Whether you are looking to respond to current events or develop your long-term philanthropic plan, you’ll find something useful below.
Note: We share the expertise of our network of trusted partners, as well as insights into our donors’ giving behavior, especially around topics that our donors frequently ask about. As a cause-neutral organization, however, we do not endorse individual charities.
Disaster Relief
When disaster strikes, Vanguard Charitable donors have a history of stepping in and providing relief. With the help of our partner Charity Navigator, we compile lists of highly-rated organizations and expedite our grant processing so our donors can spring into action.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Humanitarian Crisis in Israel & Gaza Strip | On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out a militant attack on Israeli civilians. Since the attack, violence in the area continues to escalate, causing a humanitarian crisis for millions of people in affected communities in Israel and the Gaza Strip. |
| Libya Flooding | In September 2023, Storm Daniel caused widespread flash flooding and destruction in Libya, with over 5,000 lives lost. Up to 10,000 people are reported missing, and entire neighborhoods have disappeared after aging dams collapsed. |
| Morocco Earthquake | On Friday night, September 8, an earthquake struck Morocco. With a magnitude of 6.8, this powerfully destructive force left buildings and homes toppled while most Moroccans slept, unable to react quickly. While the region has known many small earthquakes, this is the first quake of such a high magnitude in over 120 years. Since Friday, nearly 3,000 people have been reported dead. Thousands more have been injured due to the disaster. |
| Hawaii Wildfires | On August 8, wildfires began in Lahaina, Hawaii, that went on to destroy the historic city. The fires continued in Maui made worse by dry weather and high winds. More than 100 people have been killed by the fires and thousands of residents have been displaced. The fires are now contained, but the search for people lost in the disaster continues while affected communities seek crucial aid. |
| Ukraine Crisis | Attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukraine have left millions of Ukrainians displaced, triggering a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Civilians are in dire need of support for emergency evacuation, relocation, and resettlement operations, alongside other basic needs. |
| Disaster relief best practices | This resource from the Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP) offers tips for making your response to disasters as impactful as possible. |
Take on hunger and homelessness
NAVi for Hunger & Homelessness aims to provide you with the information needed to understand where and how you can make a difference. Make informed giving decisions that will have the greatest impact.
Explore the non-profit landscape:
COVID-19
As the world reopens, a full recovery from the ravages of COVID-19 will likely take many more years. Our donor-advised funds are built to respond to both the pandemic’s immediate needs and its long-term challenges.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Our guidance for responding to COVID-19 | Giving during a crisis can often feel rushed. But granting during pivotal times can be done thoughtfully if you have an established charitable plan. |
| Highly-rated COVID relief charities | These trusted organizations identified by Charity Navigator provided frontline support during the early period of the crisis and continue to address urgent needs as they arise. |
| Strategies for the third year of the pandemic | As we enter year three of COVID-19, there have been useful outcomes that can guide us in our future giving. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy outlines best practices for effective continued relief efforts. |
| International COVID-19 support | Our partner CAF America has identified over 300 charities in 44 countries providing direct COVID-19 relief. To support one of these organizations, see "Consider making a global impact" below for more information.1 |
Social Justice
Our donors have historically prioritized a firm commitment to social justice in their charitable giving. The following resources provide critical guidance regarding organizations that promote equal rights among all members of society, especially historically disadvantaged groups.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Our donors’ top social justice charities | Our donors have granted millions of dollars to organizations working to promote civil rights and social justice around the country and the world. Here are their most supported charities over the past year. |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ recommended organizations | This group of established nonprofit organizations recommended by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors seeks to address racial inequality in the criminal justice system. |
| A toolkit for strengthening democracy | The Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP) has constructed a framework for revitalizing the democratic process in the U.S. |
Additional Resources
Looking for additional resources? These organizations and resources are well regarded within the charitable world and have proven valuable to our donors.
GuideStar by Candid
Vanguard Charitable donors have full access via their online account to this comprehensive database featuring more than 15 search filters to evaluate the mission, finances, and commitment to transparency of millions of nonprofits. If you don’t have a Vanguard Charitable account, you can use the scaled-back version for free at the link above.
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
A menu of projects that demonstrate how Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors approaches important issues and helps foster innovation in philanthropy.
The Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP)
On CHIP’s site, you can find quick links, examples of how to apply the information offered, and an array of nonprofits making an impact on various issue areas.
Charity Navigator
This “Hot Topics” page closely follows current events and showcases highly-rated charities working to address topics that have garnered considerable national interest.
Support a community foundation
Community foundations take a hyper-local approach to giving and can usually react quickly to emerging needs. Check out this community foundation locator to find one near you.
Recommend a grant
To support a charity, log in to your account and select Grant in the navigation menu at the top of the page. Then select Recommend a grant in the dropdown.
If the organization is not in your saved charities’ list, type the charity name or EIN in the search bar under Find a charity. Click the magnifying glass to begin the search and then scroll down to see your search results. Charities will appear in a list below. Once found, save the charity by clicking on the star and then click select to begin the granting process.
Consider making a global impact
Looking to give globally? We’ve partnered with Charities Aid Foundation of America (CAF America), an industry leader in international granting. Search through more than 1.8 million charities in CAF America’s global database, then use your Vanguard Charitable account to initiate the grant.1 (After you’ve selected to recommend a grant to CAF America, EIN 43-1634280, you can name the international charity you’d like to support in the Add Additional Comments feature.)
Footnotes
1Fees may apply.
Maintenance fee may be applied
Accounts having a balance below $25,000 may be subject to an annual maintenance fee of $250.
You are eligible for special rates
Our premier clients enjoy reduced pricing to further maximize their impact.
Our representatives are happy to guide you through.