| Want some actual information to go with your chuckles? Need personal or professional help for you or your community? Wanna contribute some moolah to a great organization? Here’s a list of resources, organizations, and ideas for legal council. This list is by no means exhaustive! But it’s not a bad place to start if you want to dig a little deeper!
EQUALITY, CIVIL RIGHTS, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) - For almost 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the US.
Amnesty International/Amnesty USA - works both at home and abroad to tackle the most pressing human rights violations
Black Lives Matter - The Black Lives Matter Global Network is a chapter-based, member-led organization whose mission is to build local power and to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
California Indian Legal Services - protecting and advancing Indian rights, fostering Indian self-determination, and facilitating tribal nation building. CILS offers representation in cases that involve issues unique to Native Americans.
Center for Popular Democracy - The Center for Popular Democracy works to create equity, opportunity and a dynamic democracy in partnership with high-impact base-building organizations, organizing alliances, and progressive unions. CPD strengthens our collective capacity to envision and win an innovative pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda.
Council on American-Islamic Relations - CAIR is dedicated to presenting an Islamic perspective on issues of importance to the American public. In offering that perspective, we seek to empower the Muslim community in America through political and social activism.
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) - KIND staff and their pro bono attorney partners at law firms, corporations, and law schools nationwide represent unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children in their deportation proceedings. Together, we ensure that no child stands in court alone.
NAACP - The The primary focus of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People continues to be the protection and enhancement of the civil rights of African Americans and other minorities.
Native American Rights Fund - The NARF mission is the preservation of tribal existence, the protection of tribal natural resources, the promotion of human rights, the accountability of governments, the development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) - a non-profit, public interest law firm that litigates precedent-setting cases at the trial and appellate court levels; advocates for equitable public policies affecting the LGBT community; provides free legal assistance to LGBT people and their legal advocates; and conducts community education on LGBT issues.
National Women's Law Center - Protecting and advancing the progress of women and girls at work, in school, and in virtually every aspect of their lives. The Center brings to its work extensive subject expertise in the major areas of family economic security, health, employment and education, public policy research, monitoring and analysis; litigation, advocacy and coalition-building; and public education.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force - NGLTF is the national progressive organization working for the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, with the vision and commitment to building a powerful political movement.
Planned Parenthood - a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide.
Rainbow PUSH Coalition - a multiracial, multi-issue, international membership organization founded by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., working to move the nation and the world toward social, racial and economic justice, and uniting people of diverse ethnic, religious, economic and political backgrounds to make America's promise of "liberty and justice for all" a reality.
Southern Poverty Law Center - an organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality.
Youth Radio - a Peabody Award-winning nonprofit media production company and learning institution that prepares diverse young people for the 21st-century digital workplace by offering them hands-on education and employment in journalism, arts, and technology, as well as access to support services like academic advising and mental health care.
HEALTH & HEALTHCARE
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.
Center for Reproductive Rights - a legal innovator seeking to fundamentally transform the landscape of reproductive health and rights worldwide, defining the course of reproductive rights through victories in regional, federal, and local courts around the world, engaging policymakers, and reporting on rights to promote progressive ideas and defeat proposals that are discriminatory, punitive, or dangerous to women's health.
Mental Health Amercia - the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans.
National Alliance on Mental Illness - the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health - an organization that builds Latina power to guarantee the fundamental human right to reproductive health, dignity and justice. We elevate Latina leaders, mobilize our families and communities, transform the cultural narrative and catalyze policy change.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline - provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
National Women's Health Network - an organization that improves the health of all women by developing and promoting a critical analysis of health issues in order to affect policy and support consumer decision-making.
Planned Parenthood - a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide.
Reproductive Health Access Project - a national nonprofit organization that works directly with primary care providers, helping them integrate abortion, contraception, and miscarriage care into their practices so that everyone can receive this essential health care from their own primary care clinicians.
Treatment Advocacy Center - a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness, promoting laws, policies and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care, and supporting the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Trevor Project - the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project - a non-partisan, non-profit organization helping women gain access to safe, legal abortion services and emergency contraceptives. We work with pre-qualified, reputable reproductive health clinics across the U.S. on behalf of disadvantaged women in need.
HOMELESSNESS & POVERTY
Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness - a New York City-based policy research organization focused on family homelessness in New York City and throughout the United States.
National Alliance to End Homelessness - a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States, and a leading voice on federal homelessness policy, analyzing enacted and proposed legislation and advocates for improved federal policy.
National Coalition for the Homeless - a national network of people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to a single mission: To prevent and end homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights protected.
National Healthcare for the Homeless Council - a membership organization that connects you with peers, specialists, and resources to eliminate homelessness through health care and housing.
