Donating to green non-profits

By Lori Huskey

We’ve all heard of non-profits that call themselves green but what exactly does that mean? If you’re interested in becoming green, you can make changes in your daily living. Another way to help the green campaign is by giving money to non-profits, but you’ll probably want to know which one best suits your interest. Use this green-giving compass to guide you through your choices.

If you’re too broke to be a philanthropist, don’t worry because you don’t need to be Bill Gates. Those who work in the non-profit field abide to the economic theory that giving provides a personal harmony money can’t buy.

Taken from the Mindful Momma website, here are some organizations to consider:


Organic Consumers Association - The OCA is a grass-roots non-profit that campaigns for health, justice and sustainability. Their central focus is building a healthy, equitable, and sustainable system of food production and consumption but in broader terms they promote the views and interests of the nation's estimated 50 million organic and socially responsible consumers. They've got a lot of really important campaigns including:

• SOS (Safeguard Organic Standards) - mobilizes consumers to pressure the USDA and organic companies to preserve strict organic standards.
• Breaking the Chains - challenges industrial agriculture, corporate globalization, and the Wal-Martization of the economy, and inspires consumers to "Buy Local, Organic, and Fair Made."
• Appetite for a Change - lobbys to reduce children's exposure to pesticides, toxins and junk food - with a focus on school lunch programs.
• Coming Clean - striving for organic integrity in body care products.
• Clothes for a Change - working with farmers, consumers, and companies to promote organics and Fair Trade in the clothing sector.

Environmental Working Group - The EWG is a non-profit environmental research organization based in Washington, DC. They lobby heavily on Capital Hill to protect our health and that of the environment. They also provide some really great consumer resources - I use these all the time!

• Skin Deep Cosmetic Database - a safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products.
• Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce - a ranking of fruits and vegetables from highest to lowest levels of pesticides.
• Tuna Calculator - calculates the maximum amount of tuna you can safely eat based on your weight.

Co-op America - a nonprofit consumer organization, promoting environmental sustainability, social justice, and economic justice. Their strength is in mobilizing people - consumers, workers, business leaders and investors - to take personal and collective action. Here are just a few of the important campaigns and valuable resources they provide:

• The National Green Pages - a directory of screened and approved green businesses.
• The Climate Action Campaign - pressures major polluters in the utility, automotive, and oil and gas industries to take climate change seriously.
• Fair Trade Alliance and Guide to Fair Trade - promoting economic justice for farmers and artisans.
• A Guide to Ending Sweatshops - sweatshop-free resources and information.

Center for Health, Environment and Justice - The CHEJ helps protect us from environmental hazards - they do things like clean up toxic waste sites, lobby for corporate They are especially passionate about working for kids and for communities at risk. Just a few of the things the CHEJ has done for us:

• PVC: The Poison Plastic - a campaign working to phase out PVC, the most dangerous plastic to our health and environment. You may have seen the excellent Sam Suds video - warning about the dangers of PVC in bath toys.
• Green Flag Schools - a program for environmental leadership where students learn environmental concepts, investigate their schools, and advocate for school-wide reforms to make their schools safer and healthier.
• Childproofing Our Communities - CPOC educates and empowers communities to protect children from toxic exposures in the places where they play, pray, learn and grow.