Donating to a charity is an excellent idea if you’re looking for a way to support your community and make a positive impact. Oregon is home to many amazing charities, each of which focuses on worthy causes. 

When looking to support a charity, it’s important to research and find organizations that align with your values. For instance, if you’re interested in ending world hunger, you might want to support hunger relief charities like Food for Life Global (FFLG). 

Food For Life is the leading vegan food charity combats poverty and hunger by feeding over 2 million children freshly-made plant-based meals daily in countries going through natural disasters and war. FFL also offers programs to help communities fight poverty and hunger while operating virtually to cut administrative costs and channel all donations to food relief programs. 

Besides food relief nonprofits, Oregon is home to many worthy causes, making it hard to narrow down the top charities in the “Beaver State.” But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. 

This list of the 26 best charities in Oregon will help you find one that speaks to you, whether you’re looking to support children, animals, or the environment!

Top Charities in Oregon

While the charities in Oregon aren’t limited to those on this list, we’ve specially handpicked the following to help you get started.

Children’s Cancer Association

This charity focuses on cancer treatment beyond medicine by introducing programs to help young cancer patients find joy and attain emotional healing.  

For 25 years, the Children’s Cancer Association has achieved its mission through programs like JoyRx Nature, JoyRx Mentorship, and JoyRx Music. Fueled by donations and support, these programs create unforgettable moments for the patients, helping them shift their moods to relieve isolation, anxiety, and sadness during lengthy hospitalizations and treatment.

Unite Oregon

Unite Oregon has empowered communities for social justice for 20 years now. This membership organization comprises people experiencing poverty, rural communities, refugees and immigrants, and people of color who work across Oregon to create an intercultural, unified movement for justice. 

Members partake in all program development and implementation stages while bound by a common goal of ending social, political, and economic injustice.

Child Foundation

Located at 2020 NE 102nd Ave, Portland, Oregon, Child Foundation is one of the leading international charities in Oregon helping school-aged children to remain in school.

The Child Foundation focuses on children who need immediate financial assistance, especially orphans. By improving their quality of life and their respective families, the nonprofit offers them access to education so they’ll grow up to become successful. 

PStandUpGirl.com Foundation

As a 501(c)3 charitable organization focused on providing young adults and adolescents with abortion alternatives, StandUpGirl Foundation caters to all women across the globe.

They’re dedicated to saving and changing lives by educating women on abortion alternatives and fetal development. These young women from South America, Africa, Russia, Canada, Australia, England, and the US enjoy access to a community and educational materials to help them through their unplanned pregnancy journey. 

Scrolling through their website will help you get all the information you need to support this charity.

Vestibular Disorders Association

For more than 30 years, the Vestibular Disorder Association (VeDA) has helped vestibular patients through their advocacy to create a world where the disorder is rapidly diagnosed, widely understood, and effectively treated.

You can help them achieve their goal by participating in research, starting a support group, and sharing your story. 

Dogs for Better Lives

Formerly called Dogs for the Deaf, this national 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Central Oregon provides Assistance Dogs to Americans across the country. 

Since 1977, Dogs for Lives have professionally trained dogs to assist people and improve lives while maintaining a serious commitment to the rescued and bred dogs. 

The nonprofit places Assistance Dogs trained by certified experts with professionals like physicians, licensed therapists, and teachers whose clients and students can benefit from and enjoy the dogs’ calming presence. Children diagnosed with autism and deafness also qualify for a dog from the dog charity. 

Oregon Environmental Council

The Oregon Environmental Council brings together Oregonians to protect the state’s land, air, and water by proffering healthy solutions that work now and in the future. 

Founded by concerned Oregonians in 1968, this nonpartisan, membership-based nonprofit hopes to achieve healthy neighborhoods and homes free of hazardous chemicals and air pollution. Other goals include having plentiful and clean water that supports wildlife, fish, and residents and a stable climate that protects the economy and communities. 

Northwest Family Services

Since 1983, Northwest Family Services (NWFS) has focused on reducing poverty through social justice, employment, education, and health services. 

NWFS supports child well-being, crime victims, and family stability by focusing on health and social determinants. Donations go towards maintaining programs designed to help achieve their goal.

Lewis & Clark Montessori Charter School

This public charter Montessori school is also a nonprofit that fosters healthy human development while offering a holistic approach to education in an environment free from discrimination. 

A quick perusal of their website will help you learn how to donate to this nonprofit. 

Transition Projects

For more than 53 years, Transition Projects has delivered life-changing and life-saving services to homeless people in Portland, Oregon. 

With a focus on transitioning people from living on the street of Portland into housing, Transition Projects operates ten locations while overseeing hundreds of apartment placements throughout the Portland Metropolitan area every year. 

The Rebecca Foundation

The Rebecca Foundation is a charitable nonprofit that provides cloth diapers to families who can’t afford diapers due to financial restraints. Considering that cloth diapers are a more healthy, safe, and natural alternative to disposable diapers, their usage help the environment by reducing the waste created by disposable diapers. 

Donations to The Rebecca Foundation enable families to supplement start-up cost for cloth diaper manufacturing and supplies. Unfortunately, The Rebecca Foundation is currently closed. 

Lead Safe America Foundation

Lead Safe focuses on protecting children from lead-causing hazards through support and emergency intervention for children suffering lead poisoning and families that want to protect their kids from lead exposure. 

Lead (Pb) can be found in the environment, parks, playgrounds, childcare centers, schools, and homes. Their outreach activities for lead poisoning prevention include distributing free lead test kits, education materials, and collaborative outreach events. 

