For the 39th time in the past 41 years, charitable giving increased year over year in 2019, according to Giving USA. Americans donated a total of $450 billion – $310 billion of which came from individual donors. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, forecasts call for a further increase in charitable giving in 2021, when the final figures are tallied, but much depends on how generous we feel this holiday season. ’Tis indeed the season for generosity, as a significant portion of all charitable donations are usually made in the month of December.
There is no shortage of noble causes in need of support this year, especially considering the devastating impact of COVID-19 on many people’s health and finances. No one wants their money to go to waste, though, so it’s fair to wonder which charity will make the best use of your donation.
To help you maximize your impact without jeopardizing your financial health, WalletHub compared more than 200 of the most prominent U.S. charities based on their financial performance, transparency and popularity. We also identified the best organization to donate to for each of the most popular causes.
Here are the best charities to donate to:
Best For… | Charity Name | WalletHub Score (out of 100) |
---|---|---|
Human Services | Rotary Foundation of Rotary International | 100 |
Animals | Animal Welfare Institute | 97 |
Veterans | Fisher House Foundation | 93 |
International Affairs | World Resources Institute | 98 |
Health | Semper Fi & America's Fund | 97 |
Education | DonorsChoose.org | 93 |
Disaster Relief | All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response | 97 |
Environmental Protection | Sierra Club Foundation | 90 |
Child-Abuse Prevention | Prevent Child Abuse America (National Office) | 88 |
Community Development | Gary Sinise Foundation | 95 |
Hunger | Action Against Hunger-USA | 87 |
Homelessness | National Alliance to End Homelessness | 91 |
Religion-Related | Samaritan's Purse | 90 |
Below, you can learn more about how to choose the best charity for your holiday donation as well as how to do the most good on a limited budget. You can also take a closer look at criteria we used to select 2021 top charities in the Methodology section that follows.
How To Choose A Charity
- Find A Cause First: It’s not about the charity but rather the work that it does. So make a list of the causes you care about most before researching specific organizations involved in that area. This will help you avoid losing the forest for the trees, emphasizing the beneficiary over the conduit.
- Ask For Recommendations: People trust reviews from friends and family above all else, so ask your social network for some charitable suggestions. You may even want to ask subject-matter experts for their thoughts. For example, your veterinarian could suggest a good animal-related charity, and an environmental scientist at your local university could suggest a climate-oriented organization. All of their experiences and viewpoints will undoubtedly help you make a better choice.
- Do Your Research: It’s always important to do your due diligence before spending money with a company, professional or nonprofit for the first time. So check your chosen charity’s website, see how it’s being covered in the press and look into its financials. In particular, check how much of the organization’s funds are being used for its stated cause compared to marketing and administrator salaries.
- Spread The Love: You don’t have to pick just one charity. Donations are kind of like crowdfunding in the sense that a lot of people giving small amounts leads to relatively large sums at the end of the day. Don’t try to solve one problem all by yourself – consider giving small amounts to numerous charities in order to help address the various issues that you care about.
5 Tips For A Successful Donation
You don’t need to do much to make an impact on a worthy cause. But keeping the following pointers in mind will help you and your charity of choice make the most out of your good deed.
- Have A Budget: It is indeed possible to be too generous. Donating more than you can afford will only hurt your finances, making it more difficult to give back in the future. That means overdoing it now could reduce your overall giving.Consider your holiday gift-giving budget and your other financial obligations to determine how much you can comfortably afford to do without. It’s fine if you can’t give much. Every little bit helps, and something is always better than nothing when it comes to charity.
- Decide On Itemized Deductions: Rationalizing a donation with the potential tax benefits doesn’t make much sense if you aren’t going to itemize your deductions. So make a decision about that now, and remove taxes from your thought process if you’ll be taking the standard deduction. You can check out our Tax Tips for more insight into making these sorts of choices.
- Consider Processing Fees: Making a donation by credit card is a great way to earn rewards while giving back. For example, you could earn $20 by making a $1,000 donation with a card offering 2% back, whether in the form of cash, points or miles.Many organizations charge a processing fee for credit card donations, though. That can erode, or perhaps even eliminate, your earnings if it isn’t tax-deductible, so make sure to check.
