Women-Led Charities to Donate to During The Holidays
The holidays are a perfect time to support your charities and give back to causes you believe in. We found six incredible women-led organizations working hard to change the lives of girls and women while having a positive impact on their communities.
In 2012, founder Joy Lindsay lost her younger sister in a tragic gun accident. Joy became determined to preserve her sister’s legacy. Butterfly Dreamz is a foundation that supports young women through writing and collaborating on books, receiving mentorship from female leaders, and various opportunities for leadership development. It’s a place for girls to hone their communication skills, gain access to a network of inspiring women, and learn that they can change the world. The foundation says they see every girl as a leader, and we prove what's possible for girls by disrupting the status quo.
Sports can save lives by giving young girls a safe place, a community, and a way to express their energy and talents. Dream Big! helps girls from low-income situations by providing them with the essential items and fees necessary to participate in sports and physical activities. This program facilitates initiatives that contribute to girls’ health, education, and overall well-being who otherwise would not have the support they need to play.
FreeFrom comprises queer, trans, immigrant, and BIPOC survivors of intimate partner violence and financial insecurity. They envision “a world in which all survivors can build the wealth and financial security necessary to support their individual, intergenerational, and community healing.”
Prospera partners with Latina entrepreneurs to launch businesses within their communities while fostering cooperation, economic independence, and well-being in immigrant communities. Prospera envisions “a vibrant ecosystem of Latina-owned businesses cooperating to transform communities and local economies and building prosperity for the benefit of all.”
Political powerhouse Reshma Saujani was the first Indian American woman to run for Congress back in 2010. She founded Girls Who Code to support girls as they achieve gender parity in computer sciences. Since 2012, the organization has reached over 90,000 girls of all backgrounds in all 50 states.
GirlTrek is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country that advocates for the health of African American women and girls. Established in 2011 by college friends Morgan T. Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, their mission is to “pioneer a health movement for African-American women and girls grounded in civil rights history and principles through walking campaigns, community leadership, and health advocacy.”
High school students Nadya Okamoto and Vincent Forand founded Period in 2014 after Nadya experienced homelessness first hand. She realized the immense demand for feminine hygiene products among homeless women and often neglected resources. Period’s overall mission is explored in three parts: serve, educate, and advocate.
Founded by the family of Yeardley Love, a victim of domestic violence who her ex-boyfriend killed, this charity was created in her honor. They seek to end abusive relationships by educating individuals on the foundations of healthy relationships versus unhealthy relationships. One Love is working to change the conversation and educate the greater community to foster mechanisms that support both partners and provide the tools and resources to manage issues within the home.
