10 Places to Donate to in Honor of Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, and in addition to lifting up the incredible women in your life, consider celebrating by donating your hard-earned dollars to organizations that support women in communities around the world.
This month-long celebration highlights the vast achievements of women in the arts, politics, science, medicine, education, and every corner of the universe that women touch — but also brings to light the long road women still face in the fight for equality. It centers around International Women’s Day, which was conceived during the universal female suffrage movement and gained international recognition in 1977 and is celebrated on March 8.
Whether you’re eager to support education, want to ensure reproductive rights are guaranteed for future generations, or hope to someday see the same opportunities given to all women and girls regardless of where they were born, there’s an organization that is aligned with your values. Here are 10 nonprofits to consider donating to this Women’s History Month.
To support education…
According to Room to Read, one-third of children are cut off from education, and many of those children are girls. Room to Read hopes to change that statistic by working with local governments and schools to focus on literacy and communicate why it’s critical to help girls achieve their full potential. Additionally, they work with families to make sure that this important work is supported both at school and in homes and communities.
Malala Yousafzai, who spoke out as a young Pakistani girl and became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, now works to champion education for all girls. The Malala Fund works to guarantee all girls have access to 12 years of education.
To help women and girls internationally…
Girls Not Brides helps prevent child marriage, works to save those who have already been forced into marriage too young, and seeks to give these same girls access to the education and opportunities they deserve.
Whether it’s through the Brownie uniform you worse as a kindergartner to the Thin Mint cookies you can’t put down, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is widespread throughout the U.S. and the world. It’s also the largest international organization dedicated to girls and women, and its work helps girls develop skills, knowledge, and education to gain confidence and contribute to positive changes in their community and the world.
To guarantee reproductive rights…
If you’re passionate about reproductive rights, now is a great time to support Planned Parenthood’s mission to provide reproductive health education, birth control, and access to safe abortions.
And, because reproductive rights and health are a constant fight worldwide, consider EngenderHealth, which supports women internationally to make empowered, informed decisions about their own bodies. They work with health systems, local governments, and community organizations to advance gender rights through the lens of reproductive health.
To put more women in office…
According to She Should Run, women represent 51 percent of the U.S. population but less than half of elected leaders. That’s why they’ve set out to educate and support women who are interested in pursuing elected leadership positions. They work with women across the political spectrum to show them how a run for office is possible — and can be successful.
With a more pointed focus, Emily’s List sets out specifically to support Democratic pro-choice women and claims over 1,400 victories nationwide. They’re funding elections that will bring about change now.
To support women’s careers…
While it may seem like more women are pursuing careers in engineering and technology, the gender gap in these fields has actually widened over the past 30 years — and Girls Who Code won’t stand for that. They’re working to reach girls ages 13 to 17 through summer immersion, clubs, and more, with the aim of closing the gap by 2030.
It isn’t just young girls who need career support — adult women face a variety of setbacks in the workforce. Dress for Success helps these women get on track, work toward economic independence, and learn how to network, all while providing them with professional attire and the skills they need to successfully interview and land a job.