Actually an Artist

Daily writing prompt

If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?

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Sure, I’ll play along. But let’s not imagine this is going to fix anything. We need better systems, not more money flowing. Better systems would negate the need for more money, because EVERYONE would have enough. Systems are currently working only for the rich. In the USA, that means the richest are getting richer, whereas there are 11 MILLION children living in poverty in this country alone. There are 74 million children in the entire US, and 11 million of them live in poverty. That’s not even a small percentage. Meanwhile billionaires having space race pissing contests because they’ve given up caring about this planet and everyone on it.

So no, charity is for the short-term needs while we make the necessary changes, working alongside the Spirit to mend this broken world. A person who is fed and housed is going to be much better empowered to change the world around them than someone struggling to meet their basic needs. I want revolution, but I don’t fall into a dualistic trap of thinking that’s the only goal. We can make this world anew by feeding people today and ensuring their provisions in the future. So, with that prologue and soapbox rant out of the way, here are some places I would send money both for the macrocosmic/systemic changes and the day-to-day, microcosmic work.

Habitat for Humanity
The Bail Project
Heifer International
Together Rising 

The next set are groups that I’ve more direct experience with and would want to send money to. Sometimes the transformation is more directly individual than collective, and sometimes the need is just so immediate that we can’t neglect these actions while also working for systemic changes.

Room in the Inn-a national/locally organized winter weather shelter held in various churches. Open to anyone, including individuals
Interfaith Hospitality Network/Family Promise-Faith-based temporary shelter in churches, focusing on sheltering families
Pet Shelters! We got one of our cats from the Animal Rescue League of Boston when we were in MA and another from Kentucky Kitty Cats. The feral animal situation is so bad here that they do a lot of catch, fix, release here in Kentucky, and we've helped by trapping cats on our property and by adopting adult cats.
Peace Community Church, Oberlin, OH. The church where my husband and I got married, and a church that truly accepts and loves everyone. If I had a cool mil to give away, I'd make sure they were well taken care of for the next 100 years of ministry
Center for Action and Contemplation. I've learned a lot from their free resources, and I'd like to give back.

I think that’s my list. There’s no end of worthy places to give and worthy needs to meet. I focused a fair bit on the US because I wanted to highlight groups that I really believe in and trust. Large international charities are riddled with problematic baggage, and while I’m sure they’re trying and -some- good comes out of it, international aid has become a behemoth without all that much to show for all the money flowing. If we’re serious about systemic change, we can’t give to the system that’s keeping things as they are…!