As the world begins to settle back into its new normal in light of the pandemic, the impact of nonprofits is more important than ever. While 2020 saw drops in charitable donations, 2021 saw people with extra cash from stimulus checks and getting rehired after being let go during shutdowns, leading to higher than average donations. With this in mind, below, we’ll give an overview of a few of the top charities of 2021, as reported by Forbes. This list was measured only considering private donations, not government grants or other forms of income.
United Way Worldwide
United Way Worldwide is made up of many local chapters that invest in their communities. This takes place through organizing volunteer opportunities to help meet local needs, amplifying local voices to influence public policies, and utilizing donor income to support influential initiatives.
Feeding America
Feeding America is focused on domestic hunger relief, working to reduce food insecurity and ensure every American has access to nutritious food. They strive to reduce food waste, ensure the safety of food distributed by foodbanks, raise awareness and conduct research to help find the best solutions to hunger in America.
The Salvation Army
You may know them by their thrift stores, but The Salvation Army also does a multitude of things for communities around the world, from disaster relief to job training. They assess community needs, build programs to meet them, and invest in those local communities.
St. Jude Children’s Research hospital
St. Jude is a research hospital that focuses on finding cures and preventative measures for childhood diseases while treating patients free of charge, thanks to generous donors.
Direct Relief
Direct Relief is an international medical relief organization that sends medical resources to doctors and nurses working with the most vulnerable people in communities with limited resources.
Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity is well-known worldwide for its efforts to provide livable homes for people in need. This ranges from whole new, affordable construction projects to improving homes for aging individuals or people with disabilities to accommodate needs. Other efforts include disaster relief, education initiatives, and neighborhood partnerships.