9 Engineering and Science Charities to Donate in this Holiday Season

No matter your belief system, the holiday season is a great time to give gifts to friends and family to say thanks for the year past. But giving gifts can also be really wasteful and many holiday gimmicks don't even last as long as the season.  

There is another way, making a donation to a charity in the name of a friend or family member is a gift that gives twice. Everyone will feel good and a worthy cause will have some more resources to put to good use.  

1. Engineers without Borders

This hardworking group provides assistance to infrastructure projects all over the world. EWB states that its vision is to create “a sustainable world where engineering enables long-term positive social and global development for the benefit of people and the environment everywhere.”

You can organize a donation to EWB in the name of friend or family member by heading to its website. There is no minimum amount and every little bit counts. 

2. Everybody Solar

Everybody Solar aims to protect the environment and strengthen communities by bringing solar energy to nonprofits. It works to provide solar panels to nonprofit organizations so they can reduce their costs and spend their money instead on the critical work they do.

Everybody Solar has a monthly donation circle; donating $46 a month can offset 1,585 lbs. of CO2 from entering the atmosphere annually. That is pretty close to being the same amount of CO2 generated by an average person. Everybody Solar is based in California.

3. Water.org

This non-profit provides access to safe drinking water in developing countries. It works with local partners to build water infrastructure and provide training about water management. It also runs a subsidiary of microfinance that uses small loans to help communities kickstart water-related projects independently.

Water.org accepts donations of any size either as a one-off time or as a recurring monthly gift. It operates in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

4. GRID Alternatives

GRID Alternatives work in the USA, Nicaragua, Nepal, and Mexico to provide low-income households and nonprofit organization with free solar installations. To date, it has installed over 36 MW of solar nationwide.

Addition to its installation projects, it also provides training programs, SolarCorps Fellowships, and its “Troops to Solar” program. You can donate to Grid Alternatives on its website for any amount.

5. Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity work to build homes and buildings in communities that are disadvantaged due to natural disasters or governmental issues.

The charity has a Christian bent but works to ensure the new owners of the building are involved in the entire process of building their new home from design to the construction itself.

Habitat for Humanity accepts donations of any size.

6. SolarAid

SolarAid is an international charity determined to tackle both poverty and climate change.  It works to provide solar lighting to some of the most remote places in the world. 

Providing solar lights can make a huge impact on safety, education, and health for many living in remote communities.

Solar Aid is delighted to receive your donation of any size.

7. National Girls Collaborative Project

The National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) works to bring together organizations all over the USA that are committed to helping girls pursue careers and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Women represent only 26 percent of people who work in the STEM-related sectors. Help change this statistic with a donation today.

NGCP operate in 39 states across the U.S and take donations of any size.

8. SACNAS - Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science

SACNAS is dedicated to providing support and opportunity for Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans to obtain advanced degrees and leadership positions in the STEM sectors.

The future is only brighter with true diversity and SACNAS aims to help get there.

Make gift donation to help SACNAS send students to attend their upcoming diversity in STEM conference in Honolulu, Hawai'i.

9. AI for Good

AI is becoming a pretty regular part of our lives. AI for Good wants to make sure AI development prioritizes its benefits for a fair and equal world.

It aims to support open and fair research and host events that connect communities and researchers. Ai for Good is looking for both monetary, volunteer and leadership donations.

Head to its website to find out how to give to the cause of an honest and open AI-powered world.