At Charity Navigator, we believe philanthropic inspiration is all around us. We all have the desire to do good and help others, but sometimes we don’t know where to start. Take a look around… What excites you? What brings you joy? How can those things inspire you to make the world a better place?
Today, we’re finding inspiration in the Royal Wedding. Ahead of their weekend nuptials, Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Marckle asked excited spectators to share in their special moment by supporting one of seven charities the couple selected based on their interests and passions. For those of us watching the wedding on this side of the Pond, we created a list of highly-rated charities working on similar issues in the United States.
Keep reading to see which charities made the happy couple’s list and who we’ve chosen as their American counterparts.
The royal couple selected seven UK-based charities working on causes close their hearts. The list includes CHIVA, an organization helping children diagnosed with HIV; Crisis, which works to find sustainable solutions to homelessness; Myna Mahila Foundation, a charity that supports women in India; Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a group assisting children of fallen soldiers; StreetGames, an organization using sports to help communities become happier and healthier; Surfers Against Sewage, a group working to end pollution and revitalize the health of our oceans; and The Wilderness Foundation UK, an outdoor-focused charity helping teens build resilience through nature.
If you, like several members of the Charity Navigator team, will be dressed up in your gloves and fascinator to celebrate with the happy couple early Saturday morning, consider making a gift to one of these highly-rated charities to commemorate the occasion.
Elton John AIDS Foundation
☆☆☆☆
Providing funding for educational programs targeted at HIV/AIDS prevention
Established by Sir Elton John in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) is one of the world's leading organizations supporting innovative HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and direct care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Since its founding, EJAF has raised over $150 million to support urgently needed programs across the US and in 55 countries around the globe. Direct services include HIV/AIDS-related medical and mental health treatment, testing and counseling, food distribution, assisted living, social service coordination, and legal aid.
National Alliance to End Homelessness
☆☆☆☆
Preventing and ending homeless in the United States
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, mission-driven organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States and is a leading voice on the issue of homelessness. The Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy solutions. We work collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity, leading to stronger programs and policies that help homeless individuals and families make positive changes in their lives. We provide data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide.
Women for Women International
☆☆☆
Helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives
Women for Women International (WWI) provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. Women begin in our Sponsorship Program where direct financial aid from a sponsor helps them deal with the immediate effects of war and conflict such as lack of food, water, medicine and other necessities. The next leg of the journey is the Renewing Women's Life Skills (ReneWLS) Program that provides them with rights awareness, leadership education and vocational and technical skills training. Women build upon existing skills and learn new ones in order to regain their strength, stability and stature on the path to becoming active citizens.
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
☆☆☆
College for their children
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation's mission is to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. We are dedicated to serving the families of service members from all branches of the armed forces who have died as a result of combat casualties, military training accidents, service related illnesses, suicide, as well as other duty-related deaths as ruled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The vision of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation is to ensure that every child of a fallen patriot receives all necessary college funding. Since 2002, Children of Fallen Patriots has grown in its mission and vision to extend peace of mind through college scholarships to Gold Star families in all 50 states, in all branches of the military.
Good Sports
☆☆☆☆
Providing athletic equipment, footwear, and apparel to disadvantaged young people nationwide
Good Sports helps to lay the foundation for healthy, active lifestyles by providing athletic equipment, footwear, and apparel to disadvantaged young people nationwide. Youth sports programs have faced severe budget cuts in most geographies and many organizations respond by shifting the costs to families in the form of higher fees. In some communities, this can effectively exclude disadvantaged children from joining teams. By partnering with sporting goods manufacturers, Good Sports is able to provide equipment, apparel, and footwear to programs in need. This lowers their costs which helps them keep fees affordable, create more scholarships, enhance the quality of their activities, and introduce new sports into their schools or organizations.
Surfrider Foundation
☆☆☆
The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 60,000 members and 100 chapters worldwide.
Blandford Nature Center
☆☆☆
Engage and empower our community through enriching experiences in nature
Blandford Nature Center believes children and adults learn best through personal experience. Our job, and our passion, is to invite our community to get their hands dirty in nature – whether that be standing knee-high in water to learn about stream ecology or planting squash seeds to start a garden. This is accomplished through: an active outdoor environmental lab, a team of passionate, knowledgeable people and a strong link from past to future promoting sustainability. Blandford offers a wide variety of experiences to support our mission.
There are a large number of highly-rated charities working on these important issues in the United States. You can use Charity Navigator’s Advanced Search Tool or Discover feature to find more of them.