This Giving Tuesday, Consider Supporting a Catholic Woman-Led Nonprofit

“Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

This year, in addition to our gift guide of Catholic women-owned businesses, we decided to help you plan your Giving Tuesday by asking our community to share their favorite Catholic woman-led nonprofits. Here’s what we found:

Health and Medicine

The Guiding Star Project was founded by Leah Jacobson, who leads the national organization along with president Lisa Canning. They provide life-affirming health care for women, with a focus on birth centers that empower women to have an incredible experience prior to birth, at their birth, post birth, and beyond. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at GuidingStarProject.com.

The United Hearts Life Mission exists to support the authentic pro-life, pro-woman Pennsylvania practice of Dr. MaryAnne Freeman Brndjar, OB/GYN, who, according to the woman who submitted it for the Giving Tuesday Guide, “sacrificed everything to create an authentically Catholic medical practice and nonprofit aligned with Church teachings.” Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at UnitedHearts.life.

Located in West Reading, Penn., Lifeline of Berks County (led by Stephanie Giles) provides free, life-affirming medical and education services including pregnancy testing, STI testing, mentoring, and support for mothers. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at LifelineofBerks.org.

The Endometriosis Coalition is led by Jenneh Rishe BSN, RN (a non-Catholic Christian) and Meghan Maloof Berdellans (a Catholic). Together with their team, they raise awareness, promote reliable education, and increase research funding for endometriosis. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at TheEndo.co.

FAbMBase, led by Mary Bruno and Emily Frase, provides practical fertility awareness resources for women and couples. Learn more and donate at FAbMBase.org.

Ministry

Life-Giving Wounds’ mission is to give voice to the pain of adult children of divorce and helping them find transformational healing in Christ. Founded by Bethany Meola and her husband, Dr. Daniel Meola, Life-Giving Wounds runs 18 chapters and counting in 15 states and Canada (plus online). Their first book is out this month from Ignatius Press, and they’ve also self-published a workbook. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at LifeGivingWounds.org.

Drawn to the Truth, led by Anna Lalonde, is a missionary organization. It empowers families to become courageous leaders in their faith, family, and finances and gives food, Bibles, Catechisms, and rosaries (and food) to people in need of them. The goal is to shine love, hope, and gratitude into each soul. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at DrawntotheTruth.org.

Many parishes and dioceses across the United States do not provide resources for disabled children or their families. Kelly Mantoan founded Accepting the Gift to help parents learn to advocate for their children with disabilities at the parish and diocesan level so that they can receive the sacraments, participate in parish life, and learn about their faith. Resources include an online group for members, online support group meetings, free and affordable resources, and outreach to parishes and dioceses. Learn more and donate at AcceptingtheGift.org.

Note: Accepting the Gift is a nonprofit corporation in New Jersey whose 501(c)3 application has been submitted.

Lily of the Valley is a ministry founded by two Catholic moms who have had difficult pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis. It serves families experiencing infertility, prenatal diagnosis, postnatal medical concerns, loss, and similar challenges through intercessory prayer and mailing prayer care packages. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at LOTVMinistry.org. (CWIB Co-President and Editor-in-Chief Taryn DeLong is a prayer ambassador with Lily of the Valley.)

The mission of North Texas Catholic Women (led by President Tammy Sandoval) is to unite Catholic women who desire to grow in truth, beauty, and goodness in their vocation to love through Jesus Christ, rooted in a sense of community and belonging. Their second annual conference on October 14, 2023, was sold out ahead of the event. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at Sites.Google.com/ntxcw.org.

Before Gethsemane Initiative (BGI), led by Chenel Shaw and Maria Benes, promotes racial reconciliation, healing, and awareness about racism and xenophobia from an understanding of the inherent dignity of the human person from conception to natural death.” (We interviewed Maria about BGI soon after it launched in 2021.) Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at BeforeGethsemane.org.

Springs in the Desert, led by Kimberly Henkel, Ph.D., and Ann M. Koshute, MTS, accompanies people struggling with infertility with offerings for women, men, and couples. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at SpringsintheDesert.org.

Walking With Purpose, founded by CEO Lisa Brenninkmeyer, develops Catholic Bible studies for women and girls. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at WalkingWithPurpose.com.

Eden Invitation was founded by Anna Carter and Shannon Ochoa, who now serve as president and vice president, to build community with Catholics with LGBTQ+ experiences who desire to live in congruence with Christ and His Church. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at EdenInvitation.com.

Be Not Afraid, led by Tracy Winsor and Bridget Mora, provides support for parents carrying to term following a prenatal diagnosis. This support for parents’ emotional and practical needs continues during pregnancy, at birth, and for the first year after birth. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at BeNotAfraid.net.

Micole Amalu founded The Face of Mercy to provide mental health education and advocacy to the Catholic Church. Learn more at TheFaceofMercy.org (click “About” and “Contact” to make a tax-deductible donation).

Education

Led by a team and board of women, including Executive Director Michelle Hillaert, the GIVEN Institute activates the gifts of young adult women for the Church and the world through leadership training, faith formation, and dedicated mentoring. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at GivenInstitute.org.

Endow, led by CEO Annette Bergeon, organizes groups for women to study the important documents of the Catholic Church. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at EndowGroups.org.

Regina Caeli Academy provides Catholic classical homeschool hybrid education in cities across the United States. Its executive director is Nicole Juba, and the member of our community who submitted it for our Giving Tuesday guide said that the academies “are mostly run by Catholic Moms,” are pro-life, and offer free child care to employees. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at RCAHybrid.org.

Beth Mayr and Jenn Zocco are the founders of the Starfish Foundation, which provides educational support to children in Ecuador through scholarship, tutoring, and leadership development. They said that their students are resilient; they have endured a lot but continue to achieve many educational goals. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at TheStarfishChange.org.

Kolbe Academy is an accredited institution providing Catholic, classical home education. It was founded by the late Gerald and Dianne Muth and Francis and Margaret Crotty and is currently led by Executive Director Mary Rowles. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at Kolbe.org.

Led by a team of women, the United States Association of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a resource for catechists and parents using Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the U.S. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at CGSUSA.org.

Social Services and Support

Catholic Charities USA recently named Kerry Alys Robinson its president and CEO—the first laywoman to hold this position in the organization. Catholic Charities’ mission is to help people struggling with poverty and “other complex issues.” Visit CatholicCharitiesUSA.org to learn more and make a tax-deductible donation (or to find your local Catholic Charities agency and give there).

CareDogs, founded by CWIB writer Delphine Chui, is a U.K. charity that pairs senior citizens with local volunteers and their dogs for walks, talks, and friendship. Learn more and donate at CareDogs.org.uk.

Michelle Schultz had an abortion in college. Twelve years later, after experiencing much healing, she and her husband began sharing their story, ultimately founding Baby Steps, a national organization that supports student moms, especially college students experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at BabySteps.org.

Don’t forget: You can always make a donation to your parish or local Catholic school or university!