During the holidays, one of the gifts my late mother gave to each of her children was a donation to a worthy cause made in our individual names. Every year, I looked forward to learning which organization she had chosen. It was one of the most creative and meaningful gifts she ever gave us.

If you ask your children today what gifts they received during past Christmases—or which family vacation they enjoyed most—they are far more likely to remember the vacation than the presents they unwrapped. In other words, experiences matter. I still remember the charitable donations my mother made on my behalf far more vividly than any material gift. In that spirit of giving through donations to friends or family, here are five nonprofits I deeply admire and have seen in action while reporting on issues affecting women and girls.

Save the Children: I have worked closely with Save the Children over the years and have witnessed their international work firsthand, particularly in Africa. In addition to their critical efforts to reduce preventable deaths among children and newborns, they also support families and run programs aimed at reducing maternal mortality. These issues are deeply personal to me, and the tireless work I’ve seen them do in low-income countries makes their mission impossible not to support.

World Vision: I have also witnessed World Vision’s impact firsthand while traveling with their team in the Philippines. I am especially drawn to their “sponsor a child” program, which supports not only an individual child but an entire community. Their gift catalog is another favorite, offering options ranging from bed nets to chickens and goats—gifts that create lasting change.

Midwives for Haiti: The work Midwives for Haiti does for poor, rural women is unparalleled. Training midwives is central to addressing Haiti’s maternal health crisis, and their efforts have saved countless women and newborns over the years. I observed their work both in hospitals and in midwife training programs. Due to ongoing instability in Haiti, it is currently unsafe to volunteer there, but Midwives for Haiti is now also supporting Haitian women who have fled to the Dominican Republic. The organization is running an end-of-year fundraising campaign and is already more than halfway to its goal.

PSI (Population Services International): I had the opportunity to see PSI’s work in Tanzania, where they train health workers to support women, men, and families with reproductive health education. Strengthening the health workforce is essential for changing health norms and making progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Even a small donation can have a major impact—just $5.15 can provide life-saving essential health care.

Marie Stopes: It was a privilege to meet the women working at a Marie Stopes reproductive health clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. Their work is relentless and, at times, dangerous. I was told that partners have attempted to break into clinics to harm staff. Despite security measures, providing reproductive care in this context is deeply challenging. For that reason alone, supporting their work is critical to ensuring women continue to receive the care they need. Donations are currently being matched three times.

Photo by Larm Rmah on Unsplash