In recognition of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, America’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members. These nonprofits focus on public policy, awareness, health promotion, resources, employment, community outreach and support for people with Down Syndrome.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)

The National Down Syndrome Society envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations and become valued members of welcoming communities. A donation of $100 to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) helps them continue to advocate for the rights of those with Down syndrome and provide adult caregiver services and resources to the individuals currently caring for an adult with Down syndrome. Learn more.

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More than ever before, our environment needs our protection. In recognition of Environmental Awareness Month, America’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name above to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

A Wider Circle

A Wider Circle’s mission is to end poverty through on-the-ground programs and services, as well as through the development of large-scale solutions to its root causes. As part of their holistic approach, they save 12 million pounds of furniture from going into the landfill every single year. Learn more. 

Boy Scouts of America National Capital Area

The time spent by youth at Scout Camp is not only about building campfires and spending time in nature. Scouts may not realize it at the time, but all of the challenges, triumphs, teamwork, and fun they experienced at camp will help them on their way to becoming strong, confident leaders tomorrow. Guided by caring and committed mentors, boys gain self-confidence; develop leadership skills; learned about self-sacrifice and teamwork; embraced values like honesty and courage; showed respect for the outdoors; and simply have the time of their lives. That’s the adventure that Boy Scouts provides. Young people having fun, being happy, in an environment that fosters positive growth. Learn more.

The Conservation Fund

The Conservation Fund strives to protect our nation’s land, water, and wildlife by finding positive, lasting solutions to conserve these precious resources and species, and to achieve environmental and economic outcomes. Learn more.

Feeding America

Food waste is a pressing issue in our country, both at a commercial and consumer level. Not only does excessive food waste hit us hard in our bank accounts, but it also has a huge impact on the environment that we all share. Over 20% of landfill volume is comprised of food waste and 21% of all freshwater used goes toward the production of food that ends up being discarded. Learn the steps you can take to keep your food fresh and fight food waste. And click here to see how Feeding America and its network of partners are working together to fight food waste with food rescue. 

Rails-to-Trails

Since 1986, Rails-to-Trails has worked from coast to coast, supporting the development of thousands of miles of rail-trails for millions to explore and enjoy, and to build healthier places for healthier people. Learn more.

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Throughout this month, we recognize that mental health issues within minority communities are often stigmatized or overlooked. Many individuals in these communities face barriers to accessing mental healthcare and may experience disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and support. By promoting education and awareness about minority mental health, we can work towards breaking down these barriers and fostering inclusive and culturally competent mental healthcare.

Minority Mental Health Awareness Month offers a range of events and activities that aim to emphasize the significance of mental health within minority communities. These activities may include community forums, workshops, virtual events, and resource fairs that provide information and support for individuals seeking help or wanting to learn more about mental health.

In addition to raising awareness, it’s crucial to prioritize mental health within minority communities. Research indicates that minority populations often face higher rates of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s essential to encourage open conversations, reduce stigma, and promote access to culturally sensitive mental healthcare services.

During this month, let’s come together to support the mental well-being of minority individuals. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, remember that help is available. Reach out to mental health professionals, community organizations, or helplines that offer culturally appropriate resources and support.

As an employer, it’s vital to remind all employees, including those from minority backgrounds, about the resources and support available to help them prioritize their mental health. Here are a couple of examples of programs you can promote or consider implementing:

• Launch an Employees Assistance Fund : Launch or remind employees about an Employee Assistance Fund (EAF) that provides financial support to employees facing personal emergencies or hardships. This fund can help alleviate financial stress and provide access to resources for mental health support.

• Volunteer Opportunities: Encourage your employees to engage in volunteer activities, as research shows that volunteering can have positive impacts on both physical and mental well-being. Offer opportunities for employees to support causes they care about, fostering a sense of purpose and community engagement.

By actively promoting mental health awareness and providing resources and support, we can contribute to the well-being and success of all employees, regardless of their background. Together, let’s create a workplace culture that values and prioritizes minority mental health.

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Marfan syndrome affects an estimated 1 in 5,000 people regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, and experts estimate that nearly half the people who have Marfan syndrome do not know it.  Without proper diagnosis and treatment, they are at high risk for an aortic dissection and sudden death. 

Awareness of Marfan syndrome and related conditions leads to early diagnosis, treatment, and an extended lifespan. The most powerful way we can raise awareness is through you, our volunteers. Your circles of relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, your knowledge, your personal journey, and your commitment cannot be matched by anyone outside of our community.

