Individual evaluators may not agree on exactly how to assess the performance of charities, but here are some charities that get top ratings from at least two organizations:
African-American: National Urban League
AIDS: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Fund
Animals: Best Friends Animal Society, D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Farm Sanctuary, Wildlife Conservation Society, Performing Animal Welfare Society, PAWS Chicago
Visually impaired: Helen Keller International/Childsight, National Federation of the Blind
Cancer: Cancer Care, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Livestrong (formerly Lance Armstrong Foundation), Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Prevent Cancer Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (ALSAC), Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Child protection: Children’s Health Fund
Child sponsorship: Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, Compassion International, Save the Children
Civil rights: American Civil Liberties Union
Consumer protection: Public Citizen Foundation
Disabilities: Goodwill Industries International
Environment: Alaska Conservation Foundation, American Forests, American Rivers, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Conservation Fund, Earth Island Institute, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the Earth, Keep American Beautiful (National), Natural Resources Defense Council, Rainforest Alliance, Resources for the Future, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sierra Club Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Union of Concerned Scientists, World Resources Institute
Health: American Kidney Fund, Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Parkinson’s Disease Foundation
Homeless: Coalition for the Homeless, National Alliance to End Homelessness
Human services: American Red Cross
Hunger: Action Against Hunger USA, Bread for the World Institute, Freedom from Hunger, Global Hunger Project
International relief and development: Accion International, Africare, American Near East Refugee Aid, American Refugee Committee, CARE, Charity:water, Grameen Foundation USA, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Medical Teams International, Partners in Health, Project Concern International, Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Save the Children, Technoserve
Jewish Israel: American Jewish World Service, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, New Israel Fund & Signing Anew
Peace: International Peace Institute
Population: Population Action International, Population Council
Senior citizens: National Council on Aging
Veterans: Armed Services YMCA of the USA, Homes for Our Troops, Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, National Military Family Association, Operation Homefront (National)
Youth development: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America (National), National 4-H Council, Scholarship America
Youth residential care: CEDARS (Home for Children & Youth Services)
