Of the 98 that have reviews, around 20 have qualified for our Top-Rated Animal Nonprofits List, which will be published on Monday. These are the nonprofits that have gathered at least ten positive reviews during the campaign.

We'd like to thank our extraordinary list of partners -- the American Humane Association, Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife Forever, I Love Rescue Animals, K9 Magazine, DogTipper.com, The Pet Museum, and No Meat Athlete -- for their help during the campaign.

So c'mon, animal lovers. You can do it! Get some reviews of two more nonprofits working on behalf of animals and we'll reach the magic number of 100 organizations with new stakeholder reviews during this campaign!

About the Campaign

The animal campaign ran throughout the month of July and all reviews appear on the GreatNonprofits.org website. Nonprofits with 10 or more positive reviews are listed on the GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Animal Welfare Nonprofits List. Review submissions must have been received from July 1st through July 31st, 2010.

Partners in the Campaign

American Humane Association Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane provides national leadership in developing policies, legislation, curricula and training programs -- and taking actions -- to protect children and animals from cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Animal Legal Defense Fund For more than three decades, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system.

DogTipper.com features tips for dog lovers, by dog lovers as well as news, product reviews, celebrity canines, and more.

The Humane Society of the United States, which is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, has worked since 1954 to celebrate animals and confront cruelty in all its forms.

I Love Rescue Animals is a site dedicated to celebrating rescued animals, supporting shelters, rescues and animal rights organizations and to animal welfare worldwide. We seek to raise awareness utilizing the vast resources available online through social media and to inspire others to make a difference in their own communities.

K9 Magazine is the leading lifestyle title for modern, forward thinking dog lovers. Featuring a most diverse selection of content, everything from expert dog advice, book reviews and opinion to free pet stuff, pet product reviews and high quality editorial. Get a free trial copy today!

No Meat Athlete shares vegetarian recipes, marathon- and triathlon-training advice, and animal-friendly product reviews to spread the message that you can achieve incredible things without eating animals.

The Pet Museum The lives, times, art and history of our pets.

Wildlife Forever conserves America’s fish and wildlife through education, preservation of habitat and management of all things wild.

Hayward will step down on October 1 and be replaced by current managing director Robert Dudley as part of an effort to shake off the negative publicity BP continues to get from the oil spill and Hayward's repeated PR gaffes.

Meanwhile, cleanup crews press on as obstacle after obstacle hampers relief efforts. As we reported in June, Hurricane Alex halted cleanup with its strong winds and 12-foot high waves, and just last weekend, Tropical Storm Bonnie forced the evacuation of the nearly 2,000 people working at the oil spill site.

In what might be the strangest obstacle yet, cleanup crews are now having trouble locating the spilled oil. The formerly Kansas-sized oil slick has now shrunk to the size of New Hampshire, and this is not all due to cleanup efforts. According to experts, the mysteriously disappearing oil is either just hidden beneath the surface of the water or has been broken apart by sun, water and wind.

Unfortunately, this does not mean that the oil spill will clean itself up, and some Bay Area nonprofits are taking their operations to the Gulf Coast in an effort to expedite the cleanup.

One such organization is the International Bird Rescue Research Center, whose volunteers have set up rescue centers and have washed oiled birds -- sometimes up to 14 hours a day. UC Davis's Oiled Wildlife Care Network has set up oil treatments for oil-slicked sea turtles.

Some of our very own GreatNonprofits reviewers have been down the Gulf Coast to lend a helping hand in the relief efforts. bigpelicanfan writes:

"Following the terrible oil spill in the Gulf I felt an obligation to try to mitigate the effects of this ecological disaster with my humble contributions, however tiny in comparison they may be. So I set out to focus my efforts on a local organization and found this small but dedicated group- the Choctawhatachee Coastal Conservancy. Meanwhile, I have experienced first hand the devotion of this group toward saving our coastal treasures. The Coastal Conservancy's invaluable work in wildlife rehabilitation and ecological conservation is an integral part of a long term strategy for preserving our coastal ecosystems in all of their natural beauty and biodiversity."

If you have been to the Gulf Coast to volunteer with a nonprofit in the animal rescue efforts, we encourage you to share your experiences by writing a review.

