Charity organizations
Sometimes it's hard to decide which charity to donate to. This post contains all the charity organizations listed in the sidebar, with some more info and their rating at Charity Navigator to help you make that choice!
General
Gulf Coast Fund
If you can't decide which charity to give to, this might be the one to consider. The Gulf Coast Fund is a general fund that divides the money they receive between several charities working directly in the Gulf. An extensive list can be found on their website.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Charities dedicated to helping people
Florida Philanthropic Network
This organization works on promoting and developing philanthropy in Florida through research, education and public policy. Their site contains an extensive list on organizations helping out in the Gulf.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Oxfam America
Oxfam America strives to create long-lasting solutions for poverty, hunger, and social injustice. They work to provide financial relief and support for the communities living by the Gulf of Mexico.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Greater New Orleans Foundation
The Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund of the Greater New Orleans Foundation focuses on helping fishermen and their families in the New Orleans area.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans
The Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans has five relief centers where affected families can receive food vouchers, crisis counseling, and other emergency supplies.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Second Harvest Food Bank
The Second Harvest Food Bank provides emergency food boxes to fishermen and their families who are affected by the oil spill. They work on both short-term and long-term help.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Charities dedicated to helping animals
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation helped with the initial response to the oil spill, and hasn't left since. The money donated to their Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund is used for various efforts:
Greenpeace
Greenpeace's mission is to nurture and protect wildlife all around the globe. They have outposts in many different countries. Obviously they're also present to provide relief for the oil spill victims.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is the largest non-profit wild-bird hospital in the United States. For years, they have been taking care of wounded birds, and rehabilitating them in the wild. They work to save the birds affected by the oil spill.
Charity Navigator rating: two stars
The Florida Aquarium
The staff of the Florida Aquarium is helping to save animals and clean up beaches. They take care of the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals, river otters, sea turtles, and birds.
Take care: this organization only accepts donations of at least $25.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
Audubon Nature Institute
The Audubon experts are working at the Gulf to rescue rehabilitate marine mammals and sea turtles. By donating, you can help in the rescue and treatment of these animals.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
American Humane
American Humane has been working on protecting animals since 1877. Many families have been forced to give up their pets because of the oil spill, and this organization tries to help this sadly-overlooked group of victims.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
Louisiana SPCA
The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals has been dedicated to animal welfare since 1888. Like American Humane, they too have created a fund to help the pets whose owners were forced to give them up.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
Charities dedicated to helping the environment
(Note that many of these organizations also help animals)
Matter of Trust
Matter of Trust 's oil spill program collects hair to make hair mats and hair booms, which can be used to stop the oil from spreading. They are in contact with many hair salons throughout the USA. Right now they are only accepting monetary donations, since they have run out of storage space.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
As the name says, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana's mission is to protect and restore coastal Louisiana. They are actively working to restore the habitats that have been affected by the oil spill.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Gulf Restoration Network
The mission of the Gulf Restoration Network is to unite and empower people to protect and restore the natural resources of the Gulf.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Oceana
Oceana is the largest international organization focusing solely on ocean conservation. They are launching a research expedition to uncover the impact of the oil spill on the life in the Gulf of Mexico.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Earthjustice
Earthjustice is dedicated to protecting the places, environment and wildlife of the planet. They are taking court action against BP to prevent another disaster like the one we're witnessing now.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
If I've made any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments. We're always looking for other charity organizations we might have missed, so if there's an organization you feel belongs on this list, let us know here!
General
Gulf Coast Fund
If you can't decide which charity to give to, this might be the one to consider. The Gulf Coast Fund is a general fund that divides the money they receive between several charities working directly in the Gulf. An extensive list can be found on their website.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Charities dedicated to helping people
Florida Philanthropic Network
This organization works on promoting and developing philanthropy in Florida through research, education and public policy. Their site contains an extensive list on organizations helping out in the Gulf.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Oxfam America
Oxfam America strives to create long-lasting solutions for poverty, hunger, and social injustice. They work to provide financial relief and support for the communities living by the Gulf of Mexico.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Greater New Orleans Foundation
The Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund of the Greater New Orleans Foundation focuses on helping fishermen and their families in the New Orleans area.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans
The Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans has five relief centers where affected families can receive food vouchers, crisis counseling, and other emergency supplies.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Second Harvest Food Bank
The Second Harvest Food Bank provides emergency food boxes to fishermen and their families who are affected by the oil spill. They work on both short-term and long-term help.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Charities dedicated to helping animals
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation helped with the initial response to the oil spill, and hasn't left since. The money donated to their Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund is used for various efforts:
- Development and deployment of surveillance teams
- Restoration of nesting and breeding grounds
- Public education
- Policy work at national and state level
Greenpeace
Greenpeace's mission is to nurture and protect wildlife all around the globe. They have outposts in many different countries. Obviously they're also present to provide relief for the oil spill victims.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is the largest non-profit wild-bird hospital in the United States. For years, they have been taking care of wounded birds, and rehabilitating them in the wild. They work to save the birds affected by the oil spill.
Charity Navigator rating: two stars
The Florida Aquarium
The staff of the Florida Aquarium is helping to save animals and clean up beaches. They take care of the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals, river otters, sea turtles, and birds.
Take care: this organization only accepts donations of at least $25.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
Audubon Nature Institute
The Audubon experts are working at the Gulf to rescue rehabilitate marine mammals and sea turtles. By donating, you can help in the rescue and treatment of these animals.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
American Humane
American Humane has been working on protecting animals since 1877. Many families have been forced to give up their pets because of the oil spill, and this organization tries to help this sadly-overlooked group of victims.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
Louisiana SPCA
The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals has been dedicated to animal welfare since 1888. Like American Humane, they too have created a fund to help the pets whose owners were forced to give them up.
Charity Navigator rating: three stars
Charities dedicated to helping the environment
(Note that many of these organizations also help animals)
Matter of Trust
Matter of Trust 's oil spill program collects hair to make hair mats and hair booms, which can be used to stop the oil from spreading. They are in contact with many hair salons throughout the USA. Right now they are only accepting monetary donations, since they have run out of storage space.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
As the name says, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana's mission is to protect and restore coastal Louisiana. They are actively working to restore the habitats that have been affected by the oil spill.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Gulf Restoration Network
The mission of the Gulf Restoration Network is to unite and empower people to protect and restore the natural resources of the Gulf.
Charity Navigator rating: no entry
Oceana
Oceana is the largest international organization focusing solely on ocean conservation. They are launching a research expedition to uncover the impact of the oil spill on the life in the Gulf of Mexico.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
Earthjustice
Earthjustice is dedicated to protecting the places, environment and wildlife of the planet. They are taking court action against BP to prevent another disaster like the one we're witnessing now.
Charity Navigator rating: four stars
If I've made any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments. We're always looking for other charity organizations we might have missed, so if there's an organization you feel belongs on this list, let us know here!