See 2021's Best Rewards Credit Cards
- Earmark Funds For Something Specific: The more you donate, the more control you’ll be able to exert over how the funds are used. So if you want your donation to be used to improve the conditions of the cages in an animal shelter rather than administrators’ salaries or marketing, for example, inquire with your organization of choice about the possibility of designating a donation for something specific. If they say it’s not possible, take your donation elsewhere (or at least make clear that you’re willing to).
- Don’t Forget About Goods & Services: You don’t have to give money to make a difference. You can also donate clothing, food and even your time. A lot of people actually wonder whether it’s better to donate time or money, and we have a handy calculator that can help you make that decision based on your personal situation.
Scores For All Charities, By Category
Charitable Organization | WalletHub Score (out of 100) |
---|---|
ANIMAL-RELATED | |
Animal Welfare Institute | 97 |
Center for Biological Diversity | 95 |
PetSmart Charities | 94 |
WildAid | 93 |
Performing Animal Welfare Society | 88 |
American Bird Conservancy | 85 |
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation | 85 |
K9s For Warriors | 84 |
Wildlife Conservation Society | 84 |
Marine Mammal Center | 83 |
American Humane | 79 |
Humane Farming Association | 73 |
National Wildlife Federation | 70 |
Trout Unlimited (National Office) | 68 |
African Wildlife Foundation | 65 |
CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY | |
Equal Justice Initiative | 99 |
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation | 90 |
Trevor Project | 90 |
Center for Reproductive Rights | 73 |
Death with Dignity National Center | 70 |
Committee to Protect Journalists | 68 |
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund | 63 |
Children's Defense Fund | 62 |
Native American Rights Fund | 56 |
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING | |
Hispanic Federation | 90 |
Operation Homefront | 73 |
Hadassah | 62 |
Food Bank For New York City | 61 |
Center for Community Change | 35 |
DISEASES, DISORDERS, MEDICAL DISCIPLINES | |
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation | 92 |
American Kidney Fund | 88 |
American Lung Association | 82 |
MiracleFeet | 75 |
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | 73 |
National Federation of the Blind | 70 |
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | 69 |
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation | 68 |
Prevent Blindness | 65 |
JDRF International | 58 |
National Kidney Foundation | 58 |
Breast Cancer Prevention Partners | 52 |
American Heart Association | 45 |
American Cancer Society | 30 |
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES | |
DonorsChoose.org | 93 |
Hispanic Scholarship Fund | 88 |
Scholarship America | 83 |
Step Up for Students | 51 |
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, PROTECTION AND BEAUTIFICATION | |
Environmental Working Group | 90 |
Sierra Club Foundation | 90 |
Appalachian Mountain Club | 88 |
Waterkeeper Alliance | 87 |
Conservation International Foundation | 84 |
Conservation Fund | 80 |
Earthjustice | 80 |
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) | 80 |
Earth Island Institute | 75 |
Oceana | 75 |
Environmental Defense Fund | 69 |
Keep America Beautiful (National Office) | 68 |
Rainforest Action Network | 64 |
Alaska Conservation Foundation | 60 |
Environmental Defense Action Fund | 40 |
Trust for Public Land | 38 |
National Park Trust | 35 |
FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION | |
Feeding America | 80 |
Farm Aid | 73 |
Food and Water Watch | 68 |
HEALTH - GENERAL AND REHABILITATIVE | |
Semper Fi & America's Fund | 97 |
Population Action International | 85 |
Partners In Health | 83 |
Bob Woodruff Family Foundation | 80 |
Fistula Foundation | 80 |
Planned Parenthood Federation of America | 75 |
City of Hope & Affiliates | 73 |
American Sexual Health Association | 40 |
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | 33 |
National Jewish Health | 31 |
HOUSING, SHELTER | |
Homes For Our Troops | 83 |
National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund | 66 |
HUMAN SERVICES - MULTIPURPOSE AND OTHER | |
GiveDirectly | 96 |
Unbound | 87 |
The Y (National Office) | 84 |
Wounded Warriors Family Support | 83 |
CEDARS | 80 |
American Red Cross | 75 |
Armed Services YMCA of the USA | 75 |
charity: water | 74 |
Episcopal Relief & Development | 72 |
Bowery Residents' Committee | 70 |
National Urban League (National Office) | 67 |
Covenant House & Affiliates | 63 |
Innocence Project | 54 |
Arc of the United States (National Office) | 31 |
Wounded Warrior Project | 30 |
INTERNATIONAL, FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND NATIONAL SECURITY | |