-- Xenia Shih

We have partnered with the American Humane Association, Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife Forever, I Love Rescue Animals, K9 Magazine, DogTipper.com, The Pet Museum, and No Meat Athlete for this campaign.

Among the organizations already achieving top-rated status is the Animal Legal Defense Fund, headquartered in Cotati, CA.

"After a tragic incident occurred with my dog Ruby and the negligence of her vet (see http://www.rubydogclark.com for story), I sought guidance for steps to take to ensure this does not happen to anyone else or their animal companion," wrote rubydog7. "The ALDF's website had information that helped me move forward with filing a complaint against the vet board and identifying the lack of legal rights our animals actually have. It is encouraging to see there is an organization such as ALDF to assist consumers with knowledge about animal rights or lack there of and to provide guidance on what steps and actions can be taken by consumers to make the world a better place for our animals."

Another top-rated nonprofit, the International Exotic Feline Sanctuary, in Boyd, TX.

"With a lifelong passion for animals and the environment, and after graduating college with a degree in Environmental Science, I found an internship at IEAS was the perfect next step," wrote.ebyn. "As soon as I arrived, I was blown away with the facility and the dedication of all the employees. The habitats are developed to provide the most enriching and natural environment possible. I personally witnessed the transformation of animals arriving scared and in poor health into healthy and active residents who utilize the environmental stimuli provided them. As I make my yearly return visit, I am able to continue to observe these animals' growth and development. My internship at IEAS provided me with a sound basis for the next step in my career."

The Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation, of Arlington, VA, has also qualified for top-rated status.

"When I decided that I wanted to volunteer for an animal rescue organization, I did a lot of research into the different organizations in my area to determine which agreed best with my personal views on animal rescue," wrote jessica26. "LDCRF was a clear winner for me with their large volunteer foster program, well thought out adoption procedures, and the fact that all animals are spayed/neutered before adoption. I have greatly enjoyed working for this wonderful organization and am looking forward to doing even more in the future."

The Animal Welfare Campaign is dedicated to spotlighting the excellent work of nonprofits working on behalf of animals, domestic and wild, here and overseas. The campaign wraps up at midnight, July 31st.

Since social media strategies are of increasing importance to all nonprofits these days, we want to share the results of this experiment here.

We felt that the Animal Welfare Campaign that we are conducting this July had the ability to go viral, because many of the participating nonprofits maintain active Twitter accounts.

Thus, we launched the Animal Twitter Campaign, in the form of a contest.

The contest format was simple. Nonprofits were given points for three actions -- Tweeting about the campaign, having their followers Tweet about GreatNonprofits, or gaining more user reviews while the campaign was going on.

They had three days to try and gain the most points. The contest winner would be featured on the GreatNonprofits home page.

Almost immediately, we saw an influx of Tweets resulting from this initiative.

RockyCoolCat: eye wuz reskewed RT @TheCatNetwork Last chance help homeless #cats in the @GreatNonprofits Twitter challenge.

UAN1987: "UAN is comprised of people who are passionate about what they do and it is contagious" review us @Greatnonprofits http://bit.ly/bCfh66”

Peta: Calling all activists & supporters. Got some kind words 2 say about us? Give us a review over on @GreatNonprofits: http://bit.ly/dndBap

The Tweets came from all types of users and organizations; ranging PETA, a national organization with 77,144 followers; to The Lowry Park Zoo, a local organization with only 1,486 followers.

One of the beauties of social media like Twitter is how they can level the playing field between large and small nonprofits, at least when it comes to marketing campaigns.

At the end of three days, The Cat Network, headquartered in Miami, FL, was our winner. They had leveraged their devoted followers and cranked out an impressive 26 Retweets.

The Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood, FL, ran a close second and attracted 14 new reviews in 3 days.

United Animal Nations in Sacramento, CA, was the third-place finisher.

Meanwhile, the increase in buzz about GreatNonprofits and our campaign was substantial – we experienced a 410 percent increase in Twitter mentions during the days of the campaign.

In addition, the increased conversation around GreatNonprofits helped bring in 46 new reviews and helped five nonprofits reach the Top Ranked List for our animal campaign.

