If you’re in need of assistance, the first thing that should come to mind is federal support options.
However, not everyone can qualify for this type of support.
That leaves you dead in the water?
Well, not really!
Thankfully, there is still hope, and with the help of non-profits that provide assistance, you might find the right one to help you!
Where the federal assistance options don’t apply, there exist dozens of non-profit organizations that help those in need.
What Organizations are Worth Considering?
The programs these organizations offer can provide anything from shelter to access to food pantries, and sometimes even education assistance (and then some!).
There is a massive number of these organizations across the US, and the more popular ones are:
- YMCA
- Step Up For Students
- American Heart Association
- Catholic Charities USA
- Salvation Army
- Feed the Children
- United Way Worldwide
- United States Fund For UNICEF
- Samaritan’s Purse
- Americares Foundation
- Feeding America
Each of these organizations offers assistance in its own, unique way.
If you’re unable to qualify for federal assistance, chances are you’ll find the help you need at one of these non-profits.
YMCA
The Young Men’s Christian Association has been helping people make positive changes in their lives and communities for many years.
Their main goal is to bring people together and create positive experiences by creating communities.
At the local level, YMCAs often operate community centers and offer many activities and programs.
These may include fitness and recreational programs, sports leagues, after-school programs, summer camps, and more!
YMCA also offers equal educational opportunities to all members of the community, with no discrimination.
Ever since it was created, it has spread rapidly across the US, and is located in over 10k different US neighborhoods.
Step Up For Students
This non-profit’s focus is to give families the motivation to engage in learning opportunities for their children.
Their focus is set on low-income families that wouldn’t normally have access to these options.
The main way they provide their assistance is through funds for state-approved scholarships.
Among the scholarships the organization offers, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program stand out the most.
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options provides assistance for kids that have certain disabilities, whereas the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program assists low-income families
Also, Step up for Students offers support to students who have experienced bullying or violence, and students who have difficulty with reading.
American Heart Association
The AHA‘s main goal is fighting stroke and heart disease. Which should come as no surprise because heart health is the leading cause of death.
From the day it was founded, the organization earned a massive following, and it now has over 22.5M employees and partners.
Ranging from supporting cutting-edge improvements in medicine to fighting for public health regulations, AHA does it all.
Currently, there are 156 local offices in the US, with more than 3k of the organization’s representatives across the country.
Aside from seeking the improvement of overall health, AHA also provides health education options.
The organization has invested $5 billion in research funding since 1949, and trains 22 million people in CPR each year!
Their volunteer specialists filter through and select the best research to fund, which is then carried out and evaluated by the Association.
Catholic Charities USA
This organization gathers funding through donations, inviting everyone to support their goal of advocating for justice.
Catholic Charities USA provides help for needy Americans by using church resources gathered from donations.
Assistance from the Catholic Charities organization can come in the form of:
- Affordable housing
- Food support
- Disaster relief services
- Much more
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is another well-known organization that’s been helping people in need for more than 150 years.
Even though it’s often considered nothing more than a thrift shop, it’s so much more than that.
They provide various forms of assistance, ranging from the shelter for the homeless to rehab programs to food assistance, and more!
Feed the Children
Feed the Children is popular due to the cause they’re fighting for.
Child hunger is a major issue not just in the US, but the entire world.
However, it’s important to start somewhere, and this non-profit fights hunger inside the US and out.
Through collaborations with partner companies and communities, this non-profit aims to bring an end to child hunger worldwide.
The assistance they offer is aimed at needy households that can’t meet a child’s basic needs such as food, water, and shelter.
United Way Worldwide
Instead of just providing assistance within the US, UWW offers assistance programs to needy individuals worldwide.
Even though it’s a worldwide organization, it does have offices in the US and provides assistance to Americans.
Their main goal is to address national issues by finding and creating answers in local communities.
The support they offer covers a wide variety of life aspects, such as healthcare, financial independence, and even education.
United States Fund For UNICEF
For years, UNICEF has stood with the world’s children, raising the money necessary for every child to:
- Have an education
- Be in good health
- Have protection
- Be respected
In the US, the organization collaborates with celebrities, communities, churches, and individuals to help the world’s children.
UNICEF’s activities started post-WW2 when they began distributing powdered milk, medicine, and nutritional supplements.
These made their way to children all across the globe, and now, almost 80 years later, they provide support in 190 countries.
Samaritan’s Purse
This is another Christian organization focused on helping those that are either dealing with illness or have financial hardships.
It follows the Christian belief that those with the ability to help others should demonstrate it whenever they can.
While it is based inside of the US, the Samaritan’s Purse provides support and assistance to people across the globe.
Americares Foundation
The AF is a non-profit focused on aiding those that are either suffering from poverty or were victims of natural disasters.
They provide assistance through means like:
- Clinical supplies
- Healthcare services and medicine
It’s important to note that the Americares Foundation has been developing its quick response strategy for almost 4 decades.
Feeding America
With grocery prices spiraling out of control, this non-profit surely has its work cut out for them.
Feeding America provides donations in the form of not only food but cash and other items as well.
This allows this organization to make sure that those in need are getting the necessary support to help improve their situation.
Bottom line
Even if things seem like you’ve hit rock bottom, and there are no federal assistance options that you qualify for, there’s still hope!
This extensive list of nonprofits will serve as your guide to finding the assistance you may be able to benefit from in these trying times.
Don’t forget these are just some of the options available to you, and you may find others in your area, so don’t stop looking.