Donations Instead Of Gifts: 12 Charities To Help This Holiday

People carry a ‘Black Lives Matter’ banner during a student walkout protest against US President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle, Washington on November 14, 2016. / AFP / Jason Redmond (Photo credit should read JASON REDMOND/AFP/Getty Images)

9. Black Lives Matter

Cause: Racial equality

Why Choose This Charity: In the words of its founders, “Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise”. To that end, the Black Lives Matter movement is a national collection of local chapters, which hold various action days, sit-ins, educational programming, and more.

Black Lives Matter was formed largely in response to widespread and endemic police violence against black people. Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, and Patrisse Cullors created the initial movement in response to the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. After it became a trending hashtag, the movement grew in size and prominence.

Now, Black Lives Matter remains an important call for racial justice in the United States. The creators of the movement have made it clear that Black Lives Matter is an intersectional movement that welcomes queer people, transgender people, families, and elders. White people may also join a related group, Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ), which has numerous chapters throughout the country.

Though individual chapters will have their own particular set of guidelines and circumstances that may limit membership and activities, they could still use your help.

Links to Send Gift Givers: The main donation page here.