Rotary Foundation of Rotary International | 100 |
World Resources Institute | 98 |
Direct Relief | 93 |
Doctors Without Borders USA | 90 |
FAIR | 90 |
Alight | 88 |
Action Against Hunger-USA | 87 |
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee | 86 |
Pathfinder International | 86 |
International Planned Parenthood Federation-Western Hemisphere | 85 |
International Rescue Committee | 85 |
Pearl S. Buck International | 85 |
United States Fund for UNICEF | 85 |
Water.org | 83 |
Feed My Starving Children | 82 |
One Acre Fund | 82 |
International Peace Institute | 81 |
CARE USA | 80 |
Children Incorporated | 80 |
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces | 80 |
Save the Children Federation | 80 |
American Jewish World Service | 76 |
Lutheran World Relief | 76 |
The Hunger Project | 76 |
Helen Keller International | 75 |
Operation USA | 75 |
PCI-Media Impact | 75 |
Population Council | 75 |
Thousand Currents | 75 |
World Neighbors | 75 |
World Vision | 75 |
Compassion International | 74 |
American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) | 73 |
Children International | 73 |
Human Rights First | 73 |
International Medical Corps | 73 |
Union of Concerned Scientists | 73 |
Asia Foundation | 72 |
Medical Teams International | 72 |
TechnoServe | 70 |
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) | 70 |
Global Fund for Women | 69 |
Mercy Corps | 68 |
EngenderHealth | 67 |
Church World Service | 66 |
HIAS | 66 |
Ploughshares Fund | 66 |
Africare | 65 |
New Israel Fund | 62 |
HealthRight International | 60 |
Oxfam-America | 60 |
Physicians for Social Responsibility (National Office) | 60 |
ChildFund International | 58 |
Grameen Foundation USA | 57 |
AmeriCares Foundation | 56 |
Central Asia Institute | 52 |
Brother's Brother Foundation | 45 |
Cross International | 45 |
Feed the Children | 43 |
Amnesty International of the USA | 40 |
Good 360 | 40 |
Operation Blessing International Relief & Development | 40 |
Seva Foundation | 40 |
FINCA International | 36 |
Habitat for Humanity International | 35 |
Opportunity International | 33 |
MEDICAL RESEARCH | |
Cancer Research Institute | 87 |
Hearing Health Foundation | 86 |
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research | 85 |
Lupus Research Alliance | 78 |
Breast Cancer Research Foundation | 77 |
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation | 77 |
Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) | 67 |
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation | 57 |
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | 54 |
MENTAL HEALTH, CRISIS INTERVENTION | |
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) | 83 |
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention | 79 |
NAMI | 74 |
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids | 73 |
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) | 73 |
PHILANTHROPY, VOLUNTARISM AND GRANTMAKING FOUNDATIONS | |
Gary Sinise Foundation | 95 |
Comic Relief | 85 |
Entertainment Industry Foundation | 80 |
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund | 77 |
Hope For The Warriors | 76 |
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation | 68 |
Prostate Cancer Foundation | 63 |
United Way Worldwide | 53 |
Bend the Arc - A Jewish Partnership for Justice | 51 |
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund | 32 |
PUBLIC, SOCIETY BENEFIT - MULTIPURPOSE AND OTHER | |
Common Cause Education Fund | 78 |
National Military Family Association | 73 |
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society | 72 |
RELIGION-RELATED, SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT | |
Samaritan's Purse | 90 |
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital | 40 |
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | |
National 4-H Council | 85 |
Girls Incorporated (National Office) | 82 |
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (National Office) | 68 |
Partnership for a Healthier America | 37 |
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTES, SERVICES | |
Amazon Conservation Team | 80 |
Salk Institute for Biological Studies | 75 |
RECREATION, SPORTS, LEISURE, ATHLETICS | |
Goodwill Industries International | 93 |
National Forest Foundation | 83 |
PUBLIC SAFETY, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RELIEF | |
All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response | 97 |
Team Rubicon | 88 |
EMPLOYMENT, JOB-RELATED | |
Mission Continues | 91 |
CRIME, LEGAL-RELATED | |
Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) | 88 |
LatinoJustice PRLDEF | 80 |
ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES | |
Metropolitan Museum of Art | 50 |
Japan Society | 23 |
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTES, SERVICES | |
Population Connection | 85 |
UNCATEGORIZED | |
Fisher House Foundation | 93 |
