Did you guys know that after Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Giving Tuesday? We won’t get into it here how effed up I think it is that the day set aside for giving comes several days after rampant consumerism… or maybe we just did… but I honestly didn’t know that was a thing until recently. It’s even got it’s own Twitter hashtag – #GivingTuesday.

Last year I wrote about Charity Navigator, a terrific website you can use to make informed giving choices.

This year, I wanted to write a little about my favorite charities… in case anyone else is in the #GivingTuesday kinda mood.

1. Compassion International* – this is consistently one of the highest rated charities in financial responsibility and successful use of funds. Compassion International is set up so you sponsor a child each month for $39. You essentially “adopt” this child. You write letters and send trinkets back and forth for the duration of the kid’s childhood. One of my good friend’s in college and I have been sponsoring a child since 2003. Even when $19 each was a stretch back in college to nowadays when it’s not much to either of us.

2. The Red Cross – my first interactions with this charity were through their first aid and CPR training courses, which are incredibly helpful (although not a volunteer service, you definitely have to pay for them). However, they really made my radar when they were one of the first organizations on the ground helping out in the Philippines after Typhoon Hiayan. Consistently quite highly rated, the Red Cross is often one of the first organizations to help out after a disaster all over the world.

3. Gospel for Asia* (like that even needs an asterisk – the name is pretty self explanatory) – while I was studying in seminary to be a missionary, I became increasingly convinced that local folks should be their own missionaries. It’s the most cost effective way to spread the Gospel and the best way to do it without essentially colonizing the local people and forcing them to become more Western. Gospel for Asia not only supports indigenous missionaries, it provides important services like feeding the poor, providing clothing and shelter, creating wells for clean water. It’s really a terrific organization if the Christianity aspect doesn’t turn you off.

4. Heifer International – rather than just giving away food, Heifer International gives starving people and struggling farmers the tools they need to be able to take care of themselves for years. By providing animals like cows that can be milked, seeds and farming equipment, Heifer International is looking at a more long term solution to hunger.

Do you have a favorite charity?

*Christian organizations (or at least that I know are Christian organizations – some of the others may be and just aren’t blatant enough about it for me to notice).