50 Nonprofits To Be Grateful For This Thanksgiving
In the spirit of gratitude and giving and in celebration of the American holiday of Thanksgiving, below is a list of 50 nonprofits that serve American society. Of course 50 is just a tiny percentage of the nonprofits that work and sacrafice to make our country a better place to live. If you would like to add a nonprofit, please do so with a “Because…” statement in a comment below. Happy Thanksgiving!
1. American Diabetes Association
Because 1 in 12 Americans have diabetes.
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2. Americans for the Arts
Because without art our children’s minds will not grow to comprehend life beyond the obvious.
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3. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Because 3-4 million cats and dogs are euthanized each year in America.
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4. American Red Cross
Because they are always the first to arrive on the scene after a natural disaster.
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5. Amnesty International
Because in a global society all our human rights need to be fought for and protected.
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6. Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
Because 9 American children and 75 American adults die everyday from gun violence.
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7. Communities in Schools
Because America ranks 14th in reading, 17th in science, and 25th in math.
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8. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Because 700,000+ American children need advocates in our judicial system each year.
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9. Darkness to Light
Because 1 of every 4 girls and 1 every 6 boys in the U.S. will be sexually abused by the age of 18.
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10. Electronic Frontier Foundation
Because they defend our civil liberties in a digital world.
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11. Families USA
Because access to health care should be a right, not a privildege.
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12. FarmAid
Because family farms are good for America.
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13. Feeding America
Because poverty and food insecurity is at record highs in the United States.
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14. Habitat for Humanity
Because all Americans deserve a safe, warm home.
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15. Humane Society of the United States
Because factory farming, fur farming, puppy mills, and lab research on animals is cruel.
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16. Human Rights Campaign
Because all American men (and women!) are born free and equal.
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17. Interfaith Alliance
Because freedom of religion is a constitutionally guaranteed right under the First Amendment.
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18. It Gets Better Project
Because life begins after high school and it really does get better.
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19. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Because our veterans have earned their benefits and the right to a better life after the battlefield.
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20. Local Harvest
Because they make it easy to find your local farmer’s markets and organic food producers.
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21. Malaria No More
Because it is good to be reminded how fortunate we really are and how little it takes to save a life.
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22. Maplight.org
Because they expose which of our politicians have been bought and sold to special interests.
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23. Moms Rising
Because the U.S. is the only developed nation in the world without paid maternity leave.
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24. National Anti-Vivisection Society
Because you can judge a nation by how it treats their animals.
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25. National Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy
Because 3 in 10 girls in the United States get pregnant at least once by age 20.
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26. National Coalition for the Homeless
Because veterans, the unemployed, and the mentally ill should not be living in the streets.
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27. National Geographic Society
Because they expand our view of our world and the cosmos.
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28. National Organization of Women (NOW)
Because even in the 21st Century women still need to fight for equal rights.
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29. National Priorities Project
Because they make it easy for Americans to understand how our taxes dollars are spent.
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30. National Parks Conservation Association
Because our national parks are our greatest national treasure.
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31. National Public Radio (NPR)
Because the corporate control of our media is a great threat to our democracy.
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32. National Wildlife Federation
Because we must save our wildlife and our wild lands for future generations.
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33. Natural Resouces Defense Council (NRDC)
Because they inspire us to take action and lobby for Mother Nature on Capitol Hill.
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34. Obesity Society
Because 50% of Americans will be obese by 2030.
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35. Oceana
Because our oceans need to be protected from overfishing and pollution.
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36. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta)
Because if they don’t raise a ruckus to expose animal cruelty, then who will?
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37. Polaris Project
Because at this very moment 100,000 minors are being trafficked for sex in the United States.
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38. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
Because the corporate control of our media is a great threat to our democracy.
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39. Public Citizen
Because they hold corporations accountable and make us more conscious consumers.
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40. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
Because 15 of 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail and that’s just not right.
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41. Share Our Strength
Because no child should go hungry in America.
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42. Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C)
Because the best way to beat cancer is to fight it.
