There are so many causes to celebrate during the month of June, from showing our Pride for the LGBTQIA+ community to cleaning our oceans.
You will also notice each cause’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is a global framework that was adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to address the world’s most pressing causes.
Looking for more inspiration? Be sure to follow our social media accounts where we provide more content about the events, campaigns, and partners who are joining us in the #PledgeToDoGood. You can also download a link to a printable June Cause Calendar linked here.
Here is your monthly guide of causes and nonprofits that you can easily support through Pledge as a way to honor these special dates. Our platform and products make it easy to donate to any cause of your choice. Happy Giving!
Pride Month (All Month)
SDG Alignment: #5 Gender Equality, #10 Reduced Inequalities
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month (LGBTIA+ Pride Month) is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQIA+) Americans.
Today, celebrations include Pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts, and LGBTIA+ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. If you’d like to create a fundraiser for an organization that supports LGBTQ Americans, here are a few suggestions:
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month (All Month)
SDG Alignment: #3 Good Health and Wellbeing
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month — an opportunity to hold a conversation about the brain, and share the fact that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are a major public health issue. Everyone is at risk to develop Alzheimer’s, the only leading cause of death that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. During the month of June, the Alzheimer’s Association asks people around the world to wear purple and use their brains to fight Alzheimer’s disease. You can also support their organization and others working to fight against this disease by clicking below:
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Hilarity for Charity
- Fisher Center Alzheimer’s Research Foundation
- Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement
June 5th: World Environment Day
SDG Alignment: #13 Climate Action
World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th and is the United Nations' principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment. First held in 1974, it has been a platform for raising awareness on environmental issues such as marine pollution, human overpopulation, climate change, sustainable consumption, and wildlife crime.
The day provides a global platform for public outreach, with participation from over 143 countries annually. Each year, the program has provided a theme and forum for businesses, non-government organizations, communities, governments, and celebrities to advocate environmental causes. You can celebrate this year by creating a fundraiser towards one or all of these organizations that support our environment below:
June 8th: World Oceans Day
SDG Alignment: #14 Life Below Water
World Oceans Day reminds everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, a critical part of the biosphere, and a major source of food and medicine.
The purpose of the day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world's oceans. You can also do your part by creating a fundraiser or donating towards one of the following organizations working to help save our oceans:
June 12th: World Day Against Child Labor
SDG Alignment: #1 End Poverty, #16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
World Day Against Child Labour focuses on the impact of the crisis on child labor. The COVID-19 health pandemic and the resulting economic and labor market shock are having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer. The crisis can push millions of vulnerable children into child labor. Already, there are an estimated 152 million children in child labor, 72 million of which are in hazardous work. These children are now at even greater risk of facing circumstances that are even more difficult and working longer hours. To help organizations working to fight this pressing and alarming issue, see below:
June 19th: Juneteenth
SDG Alignment: #10 Reduced Inequalities
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Black people in the United States. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it is now celebrated annually on June 19th throughout the United States, commemorating the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865 announcement by Union Army General Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas. To mark the occasion, many donate and create fundraisers to benefit organizations doing work to fight the ongoing racism crisis in our country. For a few suggestions, see below:
June 20th: World Refugee Day
SDG Alignment: #1 End Poverty, #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, #16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
World Refugee Day is an international day which is organized every year on the 20th of June by the United Nations. It is designed to celebrate and honor refugees from around the world. The day was first established on the 20th of June, 2001, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. The event aims to acknowledge and recognize the strength of the refugees who have fled the conflict and persecution of their country in the hopes to find sanctuary and live a better life. World Refugee day builds the concept of understanding for their plight in which shows one’s resilience and courage in the rebuilding of their future. To honor this day, here are a few organizations you can donate towards to help support the ongoing global refugee crisis:
June 22nd: World Rainforest Day
SDG Alignment: #15 Life on Land
World Rainforest Day was first created in 2017 by the Rainforest Partnership. They work with Indigenous Peoples living in rainforest environments and launch projects to help restore and regenerate healthy rainforests with local communities. The day is about raising awareness of the importance of the rainforest and what it does for us. In addition to taking positive and hopeful actions to protect and preserve our rainforests, you can also support one of these organizations working to protect our rainforests all year long:
Lastly, we want to continue recognizing how Racial Justice and COVID-19 remain important causes to support throughout the year:
- For a more comprehensive list of 20+ organizations fighting for racial and social justice, please visit this link. You can also find a list of organizations to directly support AAPI justice here.
- For a more comprehensive list of 20+ organizations fighting against COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Relief Efforts Blog Post.
What do you #PledgeTo support this month? Share your fundraising campaigns powered by Pledge on your social media accounts for a chance to be featured to our global audience. Thank you for being part of the #PledgeToDoGood!