Our 2020 Year End Donations Recommendations
In a year where every aspect of our life has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, advocacy organisations have had to work around the clock to meet the increased needs of many of our communities. The season of giving is upon us, and if you, like us, are feeling moved to show your support for their critical work, here are our recommendations for a few organisations to donate to (and if you’re in the U.S. and donating to a U.S. based organisation, note that the CARES Act has added a new $300 charitable contribution deduction for 2020):
Europe
International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe
The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on sex workers, many of whom belong to already marginalised communities, including women, migrants, BIPOC, people with disabilities, trans people, and the LGBTQI community. The International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) is a network of sex worker organisations and their allies that work together to support the development of national and international law, policy and practice, which respects and upholds the human and labour rights of sex workers throughout Europe and Central Asia.
Global
GATE Campaigns Globally For Trans, Gender Diverse And Intersex Equality.
GATE’s mission is to give voice to and empower communities affected by issues of gender identity, sex characteristics and bodily diversity by creating critical knowledge, providing organisational resources and forging connections with UN bodies, networks and key organisations.
You can donate to their work here.
The International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons is a coalition of NGOs that promotes adherence to and implementation of the UN nuclear weapon ban treaty and advocates for the elimination of nuclear weapons. They achieved an historic milestone this past year when Honduras became the 50th state to ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, bringing the treaty into force and cementing a categorical ban on nuclear weapons 75 years after their first use. To contribute to ending nuclear weapons with a donation, please click here.
The Legal Centre Lesvos provides free and individual legal information and assistance to migrants who arrived by sea to Lesvos, the Greek island that is Europe’s largest refugee facility. They also document violations of migrants’ rights and engage in advocacy and strategic litigation to hold the Greek government, Member States of the European Union, and European institutions to account. Although Covid-19 has dominated headlines this year, the situation of people fleeing violence and seeking refuge in Europe and other parts of the world continues to be dire. Legal Centre Lesvos advocates for equal access to safe and legal routes of migration in Greece, Europe and globally. To donate to their critical work, please click here.
United States
African Communities Together is an organisation of African immigrants fighting for civil rights, opportunity, and a better life for their families in the U.S. and in Africa. ACT helps African immigrants find free or low-cost assistance with immigration, jobs, and other needs. They also mobilise African immigrant communities to speak out on issues that matter to them, including on immigration matters, language access, and jobs. You can donate to support their important work here.
Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA) is a grassroots organisation of Latina immigrant women with a double mission of promoting personal transformation and building community power for social and economic justice. A few of their services include offering trainings to build economic security and leadership, organising campaigns to win immigrant, workers’ and women’s rights, and empowering and educating its members to provide mutual support. You can donate MUA's empowering work by clicking here.
Launched by Pose actor Indya Moore and ACLU attorney Chase Strangio, Trans Santa is a project that allows anonymous givers to gift presents to trans kids and young adults in need. Check out their Instagram page, where you can read letters submitted by hundreds of children and the link in the account bio will redirect you to the specific child’s gift registry.