Of the twelve organizations that participated in this experiment with us, seven gained new reviews, and others seemed to benefit one way or another.

So this social media campaign was a success from our perspective, and we’ll be running more in the future and reporting on the results here on our blog.

-- Rachel Heredia

The good news is that, for the first time since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20, BP has significantly slowed the oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico. An experimental cap placed over the gushing well last week has offered a temporary solution while BP considers its options for permanently sealing its well.

While BP searches for a solution, one state has taken matters into its own hands. Louisiana has begun work on a man-made arc of islands just off its coast that it hopes will prevent oil from reaching its marshes. The state is using mounds of dirt and sandbags to construct the island, which is less than a mile long but is envisioned to be 128 miles long at completion.

The decision by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and state officials to build the arc of islands is controversial. Some scientists have voiced concerns that disrupting the natural flow of water is dangerous, while others expressed doubt that the sand berms will be able to stand up to pounding waves.

Scientists aren’t the only ones who have reservations about Louisiana’s island plan. Aaron Viles of the Gulf Restoration Network said the state’s island construction “may be doing more harm than good,” especially since it will be so costly.

Meanwhile, GreatNonprofits is in the process of gathering reviews of nonprofit organizations like the Gulf Restoration Network that work on behalf of animals, both wild and domestic, during July. One review we’ve received of the Gulf Restoration Network was written by vicki9698:

“I worked for the Gulf Restoration Network between 2002 and 2006…The GRN’s effectiveness continues to improve in leaps and bounds and they are bringing national attention to a regional issue that has such wide-reaching implications. I believe that the GRN will continue to be a leader in preserving one of our nation’s greatest natural treasures and I look forward to continuing to play a role in their success.”

-- Xenia Shih

We are conducting the campaign in partnership with the American Humane Association, Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife Forever, I Love Rescue Animals, K9 Magazine, DogTipper.com, The Pet Museum, and No Meat Athlete.

Several of the top-rated nonprofits are local-based Humane Societies, which are not to be confused with the national organization that we are working with. These shelters have been praised by numerous reviewers in their communities.

One reviewer, diwfeld, writes about the Suncoast Humane Society, in Englewood, FL:

"Being able to help out at Suncoast is a privilege. Spending time with the dogs is such a gift since, even the scared, newly-placed dogs seem to understand pretty quickly that they are in a safe place. The care there is delicious and it is heart-warming to watch animals get adopted, even after being there a long time. With very little money, the leaders of the organization have worked wonders."

The Houston Humane Society is also receiving positive reviews, such as this one from mariasmagic:

"I am currently disabled and have pets that I have in my care. I felt at a loss when I became disabled and could not get shots etc. for my dogs. I found the Houston Humane Society and they were a big help. I was not the only one there and as I spoke to many of the other clients. I was told over and over that they would not have been able to keep their pets well and current in their vaccinations. All of my dogs are rescue dogs and I am glad that there are places like the Houston Humane Society available for people to find a forever home for an unwanted animal."

Of the Humane Society Silicon Valley in Milipitas, CA, reviewer surbhi1 writes:

"I have never seen such a loving and well organized volunteer organization. I am a dog socializer with HSSV and from the very first day I felt the love and sincerity the team of employees and volunteers feel for the animals. The wonderful conditions the animals are kept in, cared for and how each person involved with this organization feels responsible for the animals. The dogs have individual rooms with music playing to calm them, clean quarters with food and a great deal of TLC. The cats have their own royal rooms with amply space and corners for them to feel comfortable. I am extremely impressed and honored to be a part of such a noble organization."

Note: This post has been corrected to reflect the fact that the Humane Society is a national advocacy organization that is not affiliated with local Humane Societies.

Starting this month, millions of birds like gadwalls, scaups and mallards will begin migrating south towards the Gulf of Mexico. Some species use the Gulf as a resting point on their migratory journeys, while others call it home until the following spring.

But this particular winter, the Gulf may not be the most welcoming pit stop for birds on the move. Oiled water and oil-contaminated food are just two of the potential hazards that await migratory birds.

