A tradition that began in 2012, GivingTuesday is a day in which we are tasked with sharing acts of kindness and generosity with others. In a season of excess—from family feasts to mountains of presents—this day is a built-in reminder to think outside of ourselves and do good for others.
For parents in particular, I love the idea of making GivingTuesday a family tradition. Not only does your participation give you the warm, fuzzy feeling that only spreading goodwill can bring—but involving your kids in the process is a great way to model caring for others.
There’s no wrong way to take part in this celebration of generosity either! You can do a simple good deed, leave cookies at your neighbor’s door, or help fund the causes that matter to you most. No matter what you choose, GivingTuesday is a day to spread holiday warmth and cheer, and celebrate giving in all its forms. Don’t know where to give? We compiled a list of nine accredited, trustworthy, and transparent charities that are supporting moms, children, and families in need.
1. Every Mother Counts
Mission: “We are dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere.”
What Your Dollars Do: Put your donation to work to combat the maternal health crisis and help ensure pregnant people across the globe have access to the resources they need for a safe and healthy pregnancy and birthing experience. Your support helps provide public education on issues impacting maternal health and birth justice, positions communities to fight for change, and funds community-based health programs that directly serve women most in need.
This Charity Is Right For You If… You’re all about supporting moms-to-be in vulnerable and marginalized communities.
2. Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association
Mission: “To reduce racial inequities in breastfeeding support for black families… To build foundational networks of support, and strengthen systems to overcome historical, societal, and social barriers to breastfeeding success.”
What Your Dollars Do: Your donation to the BMBA supports programs aimed at empowering and educating Black mothers on their breastfeeding journey. Members of the group have free access to the organization’s doula program, which connects expectant mothers with birthing and postpartum support for safer, healthier childbirth. Your dollars also fund the charity’s breastfeeding support group and breastfeeding hotline.
This Charity Is Right For You If… You’re troubled by the lack of breastfeeding resources and support for Black mothers, and you want to do something about it.
3. Hour Children
Mission: “To help incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their children successfully rejoin the community, reunify with their families, and build healthy, independent, and secure lives. Hour Children’s name acknowledges the key hours that impact the life of a child with an incarcerated mother: the hour of her arrest, the hour of their visit, and the hour of their reunification.”
What Your Dollars Do: Donations to Hour Children support women who are both currently and previously incarcerated in New York. Your contributions have the power to fund programs that strengthen bonds between moms and their children while in the prison system. Your dollars go toward supportive housing, food access, therapeutic counseling for women and kids, job skills training and mentoring, and educational opportunities for moms to expand their horizons.
This Charity Is Right For You If… You believe in the power of a strong, stable mother-child connection, and the life-giving potential of a second chance.
4. The Trevor Project
Mission: “The Trevor Project offers accredited life-saving, life-affirming programs and services to LGBTQ youth that create safe, accepting, and inclusive environments over the phone, online, and through text.”
What Your Dollars Do: A charitable gift to The Trevor Project helps at-risk LGBTQ+ youth access the organization’s national, 24/7 crisis line, secure and confidential online chatroom, and crisis intervention text messaging. Your funding also supports the charity’s educational resources for suicide prevention and community resources geared toward raising awareness and fighting for legislative change that benefits the LGBTQ+ community.
This Charity Is Right For You If… You want to fight for a better, more hopeful future for LGBTQ+ kids and their families.
5. Easterseals
Mission: “For more than 100 years, Easterseals has served as an indispensable resource for individuals with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and their families. Together, our 68 affiliates in communities nationwide serve 1.5 million people through high-quality programs including autism services, early intervention, workforce development, adult daycare, and more.”
What Your Dollars Do: Donate to Easterseals, and your dollars will go to work powering programs that serve people of all ages with disabilities. For families with young children specifically, Easterseals offers an early intervention program, evaluating infants and toddlers developmentally and providing supportive services like speech, physical, and occupational therapy.
This Charity Is Right For You If… You are dedicated to seeing children with disabilities and developmental delays get the support they need to succeed.
6. Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Mission: “Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance. We center Black mamas to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice. We envision a world where Black mamas have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy.”
What Your Dollars Do: Trusting in the wisdom and ability of Black women to fight for issues most affecting their communities, Black Mamas Matter Alliance works to “cultivate a deep bench of Black women leaders recognized for their expertise, contribution, and work.” Donate to BMMA and your contributions will help shine a spotlight on the women across the country fighting for improved maternal health outcomes for Black women, centering their voices and strengthening their platforms.
This Charity Is Right For You If… You’re ready to go to work for a safer, healthier motherhood experience for Black women and their babies.
7. Love146
Mission: “We’re working to prevent child trafficking and exploitation, care for survivors, and empower a growing movement. Love is the foundation of our motivation.”
What Your Dollars Do: Love146 is a global human rights charity with programs based in the United States and the United Kingdom. Give today and your donation helps the organization with its three-prong approach to end child trafficking—abroad and right here in the United States, where the organization says it is a booming business. Donations fund prevention and survivor care programs and support the charity in its work to collaborate with international rescue groups to guide young victims to safety. Your generosity brings trauma-informed care, legal aid, and crisis intervention to survivors of child slavery.
This Charity Is Right For You If… You’re focused on bringing an end to the horror that is child trafficking and want an impactful way to help youth heal from past trauma.
8. Sandy Hook Promise
Mission: Sandy Hook Promise envisions a future where children are free from shootings and acts of violence in their schools, homes, and communities.
What Your Dollars Do: Founded by the families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Sandy Hook Promise is taking an active role in ending violence affecting our youngest citizens. Donate to this charity and you can expect your dollars to help provide a no-cost, evidence-based, and comprehensive training program for students and adults aimed at identifying those most likely to cause harm to themselves or others. Sandy Hook Promise also advocates for policy change at the federal and state level to protect the safety and well-being of kids and families.
This Charity Is Right For You If… You’re ready to provide practical solutions for ending the epidemic of gun violence in American schools.
9. Feed the Children
Mission: “Providing hope and resources for those without life’s essentials.”
What Your Dollars Do: Feed the Children works to end hunger and malnutrition in children around the world. But here in the United States, the donations they receive go to work to support kids and their families right in their communities, distributing food donations to local pantries and offering school-based support in areas of need. The organization also responds to communities hard hit by natural disasters, bringing in much-needed food and supplies when families need them most.
This Charity Is Right For You If… You’re committed to providing kids with the healthiest start in life by ensuring they have access to good, nutritious food.