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty - a natinoal legal group dedicated to ending and preventing homelessness. It works to expand access to affordable housing, meet the immediate and long-term needs of those who are homeless or at risk, and strengthen the social safety-net through policy advocacy, public education, impact litigation; and advocacy training and support.
Weingart Center - a Los Angeles-based organization empowering and transforming lives by delivering innovative solutions to combat poverty and break the cycle of homelessness.
DISASTER RELIEF
American Red Cross - an organization of volunteers and staff that work to deliver vital services - from providing relief and support to those in crisis, to helping you be prepared to respond in emergencies.
Caritas de Puerto Rico - a Catholic organization currently engaging in hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. Caritas responds practically to humanitarian crises such as natural disasters, conflict and the effects of climate change in order to save lives, relieve suffering and help rebuild livelihoods and communities in the longer-term.
Habitat for Humanity - a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home, with the belief that affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities.
Hurricane Maria Recovery Fund - One hundred percent of monies raised will be used to support immediate relief, recovery, and equitable rebuilding in Puerto Rico for the communities hit hardest by the storm.
One America Appeal - a joint appeal that was originally launched by all five living former American Presidents to encourage their fellow citizens to support recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey — which inundated the Texas Gulf Coast with unprecedented flooding. This special appeal has been expanded to include areas most affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
UNICEF USA - supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, these organizations are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes, and every child has a safe and healthy childhood.
ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION
Environmental Defense - this group’s founders brought a lawsuit against the government to ban DDT—a novel concept at the time. Forty years later, the group leads a variety of environmental campaigns, including Oceans Alive, an all encompassing effort to maintain the health of the oceans. The campaign’s website explains which species of fish are high in contaminants and which are being farmed responsibly, and fights for more ecologically sound regulations on fishing, as well as protections to save reefs and lagoons around the world.
Greenpeace - thirty years ago this organization sent inflatable dinghies into the high seas to stop Russian whaling ships, thereby ushering in the Save the Whales movement. In November of 2005, Greenpeace went at it again, trying to stop massive Japanese whaling boats with a much smaller ship and several inflatable rafts. In addition to anti-whaling efforts worldwide, Greenpeace works to preserve deep sea life and protect oceans from pollutions and oil spills.
Humane Society - having recently celebrated its 50 year anniversary, the Humane Society can boast of being the largest animal protection organization in America. It works towards the protection of marine mammals from commercial fishing, boat collisions, entanglements in fishing gear, and beaching-related dangers, like sonar. It is leading the fight against the Canadian seal hunt, and its website offers a guide that dolphins and whales should swim free in the ocean, not entrapped in Sea Worlds and zoos.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Conservation & Science - conservation programs, policies, and guidance promoting ocean health and wildlife, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and management of plastic pollution.
Mother Jones Guide to Environmental Non-Profits - a very solid & inspiring list of environmental & oceanic conservation & defense organizations.
Sierra Club - the oldest and largest environmental group in America. A subsidiary called the National Marine Wildlife and Habitat Committee tackles an ambitious agenda that includes: permanent protection for the environmentally-sensitive areas that are now covered by a moratorium on offshore oil development; sustainable fishery regulations; proper construction and implementation of the Marine Mammals Protection Act and Endangered Species Act; ending active sonar programs by the U.S. Navy that may endanger marine mammals and other ocean wildlife; and the monitoring of international agreements such as the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling.
Surfrider Foundation - a U.S. 501 grassroots non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves and beaches.
World Wildlife Fund - the World Wildlife Fund offers a global program for saving the ocean and its inhabitants. The WWF works with the media and lobbies policymakers in dozens of countries, while advocating solutions on an array of areas, including coral reefs, sustainable fishing, no-take zones, and oil and gas exploration.
VOTING & REGISTRATION
America Votes - creating partnerships and collaborations between many of the largest and most influential issue and membership organizations in the country, bringing together a wide range of causes to transform how the progressive community works - engaging communities to take action on critical issues – from fighting for working families, to advancing women’s healthcare, to protecting the environment and more – and mobilizing millions of voters on Election Day.
League of Women Voters - For nearly 100 years LWV has fought to protect the rights of eligible voters and expand access for those who’ve been left out of our democratic process, spearheading efforts to enact common-sense voting reforms and protecting millions of voters every year through aggressive advocacy and education efforts.
San Francisco League of Pissed Off Voters - a bunch of progressive political geeks focused on publishing voter guides, educating on the issues, exciting pissed off progressive voters, and reminding sellout politicians that we’re paying attention.
TurboVote - this organization helps make sure you always know when elections are happening, and have the information you need to vote with confidence. Sign up to receive election reminders, get registered to vote, & apply for your absentee ballot!
Vote.org - an organization that uses technology to simplify political engagement, increase voter turnout, and strengthen American democracy. Register to vote, get your absentee ballot, check your registration, and learn about voting and registration rules and deadlines in your area here |
