15 Entrepreneurial Nonprofits Worth Giving to This Season

Question: What is one great charity that helps promote entrepreneurship that everyone should consider donating to around the holidays and why?

Lemonade Day

“Lemonade Day is an organization founded by Michael Holthouse that provides youth around the world with an education to operate their own businesses. This is a transformational organization that empowers children and allows them to recognize potential, power, and possibility.”

- Charles Gaudet | Founder, Predictable Profits

Pencils of Promise

“Founded in 2008 by Adam Braun, Pencils of Promise’s goal is to educate ALL children, and it has built 73 schools in the developing world in the past 4 years. PoP inspires its young leaders to think entrepreneurially to create creative fundraising campaigns and to really take ownership of their work.”

- Jessica Brondo | Founder & CEO, Admitted.ly

Heifer International

“Heifer International has been my favorite for close to a decade and it’s a great gift for those people in your life who “have it all” already. The animals that they provide are the start of self sufficiency and entrepreneurship for families. It’s estimated that 600 Heifer animals were lost in Haiti due to Hurricane Sandy, so now is a great time to donate.”

- Kelly Azevedo | Founder, She’s Got Systems

Rising Tide Capital

“My friends Alfa and Alex founded an amazing non-profit organization called Rising Tide Capital that provides training to help women, minorities, and immigrants create and grow successful businesses.”

- Pete Kennedy | Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Main Street ROI

Junior Achievement

“For many students, Junior Achievement provides the only opportunity that they have to get business and entrepreneurship education. The organization has a well-established track record, with some amazing success stories, but always needs money to be able to expand to more schools and to provide more opportunities to students.”

- Thursday Bram | Consultant, Hyper Modern Consulting

Kiva.org

“I love Kiva, they provide micro loans to entrepreneurs without the capital to get loans from the classic banking system. Anyone who donates money can choose who they want to invest their money in and once they’ve paid back their loan, you can either pull your money out or reinvest. It’s one of the best ways to see exactly how your money can help others.”

- Liam Martin | Co-Founder, Staff.com

Early Investors

“Early Investors tackles problems that can lead to more entrepreneurially-minded people. Their mission is clear: “Foster comprehensive financial literacy in young adults throughout Massachusetts by instilling the importance of financial education, asset-building and wealth management.” I firmly believe that a greater grasp of finance in young adults will promote entrepreneurship as they grow up.”

- Matt Peters | Co-Founder & Creative Director, Pandemic Labs

Opportunity International

“Opportunity International was one of the first nonprofit organizations to recognize the benefits of providing small business loans as capital to those working their way out of poverty. Today they help four million people in over 20 countries to work their way out of poverty in the developing world. “

- Christopher Kelly | Co-Founder, Principal, Convene

Bright Ideas Trust

“Bank of America has a charitable initiative called Bright Ideas Trust, which promotes entrepreneurship to young people in the inner city of London. Because of the age group it targets, everyone should consider donating. America’s overall success hinges on the success of small business owners, and this is true in the UK as well.”

- Andrew Schrage | Co-Owner, Money Crashers Personal Finance

Endeavor

“Endeavor is a great one. They help entrepreneurs in emerging markets gain access to mentors, capital, and human resources so they can take their businesses global.”

- Alexander Torrenegra | Co-founder, VoiceBunny

The Adventure Project

“The Adventure Project is a nonprofit backed by some tremendous young entrepreneurs. This organization helps people in developing nations get their social enterprise projects off the ground. “

- Matt Wilson | Adventurer in Residence , Under30Experiences

Startup Weekend

“Startup Weekend is a nonprofit that helps put on thousands of events around the world focused on educating and training entrepreneurs — all based around experiential education. It’s a 501(c)(3) and will help more than 50,000 entrepreneurs in 2012, and has helped create thousands of businesses from these events.”

- Eric Koester | Cofounder/COO, DCI

Philly Startup Leaders

“I believe in focusing on local entrepreneurship communities that help foster startup growth in regions outside of Silicon Valley. I’m a huge fan of the Philly Startup Leaders, a great organization that promotes growth and progress in my own city.”

- Robert J. Moore | Co-Founder and CEO, RJMetrics

Children International

“Today’s children include the next generation of entrepreneurs. Children International (CI) empowers poor children, ensuring they have the skills and abilities they need to escape poverty and become self-sufficient adults. As clichéd as it may sound, for the price of a cup of coffee a day, you can make a difference in the lives of specific children. I have personally been adopting CI kids for years.”

- Michael Seiman | CEO, Chairman and Founder, CPXi

The Kauffman Foundation

“The Kauffman Foundation is a great nonprofit that strongly supports entrepreneurship across the United States.”

- John Hall | CEO, Influence & Co.

via Business 2 Community http://www.business2community.com/strategy/15-entrepreneurial-nonprofits-worth-giving-season-0724871?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=15-entrepreneurial-nonprofits-worth-giving-season