11 of Our Favorite Nonprofits to Donate to & Why

In a world where every donation counts, choosing the right nonprofit can make all the difference. We asked our network, in collaboration with Featured, to share their top picks for charitable organizations. This article features eleven expert insights from across an array of industries, starting with support for Valley Guardians in Phoenix and concluding with partnering with UNICEF for education. Discover the impactful reasons behind each recommendation and find your next cause to support.

• Support Valley Guardians in Phoenix
• Donate to The King's Trust
• Enhance Biodiversity with WWF
• Support Feeding America's Fight Against Hunger
• Aid Crisis Relief with Doctors Without Borders
• Back the Arbor Day Foundation
• Contribute to Soles4Souls
• Provide Clean Water with Charity: Water
• Bridge the Digital Divide with Code.org
• Build Homes with Habitat for Humanity
• Partner with UNICEF for Education

Support Valley Guardians in Phoenix

Valley Guardians. It's a hyper-local charity in Phoenix, Arizona, that is all about helping kids reach their full potential by providing education, mentorship, and even support through college!

Loren Howard, Founder, Prime Plus Mortgages

Donate to The King's Trust

Growing up in a poor area of the country in the '90s meant that I was bound for low-paid work for the rest of my life. Thankfully, with the help of some mentorship, I was able to develop myself to go to university and start a career in web design. Because of this, I am a big supporter of charities, like The King's Trust in the U.K., who help young people to gain the confidence and vision they need to build a successful life, regardless of their background.

Matt Saunders, Web Designer, Charity Box

Enhance Biodiversity with WWF

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a notable non-profit that focuses on global biodiversity and sustainable practices. Donating to WWF enhances a business's brand image and aligns it with environmentally conscious consumers. This partnership showcases the company's commitment to social responsibility and can lead to beneficial collaborations, attracting like-minded partners and clientele who prioritize sustainability.

Mohammed Kamal, Business Development Manager, Olavivo

Support Feeding America's Fight Against Hunger

Feeding America is doing incredible work in the fight against hunger in the U.S., and I love how impactful their efforts are. They run a huge network of food banks that reach millions of people struggling with food insecurity, which is just heartbreaking to think about.

What really draws me to Feeding America is their commitment to tackling not just the symptoms of hunger but also its root causes. They have some cool initiatives, like food-rescue programs that take surplus food from farms and restaurants and get it straight to those who need it most. It's inspiring to see them approach the issue from different angles, making sure no one goes hungry.

I remember reading about how they stepped up during the pandemic, distributing over 6 billion meals in just one year! Knowing that my donations help support such a vital mission gives me a real sense of purpose.

I also appreciate how transparent they are about their operations. They share exactly how donations are used, which builds trust and makes me feel good about where my money is going.

Kate Dzhevaga, CMO, Head of Growth, SYMVOLT

Aid Crisis Relief with Doctors Without Borders

My favorite non-profit to support is Doctors Without Borders because of their unwavering commitment to providing medical assistance in crises.

They work in some of the most challenging environments worldwide, from conflict zones to areas impacted by natural disasters and epidemics. I admire their readiness to go wherever they're needed most, often arriving first and staying as long as necessary to help vulnerable populations.

Furthermore, what truly resonates with me about them is their dedication to neutrality and independence. They operate without political, economic, or religious influence, which allows them to focus entirely on serving people based solely on medical needs. This approach means they can reach communities that might otherwise be neglected, ensuring that aid gets to those who need it most without outside agendas interfering.

Overall, I appreciate their transparency and efficiency with donations.

Peter Bryla, Senior Community Manager, Resume-Now

Back the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a fantastic organization to support for so many reasons. They do more than take money and plant trees with it. They give funding to indigenous forestry grants, coordinate tree-planting events in communities, and educate the public. I have been donating to this organization for about 15 years—personally and through my business. As a marketing strategist, I also admire many of their clever marketing campaigns.

During my college years, I took a class about nonprofit management. One of the big takeaways for me was understanding how money is spent by a nonprofit organization—salaries, overhead cost, and then the actual cause. Understanding this structure caused me to evaluate where I donate my time and money more closely. Not all of these charitable organizations are using most of their donations to support the cause they stand for. Unfortunately, some are more concerned with paying executives high salaries and bonuses.

