10 Charities to Consider on Giving Tuesday

You may have spent your Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday shopping (phew!), but today is the day for giving back! That's right! Today is #GivingTuesday, the day that kicks off the charitable season. It's a day that encourages people to give of their time,
resources, and/or talents.

There are so many different charities and nonprofits out there, and I encourage you to find some that really speak to you (and vet them through Charity Navigator, of course), but I did compile a list to help you get started.

1. Angels of America's Fallen
The mission of this nonprofit is to provide mentoring and developmental activities to children of fallen military and first responders.

2. I Am That Girl
This nonprofit aims to raise the standards for how girls treat each other, themselves, and the world.

3. Dress for Success
This global nonprofit promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a support network, and career development tools. (Volunteer opportunities are available with your local Dress for Success chapters, as well as opportunities to donate work clothes and accessories, should you not be able to give monetarily. I have volunteered my time with Dress for Success in the past and would personally recommend it.)

4. Yoga Foster
The mission of Yoga Foster is to help teachers integrate yoga curriculum into the classroom during the school day. The organization does this through online training and the donation of yoga mats.

5. Women's Sports Foundation
Tennis legend Billie Jean King founded this organization, which is dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.

6. Watsi
This is a fairly new nonprofit that enables donors to directly fund healthcare for people around the world.

7. Toy Industry Foundation
Donating to the Toy Industry Foundation means donating to children battling life-threatening illnesses, families in extreme poverty, families experiencing the aftermath of natural disasters, innocent youth who are the victims of abuse and abandonment, and children whose parents face military deployment.

8. Imagination Library
Started by Dolly Parton, this organization aims to foster a love of reading among preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month, regardless of the family's income.

9. Pajama Program
This organization provides new pajamas and books to children in need. Many of these children live in group homes, shelters, and temporary housing and often don't have the comforts of warm pajamas and a bedtime story. (This is another nonprofit that I personally volunteer with, and I know the donations of pajamas and books are always greatly appreciated from the organizations who receive and distribute them to the kids.)

10. World Vision
If you're still doing your holiday shopping, consider purchasing a gift from World Vision, such as this Mango Wood Beaded Bracelet (pictured at left). This item, along with more than 100 humanitarian gifts available through the World Vision catalog, impacts people in need both internationally and in the U.S.

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