2025 was a year full of the special type of change and highlighted just how much strength comes from community. Friends, family, coworkers, customers, and partners created constant reminders of connection and support. As the year comes to a close, giving back felt more important than simply just giving the traditional corporate gift.
Years ago, a former workplace swapped holiday gift boxes for directed charitable giving. Rather than sending out items destined for regifting, recipients chose a cause that mattered to them. That simple act stuck with me and aligned deeply with a concept woven into my Jewish upbringing: tikkun olam, the responsibility to repair the world. It’s a reminder that each person has a role to play in making the world more whole, more just, and more compassionate.
That spirit shaped this year’s approach. I asked customers, partners, and friends to share causes they care about, and I supported others that I know matter to those that matter to me. Donations were made in multiples of chai (חי), the Hebrew word for “life.” The letters that form chai have a numerical value of 18, symbolizing vitality, blessing, and a wish for good fortune. Giving in multiples of chai is a way of passing on that wish: may your life be filled with health, meaning, and light.
For anyone considering donating, Charity Navigator is an invaluable resource for evaluating impact and discovering trustworthy nonprofits. Their Causeway Funds also made it easy to support broad issue areas aligned with the values of the people who shape my life.
Below is the full list of organizations supported this year including those that are part of Causeway Funds, grouped by category and alphabetized within each one. A collective reflection of what the people around me care about, and a small step toward repairing the world.
Health, Medical Research & Patient Support
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ALSAC – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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Child Mind Institute Inc.
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Lewy Body Dementia Association
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Patient Access Network Foundation
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The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation Inc.
Hunger Relief & Food Security
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Feeding America
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Feeding the Gulf Coast
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Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
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North Texas Food Bank
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Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
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Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico
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Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
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White Center Food Bank
Education, Youth & Opportunity
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Association for Women in Science Inc.
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DonorsChoose
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Education Trust Inc.
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Friends of the Children – National Office
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Global Fund for Children
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Reading Is Fundamental Inc.
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Room to Read
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Share Our Strength
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Village Enterprise
Global Development & Poverty Alleviation
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BRAC USA
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CARE USA
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GiveDirectly
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Heifer International
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Mercy Corps
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Opportunity International Inc.
Environment, Wildlife & Conservation
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Conservation International
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Good Food Institute Inc.
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Oceana Inc.
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Rainforest Alliance Inc.
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Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA
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The Peregrine Fund
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Wild Animal Initiative Inc.
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Wildlife Conservation Network
Animal Welfare
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Animal Legal Defense Fund
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Canine Companions for Independence
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Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society of the U.S.)
Veterans & Military Support
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Heroic Hearts Project Inc.
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Hire Heroes USA
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Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
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Operation Homefront Inc.
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Project Sanctuary
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Warrior Rising
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Wounded Warrior Project
Homelessness & Housing Stability
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Denver Rescue Mission
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Providence House
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Senior Concerns
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Stephen Center Inc.
Arts & Culture Support
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MusiCares
Civil Rights, Democracy & Community Support
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Compass Working Capital Inc.
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Give an Hour
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ICAN
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Interfaith Alliance Foundation
