The number of hours left in 2023 is down to single digits as I write this. This year as in past years, the majority of my charitable giving is to churches within my denomination (Seventh-Day Adventist), with additional giving to non-profit journalism and other non-religious causes.
Religiously-Motivated Charitable Giving
Unlike previous years, where I only donated to my home church, I also donated to every church that I attended either in-person or online at least once this calendar year. This included Boston Temple, which I attended in-person when I visited my cousin there in October, as well as Oakwood University Church (online), Revision Church Atlanta SDA (online), along with the churches in my local area I visit most often in-person.
As I did last year, I donated to Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington (ACSGW). I also donated to my high school alma mater again this year.
Other Charitable Giving
Other destinations for my charitable giving this year included the following organizations (in no particular order):
- WETA
- Monthly recurring donations
- WAMU
- Monthly recurring donations
- ProPublica
- Monthly recurring donations
- International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)
- Monthly recurring donations
- Kiva
- In addition to the micro lending I do via that platform, I donate directly to the organization each year
- New York Public Library
- A new recipient
- University of Maryland
- A new recipient
- A small gift to a scholarship fund for my former school (Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences)
- The Bail Project
- Equal Justice Initiative
- Wikimedia Foundation
- Internet Security Research Group
- RAINN
- Capital Area Food Bank
- Friends of the Library Montgomery County
- Internet Archive
- Electronic Frontier Foundation
- Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting
Charitable Giving Plans for 2024
Having finally added back to the roster of charitable donation recipients I missed in past years, one change I anticipate making in 2024 is donating to whatever the organization resulting from the merger between CIR/Reveal and Mother Jones is ultimately called.
Non-profit journalists did great work this year in exposing the depths of Clarence Thomas’ corruption, methods used by the Mormon church to keep child sex abuse cases secret, a healthcare company trying to deny coverage to a chronically ill patient, and more. Especially in a presidential election year, where for-profit newsrooms like The New York Times appear to be using their coverage to weigh in in favor of the powerful, non-profit newsrooms will be more important than ever. If you haven’t already donated to a non-profit newsroom this year, I encourage you to get that donation in before the new year.
In 2024, consider supporting a non-profit newsroom in your local area. The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) has a tool that will match you with such organizations so you can donate to them directly and follow their coverage. I might be adding some Maryland non-profit newsrooms to my charitable giving plans before this time next year.