Make a global difference

Sustainability is a key word when it comes to charitable giving. Heifer International has been at the forefront of this movement since 1944. Heifer provides animals and training in animal husbandry to people who need a means to generate a sustainable income. Once the gift recipients become established they give back by donating offspring animals and training to other community members who in turn do the same. In this way, your initial donation cascades through a community far beyond the initial gift of honeybees, chickens, or oxen, etc. Kiva provides microloans to “qualified low income entrepreneur[s] in the developing world” who are looking to start businesses in their local communities. Visit the Kiva website where you can search through a list of proposed business ventures and see pictures of potential recipients. With as little as $25 dollars you can become an important positive change for good in someone’s life and an international powerbroker at the same time. Interestingly, Kiva reports a +96% repayment rate. Unitus is another similar international microfinancer. Estimates place the number of modern day slaves around 27 million. While it’s far from being the most egregious host nation, the United States is among those countries where slavery exists in the form of forced labor and prostitution. Free the Slaves is an international organization that provides research and support to partner organizations who are working to end modern day human trafficking. Click here for a National Geographic report on 21st Century slaves.

Note: Charity Navigator evaluates charitable organizations and provides a breakdown of expenses and the percentage of each dollar that goes to programming, as opposed to advertising and administrative expenses.

Update: Grameen Bank, a microfinancier operating out of Bangladesh, was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 2006 for its work bankrolling the world’s poor.

No related posts.