An estimated 1,000 to 4,000 acres of marshland have been directly impacted by the oil spill, and biologists like Tom Moorman are concerned about the devastation that could occur if an entire flock of birds comes into contact with one of these slicks. Globs of oil as small as a dime can kill a bird.

Even if the birds can avoid the oil slicks, they may consume oil-contaminated clams and become ill. Diving species like redhead ducks are among the most vulnerable to food poisoning.

Coastal Louisiana is one of the areas presenting the greatest risk this migration season. Next month, an estimated 15 million ducks and 1.6 million geese will make their way to the area, which means that we may well be seeing many more oil-slicked birds in the months to come.

Luckily, most migrating bird species flock to the marshes located inland rather than the coastal areas affected by the oil spill. However, tropical storms pose a constant threat to areas formerly untouched by the disaster. Recently, for example, Hurricane Alex disrupted cleanup efforts and pushed oil onto Gulf Coast beaches.

Conservation groups like the National Wildlife Federation are concentrating their efforts on surveillance in the hope of locating and saving some of the affected ducks and birds. But with hurricane season in full swing and 60,000 barrels of oil gushing into the ocean daily, this may all prove to be too little, too late.

-- Xenia Shih

The report, which was based on an in-depth survey of 4,000 affluent individuals, contains this startling finding: While 85 percent of donors claim they care about a group's performance, only 3-4 percent conduct any research in order to determine whether it is high-performing or not.

Rather, it appears that most donors simply assume that the recipients of their funds are doing a good job, if indeed that is actually one of their real reasons for giving in the first place. After all, those individuals who through their behavior, not their words, really do care (called "High Impact" donors in the report) account for only 12 percent of all individual donations on an annual basis.

Meanwhile, most donors are extremely loyal, with 85 percent of their donations going to the same groups year after year. That level of loyalty competes with the advantage incumbents enjoy in politics, which is why we see the same faces returning to legislative bodies election after election.

In my experience, which should not be considered authoritative, most people donate money based on personal connections, as well as on the stories told to them by the organizations they support. For example, I remember raising a substantial grant years ago in support of a journalism project investigating the income gap that separates men and women. The donor had been especially moved by my (true) story of a woman in Tennessee who had decided to take up this issue after reading about one of our articles while sitting in a beauty salon.

A year later, when I went back to report about the new articles we had produced, he expressed disappointment that there were no new examples "of women from hair salons" in the heartland. In that case, clearly the power of the original story I had told him had helped us get the first grant, but if I wanted any additional funds from this donor, I somehow needed to keep that compelling narrative going.

Here at GreatNonprofits, we collect many such stories in the form of stakeholder reviews. If you read through these reviews, as we do every day, it is simply remarkable how great an impact many nonprofits are having on people's lives.

In our recent heath campaign, for example, I found dozens of examples of people who expressed profound gratitude to nonprofits that had helped them deal with an uncommon disease, or the loss of a loved one, or the failures of the conventional heath care system.

These individual stories often have a powerful emotional impact on the reader. One young woman, (Jenny93), described the impact the Kristin Brooks Hope Center, in Washington, D.C., had had on her life: “One night I called the hope line hoping for alternative release than hanging myself. I talked to a lady and she told me I was a good person and I needed to believe in myself. Six years later, I’m still here.”

I have to believe that if more donors knew about the types of impacts that nonprofits can have, the entire world of philanthropy would be more effective than it is. Then again, as an old journalist who's spent a career gathering such stories, maybe I belong to that miniscule percentage (3-4 percent) who actually does a bit of research before signing his next check.

-- David Weir

For three days this week, we’re running a Twitter campaign for animal nonprofits to get reviews, highlight great work, and harness the power of animal-loving followers in 140 characters!

The Basics:

When: July 14-16

How it works: For 3 days only we’re going to watch how nonprofits working on animal welfare issues can use Twitter to get reviews and give you points for different activities. We want to learn from your creativity! Participating organizations will get:

• ONE point each time they Tweet about @GreatNonprofits and the campaign. 

• TWO points every time someone reTweets one of their messages about the campaign or mentions @GreatNonprofits and their organization.

