I firmly believe in giving back to the community, so for every project for which I am paid (and a request to donate is received), I will donate 10% of my profits to one of the following charities. Once you have contracted with me, please choose the charity you’d like me to donate to. If there is another charity that is near and dear to you, I will consider donating to that. Social justice organizations do great work, so if there is one that speaks to you, let me know.

Bridge Communities
Mark Milligan, co-founder of Bridge Communities, is a family friend. Bridge began in the early ’90s as an organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence escape from a cycle of violence and poverty with the help of wraparound services, including housing, mentoring, counseling, education, budgeting and parenting courses, and more. Since then, they have expanded to help families who are homeless for a variety of reasons. I highly recommend this organization if you’re looking for a place to donate.

“Bridge Communities is a dynamic, grassroots, non-profit organization committed to transforming the lives of homeless families through partnering with talented, resourceful individuals and groups in our community. Our program of housing, mentoring and empowering families focuses on moving them towards a goal of self sufficiency.”

The Trevor Project
“Two decades ago, we responded to a health crisis. Now we’re building a safer, more inclusive world. LGBTQ young people are four times more likely to attempt suicide, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death among all young people in the US.” Their mission is, “to end suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer 
& questioning young people.”

The Innocence Project
“The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. Founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the organization is now an independent nonprofit. Our work is guided by science and grounded in antiracism.”

Juvenile Law Center
“Juvenile Law Center promotes policies to ensure that youth leaving juvenile facilities are swiftly re-enrolled in an appropriate school; stay on track to graduate; and pursue postsecondary education, training, and employment opportunities.”

Brave Space Alliance
“A Black- and trans-led LGBTQ+ center on Chicago’s South Side, the Brave Space Alliance weaves together mutual aid programs. These programs provide food, housing, and dynamic community-building initiatives that help grow a thriving BIPOC queer community. They stress a “for us by us” model that is culturally competent and affirming for everyone who walks through their doors.”

Black Girls Code

“Black geeks unite! Black Girls Code was founded by self-described nerdy mom Kimberly Bryant to create more opportunities for Black girls in STEM. This national organization is actively training 1 million girls to “lead, innovate, and create” in the tech sector by 2040 and has chapters across the country. With programming like “Black art through Javascript” summer camp and a partnership with NASA for girls to explore Mars with Google Pro, we’d say their future is very, very bright.”

CASA for Children
“National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, together with its state and local members, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every abused and neglected child in the United States can be safe, has a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive.”

The Full Frame Initiative
When I first learned about this organization, I couldn’t believe how their mission and work matched up with my values and goals. Their mission is powerful, and their work is, for lack of a better word, amazing. Check them out, and please, pass on their information.

“The mission of the Full Frame Initiative is to change systems so that people and communities experiencing poverty, violence and trauma have the tools, supports and resources they need to thrive.”

Zen Hospice Project
“Our mission is to help change the experience of dying and caregiving. We create space for living that offers the opportunity for individuals, their loved ones and caregivers to find comfort, connection, and healing in this shared human experience. Through our pioneering model of care, we inspire each other to live fully.”

New Orleans Family Justice Center
“New Orleans Family Justice Center is a partnership of agencies dedicated to ending family violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and stalking through prevention and coordinated response by providing comprehensive client-centered, empowerment services in a single location.”

Habitat for Humanity
“Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.”

A Family for Every Child
“The mission of Heart Gallery of America® Inc. is to facilitate and utilize the power of photography to capture the individuality and dignity of children living in foster care, in order to advocate for their permanency, raise public awareness about their needs, and obtain support to help meet those needs. An integral part of honoring this mission is to provide assistance and resources to Heart Gallery chapters nationwide to help them achieve parallel goals for the waiting children they represent.”

R33M – The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation to End Pediatric Brain Cancer
“The Ross K. MacNeill Foundation’s mission is to end pediatric brain cancer by March 8, 2023.”

America’s Second Harvest
The America’s Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, Kids Cafés, Community Kitchens and Back Pack Programs. Each year, the America’s Second Harvest Network provides food assistance to more than 25 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors.

Bryan & Amanda Bickell Foundation
“Dedicated to creating awareness for the compassionate, loyal, and misunderstood dogs labeled “pit bulls”, and working with them to assist abused children.”

The Morton Arboretum
“The mission of The Morton Arboretum is to collect and study trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world, to display them across naturally beautiful landscapes for people to study and enjoy, and to learn how to grow them in ways that enhance our environment. Our goal is to encourage the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.”

The American Cancer Society
“ACS Mission Statement: The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.”

The American Heart Association
“The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is: “Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.””

Food for the Poor
“Food For The Poor raises funds and provides direct relief assistance to the poor, usually by purchasing specifically requested materials and distributing them through the churches and charity organizations already operating in areas of need. In this way, the organization serves the poor with dignity and ensures the most appropriate use of donors’ funds.”

The National Wildlife Federation
NWF’s mission: “National Wildlife Federation inspires Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.”

The Humane Society of the United States
“The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest and most effective animal protection organization—backed by 10 million Americans, or one in every 30. Established in 1954, The HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals—a world that will also benefit people. We are America’s mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the human-animal bond. Our mission statement: Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty.”

The Nature Conservancy
“The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.”

The National Audubon Society
The Audubon Society’s mission is: “To conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.”