Thursday, December 28, 2023

Opinion Today: How to give to those who need it most

This holiday season, consider contributing to the New York Times Communities Fund.
Continue reading the main story
Ad
Opinion Today

December 28, 2023

Author Headshot

By Nicholas Kristof

Opinion Columnist

Many readers filled with the holiday spirit like to make charitable donations by year's end, but aren't quite sure which organizations to support. Maybe we can help.

Just as The New York Times tries to vet politicians' statements, just as we recommend the best televisions on Wirecutter, we've also selected nonprofits to guide readers to some that are particularly effective.

That's the role of the New York Times Communities Fund, an updated version of what used to be called the Neediest Cases Fund. Over 112 years, Neediest Cases has raised $330 million for charities, but we thought it was time to revise it a bit. So we updated the name and professionalized the effort with the help of Focusing Philanthropy, a California organization that promotes highly effective giving.

We encourage you to visit the Communities Fund website and check out the 10 nonprofits on the list. They do everything from providing relief in wars to helping children attend school or learn to read — both abroad and at home. The Fund will cover credit card costs so that 100 cents of the dollar goes to the nonprofit.

Many of us at The Times went into journalism because we thought it was a way of making a difference. We try to do that with our coverage, and also at a personal level with our donations — and that's why many of us on the staff support the Communities Fund and contribute to it. We think of it as a way to work with readers and with the Times institutionally to bring a bit of cheer in the holiday season.

For 15 years I've had my own holiday giving guide, and that continues while joining forces with the Communities Fund. I'd like to thank readers for donating about $3 million so far to the three organizations on my list. Matching funds for that are still available if you donate here.

There has been a revolution in philanthropy over the last 20 years, and this drives both the Communities Fund and my corner of it. Donors demand more evidence of impact, for they want to generate the highest possible return from their charitable contributions. That's a sound impulse and has led us to update this annual Times drive, so that we can do the best job for readers and our communities. Happy holidays from all of us.

Read more about holiday giving:

Article Image

Alex Webb/Magnum Photos

About The New York Times Communities Fund

Formerly known as The Neediest Cases Fund, it traces its history to 1911 and has raised more than $330 million.

A photograph showing a dog with a red spiky ball in its mouth and running on grass. There are three adults and three children on the grass in front of a wooden fence and large tree.

Charity Rachelle for The New York Times

Nicholas Kristof

For the Holidays, These May Be the Best Gifts

For my annual giving guide, these three nonprofits are the top reader favorites.

By Nicholas Kristof

Continue reading the main story

ADVERTISEMENT

Ad

Here's what we're focusing on today:

Editors' Picks

More Than Words: 10 Charts That Defined 2023

Ten charts to recap the trends and main events of 2023.

Article Image

Our Keepers of 2023

The 55 things we watched, read, listened to, learned from, ate and laughed at in 2023 that will go with us into the new year.

Article Image

More From Opinion

David Brooks

The Sidney Awards

Some of the best long form essays of 2023.

By David Brooks

A collage of headlines and magazine articles.

Michelle Cottle

The 2023 High School Yearbook of American Politics

The most problematic nepo baby, the most fabulous fabulist, the most likely to be picked last in gym class and more.

By Michelle Cottle

A photo illustration of yearbook portraits of politicians and superlatives mentioned in this article, with graffiti scrawled over their faces.

Guest Essay

I Promised My Sister I Would Write About How She Chose to Die

Medical aid in dying gave my sister a choice about how her life ended.

By Steven Petrow

A woman's reflection appears in a cup of milky liquid.

Let's Talk 2023: Opinion Writers Respond to Your Comments

Opinion looks back at some of the most engaging comment threads of 2023.

By New York Times Opinion

A colorful illustration of four people in chairs talking. From their mouths emanates a single word bubble featuring a map of the Earth.

Peter Coy

Matt Damon, Fran Drescher and an Indian Soybean Farmer on 2024

I asked an array of people what they're wishing for in the new year.

By Peter Coy

A blue and red line illustration in which a hand holds up a martini-style glass with a radiant sun shining from within.

john mcwhorter

The Virtues of Inauthenticity

The historically inaccurate speech in "The Gilded Age" is as it should be.

By John McWhorter

A black and white still from The Gilded Age TV show showing two women in 1880's garb. Super-imposed on their mouths are photos of more modern mouths.

Op-Art

Things I Thought Made Sense Just Don't Anymore

Most days I feel as if I woke up from a nap I didn't mean to take into a world I don't quite recognize.

By Mira Jacob

Graphic illustration of a person in a bedroom at night. The text reads:
Continue reading the main story

ADVERTISEMENT

Ad

In Case You Missed It

Guest Essay

A Trump Conviction Could Cost Him Enough Voters to Tip the Election

Polls have been pretty clear: If he is criminally convicted by a jury of his peers, voters are likely to punish him for it.

By Norman Eisen, Celinda Lake and Anat Shenker-Osorio

A cartoon illustration of a frowning man getting his mug shot taken. He has yellow hair that covers his eyes, while a cartoon arrow partially runs through it.

Guest Essay

Ladle Me a Bowl of the Midwestern Good Stuff

My pursuit of culinary knowledge became an escape from the mundane, the provincial, the working class.

By Hannah Chouinard

An illustration of a home with mashed potatoes for a roof and a chimney made of a stick of butter.

Jane Coaston

The Factors That Made Evangelicals Ready for Trump

What primed some evangelical Christians to think in apocalyptic terms about America? Jane Coaston interviews Tim Alberta about Donald Trump, Covid and Christianity.

By Jane Coaston

An illustration in green and black of a figure in a suit in front of a Bible.

Zeynep Tufekci

Avert Your Eyes, Avoid Responsibility and Just Blame TikTok

Blaming social media for all kinds of social ills is more convenient to politicians than turning their shared anger into sensible legislation.

By Zeynep Tufekci

An illustration showing hands holding smartphones with images of broken dollar signs, unhappy faces, down arrows, Palestinian flags and more.

Guest Essay

Billionaire-Built Cities Would Be Better Than Nothing

We cannot afford to dismiss anyone who aims to build housing in the Bay Area.

By Edward L. Glaeser and Carlo Ratti

Colorful illustration of a man in a suit presenting an open red briefcase to a group of people. In it are skyscrapers, houses, flying vehicles and a winding road used by people on scooters and bikes.

Knitting Helps Us Embrace Life's Messy Imperfections

Crafters across Britain speak to how knitting can help us heal, even at our most broken.

By Samantha Moore

Article Image

Guest Essay

This Year, Make a Resolution About Something Bigger Than Yourself

What if, instead of focusing on improving ourselves, we focused on improving the world?

By Roger Rosenblatt

An illustration of people standing in rows, holding up and joining their arms in a repeating pattern that looks like many hearts.
Continue reading the main story

ADVERTISEMENT

Ad

We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.

Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here.

Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com.

If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times.

Continue reading the main story

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Opinion Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

facebooktwitterinstagram

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

LiveIntent LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

No comments:

Post a Comment