February is Marfan Awareness Month and you can do your part from the comfort of your own home on social media. Join America’s Charities and our member, The Marfan Foundation, by participating in the #MarfanAwareness during February. 

1. Give through your workplace: You can make a significant difference by donating through workplace giving. Check with your employer to see if they will double your donation with a matching gift. Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team about bring employee giving to your workplace. 
2. Raise aweareness: Help The Marfan Foundation raise awareness about Marfan syndrome by using the library of ready-to-use social media graphics here.
3. Educate Yourself: This month, The Marfan Foundation has two webinars on the basics of Marfan syndrome. On February 9, we will focus on medical management with two members of our Professional Advisory Board, Dr. Shaine Morris, pediatric cardiologist, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Chris Malaisrie, aortic surgeon, Northwestern Medicine (register here). Then, on February 16, we will have a Personal Perspectives Panel with members of the Marfan community talking about how they coped when first diagnosed. (register here).

There are many ways for you to take part in Marfan Awareness Month and every little bit helps. Click here for a list of more ways to support The Marfan Foundation.

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In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, click on each of America’s Charities’ nonprofit members below to learn about their past contributions to this country and ways they continue to shape and make history:

• NAACP
• NAACP Legal & Defense Fund
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund
• 100 Black Men of America
• ACLU Foundation
• The National Black Child Development Institute
• The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
• YMCA of Metropolitan Washington

Throughout the month of February, we encourage you to:

1. Join us in celebrating Black History Month! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as we share our members’ posts and highlight the black community’s contributions, culture, and impact on America.

2. Donate & raise money for these nonprofits whose work has and continues to pave the way for inclusion, civil rights, equity in justice, education, and a better tomorrow. America’s Charities is proud of the work our member charities do in these respective areas. One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click below on each charity’s name to learn more about their work, and please donate to them through employee giving!

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While poverty is a complex social issue, you can make a significant difference through workplace giving. Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team about bring employee giving to your workplace. Each of the nonprofits listed below, vetted by America’s Charities, are dedicated to helping the impoverished through programs and services concentrated on addressing the root sources of poverty and working to create sound policy frameworks locally and nationally that will help lift our fellow neighbors, family members, and friends out of poverty so they can live independent, sustainable lives and contribute to the community.

In recognition of National Poverty in America Awareness Month, which takes place in January each year, join us by supporting and raising awareness about these nonprofits who are making a difference in the fight to stamp out poverty for good.

Provide food and support through community coordination: 

• Connecticut Food Bank
• Feeding America
• Food for Others, Inc. 
• Meals on Wheels America
• Share Our Strength (No Kid Hungry)

Provide food, shelter, counseling and support: 

• Feed the Children
• Miriam’s Kitchen
• Salvation Army National Capital Area

Support for individuals and families struggling with poverty: 

• A Wider Circle
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Inc.
• Christian Appalachian Project 
• Lorton Community Action Center
• The Shepherd’s Table

Provide affordable housing and support:  

• Good Shepherd Housing 
• Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. & Northern Virginia 
• Rebuilding Together Alexandria
• Rebuilding Together Montgomery County

Fight for Economic Justice and Equality:

• ACLU
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• NAACP
• NAACP LDF

Provide Access to Education and Support Disadvantaged Youth:

• Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)  
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Scholarship Fund – Point Foundation 
• Generation Hope 
• 100 Black Men of America 
• The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC)

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In recognition of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month November 1-30, 2024, America’s Charities is celebrating the following members who are making a difference in the fight to end Alzheimer’s Disease.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

Alzheimer’s – Insight Memory Care Center
Provides care, support, and education for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments, their families, caregivers, and the community, through their adult day health and resource center.

Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Advances research to better understand, treat, and prevent Alzheimer’s. Founded in 1985, Alzheimer’s Disease Research has awarded nearly $120 million to innovative projects aimed at ending the disease.

FNIH (Foundation for the National Institutes of Health)
Generates and implements new research models that lower the cost and accelerate the progress of biomedical research through public-private partnerships. One of the many groundbreaking initiatives FNIH manages is the Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), is a landmark partnership and study that for years has profoundly influenced our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by identifying the earliest changes in brain structure and function that signal its onset and progression.

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This National Veterans and Military Families Month, America’s Charities is honoring our troops and veterans, and celebrating our nonprofit members who support them with special programs and services made possible by donors like you.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and for more ways to support them!