(Important note: In order for us to be about to track these, the Twitter user must actually mention GreatNonprofits using the “@GreatNonprofits” method.)

• THREE points for every review posted for their organization on GreatNonprofits during the special three day campaign (these reviews also count for the Animal Welfare Campaign and can qualify the organization as a Top-Rated Nonprofit at the end of July!)

What You’ll Win:   At the end of the day on Friday we'll tally up the points and the organization with the most loyal tweeters will be:

• Featured at the top of our homepage as our Twitter Campaign Winner. 

• Featured in a blog post about the campaign

• Highlighted on our Facebook page, and in our tweets!


We’re looking forward to seeing how you reach out to your followers and what an impact this can have!

Love animals, on Twitter, but not a nonprofit? You can also participate in the campaign and earn points for your favorite animal nonprofits by letting them know that they can take this opportunity to shine, and by retweeting their messages about the campaign!

Got questions? Need ideas on how to get started? Contact with any questions. Happy tweeting!

We are conducting the campaign in partnership with the American Humane Association, Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife Forever, I Love Rescue Animals, K9 Magazine, DogTipper.com, The Pet Museum, and No Meat Athlete.

Among the organizations getting reviews is United Animal Nations (UAN), in Sacramento, CA, which is dedicated to "bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education.”

“I was deployed with the UAN to help with an animal hoarding case," writes fuzzyfriends. "It was a life changing experience for me! The UAN is one of the most awesome animal rescue organizations I have ever worked with! They were very efficient, properly trained, and most importantly, available 24/7 for these neglected animals! I am extremely honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization! I would travel the world over to help the UAN save our animals!"

The Cat Network in Miami, FL is a grass-roots organization with over 2500 volunteer and donor members that ”encourage(s) the public to adopt stray and abandoned cats as indoor-only pets and practice responsible ownership.”

Vincent1 writes: “There is a severe cat over-population problem in Miami. Due to lack of government funding there are very few opportunities for residents to get free roaming cats fixed at low cost. However, The Cat Network, an all volunteer organization, does provide access to low cost spay/neuter through it's certificate program, mobile spay/neuter clinic and partnerships with other local organizations for free spay days.”

Wolf Timbers, in Bolivar, OH, works to "enlighten and educate the public on the true nature of wolves."

Amos1 is one of those who is impressed: “It has been great to see how (the wolves) act towards each other and behave as individual members of the pack. It has been a pleasure to see the enjoyment by both the adults and children when they visit the facility. Everyone remarks how much more they understand about these beautiful animals after their visit.”

No More Homeless Pets in Utah works to "end the euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats statewide and to promote humane alternatives for feral cats" from its base in Sandy, UT.

“Volunteers like me will take the dogs out for walks one at a time to stretch their legs; relieve themselves on a hydrant and play a bit with the dogs," writes rainy. "I personally sing to them since they are the only creatures on the earth who have a taste for my songs. I will clean cages; walk dogs and do anything I'm asked. After a dog I have made friends with gets a home a feeling of huge satisfaction is shared by all.”

People Helping Horses provide "funding to local horse rescues, rehabilitation, education, and therapeutic riding organizations," from its base in Arlington, VA.

"I started volunteering at People Helping Horses in 2007 and have been hooked ever since, writes Melissa36. "PHH is an organization that truly cares for the horses they take in. Every decision that PHH makes (in business, finances, events etc.) is first and foremost based on what is best for the horses."

Writing about the North American Bear Center of Ely, MN, wickilyn calls it "an awesome place learning about bears and how to live with them in peace, I used to be terribly afraid of black bears but have found out they are really gentle creatures who's lives are ruled by fear and hunger, Dr. Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield are truly wonderful educators, and have helped me overcome my fear of these North American treasures, we should cherish them....... thank you."

There still is plenty of time left for nonprofits to get the word out about the campaign to their volunteers, donors, board members, and other stakeholders. Those groups that receive ten or more positive reviews during July will be recognized on the Top-Rated Animal Welfare Nonprofits List, which will be published at the end of the campaign.

The campaign will wrap up on July 31st.

