Do you want to donate to support our environment? Here is a list of nonprofit institutions that work to address climate change, end pollution, increase food and nutrition security, respond to the world’s most urgent emergencies, including extreme event disasters, protect biodiversity and more. I am not affiliated with any of these organizations (I do donate to several) and this is by no means an exhaustive list, but I put together this list as an attempt to provide a good place to start:

Environmental Advocacy/Lobbying organizations

  • Earthjustice: wielding the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change
  • 350.org: building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis
  • Environmental Defense Action Fund: educating the public regarding environmental and conservation issues, and advocating legislation and policies that protect the environmental rights of all people

Environment/Climate Change charities

  • Union of Concerned Scientists: putting rigorous independent science to work to solve the most pressing problems of our planet
  • Sierra Club Foundation: promoting climate solutions, conservation, and movement building through a powerful combination of strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy
  • World Resources Institute: creating change that improves people’s lives and ensures the natural world can thrive
  • Environmental Defense Fund: working on issues including global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans, and human health, and advocating using sound science, economics and law to find environmental solutions that work

Conservation charities

  • Ocean Conservancy: working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges
  • The Conservation Fund: protecting America’s most critical lands and waters to provide greater access to nature, strengthen local economies and enhance climate resiliency
  • Wildlife Conservation Society: saving wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature
  • National Audubon Society: saving birds and their habitats throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, community engagement, and on-the-ground conservation
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium: inspiring conservation for the ocean and protecting California’s ocean
  • Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund: protecting gorillas and their forests every day, while also helping the people who live near them

Hunger/Food charities

  • The Hunger Project: ending hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies and advocating for their widespread adoption in countries throughout the world
  • Action Against Hunger: saving lives by preventing, detecting, and treating under-nutrition, particularly during and after disasters and conflicts
  • Yolo Food Bank: nourishing families and residents of Yolo County
  • ASUCD Pantry: student-run, student-led organization that provides food and other basic essentials to UC Davis students and staff who would like support in acquiring food and other basic necessities

Water charities

  • Water.orgk: empowering more than 60 million people with access to safe water or sanitation through affordable financing
  • Waterkeeper Alliance: strengthening and growing a global network of grassroots leaders protecting everyone’s right to clean water

International Relief charities

  • UNICEF: providing children with the lifesaving supplies and assistance they desperately need
  • Doctors without borders: providing independent, impartial medical humanitarian assistance to the people who need it most
  • American National Red Cross: delivering relief and hope to your neighbors in need