Don’t donate to the first charity you come across. There are huge differences in efficiency. If you want to make sure that your money is used to save as many lives as possible, do check out givewell. org. Picking one of their most recommended charities is quick and easy, but you can also read up on why they chose those if you’re interested. Other possible sites are BBB Start with Trust or Charity Navigator. Buy a wristband. They are all the rage in Hollywood, with lots of celebrities sporting the most recent fashion accessory—a charity wristband. Not only do they look cool, they’re cheap and a great way to do your bit for your favorite cause. If you want to help the developing world, the best charities are ones which help people to help themselves. These do the most good by enabling communities to strengthen and improve themselves. Examples of charities that do work like this are Heifer International, Kiva, or Free the Children. Education charities, like One Laptop Per Child, are also good.
Take a close look at your options. Ask yourself questions: “Do I want to support this type of business?” “Are the farmers or factory workers that made this treated well?” “Is this product traded fairly?” “Is it healthy?” “Is it good for the environment?” “Does the sale of this product help support an oppressive political regime?”
Help others to do the same by educating them about how they can reduce their impact on the planet. Remember: don’t be preachy or self-righteous. You’re doing this to help the planet, not so you can be smarter or better than your neighbour.
Another thing to avoid is watering your lawn in the summer. Collect and use gray water for this purpose, as using clean drinking water to water grass is very wasteful.
However, do your research before donating to organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS for short), PETA, or other big-name corporations; sometimes a large percentage of the money will not go to the animals. A great site for comparing charities is http://www. animalcharityevaluators. org/ Don’t buy animal food for donations. Donating your money directly to the shelter is much better, because the shelter can get food cheaper in bulk and it’s hard to plan for donated goods. Fostering an animal for a short period of time is another great way to show your support of animals, and it costs little to no money to do!
