who isn’t an old straight white guy. While we may not be doing well, we can at least do good.
We sat down and made a list of organizations that were tackling issues and supporting groups near and dear to our hearts. We focused on organizations that support women, LGBT, people of color, and immigrants, both locally and nationally. We ended up with a rather large list of organizations we wanted to support at the end of 2016 but not enough money to support them all like we wanted. Instead of giving everyone a medium amount of money, we gave big to a few organizations and gave small to the rest.
Primary organizations
We gave big to these organizations, wanting to focus locally and in areas that directly affect our LGBT community and women.
Local
- Gay City
Supports the LGBT community in Seattle, including an LGBT library, free STI testing, and other health services. - Lambert House
Provides a safe place for LGBT youth in Seattle. - Teen Feed
Provides food and services to homeless youth. Teen Feed serves all youth, but a disproportionate number of homeless teens are LGBT.
National
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Protects the civil rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. - Planned Parenthood
Supports family planning and reproductive rights of all people, women & men, gay & straight.
Secondary organizations
These aren’t any less important than the others, but we feel it’s more effective to give larger donations and there was only so much money to go around. We believe in the work these groups are doing and wanted to let them know they have our support.
Local
- Ada Developers Academy
Training program in Seattle for women in software development. - Colectiva Legal
Provides legal support for undocumented immigrants. - Entre Hermanos
Promotes health and well-being of LGBT Latinos.
National
- EarthJustice
Fights to protect the environment. - Ecological Society of America, SEEDS
Works to reduce the under-representation of minority groups in the field of ecology. - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Works for equality of all people regardless of race. - National Center for Transgender Equality
Advocates for social justice for transgender people. - Lambda Legal
Fights for LGBT legal rights. - SoulForce
Pushes back against Christian fundamentalist bigotry towards LGBT people. - Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
Fights hate and bigotry.
Where are you doing good?
What organizations are near and dear to your heart? What groups are you supporting?
Digital Ramblings 
International Refugee Assistance Project
International Rescue Committee
National Resources Defense Council
ProPublica
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
The Trevor Project
Disability Visability Project
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
Autism Women’s Network
The Standing Rock Sioux tribe
The American Indian College Fund
Center for Reproductive Rights
Critical Resistance
& the local Humane Society
No huge amounts of money are involved or anything, but what commitments I can make, I make.
You saw John Oliver’s recommendations?
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A great list – thank you! No, I didn’t see John Oliver’s recommendations, but now I’m off to google them!
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Mostly Against Malaria Foundation (AMF) for me, based on GiveWell’s recommendation. (Mosquito nets for Africa.) Also GiveDirectly (direct cash grants to the very poor, again in Africa). Not very local ones, sorry!
US-specific causes: I like SPLC, National Academy Foundation (educational), Nurse-Family Partnership (early childhood assistance for kids of disadvantaged moms), Bronx Freedom Fund (community bail fund).
Even more local: Rainier Scholars (college prep).
Thanks for your suggestions.
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I’ve not heard of most of those — they sound fantastic! Thank you for sharing!
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