Giving Back Through Charity and Political Action

 

 

For this lab you are asked to either engage in political action of some form or to give to charity.  Political action and charitable giving can take many forms.  You can volunteer your time, donate money, sign petitions, give unwanted items to thrift stores, write letters, etc..   Below are some links to charities and political action groups.  You need not restrict yourself to the groups listed below.  The lists are merely way to get you started.  The charities listed below were all ranked A- or above by The American Institute of Philanthropy or a 3 or 4 star rating on Charity Navigator.  In general this means that 80% or more of money raised goes towards the cause, and that they are relatively effective fund raisers.  Entries with a red star are volunteer or non-monetary actions.  Political action links were chosen based solely on my personal knowledge.  Suggestions for either group are welcome.  NOTE: CALIFORNIA FAIR SHARE ACT INFORMATION AND PETITION LINK AT BOTTOM OF PAGE

To complete the assignment:

(1) Visit the charity evaluation sites linked above (The American Institute of Philanthrophy and the Charity Navigator).  Read the material on charity evaluation.  This information is on the pages linked below.  If you normally give to a charity, look-up their rating on each site.
(2) Go to at least 3 charity sites and  at least 3 political action sites.  Your sites need not be on this list.
(3) Choose a charity or political action site and take action.  Entries with a red star are volunteer or non-monetary actions.
(4) Go to beachboard and answer the questions on the CPA assignment. 

 

Charity Evaluation Criteria

The American Institute of Philanthrophy Evaluation Page Charity Navigator Evaluation Page

 

Charities

Oxfam Volunteer Match *
American Social Health Association United Negro College Fund
International Planned Parenthood Federation - Western Hemisphere Wildlife Conservation Society
The Asia Foundation American Indian College Fund
Breast Cancer Research Foundation Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation of America
Children’s Defense Fund Christian Foundation for Children and Aging
American Civil Liberties Union Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Doctors Without Borders  Goodwill Industries of Southern California *
Out of The Closet (thrift store) * Conservation Fund
The Sierra Club Education fund To Stop Gun Violence
Hispanic Scholarship Fund National Alliance to End Homelessness
MADRE (human rights) International Rescue Committee
The Carter Center International Medical Corps
World Education PATH (world health)
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America * Scholarship America
Heifer International World Education

 

Political Action

Care2 Online Petitions Site* Petitions Online*
Petitions.org The California Green Party
Amnesty International CALPIRG
NORML Moveon.org
ACLU Project Vote Smart
Register to Vote in CA True Majority
Citizens Against Government Waste Opensecrets.org
OMB Watch Government Accountability Organization
California Democratic Party The California Republican Party
Human Rights Watch California Fair Share Act Pedro Nava Page   California Fair Share Tax Petition *