As you’re contemplating the many deserving charities for your end of the year giving, here are some of our favorites — they’re all local, and they all work hard to make Baltimore a better city, despite the odds. Give often, and give generously!
A few new additions to the list for 2012, some of the same great groups from 2011:
- Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning
- Baltimore Heritage
- Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake
- Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
- Community Law Center
- Public Justice Center
- 1000 Friends of Maryland
- Homeless Persons Representation Project
- Healthcare for the Homeless
- Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc.
- Lauren’s Luggage (This one is not yet a 501(c)(3) but they have applied. Consider donating anyway — there’s a compelling story behind this one.)
- Maryland Legal Aid
Why these charities and not others that might be equally as deserving? I have experience with all of them in some way. I know the executive directors, or I’ve watched them carefully over the years. These organizations have a few qualities in common:
- They spend more on programs and/or direct services than they do on swank office space or fundraising/admin costs.
- They’re organizations that work on the ground, directly making a difference — they “do” more than they “talk”.
So please — be generous. Without these organizations, Baltimore would surely suffer even more than it already suffers now. We can’t build a better city without them.
