What are some good charities that are NOT religiously affiliated in any way?

Question

I was interested in Habitat for Humanity but not after I found out that are a christian based group. The home should go to the needy, not the needy who also happen to be christian.

Answer 1

First of all, Habitat for Humanity is a great group... and I have known families that moved into their houses that were not Christian.

You could give it to Heifer Project International

It helps impoverished families worldwide become more self-reliant through the gift of livestock and training in their care.

This charity really helps people to help themself, once the gift of livestock is given. I've given to this charity for over 10 years now.

http://www.heifer.org

And as a side note, the guy that started it was a Midwestern farmer named Dan West was ladling out rations of milk to hungry children during the Spanish Civil War when it hit him. “These children don’t need a cup, they need a cow.” West, who was serving as a Church of the Brethren relief worker, was forced to decide who would receive the limited rations and who wouldn’t – literally, who would live and who would die. This kind of aid, he knew, would never be enough.

So he was a Christian, but it isn't technically a Christian charity...

Answer 2

You have been woefully misinformed. Habitat for Humanity, Samaritian Purse, Salvation Army, St. Judes, nor any other major Christian Charity have litmus tests as to ones religious preference. They give to those in need only.
If your religous bigotry prevents you from giving to a Christian group you can give to the American Red Cross whose Directors earn $250,000+ a year and sell the blood you donate. But my money would go to the Salvation Army whose directors only earn $27,000 a year and give away what they take in. They have beat the Red Cross into every disaster including Katrina and don`t have PR spoke persons taking credit for what someone else does.
By the way you are going to be hard pressed to find a charity that wasn`t founded by a Christian.

Answer 3

Most humanitarian ones are because churches do the work of starting them.

Can Habitat for Humanity turn down a needy family if they're not Christian?? That's not a nice thing.

How about:
- red cross
- united way
- good will
- salvation army

And how about the countless animal charities that indirectly help people. For example therapeutic riding stables help handicapped with free or low cost physical therapy.

Answer 4

Try some children's hospitals like Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. They don't push religious agendas onto their patients or their patients families. I know first hand, because my youngest is a patient there. They offer a lot of people help and hope.

Also disease charities like Muscular Dystrophy Association. My older brother is serviced through them as one of "Jerry's Kids" and they have never in 40 years asked one red question about religion.

Also, while places like Saint Jude Children's (Cancer) Hospital did get started due to someone's faith--a promise to help others that Danny Thomas made to Saint Jude, they don't base care on faith there either. And these kids and their families really need to be helped.

If you want your money to go to places that help people without regard to race, religion or any other reason, besides that they are in need send it to these types of places. If you don't have your life or health, what do you have? It is all about the children.......

Answer 5

Habitat is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety. I don't see the word "Christian" only in that sentence.

With that said, how about FINCA or ASCEND. Both are alliances that empower people in need to get out of poverty and start their own businesses. FINCA, especially, provides financial services to the world’s poorest families so they can create their own jobs, raise household incomes, and improve their standard of living.

Answer 6

Amnesty International (a worldwide human rights movement) is not affiliated with ANY government, religion, political group or anything else. If you get involved with Amnesty, there are many different levels of involvement (so depending on the time you have available - there is something you can do). Start out just by taking action online, attend a local Amnesty event - then consider organizing your own awareness raising events, joining a local chapter and more. http://www.amnestyusa.org

Answer 7

I am pretty sure that Heifer International (founded in 1944) is nonsectarian, and they have a worldwide focus on preventing hunger and working on sustainable development. (They DO help some US people also, in case you're wanting to do something stateside.)

You can "buy" an animal (or a share of one)---anything from a water buffalo, goat, pig, rabbit trio, chicks, honeybees, llama, or kick in for tree plantings, or" knitting basket", " milk menagerie", or "ark".

The rule is that HI recipients have to pass on the gift, by sharing offspring with another family in need.

Not too good at sending links, but you can certainly Google it; excellent charity, IMHO.

Answer 8

Well aren't you just the quick-to-judge person. From the Habitat website: Habitat has an open-door policy: All who desire to be a part of this work are welcome, regardless of religious preference or background. Habitat for Humanity has always had a policy of building with people in need regardless of race or religion, and we welcome volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds.

A local Unitarian church here has sponsored about five homes - it's all about the people, not the religion.

That said, public television/radio, any national health related organization, ASPCA, the arts and many more are not in any way church related.

Answer 9

Children's Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP) This was started by a doctor that was stationed a Lackland AFB, TX

United Way

American Red Cross

Your local food bank

Answer 10

Two places you can go to research charities:

www.guidestar.org
is a directory of charities that you can search and sort in various ways. You can also look at their tax returns. They may also have info on their affiliations.

www.charitynavigator.org
is a sort of consumer's guide to charities. They assign a star-rating based on the charity's financial health.