What do Charities actually do with the money we give them
Climate Change Charities use donations for:
Conservation & Nature Protection
- Planting trees and restoring forests to capture carbon and protect biodiversity.
- Protecting ecosystems such as wetlands, oceans, and rainforests that naturally absorb greenhouse gases.
- Supporting wildlife conservation, since climate change affects habitats and species survival.
Clean Energy & Technology
- Funding renewable energy projects (solar panels, wind farms) in communities.
- Supporting research and innovation in low-carbon technologies.
- Helping developing countries transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources.
Education & Advocacy
- Raising awareness through campaigns about climate-friendly habits and policy changes.
- Advocating for stronger climate policies by lobbying governments and international bodies.
- Educating communities on sustainable practices, from farming to waste reduction.
Community Resilience & Justice
- Helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate impacts like floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
- Providing clean water, sustainable farming tools, and disaster relief in areas most affected by climate change.
- Promoting climate justice, ensuring wealthier nations and corporations bear more responsibility.
Plastic Pollution Charities use donations for:
Cleanups
- Beach, river, and ocean cleanups: Organizing volunteer or paid crews to collect plastic waste.
- Community waste removal programs: Providing bins, tools, and logistics for safe plastic disposal.
Recycling & Alternatives
- Improving recycling systems in places where infrastructure is poor or non-existent.
- Supporting innovations like biodegradable packaging, refill stations, or reusable product systems.
- Partnering with businesses to reduce single-use plastic use.
Education & Awareness
- Running campaigns to reduce plastic consumption (e.g., refusing plastic straws, bags, and bottles).
- Teaching communities how to reuse, repurpose, or properly dispose of plastics.
- School and youth programs to build long-term cultural change.
Advocacy & Policy
- Lobbying governments to ban or regulate single-use plastics.
- Pressuring corporations to reduce packaging and take responsibility for plastic waste.
- Pushing for international agreements on plastic production and waste.
Supporting Vulnerable Communities
- Helping coastal and island nations hit hardest by marine plastic pollution.
- Funding local entrepreneurs who create plastic alternatives or recycling businesses.
- Providing clean drinking water systems in places where bottled water is the only option.
Saving Endangered Animals Charities use donations for:
Direct Protection of Animals
- Anti-poaching patrols: Funding rangers, drones, and monitoring systems to prevent illegal hunting.
- Wildlife sanctuaries and rescue centers: Providing shelter, food, and medical care for injured or orphaned animals.
- Breeding programs: Supporting carefully managed captive breeding and reintroduction programs for critically endangered species.
Habitat Conservation
- Buying and protecting land where endangered animals live.
- Restoring ecosystems (forests, grasslands, coral reefs) to ensure species have food, shelter, and space.
- Working with local communities to reduce deforestation, overfishing, or destructive farming practices.
Education & Community Support
- Teaching local communities about sustainable practices that protect both people and wildlife.
- Creating alternative livelihoods so people don’t need to rely on poaching or logging.
- Running awareness campaigns globally to reduce demand for products that harm endangered animals (like ivory or exotic pets).
Policy & Advocacy
- Lobbying governments for stronger environmental protections.
- Influencing international agreements like bans on wildlife trade.
- Holding corporations accountable for practices that threaten species.
Research & Monitoring
- Tracking animal populations to understand threats and measure progress.
- Funding scientific studies that inform conservation strategies.
- Developing technology (GPS collars, camera traps, genetic testing) to protect species more effectively.
Preventing Habitat Loss Charities use donations for:
Land Protection & Restoration
- Buying and securing land: Preventing forests, wetlands, or grasslands from being sold to loggers, miners, or developers.
- Reforesting degraded areas: Planting native trees and restoring soil health to bring ecosystems back to life.
- Protecting existing forests with rangers, monitoring, and patrols.
Supporting Local Communities
- Sustainable livelihoods: Funding alternatives to logging, such as eco-tourism, beekeeping, or sustainable farming.
- Agroforestry programs: Training farmers to combine crops with trees so they can earn income while preserving forests.
- Providing resources like clean energy stoves or solar panels, so communities rely less on wood fuel.
Education & Awareness
- Environmental education: Teaching schools and communities about the importance of forests and biodiversity.
- Consumer campaigns: Raising awareness about sustainable products (e.g., certified wood, palm oil, or paper).
- Corporate accountability: Pressuring companies to reduce deforestation in their supply chains.
Advocacy & Policy
- Lobbying governments for stronger environmental protection laws.
- Supporting indigenous land rights, since indigenous communities often protect forests better than governments.
- International agreements: Working on treaties to protect rainforests and limit destructive industries.
Research & Monitoring
- Satellite monitoring: Tracking deforestation in real time and alerting authorities.
- Biodiversity surveys: Studying species at risk from habitat loss to guide protection strategies.
- Carbon impact measurement: Showing how protecting forests helps slow climate change.
Air Pollution Charities use donations for:
Reducing Sources of Pollution
- Campaigning against fossil fuels: Pushing for cleaner energy sources instead of coal, oil, and gas.
- Supporting renewable energy projects (solar, wind, clean cookstoves in developing countries).
- Helping cities transition to cleaner transport — funding research or pilot projects for electric buses, bike-sharing, or low-emission zones.
Community & Local Action
- Air quality monitoring: Setting up sensors in communities to track pollution and empower residents with data.
- Health-focused programs: Providing resources to hospitals or communities affected by asthma and other pollution-related diseases.
- Grassroots support: Helping neighborhoods fight against new polluting factories, highways, or power plants.
Education & Public Awareness
- Awareness campaigns about the dangers of indoor and outdoor pollution (e.g., from cooking fuels, cars, or waste burning).
- Promoting everyday solutions like reducing car trips, avoiding waste burning, or switching to cleaner stoves.
- School programs to teach young people about clean air and environmental responsibility.
Policy & Advocacy
- Lobbying governments for stronger clean air standards and enforcement.
- Challenging polluting industries through legal action.
- Pushing for international agreements to cut emissions of greenhouse gases and harmful particulates.
Research & Innovation
- Funding scientific studies on health impacts of air pollution.
- Developing new technologies to reduce emissions from industries and transport.
- Supporting innovation in cleaner energy and air filtration.