“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
While individually we can do everything within our power to ensure that our quality of life is of the highest caliber possible, there exists an array of issues that affects us on a larger scale such as climate change, plastic pollution, biodiversity loss, food and water insecurity, and many more. In order to exact some modicum of change or implement feasible solutions to combat these issues, it requires more manpower and access to a greater number of resources that can only be achieved through collectivism action. Luckily there already exist a few large entities or non-profits that almost everyone can join both locally and globally.
Non-profits are organizations that are dedicated to making the world a better place. They work on a wide range of issues, from poverty to environmental protection to education. There are many benefits to joining a non-profit, including:
- Making a difference in the world: When you join a non-profit, you are working to make a difference in the world. You are helping to solve some of the most pressing problems facing our society.
- Gaining new skills and experience: Non-profits often offer opportunities to learn new skills and gain experience. This can be helpful for your career, and it can also be personally rewarding.
- Meeting new people: Non-profits are a great way to meet new people who share your interests. You can make lifelong friends and build a strong network of support.
- Feeling good about yourself: When you give back to others, it makes you feel good about yourself. You feel like you are making a difference, and you feel connected to something larger than yourself.
Now, I know time precious for each of us and at times we simply feel like there isn’t any left to spare as we deal with our day-to-day situations. But the great thing about non-profits is that even if you can’t physically join the “good fight”, you can still do your part through simply donating any dollar amount that you can spare for the cause. Did I mention that Non-profits are a great way to exercise eco-friendly spending?
So, If you’re curious of where to find a good starting point in your own individual environmental philanthropy, below are a list of a few non-profits who’s missions are all about preserving, protecting, and improving the world that we live in today and they are always welcoming of new faces with a purpose.
The Nature Conservancy is a global non-profit organization that works to protect nature. They have a wide range of programs, including land conservation, water protection, and climate change mitigation. The Nature Conservancy has been working since 1951 to protect more than 125 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers and streams. They also work to protect marine ecosystems and endangered species.
Their work is guided by science, and they use a variety of tools to conserve land and water, including:
- Acquisition: TNC buys land to protect it from development.
- Conservation easements: TNC works with landowners to put conservation easements on their land, which means that the land can never be developed.
- Public-private partnerships: TNC works with governments and other organizations to conserve land and water.
- Science and advocacy: TNC uses science to inform their conservation work, and they advocate for policies that protect the environment.
The Sierra Club is a US-based non-profit organization founded in 1892 by John Muir, that advocates for environmental protection. They have a long history of fighting for clean air, water, and wilderness protection. The organization has been involved in many landmark environmental victories, including the passage of the Wilderness Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act. The organization has over 3.5 million members and supporters, and it is a leading force in the fight to protect our planet.
National Audubon Society is an environmental organization that works to conserve birds and their habitats. It was founded in 1905 by George Bird Grinnell, Harriet Hemenway, and T. Gilbert Pearson. The organization’s mission is to “save the birds, conserve the places they need, connect people with nature, and inspire action.” They have a network of chapters across the US that work on a variety of conservation issues.
Environmental Defense Fund is a non-profit organization that works to protect the environment through research, advocacy, and legal action.The Environmental Defense Fund has been working to protect the planet since 1967. The organization uses science, economics, and law to find solutions to the most pressing environmental problems, including climate change, clean energy, and healthy oceans. One of their many accomplishments includes organizing the cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases. This particular program is a market-based approach to reducing greenhouse gas by setting a limit, or cap, on the total amount of pollution that can be emitted. Companies that emit less than their allotted amount of pollution can sell their excess emissions permits to companies that emit more than their allotted amount.
Clean Water Action is a non-profit organization that works to protect clean water. They have a focus on water pollution, watershed protection, and drinking water quality. Clean Water Action has been instrumental in passing many of the most important clean water laws in the United States, including the Safe Drinking Water Act and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
The Ocean Conservancy is a non-profit organization that works to protect the ocean. The Ocean Conservancy was founded in 1972, and they have been working to protect the oceans ever since. They have been very instrumental in passing many of the most important ocean conservation laws in the United States, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Here are some of the specific goals that The Ocean Conservancy is working towards:
- Reduce plastic pollution in the ocean by 50% by 2030.
- Protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.
- Reduce overfishing by 50% by 2030.
- Engage 100 million people in ocean conservation by 2030.
World Wildlife Fund is an international non-profit organization that works to protect wildlife and their habitats. They have a focus on endangered species, habitat conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources. The WWF was founded in 1961 by a group of scientists and conservationists who were concerned about the growing threats to the world’s wildlife. They are one of the world’s largest and most respected environmental organizations, with over 5 million supporters worldwide.
By joining one of these organizations, you can make a difference in the fight to protect our planet.