United Methodist Committee on Relief | 92 |
National Alliance to End Homelessness | 91 |
Catholic Relief Services | 89 |
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International | 88 |
Earthworks | 88 |
Prevent Child Abuse America (National Office) | 88 |
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America (National Office) | 87 |
National Women's Law Center | 84 |
National Council on Aging | 83 |
Starlight Children's Foundation (National Office) | 81 |
Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice | 80 |
Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation | 80 |
Guttmacher Institute | 80 |
National Park Foundation (NPF) | 80 |
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation | 74 |
Mental Health America (MHA) | 73 |
National Psoriasis Foundation | 72 |
American Brain Tumor Association | 71 |
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind | 71 |
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger | 70 |
National Hemophilia Foundation (National Office) | 70 |
American Liver Foundation | 68 |
Nature Conservancy | 60 |
Children's Health Fund | 50 |
Friends of Animals | 41 |
Population Services International | 41 |
Child Find of America | 40 |
Ronald McDonald House Charities (National Office) | 35 |
Coalition for the Homeless | 30 |
Action on Smoking and Health | 25 |
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America | 25 |
First Candle (National Office) | 20 |
Ask the Experts
In search of additional information to inform your charitable giving, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of experts. You can check out their bios and responses below.
- What is the biggest mistake that people make when donating to charity?
- What red flags should people look for before donating money to a charitable organization?
- What is your favorite charity and why? // Why should someone donate to your charity?
- What are the biggest challenges facing US-based charities in the current economic environment?
Ask the Experts
- Susan E. Eaton
Professor of Practice; Director, The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy; The Heller School for Social Policy and Management; Faculty Affiliate, Department of Educational Studies – Brandeis University
Read More
- Jared Barton
Associate Professor of Economics at California State University Channel Islands
Read More
- Laura Keyes
Ph.D., AICP – Lecturer, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Department of Public Administration – University of North Texas
Read More
- Erica Mills Barnhart
MPA – Associate Teaching Professor; Director, Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits & Philanthropy, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance – University of Washington
Read More
- Mathieu Despard
Ph.D., MSW, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Faculty Director & Visiting Scholar, Social Policy Institute, Washington University in St. Louis
Read More
- Jason Beck
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Economics, Parker College of Business – Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus
Read More
Methodology
To identify the year’s best charities for holiday giving, WalletHub evaluated more than 200 of the highest-ranked U.S.-based charities, according to CharityWatch and Charity Navigator. In the interest of promoting goodwill and spreading holiday cheer during what should be a merry time of year, we did not consider nonprofit organizations with an obvious political affiliation or those focused primarily on a politically divisive issue.
Using the grading rubric listed below, we scored each organization for which ratings were available from both sources from 0 to 100, with 100 being the most trustworthy with your money. Based on the resulting final scores, we selected winners for some of the biggest categories of charitable giving.
CharityWatch Grade (40 points max)
- A+ = 40 points
- A = 35 points
- A- = 30 points
- B+ = 25 points
- B = 20 points
- B- = 15 points
- C+ = 10 points
- C = 5 points
- Below C- = 0 points
Charity Navigator Score (40 points max)
- 97% - 100% = 40 points
- 93% - 96.99% = 35 points
- 90% - 92.99% = 30 points
- 87% - 89.99% = 25 points
- 83% - 86.99% = 20 points
- 80% - 82.99% = 15 points
- 75% - 79.99% = 10 points
- 70% - 74.99% = 5 points
- Below 70% = 0 points
Program Expenses Score* (15 points)
- 85%+ = 15 points
- 75% - 84.99% = 10 points
- 65% - 74.99% = 5 points
- Below 65% = 0 points
*Reflects the percentage of an organization’s total expenses that are used for its stated cause.
Organization Popularity Score (5 points max)
- 500K+ Facebook Likes: 5 points
- 300K – 499K Facebook Likes: 4 points
- 100K – 299K Facebook Likes: 3 points
- 50K – 99K Facebook Likes: 2 points
- 25K – 49K Facebook Likes: 1 point
- Fewer Than 25K Facebook Likes: 0 points