Hopeful Altruist's List of Top Charities

It is hard to fight back against our desire for material consumption. One of the greatest benefits to all this new found savings is that you get to use it to make the world and your community a better place. We hope you all find joy in giving to and volunteering with at least one of these charitable organization. With that in mind here is version 1 of the 

Hopeful Altruist's List of Top Charities. 

International Charities 

International Justice Mission - The foremost global organization that protects the poor from violence in the developing world

These Numbers Have Faces - Consistently optimistic about the future of Africa...TNHF is investing in the next generation of African leaders

Against Malaria Foundation - The highest ranked Give Well charity...AMF protects people from malaria by funding nets and ensuring they are distributed and used.

Charity Water - Bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries

CongoVoice - Providing the basic needs of the children without families in the poorest region of the Congo. ALL donations are invested in the children, students, or local businesses

Deworm the World Initiative (Evidence Action) - Virtually nonexistent in developed countries today, there are more than 870 million children at risk of parasitic worm infections worldwide.

Girl Effect - They exist to create a new normal with and for girls. Working to create active champions of a world in which she reaches her full potential and the cycle of poverty is broken.

United States Charities 

Girls Who Code - National non-profit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology.

The Epik Project - A national leader in the anti-trafficking movement. The Epik Project uses technology to disrupt the purchase of human being for sex at the point of sale.

Zero to Three - They work to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development.

"I Have A Dream" Foundation - Their vision is for all children to have an opportunity to earn a college degree and fully capitalize on their talents, aspirations, and dreams of fulfilling careers and productive global citizenship

SummerSearch - They work with students who, although might be short on opportunity and facing systemic inequities, have a willingness and desire to learn.

Local U.S. Charities 

*We need help with growing our local charity lists. Please comment to this post so that we can share other non-profit organizations in your community. Thanks!

San Francisco Bay Area

AnnieCannons - They stand for the proposition that no one with the insight or potential to change the world should be ignored because of her gender, race, or previous condition of servitude.

The Intuitive Writing Project - They facilitate writing-based empowerment programs for teenage girls. They create a safe space for girls to tell their story, discover their strengths and realize their capacity for leadership.

Lava Mae - They create a one-stop shop on the streets that mobilizes non-profit service providers, city agencies, and social entrepreneurs to radically increase access to vital services, restore dignity, and boost resilience for people experiencing homelessness.

Downtown Streets Team - They are working to end homelessness through the dignity of work.

Second Harvest - Silicon Valley based, they are one of the largest food banks in the nation. Currently providing food to more than one quarter of a million people every month.

Jewish Vocational Services - They are helping Bay Area job seekers to build in-demand skills and confidence, make connections and secure work within a career pathway.

Raphael House - They help at-risk families achieve stable housing and financial independence while strengthening family bonds and personal dignity.

Glide - A radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization.

Portland, Oregon

Basic Rights Oregon - Working to ensure that all LGBTQ Oregonians experience equality by building a broad and inclusive politically powerful movement.

Holla Mentors - They are a school-based mentoring program that works with administrators, teachers, social agencies and families to serve kids of color at several Portland schools.

Black Parent Initiative - They engage with Black parents and caregivers utilizing historically predominant Black churches as the organizing place, based on the notion that the missing link was Black families’ absence from conversations around education reform.

Latino Network - They are a Latino-led education organization, grounded in culturally-specific practices and services, that lifts up youth and families to reach their full potential.

Adelante Mujeres - They have served western Washington County by providing holistic education and empowerment opportunities to low income Latina women and their families, in order to ensure full participation and active leadership in the community.

Centro Cultural - The oldest culturally specific Hispanic organization in Oregon serving large numbers of Latino residents. Centro fills an important role in the community as an all-purpose hub where people can access services. 

Virginia Garcia - They provide high-quality, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill Counties with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farmworkers and others with barriers to receiving healthcare.