Top 10 Best Bee Charities to Donate to in 2023 | Nonprofit Point
75% of the staple crops depend on animal pollination, which roughly translates to every 3rd bite of our food depends on pollinators like bees. The number of bees has reached the verge of extinction.
From the group of 6 million bees living in 1990, only 2.88 million survived. Unlawful human activities and demands have caused this drastic reduction. Bees are an integral part of biodiversity and a vital pollinator for the food balance. These species have within themselves the power of healing through their venom. Hence, apart from their cultural and environmental importance, they grasp a holistic approach to their existence.
Here are 10 Best Bee Charities to Donate to:
1. Operation Honey Bee
Their mission is to connect communities worldwide, spreading awareness and education related to bees. This cultural transformation is believed to revolutionize the sustainability process to save the bees better.
They even advocate for farmers and beekeepers with sustainable agricultural practices to help them in their daily routines. They encourage donations from those who wish to be a part of environmental change since 100% of their donations are used to spread awareness and provide advocacy on bees-related matters.
2. Planet Bee Organisation
PBO was established in 2000 to launch projects which act as a pathway to STEM, agricultural innovation, sustainable practices, and building leaders for the future. They use tools of science and stewardship to spread the importance of bees and their crucial role in our environment. Apart from generic fundraising, they host corporate events and workshops for everyone.
These virtual and in-person events build a community, allow sharing of ideas and knowledge, offer educational opportunities, and, most importantly, raise funds for the charity’s programs. From honey tasting to building bee houses, they offer a wide variety of programs for everyone to participate in based on where their interest inclines. The certification received on the completion additionally helps the volunteers in their further life. Till date over 300,000 individuals and volunteers have been impacted by their global workshops.
3. Help Save the bees Foundation
This foundation helps educate communities about bees’ importance and their role in our lives. They host various events and kick-start their monthly campaigns with the launch go their new programs.
One such is the friendly gardening program, where volunteers gather to plant flowers and other plants in lawns, gardens, balconies, and open areas. Apart from enriching the communities, they offer new advances and scientific techniques to those working in the agricultural segment.
This allows them to adapt to quicker solutions and optimise their time for other such activities. These technical and planting guidelines have helped thousands align their facts against the myths and look for practical changes they can do in their daily lives to save the bees. GuideStar gives them a Platinum seal of transparency while Charity Navigator rates them a perfect 4 star.
4. Xerces Society
The team named their foundation after a blue butterfly which was the first to go extinct in North America due to human activities in the 1940s. The science used by this charity has helped them secure partnerships with diverse scientists, land managers, policymakers, educators, and farmers.
Since such a large community trusts it, they have positively impacted the world by conserving pollinators, and endangered species, reducing harmful pesticides, and advocating for a permanent change.
Continuously, they monitor and identify vulnerable species to help them relocate in an improved and controlled habitat. By working alongside the farmers and land managers, they analyze and provide the species at risk in that area and specific restoration plants to not disturb their habitat.
Charity Navigator rates them a 4 star for strong accountability and cultural inclusivity while they hold a Gold seal of transparency from GuideStar.
5. The Bee Conservancy
Founded in 2009 by Guillermo Fernandez, this conservancy is securing an environment for the bees through education, habitat creation, research, and advocacy. They establish bee sanctuaries in public places to encourage the communities to participate in such conservational activities.
An educational engagement session, wildlife walk, idea sharing, and more follow these programs. Some sanctuaries are near urban farms, while others place their food gardens to increase crop yield and support the local food chain. Central park zoo, Governors Island, Liberty Park, Prospect Park Zoo, and the Queen’s Zoo are some places where these sanctuaries are established.
Through the gift of bees, they create a more sustainable future for underserved communities, bolstering local ecology and protecting the keystone species. Every year they host a fundraising award event to appreciate those who have donated and sponsored a hive.
6. Bee Kind Foundation
Their mission is to protect the honey bees by educating groups of people and new beekeepers. They focus on creating productive relationships to have a stronger impact on people. By rescuing bees, they ensure a new habitat is created for them to carry out their operations smoothly.
Since this process is no easy task, they encourage volunteers to lend their time and support. Their programs include creating bee hives, planting bee-friendly flowers and plants, or sponsoring a bee hive with a donation. They hold a Silver seal of transparency from GuideStar.
7. The Karma Honey Project
This charity was established in 2018 to increase the population of Puerto Rican honey bees, spread awareness of their species and create local jobs for beekeeping through ecotourism. An effective financial plan has allowed them to utilize the donations received in a smart and optimum method.
The donations allow them to create new hives for repopulation purposes, which in turn generates employment. Small farmers receive help in pollinating their organic crops, while all communities in rural and urban areas are given an educating session on the importance of bees.
Apart from this, the fund left is now donated to universities to help their research for producing long-term solutions. Some of their current projects consist of fusion farms spread over 11,500 feet; this research and growing space will specialize in aquaponics and unique technological methods. GuideStar gives them a Silver seal of transparency.
8. Project Apis
This charity has named itself after Apis Mellifera, the scientific name for honey bees. Since its establishment in 2006, they have invested $2.9 million in forage programs and over $10 million in honey bee research.
They work closely with beekeepers and scientists to devise solutions with perfect blends. Their two well-known programs are the bee and butterfly habitat fund and seed a legacy. Under this, they identify public and private corporate projects with the highest potential to create a pollinator habitat. Based on this, each project will receive heavily discounted or free pollinator seed mixes to plant.
This would last for 5 years and help increase the population of native bees and monarch butterflies. In seed a legacy, they target 12 states for an expansion in their activities. The team will provide ready-to-grow seeds in any site covering more than 2 acres of land. Once the application is processed and selected, a program coordinator gets in touch to discuss the details and workings of this program. GuideStar gives them a Silver seal of transparency.
9. National Wildlife Federation
It was founded in 1936 by a cartoonist. They work by engaging the local communities to restore the habitat for bees. They conduct educational workshops to help children and adults learn the basics of creating wildlife habitats that attract butterflies, birds, and bees.
Furthermore, they engage in the sale of numerous native plants, which are essential for increasing the bee population. Till date they have planted over 2,000 gardens to help 102 bee and butterfly species. They hold a Platinum seal of transparency from GuideStar.
10. Bees for Development
This nonprofit organization was established in 1993 by Megan Denver. Her vision was to educate underprivileged communities about the benefits of beekeeping and how it can also help them financially. Currently, they have programs all across Africa, Asia, Europe and America to provide the local communities with tools helpful for their future and livelihood of beekeeping.
Their educational materials sent in resource boxes to families have helped train over 1,500 beekeepers in developing countries and grow 1,000 honey bee colonies across Ghana.
Final Thoughts
The possibility of total human extinction is not far away if all the bees die. To prevent such a calamitous activity, bees need to survive and thrive in their adapted environments. Scientists and the research funded by these charities are coming up with solutions to allow both species of humans and bees to exist under one ecosystem. The charities are raising their voice for the little changes that every individual could add to their routine and save these beautiful pollinators and other such species.
