If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s the importance of philanthropy in our communities and in our wider world. There are lots of organizations dedicating their time and effort to helping others. These organizations also rely on us for support, but it’s not always easy to spare some extra change. The good news is there are many ways to help nonprofits, not all of which require a monetary donation.
Wondering how you can easily support your favorite nonprofits and causes through your habits and purchases you already intend to make? Here are 10+ creative ways to take action and help nonprofits make an impact.
Charity Charge
Charity Charge is the only credit card that donates 1% back on ALL purchases to the nonprofit of your choice. There’s also no annual fee, a low interest rate, and your donation may be tax deductible. There’s a card for nonprofit business owners, too!
This fitness/movement tracker is easily downloaded onto your smartphone (for free!) and turns the miles you walk, bike, run, or hike into money for a nonprofit of your choosing.
Shop for yourself or for gifts for others on this site, where every purchase you make is good for both people and the planet. There are thousands of products from hundreds of brands who pay livable wages, are eco-friendly, and empower communities.
Cultivate
This free extension for your web browser will help you feel better about your purchases. Cultivate finds the best prices on products you’re already shopping for online and earns money to donate to causes.
Ten Thousand Villages
Ten Thousand Villages is another online market with oodles of unique, fair trade crafts. Any purchase you make of an ethically sourced, handmade product supports both the earth and the communities of developing countries.
This charitable organization founded by women helps alleviate poverty by ethically sourcing their goods from artisan groups in over 25 countries. You can choose a specific cause to search products on their site.
Goodshop
Goodshop provides coupons and shopping deals for an abundance of stores. Even better, they make a donation to a nonprofit or school of your choice for nearly every purchase you make.
Goodsearch
Part of Goodshop and backed by Yahoo, Goodsearch is a search engine that allows you to surf the web while simultaneously providing donations to charities. Why Google when you could Goodsearch?
Sharpen your brain and trivia knowledge with this fun game that also helps feed people in impoverished areas. Every correct answer is ten grains of rice donated through the United Nations World Food Programme to those in need.
ShareTheMeal
ShareTheMeal, also an initiative of the World Food Programme, is an app that enables people to share meals with those who need them the most, for as low as just $0.50.
AmazonSmile
Making the switch from shopping on Amazon to AmazonSmile makes a negligible difference to you but can still add up for nonprofits. Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to your favorite charitable organization, with no extra costs or fees. Charities can also create Charity Lists of needed items that you can browse and order from.
Note: Amazon will be winding down this initiative as of February 20, 2023, but that may not be a bad thing.
Donate a Photo
For every photo shared on the Donate a Photo app, Johnson & Johnson donates $1 to the cause of your choosing.
Volunteer
Volunteering your time is a life-changing way to help nonprofits spread their mission, make an impact, and gain support from others. Organizations both big and small are always looking for extra sets of hands, and it can lead to beneficial connections for you, too!
Donate what you don’t need
If you can’t donate money, donate items you no longer need like gently used clothing, supplies, and food. Look past just taking everything to Goodwill, too. Research local second-hand shops, shelters, and organizations in your area. Goodwill is a fantastic charity, but if you are looking for a more personalized connection, a smaller, community-based organization may be a better fit for you.
Follow and engage on social media
A simple, effective, and surefire way to help nonprofits with minimal effort, simply following organizations on social media and engaging with their content helps spread the word. Engagement tells the social media algorithm that the content is good and then it will be shared to more people. Plus, it’s an easy way for you to lend your voice and advocate online.
Forward information to friends
Similarly, forwarding the emails that organizations work so hard to craft to friends and family can really make a difference in expanding their network and reach. You can also just send their websites so others can learn more. You may not have a lot of resources, but someone you know might and can help expand their impact.
Roundup your total at stores and restaurants
You know when you’re asked by the cashier at a shop, restaurant, or grocery store if you want to round up your total for charity? This is called point-of-sale fundraising, and it’s a highly effective way for nonprofits to raise money. It’s a few cents to you, but those cents will go towards donations to organizations that need it. Plus, the donations are often matched by corporate partners, so the total really adds up.
Leave a testimonial
Leaving a testimonial for your favorite nonprofit is vital to their success! When others research that organization, it can be incredibly helpful for them to see happy donors, volunteers, and supporters. Just think about how product and service reviews matter to you. Testimonials can be left on public sites like Google and Facebook and take just a couple of minutes.
All of these methods are relatively quick and easy ways to support the nonprofits that you already love and that are continuously putting their time, effort, and funds into making a real difference in both their community and the world.
We can all step up in ways big and small to help create a better world and be the change we want to see. So pick one of these—and start today!
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I'm Kristi Porter, and I started Signify to help small nonprofits and for-profits with a social mission get noticed and grow through effective marketing and communications. I also teach solopreneurs and small businesses how to incorporate philanthropy and giving strategies. I believe that cause-focused organizations like yours are the future of business. You're proof that companies can both make money and do good. And I'm here to make sure you focus and shine. When you succeed, we all win.