Top Charities Making a Difference in North Carolina
- Stephen Boatman
- Oct 22
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 23
There's a quote that says, "Where the world's great needs and your great passions overlap, that's where you should give your time and money." Not only will it be more enjoyable for you, but you'll likely give more and stick with it longer.
The list below is intended to provide a starting point for your research. These are a few charities that my clients and I have enjoyed giving to over the past few years, so I figured I’d share them.
While you are considering who to give to, I would recommend looking up the charities' Form 990 to review their financials, and also researching their charity navigator score.
Remember that being generous doesn't always look like donating to a 501c3/non-profit organization. Sometimes it can look like letting someone borrow your favorite jacket, paying for a friend's coffee, or helping to fix their car... Generosity is a function of the heart, not the wallet.
Education:
Meredith Olson is the president of VELA a nonprofit that funds and supports everyday entrepreneurs—parents, teachers, and community leaders alike—who are building nontraditional alternatives to K-12 education in neighborhoods all over the country. I’m talking about micro schools, hybrid homeschooling, and/or learning cooperatives, some with classrooms that look more like barns. Today, VELA supports a network of more than 4,200 innovative education models serving more than 6 million families across the country. They’ve awarded more than $24 million in grants, helping people take their kids’ education into their own hands, literally. It’s disruptive. It’s innovative. And it’s working.
We’re on a mission to help close the skills gap by challenging the stigmas and stereotypes that discourage people from pursuing the millions of available jobs. We’re redefining a good education and a good job, because we don’t think a four-year degree is the best path for most people. We want people to understand the impact of skilled labor on their lives, and we’re convinced that the solution has to start with a new appreciation for hard work.
Each year, we give away a modest pile of money through the Work Ethic Scholarship Program to help people get trained for skilled jobs that are in demand.
Medical/Health:
We search for the charities that save or improve lives the most per dollar.
Our goal is to produce the world’s top research on where to give. Free, for everyone. We recommend a small number of charities that do an incredible amount of good.
Currently, the lowest cost to save a life is associated with mosquito nets and addressing vitamin A deficiency.
Undue Medical Debt is a nonprofit that works to eliminate burdensome medical bills by buying large portfolios of medical debt at discounted rates, then forgiving those debts for people in need.
They partner with healthcare providers, governments, and community organizations to both provide immediate debt relief and advocate for systemic reforms to prevent future medical debt.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides exercise classes, day camps, and social opportunities that inspire individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle.
The mission to plant, grow and serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership.
This organization is a great way to not only build a personal community, get in shape, and have the opportunity to lead. But they also partner with local charities for manual labor jobs, mentoring, and sometimes even professional volunteering.
Bodies - We organize female-only FREE, peer-led workouts each week. Workouts are held outdoors, rain or shine, hot or cold.
Minds - We get together for book clubs, career and family discussion groups, or workshops.
Hearts - We give our time and resources to the community and invest in each other by joining together for coffee, weekday lunches, and FiA socials.
Best known for the 24 hours of booty fundraiser they do in the Charlotte area, with a greater goal of raising money for cancer research and navigating the difficulties that go along with these devastating diagnoses.
Your donations help fund cancer navigation and survivorship services in the Greater Charlotte area.
A Charlotte-based non-profit dedicated to combating food insecurity and hunger in Mecklenburg County by providing nutritious groceries and healthy meals to those in need. With roots tracing back to 1975, they operate the largest network of food pantries in North Carolina, grocery home delivery, pop-up food shares, and a mobile pharmacy. NourishUp not only addresses immediate hunger but also aims to promote overall health by providing access to healthy food options and working with community partners to address the systemic issues contributing to food insecurity.
QCPRC is a ministry for women facing unplanned pregnancies that partners with local churches to serve families, save children, and share the gospel. The organization supports families through the following programs:
Hope Classes- a support group that educates mothers on healthy pregnancy and newborn care
Father's Place- supporting the fathers of these children and giving them a place to learn more about pregnancy and parenting
QC Boutique- a store of brand new baby items where Moms and Dads can receive tickets for class attendance to trade for baby items
Continuum of Care- providing additional support for post-baby including guidance on budgeting, housing, resume writing, career education etc.
We are dedicated to bringing joy, care and hope to homeless and impoverished children in the greater Charlotte region. It is a volunteer-led organization that combats the effects of poverty, boosts self-esteem, and provides care essentials to those in need. The organization runs four core programs:
Bless a Birthday- to celebrate the birthdays of children ages 3-17 providing presents, activites, food and cake ensuring their special day does not go unnoticed.
Bless a Baby- to support mothers and newborns in shelters or domestic violence programs with essential items like diapers, formula, wipes and bottles
Gifts of Care- to provide basic necessities to thousands of children including hygiene kits, snack bags, backpacks, and stuffed animals
Gift of Literacy- to distribute new books to local children to promote the love of reading and literacy.
Refugees:
Project 658 seeks to restore community for refugees and immigrants through the love of Christ by providing education, vocational training, and health and wellness services.
Refugees and immigrants come to the United States each year, escaping war, persecution, and other dangers, seeking a better life. Unfortunately, this is not always what they find—broken social systems, cultural barriers, crime, and other disadvantages land many once again in poverty and danger. Families often become homeless or broken, youth get pulled into gangs and drugs, and hope fades.
Through One7, God is making the impossible possible… And helping these individuals find a softer landing by assisting them in navigating these complex systems.
Today, LAMB operates an elementary school for children in one of the most violent and poverty-stricken areas of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, a large youth outreach program, multiple community programs, and a residential home outside the city for over 70 children who came from situations of abuse and neglect.
Dogs/Conservation/Housing:
Where Every Dog Gets A Second Chance At Finding Their Forever Home.
Blue Ridge Conservancy partners with landowners and local communities to permanently protect natural resources with agricultural, cultural, recreational, ecological, and scenic value in northwest North Carolina.
Habitat for Humanity is a movement of people in your local area and around the world, working together to build more prosperous and vibrant communities by making sure everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.
Closing
I hope you found the list above helpful, and even if you don't support one of the listed charities, maybe it inspired you to look further into another option or problem facing those around you. As always, have a great week!
