So I usually ask for donations to the WWF as a birthday gift, but this year I'm thinking I'm going to ask exclusively for donations for my birthday. The problem is that over the past 8 years or so I've ONLY donated to the WWF, so I don't have any experience with other charities. Can you guys recommend some other great charities (not necessarily nature/animal related ones) and what they do? 

So I usually ask for donations to the WWF as a birthday gift, but this year I'm thinking I'm going to ask exclusively for donations for my birthday. The problem is that over the past 8 years or so I've ONLY donated to the WWF, so I don't have any experience with other charities. Can you guys recommend some other great charities (not necessarily nature/animal related ones) and what they do? 

Spending money on the less fortunate is an admirable act. Donate to the local church- help spread God's kingdom. Another option, would be, to donate to the salvation army, or the redcross.

Edited June 14, 201411 yr by Aang

Spending money on the less fortunate is an admirable act. Donate to the local church- help spread God's kingdom. Another option, would be, to donate to the salvation army, or the redcross.

I'm an anti-theist so definitely no churches or the salvation army. I like the idea of the Red Cross though - do you happen to know offhand if they're really in need of donations? Like I know places are always in need of donations, but I like to donate to the ones that really need money and I feel like with all the publicity it gets the Red Cross is probably slightly less in need. But I'm not sure so? 

I'm an anti-theist so definitely no churches or the salvation army. I like the idea of the Red Cross though - do you happen to know offhand if they're really in need of donations? Like I know places are always in need of donations, but I like to donate to the ones that really need money and I feel like with all the publicity it gets the Red Cross is probably slightly less in need. But I'm not sure so? 

The Red cross is always in need of donations, especially since it's such a large organization.  

You should be picking charities that advocate things that speak to you.  Just think of causes you would like to support and look up charities online that are working towards those causes.  http://www.charitynavigator.org/  is a pretty good database.

I think of charities that have less awareness than others.  Like testicular cancer for example.  You could pick a cause and google a reputable charity for it (being in another country I more than likely will have some you don't I assume), like here we have a site actually dedicated to helping you find a charity http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/ unsure if there's a US version though, but surely there must be