Community Warehouse

This local, friendly furniture bank located in Lake Oswego has served the Portland Area for more than two decades by donating collected home goods to people that need them most. 

The Community Warehouse works with social security agencies to give unused household stuff to economically-disadvantaged families looking for essential home furnishings like beds, towels, and extra dishes. 

Ecology in Classrooms and Outdoors (ECO)

Serving over 6,000 students annually from grades K-12 in the Central Coast, Eugene, and Portland Metro Area, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization provides custom-created content aimed at harnessing the students’ natural curiosity while empowering them to maintain lifelong connections with nature. 

Students can engage in garden-based summer camps,  habitat restoration projects, field trips, and in-classroom lessons year-round under the watchful eyes of professional educators. 

Visit their website to learn more about how to support the cause. 

Animal Balance

Animal Balance collaborates with the local authorities to provide community-based sterilization programs for dogs and cats in areas and islands where the local population can’t afford animal sterilization.

By humanely controlling and reducing dog and cat populations, Animal Balance protects the native species, keeping the community healthier.

Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide – ELAW

ELAW helps communities advocate for a healthy planet, clean water, and clean air. This advocacy group comprises a global alliance of scientists, attorneys, and other advocates from across the globe coming together to promote building a just and sustainable future through grassroots efforts and partnerships.

ELAW partners enjoy scientific and legal support to challenge environmental abuse while building committed and skilled advocates focused on protecting ecosystems for future generations. 

Senior Citizens Council of Clackamas County Inc

This nonprofit provides critical support to adults with disabilities and at-risk seniors in danger of exploitation, neglect, and abuse. The court system, police departments, and social services agencies refer these seniors to the Senior Citizens of Clackamas County Inc to help protect the members’ finances, find them a clean and safe place to live and oversee their bill payment needs.

Wheel to Walk Foundation

Wheels to Walk Foundation helps young children with disabilities obtain therapy services or adaptive and medical equipment not provided by insurance, like wheelchairs, patient lifts, orthotics, gait trainers, adaptive car seats, bathing chairs, and adaptive strollers. 

Donations through their website help them to buy more equipment for children with disabilities.

CAST for Kids Foundation

Catch a Special Thrill (CAST) for Kids Foundation is a public charity formed in 1991 for volunteers who love fishing with special needs children, making them feel loved and valued.

In 1994, the foundation officially became a 501(c)3 and now hosts two programs; Take a Warrior Fishing and CAST for Kids. 

Supporting CAST for Kids Foundation ensures that special needs children have access to materials and resources to help them manage their conditions better.

Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals (OFOSA)

As a foster-based animal rescue nonprofit, OFOSA is committed to saving many adaptable animals from overcrowded shelters and restoring them to health so they can move into loving, permanent homes. 

The nonprofit offers a spay and neuter clinic with trained and skilled medical staff performing hundreds of surgeries annually. OFOSA has provided more than 99% of rescued animals with loving homes through volunteers and dedicated foster families. 

The Dreaming Zebra® Foundation

This 501(c)(3) nonprofit encourages children to follow their artistic dreams, express themselves creatively, and embrace their individuality. Donations and support at The Dreaming Zebra® Foundation help provide music and art supplies to underprivileged children worldwide. 

With a $20 donation, a child can access supplies for pursuing their creative interest.

On-The-Move Community Integration

On-The-Move Community Integration is a nonprofit organization helping adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities to access their community through environmentally responsible, meaningful, and healthy activities. 

Participants develop community navigation, social, and independent living skills through volunteer-supported programs that inspire and promote healthy relationships and literacy. 

Imagine Scholar

Founded on the belief of equal raw potential distribution worldwide, Imagine Scholar equips young future leaders with the mindsets, skills, and integrity they need to effect positive changes. 

For over 11 years, Imagine Scholar has supported young leaders with University scholarships while helping them launch various community-action projects.

Our Children’s Trust

Our Children’s Trust is a charitable public interest law office providing campaign-based, strategic legal services to young people from various backgrounds to help them secure rights to a clean, safe climate. 

To support Our Children’s Trust, visit their website for the donation details on their page. 

Pathways to Safety International

This nonprofit educates Americans about gender-based violence like forced marriage, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault while empowering victims to heal and survive. Pathways to Safety International assists victims enduring intense suffering in isolated situations without access to safety or support.  

The Shopp

The Shopp partners with like-minded nonprofits in Portland to send their net-worth proceeds to NW Collaborative for providing resources to sex trafficking, homelessness, addiction, and domestic violence victims. 

Besides NW Collaborative, this thrift nonprofit located in Beaverton, Oregon, donates necessities like clothing to Safety Compass, an organization partnering with sex trafficking survivors in Portland. 

Conclusion

If you’re looking to change the world, begin with supporting local causes. While the charitable organizations in Oregon aren’t limited to those on our list, it’s a good place to start. Some of these charities in Oregon only cater to Oregonians, while the rest spreads their reach across the globe. 

Consider visiting the websites of those charities that match your interest to help make the world a better place through your donation.

This article is brought to you by O’Reilly Property Group and Real Estate Informations. O’Reilly Property Group is a Bay Area top producer and one of eXp Realty’s most dedicated and successful real estate agents in Oregon, offering clients concierge-level service throughout their real estate journey.

For more real estate-related information, visit realestateinformations.com, the leading website for real estate news and updates.

Read next:

Top California Charities You Might Want to support

Top Charities in Georgia That Need Your Donations