In the Age of Trump, Something's Gotta Give

This holiday season, consider making donations to loved ones’ favorite causes

By Katie O'Reilly

December 7, 2016

filename

Photo by CatLane/iStockphoto

I love shiny new bicycles and fancy dinners as much as anyone. But the best gift I’ve ever received was a donation, made in my name, to Planned Parenthood. I got notice of the gift via email after former Texas senator Wendy Davis’s epic 2013 pro-choice filibuster. It came from a longtime friend who knew not only how much I care about reproductive rights, but also how hurt and disturbed I was by the renewed push for anti-choice legislation.

The election of Donald Trump as president hasn’t left progressives feeling particularly festive. There is plenty of evidence, however, that progressives are energized and ready to fight. Just look at the unprecedented surge in donations to nonprofits since Election Day.

This holiday season is as good a time as ever to consider setting aside fancy gadgets and other goodies and instead giving the gift of your support to an organization that matters—those on the front lines of civil liberties, women’s rights, LGBTQ causes, immigrants, and of course, the climate and environment.

The American Civil Liberties Union: The ACLU’s donation page crashed after Election Day from thousands of visitors. The nonprofit, which defends civil liberties in all 50 states, has since received more than $15 million in donations—the largest outpouring of support since its 1920 founding. Executive director Anthony D. Romero issued a statement urging President-elect Trump to change course on a number of civil-rights-violating campaign promises, including the forced removal of 11 million undocumented immigrants and aggressive surveillance of Muslim citizens. And, to assure Trump that it is watching and monitoring the constitutionality of his every move, the organization took out a full-page ad in the New York Times. A gift to the ACLU in a beloved environmentalist’s name demonstrates their commitment to preserving, protecting, and enjoying the human environment—as well as the natural one. And as we’re coming to increasingly understand, the two share infinite overlaps.

The Anti-Defamation League: Founded in 1913 to “stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all,” the ADL is now one of the largest civil rights organizations in the country. The group, which continues to fight against anti-Semitism and bigotry, saw a spike in donations following the election, especially after a spate of anti-Semitic and racist incidents around the country. Shortly thereafter, the ADL released a statement “strongly opposing” Trump’s choice of Steve Bannon for senior advisor and chief strategist, condemning the former chief of Breitbart News Network for presiding over “the premier website of the Alt-Right, a loose-knit group of white nationalists and unabashed anti-Semites and racists.” Several donors have since sent money in the name of Steve Bannon.

Council on American-Islamic Relations: CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties organization, was established to promote understanding of Islam in the United States, to protect the rights of Muslims, and to encourage civil rights and freedom of religion. Trump campaigned on promises to enact an immigrant registration program that would target Muslims. Since the election, major law firms have offered to work for CAIR, pro bono, to defend the civil rights of the Muslim community. This is another organization that saw a surge in postelection donations.

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund: The Trump era has many activists worried that disability rights may no longer be seen as a bipartisan issue. The president-elect has now mocked multiple disabled reporters, and Trump properties have several times been sued for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. A national civil rights law and policy center, DREDF works to advance the rights of people with disabilities through advocacy, education, and public policy.

Human Rights Campaign: Since November 8, Trump has been naming members of his administration and transition team—several of whom, including Representative Tom Price and Senator Jeff Sessions, have troubling anti-LGBTQ records. Along with incoming vice president Mike Pence, they continue to fight to define marriage as between one man and one woman, and they voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. As the largest national LGBTQ civil rights organization, HRC advocates for LGBTQ equality, acceptance, and safety, and works to educate the public about related issues.

International Refugee Assistance Project: If Trump delivers on his threats to back out of the Paris Agreement, experts say the result will be a hastened exodus of people worldwide—one that dwarfs the current migrant crisis. IRAP organizes law students and lawyers to mobilize direct legal aid and systemic policy advocacy for refugees and displaced persons.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: On the campaign trail, Trump characterized African American communities as “disasters.” Though the NAACP is nonpartisan, America’s oldest and largest civil rights organization has stated it “must bluntly note that the 2016 campaign has regularized racism, standardized anti-Semitism, de-exceptionalized xenophobia, and mainstreamed misogyny.” In addition to supporting the NAACP, you might consider donating to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which fights for racial justice through litigation, advocacy, and education.