ServiceSource
ServiceSource is a leading nonprofit disability resource organization with regional offices and programs located in nine states and the District of Columbia. They serve more than 25,000 individuals with disabilities annually through a range of innovative and valued employment, training, habilitation, housing and other support services. Through their Warrior Bridge program, they provide a vital connection to resources and support for veterans with disabilities as they seek employment, self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. In response to an overwhelming need for coordination among veteran-serving organizations, Warrior Bridge works to facilitate greater collaboration among government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector employers. Click here to learn more and support their work.

Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.
Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. is transforming the way America’s injured veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged in our communities. They believe that every warrior has a positive future to look forward to, and we work together to get them there by setting and achieving goals, big or small. We direct every dollar, hour, and action toward helping warriors live life to the fullest, no matter what that looks like. And warriors never pay a penny for our programs – because they paid their dues on the battlefield. Their free services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care change lives. They’re committed to helping wounded veterans achieve their highest ambition. When veterans are ready to start their next mission, they stand ready to serve. Click here to learn more and support their work.

Feeding America
1 in 5 of the households Feeding America serves have a veteran member in it. It is unacceptable that anyone goes hungry, but it’s particularly troubling that millions of Americans who’ve protected and served our country are left without enough to eat. At Feeding America, they’re working on changing that. Learn more about how you can help us end hunger for veterans. Veterans fought bravely to make the nation a better place for us, now it’s time for us to fight to make it a better place for them.

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In recognition of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month November 1-30, 2024, America’s Charities is celebrating the following member who is making a difference in the fight to end youth homelessness.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on the charity name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

STANDUP FOR KIDS
STANDUP FOR KIDS aims to end the cycle of youth homelessness through outreach efforts and programs to find, stabilize and assist homeless and street kids in their efforts to improve their lives. Resources include basic hygiene/food/clothing, healthcare, counseling/mentoring, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Their networking outreach program helps at-risk youth by providing them with a variety of organizations and people in their community who can help them with everything from legal services to identification services to employment services. Current programs include street outreach, outreach centers, apartment outreach, and a high school mentoring program.

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Juneteenth marks the date in 1865 when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed in Galveston, Texas, with news that the war was over and slavery had been abolished. You can read more about this remarkable event on PBS.org’s website here.

For more than 150 years, communities across the country and in parts of Mexico have fought for and observed this holiday. Today, and every day, America’s Charities celebrates and honors the work of Black activists through the ages. Our offices are closed on June 29, 2023, to commemorate their efforts.

Juneteenth should not be confused with Emancipation Day. Per National Geographic, “Just as Juneteenth originally celebrated freedom in Texas, Emancipation Day specifically marks the day when President Lincoln freed some 3,000 enslaved people in Washington, D.C.—a full eight months before the Emancipation Proclamation and nearly three years before those in Texas would be freed.”

Hundreds of years of enslavement inflicted deliberate terror and injustice on African Americans – and in many, very real ways, the fight is not over. The disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on people of color, along with the #BlackLivesMatter that took root in 2020 upon the ongoing violent deaths of Black Americans, have made it clear that we have a long way to go in ending racism, racist violence, and addressing the inequities that still exist today.

Solving these inequities will not happen overnight, but it is vital that we continue to protest injustice, protect those who fight against oppression, support the critical work to systemically change racist policies, structures, and rhetoric, and invest in Black life and Black futures. Together, we must begin the process of repairing and restoring as a nation. Nonprofits have been working to do just that for some time. This Juneteenth, we ask you to support those charities that continue to push for racial justice, equality, and equity. Click below to learn how you can get involved as an individual or through your company.

Charities to Support:

There are numerous organizations dedicated to such reforms, including the high-impact nonprofits below who we are proud to call our members. We encourage you to support our members that fight for equity, equality, advancement, social justice, work to end racism, and provide legal counsel by donating to strive for a better world:

• ACLU
• NAACP
• NAACP Legal Defense Fund
• NBCDI National Black Child Development Institute
• NOBLE National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)

How Businesses Can Get Involved:

Increasingly, the imperative for employers to act as agents of positive change has become apparent. What isn’t so obvious is how employers should go about doing this. The good news is many companies are already well-positioned to provide their employees with an outlet for their activism in a way that also aligns with the company’s core values. This article outlines key components of such initiatives and how businesses can be a force for good in an era of employee activism. Read more here.

