"Finding resources to support good causes is hard work; fund-raising takes substantial time and effort. Organizations and individuals who depend on donations often rely on volunteers to help raise them. Volunteers succeed because they personalize the cause and make it relevant to their friends and neighbors, often through simple and humble actions like standing outside in the cold ringing a bell. City by city and block by block people give because they are compelled to support not only the larger cause but also the passion and conviction of the volunteer.

"CharityWatch is America's most independent and assertive charity watchdog. Rather than merely repeat charities' self-reported finances using simplistic or automated formulas, we delve deep to find the real story of how efficiently charities use your donations to fund the programs you want to support. Founded in 1992 as the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), CharityWatch continues to expose nonprofit abuses and advocate for your interests as a donor.

Off-Grid.net is an eclectic mix of practical advice, news from the on-grid world and issues rarely covered by the mainstream media. It promotes the many enterprises that are working for a sustainable future.

New Urbanism is repairing the damage done to our cities through environmental degradation, misguided infrastructure projects and designs that isolated the poor. Through Hope VI, new urbanists have transformed deteriorating public housing into livable mixed-income neighborhoods (left). And in numerous cities, CNU is helping to replace blighting freeways with neighborhood-friendly boulevards.

"Once you start looking for the commons, you’ll find them everywhere, from roads and water to money systems and the stock market, to the Internet and the oceans. As commons-based thinking grows in influence, we present this guide to some of our favorite resources and writings on the commons. Also see our series of articles on the commons in the September-October 2010 issue of Utne Reader."

"On the Commons (formerly Tomales Bay Institute) is a network of citizens and organizations exploring new ways to achieve social justice, environmental harmony and democratic participation at all levels of society.

The work of On the Commons takes many forms—from introducing innovative public policies and economic initiatives to supporting grassroots local action. We focus on a wide range of issues, which reach deep into the realms of ecology, economics, technology, politics, education, the arts and day-to-day life in diverse communities.

Why not donate your unused computer time to World Community Grid and the Discovering Dengue Drugs. Together project to identify drugs that can combat the Dengue, Hepatitis C, West Nile, and Yellow Fever viruses?

"The Earth Charter Initiative

“The Earth Charter Initiative” is an extraordinarily diverse, global network of people, organizations, and institutions that participate in promoting and implementing the values and principles of the Earth Charter.

Click here to read a collection of stories about how individuals and organizations are putting the Earth Charter into practice