The National Immigration Forum: Trump’s campaign relied on harsh immigration rhetoric—the president-elect not only vowed to extend “no amnesty” for undocumented migrants living in the United States, but also to build a “beautiful” and impenetrable” wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. The National Immigration Forum advocates for immigrants, with a goal of seeing them thriving and welcomed in American society. A donation to them in a loved one’s name is a statement of solidarity with those particularly threatened and maligned by the incoming administration.

National Organization for Women: Many see the Trump administration as a huge threat to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 court ruling guaranteeing women the right to an abortion in all 50 states. NOW is an activist organization, foundation, and PAC that advocates for equal rights for women, and mobilizes volunteers to escort women to clinics.

Native American Rights Fund: Sunday’s surprise announcement that the Army Corps of Engineers would not permit the Dakota Access Pipeline to route through the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s sacred land marked a victory for Native American rights, and for the environmental movement. However, the fight is likely far from over. NARF provides legal assistance to Native American tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide.

Planned Parenthood: The country’s largest reproductive health provider and resource received more than 260,000 donations since Election Day; more than 72,000 of those were made in the name of Trump’s running mate, Indiana governor and infamous legislator of uteruses, Mike Pence. Whether you make a prank donation, or an earnest gift in a concerned friend’s name, you’ll be supporting an organization that has pledged to continue the fight to ensure women have access to reproductive care. What’s more, president Cecile Richards has stated that Planned Parenthood will work especially hard to support immigrants, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network: The campaign season was particularly notable for the repulsive tape recordings of our president-elect bragging about sexually assaulting women and allegations of misconduct. The country’s largest anti-sexual violence organization operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and other programs to aid victims of sexual violence.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press: Journalists and news junkies are likely worried that a Trump presidency represents a threat to freedom of the press after he insulted and vilified the media on a regular basis. Cheer them up with a gift to RCFP, which offers legal resources, support, and advocacy to reporters to protect the First Amendment, and freedom of information rights.

Sierra Club: As the nation’s largest and oldest environmental protection organization, we were thrilled, heartened, and above all, motivated, to receive $110,000 in donations during the 18 hours after the election was called. In the weeks since then, 17,000 people have joined our “Wilderness Guardians” monthly donor program. Bias aside, we like to think we’re uniquely effective in the effort to preserve nature and fight climate change—not only because of our presence in every state around the country, but also because of our proven track record. For instance, we’ve recently helped 20 U.S. cities (and counting) commit to transitioning to 100 percent clean, renewable energy, and our grassroots organizers defeated 184 coal plants proposed during the George W. Bush administration. We are committed to working even harder under the Trump administration. We offer gift donations, and commemorative gifts (for which we’ll send a letter to your honoree). Got any wildlife lovers in your life? Check out our Adopt A Wild Animal program—you can select your giftee’s favorite endangered animal (among gray wolves, polar bears, sea otters, and many more) to symbolically adopt, and they’ll receive a plush stuffed toy in its image.

She Should Run: Hillary Clinton’s lead in the 2016 presidential election’s popular vote—by a margin of more than 2.5 million and counting—sends a powerful message about the imminent shattering of the glass ceiling. Know any aspiring female legislators? Consider making a gift in her name to SSR, a nonprofit that incubates women for public leadership, allows people to anonymously ask a woman to run for office, and studies barrier to entry.

Southern Poverty Law Center: White nationalists have openly celebrated Trump’s election, and since then hundreds among minority groups have reported being harassed, intimidated, or assaulted. The SPLC, which calls the epidemic a “national outbreak of hate,” combats hate groups and bigotry through awareness, litigation, and advocacy.