This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on November 19, 2016). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.
I’ve just set up small recurring monthly donations to Planned Parenthood, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the ACLU. It’s not much — just \$5/month to each of them, so \$15/month total right now — but it’s a start, and it leaves me some room to either increase these donations or add other recipients when I’m sure I can afford it. There are probably any number of other charities and organizations that could use support, and I’m open to suggestions of others that might be worth adding to my personal list (as long as I can afford to do so, of course). These are just the three that came to my mind most immediately, through exposure or personal interests.
Have you added donations to your routine? If so, who are you donating to?
I’ve found some value with the concept of effective altruism. When I donate, I usually split donations between the Against Malaria foundation, where $5 can save multiple lives through preventing malaria via bed nets, and my local food bank, which has a very good rating on CharityNavigator and advertises it can make four meals from $1.
Effective altruism as an actual concept, BTW — I usually go with GiveWell’s recommendations. Basically, the concept is to make a quantitative study of where money can do the most good.