Often when we think of philanthropy, the big names and organizations pop up first in our brains–The Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, and so forth. However, these are by far not the only philanthropies functioning and not the only philanthropies doing great work.
Below are a couple smaller, and lesser-known philanthropies that have compelling missions and are looking for people to lend their time, money, and other resources to better the world.
The Acadia Center
The Acadia Center is based in Rockport, Maine. It is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization that is working toward a future of clean energy. It provides solutions and organizes efforts to promote clean energy and change climate policy.
The Pediatric Cancer Foundation
This organization has a variety of missions and efforts that outreach across the country. Their primary goal is to raise money to fund pediatric cancer research. They also run numerous projects, one of which is the Sunshine Project; this aspect encourages collaboration amongst the nation’s doctors to “fast-track new treatments and increase the survival rate of children battling cancer.”
To Write Love on Her Arms
This organization is an American non-profit founded in 2006. They aim to present hope and treatment options for people struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury, and thoughts of suicide. They do this by running awareness events and events to decrease stigma while simultaneously investing in treatment and recovery.
Alpha House of Tampa
This project works to empower pregnant women and mothers with young children. They provide safe housing options and supplies, while also investing in their long-term futures by giving them the tools and opportunities they need to become self-sufficient parents.
Better Basics
Better Basics aims to advance literacy “through enrichment and intervention programs. The organization provides services to 52 schools in Birmingham, Ala., and surrounding school systems. During the 2013-14 school year, Better Basics gave away more than 41,000 books to at-risk children.” Other organizations around the country are less geographically limited that work to provide learning tools and resources as well as enrichment programs to school systems around the country.