Bringing Help, Hope, And Happiness To The World Through Non Profit Support

The Beatles once said, or rather sang, “I get by with a little help from my friends…”

And, a familiar African proverb teaches, “it takes a village (to raise a child).”

Both of these common sayings reference one theme - we can’t do this thing called life alone.

We’re all made better, this world is made better, when we come together to support others, do good, and be a light.

When we come alongside our neighbors, friends, and others across the globe, supporting causes we believe in, we become a part of a community, a village of people coming together with one goal in mind - making this world a better place.

And I can think of no better description than this to explain the premise behind the multitude of charities and nonprofits all across the globe working to improve life and circumstances for so many.

But what specific areas of life do these organizations seek to bring aid to?

And how do you choose which organization(s) to support?

We’ll answer each of these questions and more as we explore ways we can come together as friends, as a collective village, seeking to give to others with a common goal of improving this world for all who call it home.

What Is A Nonprofit?

You’ve likely heard of nonprofits, but what does this term really mean?

I’ve found the Council of Nonprofits to explain it best -

“Charitable nonprofits embody the best of America. They provide a way for people to work together for the common good, transforming shared beliefs and hopes into action. They give shape to our boldest dreams, highest ideals, and noblest causes.”

The only thing I’d change about this description is the scope, as there are countless nonprofits with a mission that both begins and reaches far beyond the United States alone.

Even so, the goal is the same.

Nonprofits are organizations that begin with a dream or a vision of helping others in a specific way, then they rely on the charitable donations (most monetary, but some in time and effort as well) of supporters to carry out that mission.

Some common ways nonprofits seek to improve this world include environmental conservation efforts, protecting land, waterways, and habitats, and providing food, clothing, clean water, and shelter for people in need; they can even serve as a means of support or protection for those enduring hardship. And, this only scratches the surface!

With such grand visions, nonprofits often require sizable donations to carry out their efforts.

These donations can come from government grants or giving programs provided by local businesses and large corporations. But, they also require support from us - people like you and I simply seeking ways to give back and make a positive difference in this world.

In fact, individual support is the greatest source of funding for all charities and nonprofits.

In 2023, individual support for nonprofits exceeded $319 billion in the United States alone!

Sounds simple then, right? Google nonprofit organizations, donate, and you’re done.

Actually, like your desire to help, supporting a nonprofit requires a little more depth than that.

Should you simply turn to Google, you’d quickly find there are countless nonprofits to choose from. So, how can you truly know which ones deserve your support?

Which Nonprofits Should You Support?

Okay, we confess, the above question is a bit ambiguous.

Why?

Because, no one can tell you who/what to support. This type of decision is personal, and we all have different beliefs, passions, and desires.

When looking to give back, while there is no shortage of opportunities, there are, in fact, a few ways to narrow down your choices.

1- What’s Your Why?

Choosing the right nonprofit to support largely depends on you.

First, ask yourself this question - why do I want to support a nonprofit?

Then, seek to narrow this down even more.

Most of us support nonprofits because we have a desire to help others, to make a difference.

So then,

• Who do you want to help?
• How often do you wish to contribute?
• How much can you contribute?
• How many nonprofits do you hope to support?

2- Proper Alignment

This falls closely in line with your why, but choosing the right nonprofit(s) to support can also be narrowed down by cause.

What causes are you passionate about?

What missions align with your beliefs and concerns regarding your community, town, state, or the world at large?

I’m a teacher and a mother, so my heart houses a great burden for children.

When I quietly set aside time to reflect and consider ways to give back, my heart and mind almost always go to children - centered around a desire to see these precious ones loved, educated, provided for, and given all they need to succeed in this world.

With such passions, I often find myself supporting teachers by giving towards their needs as they stock their classrooms each year, preparing for the investments they’ll make in the lives of their students.

I also find myself drawn to organizations that build schools in impoverished communities, charities that provide clothes, food, and clean water for children in both American communities as well as others around the globe, and those nonprofits seeking to protect against and rescue those children suffering at and under the hands of those who’ve enslaved them through human/child trafficking.

Now, you might be thinking, those needs would grip just about any heart, and while that may be somewhat true, it’s okay if you’ve been impressed with a passion for other areas/needs.

And truly, this is what’s at the heart of the mission behind every nonprofit.

We’re all different.

If we all supported the same mission, countless others would suffer.

So, what are you personally most passionate about?

Rainforest preservation?

World hunger?

Wildlife conservation?

The list is nearly endless.

And of course, it’s completely okay, and even encouraged, if your passions are diverse.

Which leads to our next thought…planning accordingly so you can contribute effectively.

3- Make A Plan

No matter how much we’d like to, most of us cannot afford to significantly contribute to every nonprofit vision we’re passionate about.

This is why a bit of planning is important, an aspect of your nonprofit selection which can help to stretch your dollar (or time, etc) as far as it can go.

So then, after you’ve identified a few areas you’re most committed to supporting, consider the following:

• Would you prefer to support local, national, or international organizations?
• Would you like to support large charities or small, more community-based organizations?
• How much can you afford to give?
• How often would you like to give?
• How involved would you like to be?
• Do you wish to only give monetarily, or are you looking for a nonprofit where you can volunteer your time and/or talents as well?
• Are there any standards or criteria you would like to affirm regarding the organization prior to any donations? If so, seek to research these items prior to any commitments.
• Aside from the above-mentioned notion of standards, also seek to research the scope, goal, vision, and validity of any and all nonprofit organizations prior to donating.

