Nonprofit Giving Guide for the Holidays: 21 Organizations to Know

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This is the time of year when many of us look for ways to make a positive impact in our communities and to bring a little more brightness into the lives of strangers. This holiday season, DC Area Moms has compiled this nonprofit giving guide featuring 20 organizations that aim to have a positive impact on the lives of children. Whether you choose to give your time, money, or other resources, these organizations will help you touch the lives of children throughout the area during this season of giving.

nonprofit giving guide

Nonprofit Giving for the Holidays and Beyond

1. Central Union Mission – Operation Christmas Miracle

Help children and families struggling financially to experience love, laughter, and joy. With your help, Central Union Mission will supply Christmas gifts to thousands of underprivileged children and youth.

2. Children’s National Hospital

For over 150 years, Children’s National Hospital has helped kids thrive and has pioneered research that leads to new treatments and cures. Through December 31st, every donation made will light up the hospital’s beloved mascot, Dr. Bear. Patients will be able to see the lights shows from their windows or on TV.

3. Ronald McDonald House Charities DC

RMHCDC eases the hardship of children’s illness on families. It helps families struggling with problems like how to stay near and support a hospitalized child, how to afford staying together in another city while a child is undergoing treatment, or even how to get basic medical care in a vulnerable community.

4. Martha’s Table

For 41 years, Martha’s Table has supported strong children, strong families, and strong communities by increasing access to quality education, health and wellness, and family resources.

5. Manna Food Center

Manna works to end hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Manna’s vision is that Montgomery County is a place where all people at all times have access to safe, sufficient, nutritious food to lead fulfilling lives. You can help by volunteering at the center, donating money, donating food, or hosting a food drive.

6. DC Central Kitchen

DC Central Kitchen’s mission is to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities. It is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation.

7. So Others Might Eat

SOME (So Others Might Eat) is an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of our nation’s capital by meeting the immediate daily needs of food, clothing, and healthcare. SOME is restoring hope and dignity, one person at a time.

8. Bread For The City

Bread for the City provides food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to Washington, DC, residents living with low income. It seeks justice through community organizing and public advocacy and works to uproot racism, a major cause of poverty. Through its Holiday Helpings campaign, BFC empowers its clients to use provided assistance to meet their specific needs.

9. Capital Area Food Bank

The Capital Area Food Bank sources and distributes more than 45 million meals to people in communities across the DMV. It has partnerships with over 450 regional nonprofits.

10. Greater DC Diaper Bank

Since 2010, the Greater DC Diaper Bank has worked to empower families and individuals throughout the DMV. The Bank provides a reliable and adequate source of basic baby needs and personal hygiene products.

11. Girls, Inc. of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area

Our local Girls Inc. affiliate inspires all girls in DC/DMV region to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy opportunities.

12. Horton’s Kids

Horton’s Kids believes circumstance should not dictate a child’s future. Every child should graduate from high school ready to succeed in college, career, and life. To that end, it provides a holistic, research-based continuum of academic, youth development, and basic needs support designed to empower children to succeed.

13. BEST Kids, Inc

BEST Kids is a nonprofit mentoring organization that empowers youth in foster care to build better futures, one child at a time. Through one-on-one volunteer mentoring, extensive training, staff support, and experiential learning-based peer groups, it encourages youth to discover and develop their unique skills and abilities.

14. Playtime Project

The Playtime Project cultivates resilience in children experiencing family homelessness. It does this by providing and expanding access to transformative play experiences. The Project creates ongoing play opportunities that nurture healthy child development, challenges systemic injustice by advocating for policies and practices that reduce the risk of chronic homelessness, and connects families with critical support services and supplies in the community to meet their concrete needs.

15. House of Ruth

Founded in 1976, House of Ruth empowers women, children, and families to rebuild their lives and heal from trauma, abuse, and homelessness. It offers a continuum of services encompassing enriched housing for families and single women and trauma-informed daycare for children. They also provide free counseling to empower anyone, regardless of gender, who is a survivor of trauma and abuse.

16. The National Center for Children and Families

The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) creates total, healthy living environments for vulnerable children, youth, and families. Its mission supports the quality of life, which empowers their ability to thrive and demonstrate responsibility.

17. CASA for Children of DC

CASA for Children of DC is a leading voice in advocacy for court-involved youth in DC. It connects specially-trained volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates to support vulnerable and at-risk youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system. CASA volunteers develop a mentor-like relationship with their youth. They advocate for their youth’s best interests in court, promoting greater outcomes and the opportunity to thrive.

18. The Wanda Alston Foundation

The mission of the Wanda Alston Foundation (WAF) is to eradicate homelessness and poverty for LGBTQ youth between the ages of 18 and 24. It is dedicated to ensuring that LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness have access to services that improve their overall quality of life.

19. The Napkin Network

This community of moms is on a mission to help fellow moms in need. Donate directly or meet up at one of their in-person events. They offer assistance to both local and nationwide families with babies and children.

20. Covenant House of Greater Washington

For over 25 years, CHGW has been protecting, supporting, and transforming the lives of youth ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness, disconnection, and exploitation. CHGW has provided a safe harbor and wrap-around supportive services to one of the area’s most vulnerable populations. The programs and services offered to young people help them get back on track to achieving housing, career, and economic stability.

21. Foster the Family DC

Foster the Family DC supports and equips foster parents as they welcome a new child or children into their home. Within 2-24 hours (the most critical time) of receiving a new foster child, they deliver necessities to help the transition for the child(ren) and foster parents. There is a HUGE need for foster parents and making sure they are supported is essential so they can continue fostering the roughly 2,000 children dealing with abuse or neglect. You can also get involved with this important organization!

Do you know local nonprofits that should be included in this nonprofit giving guide? Please send us a message to let us know.