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43. Repower America
Because the future of our economy and our national security depends upon it.
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44. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Because they fight to save our beloved whales, dolphins, and seals from slaughter.
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45. Southern Poverty Law Center
Because hate, bigotry, and intolerance continue to thwart and undermine the American Dream.
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46. Special Olympics
Because having a disability doesn’t mean a person can’t learn, live, love, and succeed.
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47. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Because all children – insured or not – deserve the right to fight dying from cancer.
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48. Student Aid Alliance
Because a good education should be a right, not a privildege.
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49. World Wildlife Fund
Because without them tigers, rhinos, and polar bears will go extinct in our lifetime.
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50. Water.org
Because it’s good to be reminded that Americans take for granted our access to clean water.
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Related Links:
11 Holiday Gift Programs That Benefit Nonprofits and Make the World A Better Place
9 Holiday Card Programs That Benefit Nonprofits
Nonprofit Tech 2.0 Blog :: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits 
I agree – there are so many wonderful nonprofits to be thankful for all year round! Thank you for all the wonderful work you do spreading the word with this blog as well!
~Danielle
http://www.cause-blog.com
Greenpeace… because they refuse to be fed by any corporate or government hands, they’re free to bite whoever needs biting.
Catholic Relief Services — because they help the poorest of the poor around the world.
Points of Light Institute/HandsOn Network – because this organization helps to connect volunteers to these wonderful nonprofits year-round, world-wide.
National Down Syndrome Society – because the advocating for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome helps everyone embrace those different from themselves and makes the world a more tolerant place.
Rebuilding Together – because they have such a life-changing impact for seniors with regards to warmth, safety and remaining independent. In a 2005 survey by AARP, 89 percent of people age 50 and older said they would prefer to remain in their home indefinitely as they age…Rebuilding Together is making that happen!
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) – Because access to lifesaving healthcare – including HIV/AIDS testing and treatment – is a right not a privilege.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AIDShealth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AIDSHealthcare
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/aidshealth
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/108123211531097021577/108123211531097021577/posts
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/23793?goback=%2Efcs_GLHD_AIDS+Healthcare+Foundation_false_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2&trk=ncsrch_hits
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidshealth
Thank you, Heather, for a great and inspiring list!
Lori
March of Dimes — because after enabling the discovery of the polio vaccine, they turned their efforts to supporting healthy babies and pregnancies. http://www.marchofdimes.com
The Population Council — because its research confronts critical health and development issues–from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. http://www.popcouncil.org
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate your contribution to list. 🙂
Project Enterprise (http://www.projectenterprise.org/) — Because microfinance works in the U.S. and supporting small business will be what allows our economy to bounce back and our society to advance.
Bridges..A Community Support System, Inc. because asking for help is a sign of courage.
Lions Clubs International: Because when it comes to meeting challenges, our response is simple: We serve. In 206 countries, in hospitals and senior centers, in regions battered by natural disaster, in schools and eyeglass recycling centers, Lions are doing community volunteer work, helping, leading, planning and supporting. Because we’re local, we can serve the unique needs of the communities we live in. And because we’re global, we can address challenges that go beyond borders.
Social activism via blog, I love it!
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas…. because they believe in offering our neighbors in need a hand up, not a hand out by giving them the help and resources needed for long-term change.
Healthy Kids Challenge…because kids deserve the best life has to offer, and the best life includes healthy eating and moving more every day!
What a very special list and blog you have. I’m def going to look into so,e of these and see if there is any way I can serve/contribute….or my poetry group. Would so love to help in some way.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America … because they serve 1 in 4 “at risk” kids in the country, and nearly 60% of alumni say the Clubs “saved my life.”
This is a great list. But one oversight–NOW is the National Organization for Women (not “of” Women).
I’m thankful for the oldest and most successful child serving organization, the Boys & Girls Club of America. The Clubs a across the world privide a safe and positive place for kids to learn and grow. This organization is a model for all in the non-profit world.