How to Choose a Conservation Nonprofit
Supporting a conservation nonprofit is one of the most impactful ways for every individual or organization to make a difference in the fight to protect our planet. If you’re considering donating money, time, energy, or resources to an organization that works to preserve the environment and combat climate change, then congratulations! You’ve already taken an important first step toward becoming a steward of our natural world.
But how do you choose which organization to support? A quick Google search produces an overwhelming list of environmental causes and charities, with missions and methods as diverse as life on Earth. There’s no single right way to make this important decision, but here are some of the major factors to consider when choosing a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
Personal connection
An easy way to begin narrowing your search is to choose an area of impact that resonates with you personally. If you love animals, you could seek out charities that protect wildlife and work to strengthen our planet’s biodiversity. If you’re a self-proclaimed tree hugger, you could look for reforestation projects or tree-planting initiatives.
Choosing a nonprofit with a mission that matters to you will help make your donation experience all the more rewarding.
Global vs. local
Another aspect to consider is the size and scope of the organization and their mission. Many large organizations that support worldwide conservation efforts offer credibility, clout, and the opportunity to make an impact on a global scale. However, a large and well-known organization may also be more capable of attracting large donations from corporations or philanthropists to help fund their projects.
The environmental efforts of a smaller, more localized organization may not make as wide of an impact, but your donation could go further to help them achieve their goals and meet their specific fundraising needs.
Choosing an NGO with a more specialized mission can also give you a clearer sense of how your donation will be used and allow you to support conservation efforts in a country or region to which you may also have a personal connection.
Keep in mind that there is no right or wrong answer here. Depending on your goals and priorities, you may prefer to support a local nonprofit that addresses regional issues or a global organization tackling broader challenges. The most important thing is to take action!
Efficiency and accountability
Once you’ve identified an organization that aligns with your values, it’s time to perform a background check to make sure that your donation will be put to good use.
Websites such as Charity Navigator and GuideStar provide ratings for a wide variety of charitable organizations based on the impact of their efforts, their financial efficiency and accountability, and a number of other factors. It’s best to seek out accredited organizations with a proven track record of transparency regarding their finances and operations.
Most trustworthy NGOs will publicly post their financials online, allowing potential donors to see exactly how the organization allocates their funds. Generally, the greater the percentage of spending that goes directly to an organization’s conservation programs, the better.
For instance, ReWorld is raising funds for Proyecto Tití, a nonprofit in Colombia that helps strengthen the region’s biodiversity through wildlife protection and reforestation efforts. In 2022, only 9.5% of Proyecto Tití’s expenses were spent on administration and accounting — meaning the organization was able to dedicate an impressive 90.5% to their forest restoration, field research, and social education programs. You can view Proyecto Tití’s 2022 Annual Report to learn more about their conservation impact and finances.
According to the independent charity watchdog group Charity Watch, cost-effective NGOs generally spend at least 75% on their programs, and less than 25% on fundraising and administrative costs. When choosing a charity to support, you should prioritize organizations that meet this standard.
Measurable impact
After you’ve confirmed that a nonprofit spends a healthy percentage of their donations on actual conservation efforts, it’s also worthwhile to examine how they measure the impact and success of those efforts. Ideally, an organization’s conservation strategies should be backed by research and science. The research should produce tangible, quantifiable results.
For instance, reforestation efforts can be measured by the number of trees planted or acres protected. Or the impact of a local wildlife protection project can be determined by measuring increases in a given species’ population in that area. You may also want to look for information on the wider environmental impact of an organization’s projects such as carbon emissions or social impact data.
Proyecto Tití has published numerous scientific articles documenting the impact of their work, such as their efforts to preserve Colombia’s cotton-top tamarin population. Likewise, ReWorld provides detailed information about the science-driven metrics behind each of our climate impact scores, including our carbon removal model.
There are qualitative factors to consider when assessing an NGO’s impact as well. Perhaps they engage in political advocacy to influence environmental policy on a local, national, or global level. Or maybe they work to educate local communities about the importance of conservation — as Proyecto Tití does with their community education programs.
Ask yourself: What is this organization doing to ensure that their work remains sustainable and continues to make a lasting impact far into the future?
ReWorld considered many of these factors when selecting Proyecto Tití as their first partner organization and now you can apply them to your own decision-making process as well. By taking the time to carefully choose a worthwhile organization, you can ensure that your contribution will make a meaningful impact on the environment and help secure our planet’s future — hopefully for generations to come.
