Allies in action — giving back to those in need

We’re all better off with an ally, and there’s no better time than the holidays to give back to those who need it most. Lending a helping hand to organizations making a positive impact on underserved communities is the right thing to do, and as an added bonus, your donations may be tax-deductible. Give to a charitable organization you believe in this holiday season, and be part of the proof that allies are all around us.

Ally gives back to local, grassroots organizations that are deeply attuned to the needs of those who live and work in its communities. Here’s just a few of our favorites that we’re proud to champion. We urge you to do the same.

Junior Achievement (JA) inspires and prepares young people to succeed through lessons in financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship taught by volunteers in both classrooms and after-school locations. The organization reaches over 3 million students across the nation on an annual basis.

Examples of JA courses for elementary, middle school and high school students include:

All About Cars: introduces students to costs involved in car ownership and offers tips on being a smart consumer when buying a vehicle

Be Entrepreneurial: teaches innovative process for problem solving techniques used by entrepreneurs to brainstorm customer-centric ideas

Business Communications: semester-long course that teaches business communication fundamentals

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community in the nation. TMCF provides scholarships, Diversity Equity and Inclusion services, capacity building, research initiatives, innovative programs and strategic partnerships for talented students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions.

TMCF scholars have an impressive 80-90% graduation rate, compared to 40% for Black/AA students overall, 37% for students attending HBCUs and 62% of all students irrespective of race/nationality and institution attended.

Together with TMCF and the Sean Anderson Foundation, Ally also hosts Moguls in the Making, an annual entrepreneurial competition to foster opportunities and promote economic mobility for young entrepreneurs from HBCUs.

For the Struggle  utilizes community outreach, policy reform and legal action to advocate with and on behalf of communities to zealously fight systemic issues of racial and social injustice.

The organization’s Elder Response Initiative provides free services — including critical home repairs, estate planning (i.e. wills, Powers of Attorney), property tax relief and a senior feeding program — to seniors in historically and predominantly black neighborhoods, primarily Charlotte, North Carolina’s Beatties Ford Road Corridor.

Emerging Industries Training Institute (EITI)  is an exclusive training provider for Detroit at Work, a job training initiative developed by Mayor Mike Duggan. EITI targets industries with high demand, labor shortages or skills gaps, including commercial/residential carpentry and electrical. It also has a renewable energy training that focuses on photovoltaic solar energy.  Since 2009, the organization has placed more than 2,200 graduates in viable careers. The only employer-led training facility in the state, EITI offers classes and employment opportunities year-round. It boasts a 93% course completion rate, a 90% job placement rate, and an 88% job retention rate.

Whether you’re serving a holiday meal at the nearby soup kitchen, donating your time and energy gathering warm clothing for a community coat drive, fundraising for a local charity or performing simple acts of kindness for your neighbors, giving back is the reason for the holiday season. Plus charitable contributions may be tax-deductible – consult with your tax advisor on quantification and qualification of deductions.