Top COVID-19 Charities

A number of highly-rated charities have created funds to support communities around the world affected by the outbreak. Here are some examples of nonprofits specifically related to COVID-19 relief:

General, Broad-based Relief Organizations

Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) launched the CDP COVID-19 Response Fund to support containment, response and recovery activities for those most affected and for the responders.

CDC Foundation
The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit and the sole entity created by Congress to mobilize philanthropic and private-sector resources to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s critical health protection work.

World Vision
Coronavirus Emergency Response - helping vulnerable children worldwide who are fighting “secondary effects” of COVID-19 by providing life-saving food, child protection programs, educational support, and more. You will also help limit the spread of the virus both abroad and here in the US.

Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities agencies are on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing food, offering shelter, providing health and wellness support and so much more.

American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

There are also many, many organizations doing terrific work and providing much needed relief services across a number of different categories. Here’s a few that are highly rated by Charity Navigator.

Medical Services

Partnering with medical teams to combat COVID-19

1. Deborah Hospital Foundation
   Incorporated in 1974, Deborah Hospital Foundation is the fundraising entity for Deborah Heart and Lung Center. Deborah is a world renowned heart, lung, and vascular specialty care hospital located in Browns Mills (Burlington County), NJ.
2. Partners in Health
   Partners In Health strives to achieve two overarching goals: to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair.
3. Heart to Heart International
   Heart to Heart International is improving global health through humanitarian initiatives that connect people and resources to a world in need.
4. Save the Children
   In the United States and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.
5. Howard Brown Health Center
   The mission of Howard Brown Health Center is to promote the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons through the provision of health care and wellness programs, including clinical, educational, social service and research activities.
6. International Rescue Committee
   IRC responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic well being, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster.

Relief Supplies: Health and Medical

Providing much-needed medical supplies to hospitals and health facilities

1. Water Mission
   The Water Mission is a Christian engineering nonprofit that designs, builds, and implements safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas.
2. Fistula Foundation
   Fistula Foundation believes that no woman should have to suffer a life of shame and isolation simply for trying to bring a child into the world.
3. Direct Relief
   Direct Relief is a humanitarian organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies.
4. Good360
   Good360's mission is to transform lives by providing hope, dignity, and a sense of renewed possibility to individuals, families, and communities impacted by disasters or other challenging life circumstances who, without us, would struggle to find that hope.
5. Matthew 25 Ministries
   Matthew 25 Ministries (M25M) is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization helping the poorest of the poor locally, nationally and internationally regardless of race, creed or political persuasion.
6. Convoy of Hope
   Convoy of Hope is a faith-based, nonprofit organization with a driving passion to feed the world through children's feeding initiatives, community outreaches and disaster response.

Cross-Categorical

Providing much-needed assistance across multiple areas.

1. Preemptive Love Coalition
   COVID-19 RESPONSE: We are rushing food to Syrian refugees now quarantined and starving. We're providing medical care where it is limited or unavailable.
2. Americares
   Americares saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster so they can reach their full potential.
3. Haitian Health Foundation
   The mission of the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) is to improve the health and well-being of women, children, families and communities living in Haiti through healthcare, education and community development.
4. Gary Sinise Foundation
   The Gary Sinise Foundation was established under the philanthropic direction of a forty-year advocate for our nation's defenders, actor Gary Sinise. Its outreach supports those who sacrifice to defend our country: active duty, veterans, first responders, and their loved ones.
5. GlobalGiving
   GlobalGiving is the first and largest global crowdfunding community that connects vetted nonprofits, donors, and companies in nearly every country around the world.

Funding Local Organizations

Partnering with local organizations to ensure communities across the country have the resources and support they need.

1. International Community Foundation
   ICF seeks to increase charitable giving and volunteerism across U.S. borders to benefit overseas communities and nonprofit organizations.
2. United Way Worldwide
   The United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good.
3. United Way of Greater Houston
   United Way of Greater Houston invests in quality services throughout our community, leads special initiatives, like United Way THRIVE, MISSION UNITED, and United Way Bright Beginnings.
4. BrazilFoundation
   BrazilFoundation was established in 2000 with the goal of generating resources for social entrepreneurs who propose creative and innovative solutions to challenges faced by communities throughout Brazil.
5. Global Fund for Women
   The Global Fund for Women is a global champion for the human rights of women and girls.
6. Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City
   The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City works to sustain and enhance Jewish life at home and around the world. Everywhere. Everyday.

Education & Awareness

Raising awareness of ways to prevent COVID-19 and how to cope with the stress it's causing

1. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
   The NFID is dedicated to educating the public and healthcare professionals about the burden, causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases across the lifespan. 
2. Sewa International
   Sewa International's mission is to serve humanity in distress, aid local communities, run developmental projects for the underserved, and assist people in transformational change through the power of innovation by mobilizing partners, donors, and volunteers.
3. Prevent Child Abuse America
   Since 1972, Prevent Child Abuse America has led the way in building awareness, providing education and inspiring hope to everyone involved in the effort to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation's children.
4. American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
   AARDA is dedicated to the eradication of autoimmune diseases and the alleviation of suffering and the socioeconomic impact of autoimmunity through fostering and facilitating collaboration in the areas of education, public awareness, research, and patient services in an effective, ethical and efficient manner.
5. Healthcorps
   HealthCorps' mission is to strengthen communities with the most innovative approaches to health and wellness to help the next generation be more resilient.
6. ActionAid USA
   ActionAid is an international network building a just, equitable, and sustainable world in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of poverty and injustice.

Relief Supplies: Community Support & Services

Supporting the safety nets of our society and protecting the most vulnerable

1. GiveDirectly
   GiveDirectly is the first and the largest nonprofit that lets donors send money directly to the world's poorest.
2. Crisis Aid International
   Crisis Aid International mission is to assist in sustaining life, bring encouragement to those suffering and collaborate with other relief organizations in bringing necessary foods, materials and medicines to people in times of crisis, particularly where life and death situations exist.
3. Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
   The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank has been dedicated to ending hunger for more than 30 years.
4. Family Promise
   Family Promise develops community-based Affiliate programs that serve children and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness and provides ongoing support for these Affiliates to empower families to achieve and maintain their sustainable independence.
5. Asha for Education
   Asha for Education is a secular organization dedicated to causing socio-economic change in India by focusing on access to basic education.
6. Memorial Assistance Ministries
   Memorial Assistance Ministries' mission is to assure that families have the means to meet their basic needs.

Growing Interest in PTO Donation Plans

PTO Exchange has developed a flexible benefits platform that allows and facilitates donations to charitable organization as well as sharing of PTO amongst employees who need it most. Leave-sharing is one aspect of our platform that can be turned on expeditiously, as quickly as 24 hours, if the need arises.

This is a notable time with many companies making bold adjustments to their PTO strategy and trying to find new ways to help their employee community bridge the changes that are affecting their lives.

If PTO donations or leave-sharing is something that can help your organization navigate through this situation, we are here to help.

To learn more, download our free ebook, "12 Things You Need to Know About Setting Up a COVID-19 Leave-Sharing Plan."