If you’re thinking of being charitable this year but are overwhelmed with the sheer amount of causes and organizations requesting your donation, we’ve got a handy list of charities that each touch on something we know is already close to your heart: gaming. Each of these charities has a different mission, but all of them believe in the power of games to empower people, help forge connections, and enact social change. Please consider donating to one of them if your pockets will allow it!
RAD started as Anxiety Gaming, a non-profit that was dedicated to giving disadvantaged gamers access to mental health care resources, aiding them in building recovery plans, and providing them with buddies with whom they could play.
Today, RAD continues to follow that vision, only they’ve broadened their scope and hope to build a universal mental health care system that’s accessible to all. They hope to enlist the gamer community to help fund the full costs of therapy, doctor visits, prescribed medication, and even transportation to and from therapy sessions for those who are in most need of help.
How to Help: You can make a donation or sign up to give regularly via their Patreon.
AbleGamers is a non-profit that seeks to make games more accessible for people with disabilities, enhancing their ability to play with custom gaming rigs and assistive technology. Further, they also supply grants to help gamers with disabilities secure their own custom controllers and setups. They pride themselves in the fact that they tailor their services to meet the needs of every individual they intend to help.
AbleGamers is ultimately set on relieving gamers with disabilities not only of financial pressure but of social stigma as well, making it easier for everyone to enjoy playing games together.
How to Help: You can make a donation, purchase something from their shop, or apply to be an AbleGamers Champion (a fundraising volunteer).
Games For Change is a non-profit that believes that games have the power to inspire real-world change. They seek to empower activists, educators, and social innovators alike to utilize games as a tool for social justice and civic responsibility. To do this, they do things like host game design competitions called “Student Challenges” for underserved middle and high school students. They also erect public arcades that feature socially impactful games from independent developers and larger game studios alike.
On the industry side, they provide consulting and assistance with executive production to gaming-related organizations. Additionally, every year, they host an annual, industry-facing Games For Change festival in New York.
As you can probably tell, the non-profit offers a lot of different services to different audiences, all united under the mission of using games to help make the world a better place.
How to Help: You can make a donation or join their online discussion group.
However you choose to contribute, all of these organizations could use a helping hand. The best part is, they’re open to accepting support any day of the year, so if you can’t afford to help this winter, keep them in mind the next time you’re feeling generous!