Before you decide how to spend your hard-earned money, use one of the many online tools such as Charity Navigator or Give.org from the Better Business Bureau. These websites help evaluate nonprofit organizations based on a variety of things, including how money is spent and truthfulness in their marketing materials.

Candice DeRiso, Owner, Beckmann Collaborative, LLC

Contribute to Soles4Souls

Soles4Souls! This drive is near and dear to our hearts, as we have been working with them for over a decade. Soles4Souls makes it easy to work with their team and makes it easy to make a real impact by doing something as simple as donating old clothes and shoes that you no longer use. Plus, all you need to do is bring your items to someone who is participating in their drives, and they take care of the rest! 

Not only does this support those who are in need of essentials like clothes and shoes, but it also keeps unwanted items out of landfills. Soles4Souls has donated over 103 million items over the years, and while we contribute a small part, every bit counts! Our customers get excited about this drive year after year. After over 10 years of participation, we can't wait to keep the momentum going. Together, we can make a real difference while fostering community and sustainability!

Katie Orr, Dentist, Dr. Katie Orr Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Provide Clean Water with Charity: Water

My favorite nonprofit to donate to is Charity: Water. Their mission to provide clean drinking water to communities in need resonates deeply because access to safe water is essential for health, education, and economic growth. Without clean water, families spend hours collecting it each day, often from unsafe sources, which impacts their ability to work or go to school. 

Charity: Water's transparency is another reason I support them—they're committed to showing exactly where donations go, using GPS tracking and detailed project updates. Knowing that my contribution helps transform lives by providing something as fundamental as clean water makes it a cause I'm proud to support.

Ramzy Humsi, Founder & CEO, Vortex Ranker

Bridge the Digital Divide with Code.org

Code.org captured my heart by bridging the digital divide in underserved communities. Teaching young minds to code mirrors our agency's mission of making technology accessible. It's like planting digital seeds that grow into future innovators.

Our team witnessed this impact firsthand when volunteering at a local coding workshop. Seeing a student's eyes light up after creating their first web page reminded me of my own journey. Last year, five students from their program joined our internship initiative, bringing fresh perspectives to our projects.

Supporting tech education creates ripples beyond donations. Each new coder represents potential innovation and progress in our digital world. This organization doesn't just teach coding—it opens doors to endless possibilities for the next generation.

Harmanjit Singh, Founder and CEO, Origin Web Studios

Build Homes with Habitat for Humanity

My favorite non-profit to donate to is Habitat for Humanity. As someone who works closely with contractors and builders, I have a deep appreciation for how they help families build affordable housing. It's not just about providing a roof over someone's head—it's about offering stability, security, and a place where future generations can thrive. I also admire how Habitat empowers volunteers and communities to come together and create something tangible that changes lives. That hands-on, collaborative approach really speaks to me, and it's fulfilling to know that even a small donation can help put tools in the hands of people building a better future.

Michael Benoit, Founder and Insurance Expert, ContractorBond

Partner with UNICEF for Education

My grandfather was a great mathematician, author, and professor, teaching and authoring mathematics books between Moldova and Romania. Before his passing, he was honored as the Times Man of the Year in Moldova for his achievements and contributions to the field.

In short, he was a great man and has passed on his love for education and pursuit of knowledge to me. As I grew older, I learned that this pursuit was not open to everyone and that access to education was limited by circumstances children did not choose.

For the past 15 years of my life, I have chosen UNICEF as one of the primary non-profits I donate to. When my career permits, I also partner with them on meaningful campaigns. For example, when I was working at HSBC, I partnered with UNICEF in Hong Kong on an education donation drive, as well as helping them digitize their donation processes as I was responsible for our mobile payments product portfolio.


Adriana Lica, CoFounder, Stella

At Fox Advancement, we work with non-profits on their capital campaigns. We're experts on Vision Impact Alignment, Feasibility Studies, and Campaign Implementation. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with your capital campaign pain points, we'd love to offer you solutions!