Cause-Related Organizations

Animals

The American Society for the Prevention for Cruelty to Animals has an ambassadors program that provides opportunities for students and schools to plan events in support of animals.
Free The Children was started by students to focus on their desire to help young people reach their full potential and create sustainable solutions for communities overseas. You can select to donate funds (as little as $50) to provide an animal to families in need.
Heifer International has become a popular gift-giving alternative for many students. The site also includes information on how to reach out internationally to provide assistance.
The National Wildlife Federation offers the opportunity to “adopt” (sponsor) a wild animal for support.

The Association for Conflict Resolution offers a wide variety of classroom tools and other mediation resources, including several yearly events.
The Bureau for At-Risk Youth provides character education materials, specializing in bullying prevention, behavior management, and teen relationships.
Creative Response to Conflict emphasizes communication in its theme-based approach to helping students and educators perform conflict resolution and resolve bullying problems.
The Peace Education Foundation offers a variety of paid print and digital publications comprising a robust conflict resolution curriculum.

The American Red Cross accepts student volunteers to assist at blood drives and other events, providing an excellent opportunity for meaningful community service.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers resources for before, during, and after disasters of all varieties.
The National Relief Network includes a trip organizer and other resources to make volunteering for disaster relief as accessible as possible.

The Alliance for Community Trees represents an alliance of community nonprofit forestry organizations dedicated to improving urban environments.
Earth Force empowers youth to make positive environmental change in their neighborhoods and then champions their accomplishments.
Earthwatch is an international organization that sponsors environmental education initiatives and offers travel opportunities for field research for enthusiastic students and teachers.
Global ReLeaf, a program of American Forests, offers yearly grants for tree-planting projects around the world. Students can search for local projects to participate in, or apply to start their own.
The GLOBE Program offers a hands-on environmental science and education program that joins students, educators, and scientists from around the world in studying the global environment.
The National Wildlife Federation aims to educate, inspire, and assist individuals and organizations of diverse cultures to conserve wildlife and other natural resources and protect the earth’s environment.

The American Cancer Society provides many excellent volunteer opportunities for young people, including administrative tasks, fundraising, relay for life teams, transportation assistance, and more.
The American Red Cross accepts student volunteers to assist at blood drives and other events, providing an excellent opportunity for meaningful community service.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids aims to protect America’s children from tobacco addiction and stop tobacco companies’ youth-targeted marketing. Their “Kick Butts” day occurs every spring.
Students Against Destructive Decisions promotes teen empowerment and uses peer influence to spread the message of positive decision-making and prevent underage drinking, impaired driving, other drug use, violence and suicide.

Best Buddies pairs high school students in one-to-one friendships with students with disabilities.
CARE helps students get involved in the international fight against poverty, gender and racial discrimination, and other worldwide issues.
Child Lures Protection educates teens to keep them safe from sexual abuse and abduction.
Habitat for Humanity offers volunteering opportunities related to their mission of providing adequate housing for people across the world and raising global awareness of housing issues.
National Coalition for the Homeless encourages students to commit to ending homelessness through public education, policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, and technical assistance.
Student Pledge Against Gun Violence honors the role that young people, through their own decisions, can play in reducing gun violence, culminating in a national Day of Concern.
Teens, Crime and the Community aims to help students understand the impact of crime on families and communities, and involves them in action-oriented crime prevention projects.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers safety plans, financial education, cosmetic surgery, and other resources to victims of domestic violence. Includes a plan for running an expense-free phone drive on behalf of the organization.
The National Council on Child Abuse & Family Violence brings together community and national stakeholders, volunteers and professionals to prevent intergenerational family violence.
Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) taps the potential of student members to create safer communities. Students and advisers can start their own SAVE chapters to bring the program to your school.