- What are the goals of the organization you seek to support?
- What are the financials of the group?
- What is the (honest) reputation of the nonprofit you’ve had your eye on?
- Is the nonprofit well managed? Are they actively working towards their intended goal?

Now, after reviewing and carefully considering each of the above areas, you’re likely ready to choose a nonprofit to support.

And, while you can certainly fruitfully search out such endeavors on your own, we’d like to leave you with a few options…

Nonprofit Organizations Making A Difference For Our Planet, People, And Wildlife

Now that we’ve covered most of the whys, hows, and whats pertaining to nonprofit support, we wanted to close things out with a few suggestions.

If you’ve been a Lifeboost customer for long, you likely know we, as a company, enjoy giving back by supporting our local emergency personnel and community servants. We do this through donating coffee and other means of support.

You may also know that many of our team members regularly volunteer at local food banks and pantries, lending a hand to these programs as they serve those in need within our communities (all while donating coffee too, of course).

But, we also seek to support the lives and communities of our coffee farmers.

One way we do this is by supporting Project Alianza, a nonprofit organization which makes education available to children living in the remote and rural areas of Central and South America.

Then, as we’re also passionate about preserving and enhancing our planet (both land and wildlife), we’ve also adopted a Ugandan giraffe and a Sumatran tiger. This has served to both protect these animals and enhance efforts to educate and bring awareness to the dangers they face.

Then, while there are many other organizations we partner with, for time’s sake we’ll conclude with our partnership and support of the Rainforest Trust.

This nonprofit works to preserve our planet’s rainforests, protecting 50 million acres of rainforest habitat and 2,828 critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable species in these areas, including those regions where Lifeboost coffee is grown.

Each time you purchase and enjoy Lifeboost coffee, you are joining us in supporting these worthy causes as a portion of our proceeds go to these charities (and more).

But, if you’d like to explore ways to give to Project Alianza or The Rainforest Trust on your own, you can check out the following:

https://www.projectalianza.org/

https://www.rainforesttrust.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/

Then, if you’re looking for other nonprofits as you consider a variety of ways you can be a part of this incredible global village of active support, here’s a few more options.

*Be sure to check out the links provided for ways to give, donate, or contribute.

1. American Forests https://www.americanforests.org/

American Forests is the oldest nonprofit organization in the United States.

They have been “the pathfinders for creating healthy forests from coast to coast…championed the creation of the US forest service, and have persuaded Congress to provide stable funding for fighting and preventing forest fires.”

Their mission enables them to “deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife.”

2. Eden Projects https://www.edenprojects.org/

Eden Projects is a global nonprofit seeking to partner with local communities to “design and implement landscape preservation projects…[they] are inspiring hope, enhancing biodiversity, and generating long term socio economic benefits to strengthen the resilience of people and the planet.”

3. OUR Rescue https://ourrescue.org/

Formerly known as Operation Underground Railroad, OUR Rescue is a nonprofit organization that “leads the fight against child sexual exploitation and human trafficking worldwide.”

OUR Rescue collaborates with law enforcement agencies around the world to aid in training for such agencies, the identification of victims of exploitation, rescue operations, providing care for survivors, raising awareness of this issue, and much more.

4. Charity: Water https://www.charitywater.org/

Did you know that nearly 2 billion people across the globe do not have access to clean drinking water?

Charity: Water is a nonprofit which focuses on rural areas without access to clean drinking water, working with local partner organizations to bring clean water to those regions with the most vulnerable populations and the greatest needs.

Since 2006, they’ve worked on 154,000 water projects, serving 29 countries and 18,608,090 people.

5. World Wildlife Fund https://www.worldwildlife.org/

The World Wildlife Fund “works to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife, collaborating with partners from local to global levels in nearly 100 countries.”

Their approach to conservation not only looks at the benefits that nature can provide to humans, but it also values the role communities play in preserving their own land(s) and water(s).

They seek to protect a wide variety of habitats and the wildlife which live in and rely on such areas, “from rainforests to reefs.”

6. Feeding America https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america

For most people living in America, we can rightfully, and thankfully, admit that we’re abundantly blessed. However, as true as this may be, sometimes we can forget that many within our own nation are struggling.

In 2022, nearly 49 million people relied on nonprofit organizations like Feeding America for food assistance.

“People experience food insecurity in every community.”

Feeding America works to “improve access to nutritious food, expand economic security, and advocate for policies that make it easier for people to get the food they need.”

They are a part of a “nationwide network of (over 200) food banks, food pantries, community based organizations, and 60,000 meal programs in the United States to create a future where no one is hungry.”

Feeding America also partners with organizations working to address the underlying causes of hunger, tackling the root issues so people can not only overcome hunger, but thrive in each community all across our nation.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.

References:

https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/what-nonprofit

https://www.gofundme.com/c/blog/nonprofit-funding-sources#

https://www.mindtools.com/aas9koo/how-to-choose-a-nonprofit-or-charity-to-support

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/world-water-day-two-billion-people-still-lack-access-safely-managed-water#