Like our last feature (Puppies Behind Bars), today’s post caught our attention due to its perfect rating on Charity Navigator. Because of the reputation, transparency, and the incredible contributions being made by this organization, we at Hummingbird House thought it pertinent to share the good work being accomplished by Rainforest Trust.

The mission statement of Rainforest Trust as stated on their website is as follows:

Rainforest Trust helps protect threatened tropical forests and endangered wildlife by partnering with local and community organizations in and around vulnerable areas.

The team at Rainforest Trust have effectively protected the ecosystem for over 25 years. They have done this by establishing partnerships with passionate conservationists who possess a deep-rooted knowledge in certain habitats. When this partnership is formed, the teams collaborate together to form a conversation plan including help from national governments and local communities. Once the plan is set in place, Rainforest Trust raises the funds to turn the plan into a reality.

Rainforest Trust states, “We are committed to providing lasting, on-the-ground protection, which requires the ongoing support and participation of local communities. These communities are engaged through the creation of sustainable economic opportunities for local men and women, including training as forest guards, wildlife monitors and ecotourism guides.”

Unfortunately, many threats posed by parties such as loggers, miners, and ranchers are destroying ecosystems around the globe. These ecosystems are unfortunately often habitats of endangered species. Rainforest Trust’s wide network of conservation organizations such as BirdLife International, the Global Wildlife Conservation, and the International Conservation Fund of Canada allows them to move quickly and act fast in order to protect these areas before they’re completely destroyed.

Specifically, the organization preserves these threatened areas by establishing public and private nature reserves managed by these conservation organizations. These government owned areas are declared national parks and are protected by plans set in place by local conservationists and honored by indigenous communities. Additionally, Rainforest Trust helps to establish sustainable income activities for local communities such as ecotourism.

One story that showcased the impact that Rainforest Trust is making came from an article shared on Rainforest Trust’s News page. This article, titled “Haven for the Hirola: Protecting Vital Habitat for the World’s Rarest Antelope” documented the case of Dr. Abdullahi Ali and his team at the Hirola Conservation Programme working in Kenya to protect the critically endangered Hirola. Hirola are medium-sized antelope vulnerable to poaching, drought, and disease. Their population has declined almost 90% since 1980. Ali, a forerunner in the mission to protect these endangered animals, was born to a pastoral Somali family in Kenya and later attended the University of Nairobi and continued on to earn a M.A. in conservation biology and a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Wyoming. In 2005, he was asked to join the national Hirola management committee and began the task of protecting the antelope.

Rainforest Trust teamed with Ali’s team to create two new wildlife conservancies that will protect over 1.2 million acres. This is the largest conservation area in northeastern Kenya. This land will safeguard the Hirolas and reestablish free-ranging populations between protected areas. Many other animal species will also benefit from this protected land. Furthermore, Rainforest Trust helped the Hirola protection team create a network of herders who receive training on basic conservation practices, ecology, security, and community outreach.

Many more stories of the work Rainforest Trust is supporting, such as tales of protecting Brazilian Parrots and the creation of new refuges for the critically endangered Brown-Headed Spider Monkeys of Ecuador, can be read on Rainforest Trust’s News page.

If the mission of this incredible organization speaks to you, there are multiple ways to get involved. There are many ways to donate online in addition to other ways to give including Adopting an Acre, Supporting a Forest Guard, and Donating your Car.

A donation to Rainforest Trust is a donation wisely spent. In fact, 100% of your donation goes directly toward conservation. Rainforest Trust assures, “Donations to Rainforest Trust are not symbolic. Thanks to the support of our board members who cover the majority of our operating expenses, Rainforest Trust is able to allocate 100% of your project donation directly to conservation action. Each project donation protects real rainforest acres and saves endangered species. We focus on tangible results. Your contribution does not support lobbying, political activities, or special interests. Our conservation actions focus on the purchase and permanent protection of critical habitat for the most endangered species across the tropics. We do this efficiently and most effectively by supporting experienced in-country, community-based organizations that have a track record of achievement. We also undertake rainforest conservation outreach to raise public awareness.”

Thank you for considering lending a hand to this wonderful cause. By supporting this organization, we can come together to protect the last remaining ecosystems and sustain life on Earth.

The charity we at Hummingbird House are sharing today is one we’re proud to brag about due to its perfect score on Charity Navigator. Yes, you read right: perfect score. Charity Navigator, an independent charity watchdog organization, evaluates organizations in the United States using publicly available tax returns filed with the IRS. They also evaluate charity websites. By analyzing these, they make their evaluation based mainly on the financial health and accountability and transparency of the organization.

Puppies Behind Bars first caught our attention because of its outstanding review on Charity Navigator. Upon further investigation, we learned about the incredible work being done by the individuals who run the program and became even more enthusiastic to share their story.

The mission of Puppies Behind Bars (PBB) as stated on their website is to “train prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and explosive detection canines for law enforcement.” In this program, puppies are introduced to inmates at 8 weeks old and live with them for 2 years. Clearly, the goal of this relationship is twofold: the puppy gets constant attention and training in a rigorous and regimented program while the inmate learns how to positively contribute to society.

Puppies Behind Bars began in 1997 and is still continuing strong today. The program maintains a high “graduation rate” of dogs; 75% of the puppies raised go on to operate as working dogs while the rest are released for adoption.

A touching story titled “Inmates Train Puppies to Help Wounded Veterans” released by News10 shares the tale of Glenn Rodriguez and Dixon, the puppy he trained. Rodriguez, a convicted murderer serving 26-years to life in prison, talked about the dog he trained with fondness. A softer side of this prisoner came out as he said, “I know the time is coming when [Dixon’s] going to be serving a greater purpose.”

The fact that inmates are getting the opportunity to contribute to a greater purpose makes PBB a very unique and special charity. If you’re feeling called to help support this organization, you have the option of making a donation on their support page of their website.