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In recognition of #PrideMonth, America’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name above to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

• Human Rights Campaign Foundation: The Human Rights Campaign Foundation envisions an America where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons are ensured of their basic equal rights – and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work, and in the community. Through research, education, and outreach, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation encourages LGBTQIA Americans to live their lives openly and seeks to change the hearts and minds of Americans to the side of equality. Click here to learn more about their specific projects and initiatives, and click here to find a pride event near you. 
• Point Foundation: Point Foundation (Point) is the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQIA students of merit. Point Foundation’s purpose is to empower LGBTQIA students of merit, many of whom might otherwise be at an academic and social disadvantage as a direct result of their sexual orientation or gender identity. While empowerment is a lofty goal, Point Foundation achieves it by providing education, mentorship, leadership development, and community service training; as well as the financial ability to attend the nation’s foremost institutions of higher education; to our scholars. Click here to learn more.
• SPLC: The Southern Poverty Law Center is internationally recognized for its groundbreaking leadership in seeking justice for the most vulnerable in our society and fighting hate in courtrooms and classrooms throughout the nation. We’re working in the courts to ensure that LGBTQIA people achieve full equality under the law. Our work has a national reach but is focused primarily on the Southeast, where relatively few organizations advocate for the LGBTQIA community. In recent years, we’ve launched groundbreaking cases to: Challenge gay-to-straight “conversion therapy” as fraudulent; Obtain equal government benefits for veterans; Protect LGBTQIA children from violence and harassment in school; Ensure the parental rights of LGBTQIA people; Protect the right to proper medical treatment and safe housing for transgender prisoners; Force states to recognize the rights of same-sex couples; and Protect the First Amendment rights of LGBTQIA students. Click here to learn more.
• Time Out Youth: Time Out Youth offers support, advocacy, and opportunities for personal development and social interaction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQIA) youth, ages 11 through 20, in the greater Charlotte, NC, area. Our programs include weekly support group meetings, movie nights, one-on-one counseling, crisis intervention, and emergency housing. Our life skills support includes academic tutoring, assistance with college and scholarship applications, resume preparation, interviewing, and mentoring. Our advocacy efforts include a school outreach program aimed at raising awareness among educators of the special challenges faced by LGBTQIA students. Additionally, we have a Speaker’s Bureau which offers presentations by our youth and an adult moderator on what it means to be LGBTQIA at home, at school, at work, and in the community. Click here to learn more.   
• StandUp for Kids: Focused on ending the cycle of youth homelessness. Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQIA. Click here to learn more. 
• Amnesty International: is a global movement of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights. Amnesty conducts research, provides training, and advocates for reform to advance equality and safety. Click here to learn more.

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More than ever before, our environment needs our protection. A 2020 study found global greenhouse gas emissions dropped 17 percent in early April – a welcome silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic. The plunge is equivalent to more than a billion tons of carbon dioxide that never made its way into the atmosphere. While this is fantastic news, it is not likely to be repeated unless we take action.

In recognition of #WorldEnvironmentDay2024, America’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name above to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

• A Wider Circle: A Wider Circle’s mission is to end poverty through on-the-ground programs and services, as well as through the development of large-scale solutions to its root causes. As part of their holistic approach, they save 12 million pounds of furniture from going into the landfill every single year. Learn more.
• Boy Scouts of America National Capital Area: The time spent by youth at Scout Camp is not only about building campfires and spending time in nature. Scouts may not realize it at the time, but all of the challenges, triumphs, teamwork, and fun they experienced at camp will help them on their way to becoming strong, confident leaders tomorrow. Guided by caring and committed mentors, boys gain self-confidence; develop leadership skills; learned about self-sacrifice and teamwork; embraced values like honesty and courage; showed respect for the outdoors; and simply have the time of their lives. That’s the adventure that Boy Scouts provides. Young people having fun, being happy, in an environment that fosters positive growth. Learn more.
• The Conservation Fund: The Conservation Fund strives to protect our nation’s land, water, and wildlife by finding positive, lasting solutions to conserve these precious resources and species, and to achieve environmental and economic outcomes. Learn more.
• Feeding America: Food waste is a pressing issue in our country, both at a commercial and consumer level. Not only does excessive food waste hit us hard in our bank accounts, but it also has a huge impact on the environment that we all share. Over 20% of landfill volume is comprised of food waste and 21% of all freshwater used goes toward the production of food that ends up being discarded. Learn the steps you can take to keep your food fresh and fight food waste. And click here to see how Feeding America and its network of partners are working together to fight food waste with food rescue.
• Rails-to-Trails: Since 1986, Rails-to-Trails has worked from coast to coast, supporting the development of thousands of miles of rail-trails for millions to explore and enjoy, and to build healthier places for healthier people. Learn more.

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