Animal Welfare Campaign Partners:

American Humane Association Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane provides national leadership in developing policies, legislation, curricula and training programs -- and taking actions -- to protect children and animals from cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Animal Legal Defense Fund For more than three decades, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system.

DogTipper.com features tips for dog lovers, by dog lovers as well as news, product reviews, celebrity canines, and more.

The Humane Society of the United States, which is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, has worked since 1954 to celebrate animals and confront cruelty in all its forms.

I Love Rescue Animals is a site dedicated to celebrating rescued animals, supporting shelters, rescues and animal rights organizations and to animal welfare worldwide. We seek to raise awareness utilizing the vast resources available online through social media and to inspire others to make a difference in their own communities.

K9 Magazine is the leading lifestyle title for modern, forward thinking dog lovers. Featuring a most diverse selection of content, everything from expert dog advice, book reviews and opinion to free pet stuff, pet product reviews and high quality editorial. Get a free trial copy today!

No Meat Athlete shares vegetarian recipes, marathon- and triathlon-training advice, and animal-friendly product reviews to spread the message that you can achieve incredible things without eating animals.

The Pet Museum The lives, times, art and history of our pets.

Wildlife Forever conserves America’s fish and wildlife through education, preservation of habitat and management of all things wild.

-- David Weir

At the conclusion of the campaign, which is being conducted in partnership with a broad coalition of nonprofits, media partners, and bloggers, we will be publishing our first-ever Top-Rated Animal Nonprofits List of all organizations that receive at least ten positive user reviews during July.

Partner organizations include the American Humane Association, Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife Forever, I Love Rescue Animals, K9 Magazine, DogTipper.com, The Pet Museum, and No Meat Athlete,

Among the nonprofits receiving reviews to date is the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), in Houston, TX. SNAP’s mission is to "prevent the suffering and death of cats and dogs due to overpopulation, especially in low-income areas."

One reviewer, love-the-critters, wrote:"What I love most about SNAP in they will fix a feral kitty (in a live trap) with no appointment, complaints, or extra fees. I've taken many I've rescued this way to them and they are the only place I've found that will provide this very difficult service. And they are always willing to help. I took one non-feral kitty in a regular carrier, and the kitty busted out in the parking lot, which is right on the freeway! The staff came out and helped. We had to lay on the ground and surround the car he went under, and one of them had to reach into the engine and pull him out. It was a happy ending and I never used that carrier again! Yay SNAP! "

Another nonprofit getting reviews is Voiceless-MI, in Charlotte, MI.

"I came to Voiceless-MI looking for help and guidance on what to do with a pregnant stray cat," wrote bacalina. "Voiceless-MI called vets and asked questions and helped me make a decision on what to do. The cat went to the Voiceless-MI low-cost spay/neuter clinic. They also helped me find a home for her and another stray cat that I had taken in and was trying to adopt out on my own. When Voiceless-MI heard that there were many more abandoned cats in my neighborhood, they stepped up and wanted to help. With their help the stray cats in my neighborhood are getting the medical attention they need and some are getting homes. I came to them with one cat in need and they have saved the lives of so many other cats in my neighborhood."

The Bill Memorial Foundation in Beverly Hills, CA, received this review from sommerandfiona:

I adopted a dog from the Bill Foundation a year ago and my life hasn't been the same since. This little girl has brought so much joy to my life I did not know was even imaginable. The service the Bill Foundation provided me in the adoption process was wonderful and all the help they have provided me since the adoption has been just as great. If you are thinking about adopting they are great!"

The campaign will wrap up on July 31st.

Animal Welfare Campaign Partners:

American Humane Association Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane provides national leadership in developing policies, legislation, curricula and training programs -- and taking actions -- to protect children and animals from cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Animal Legal Defense Fund For more than three decades, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system.

DogTipper.com features tips for dog lovers, by dog lovers as well as news, product reviews, celebrity canines, and more.

The Humane Society of the United States, which is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, has worked since 1954 to celebrate animals and confront cruelty in all its forms.

I Love Rescue Animals is a site dedicated to celebrating rescued animals, supporting shelters, rescues and animal rights organizations and to animal welfare worldwide. We seek to raise awareness utilizing the vast resources available online through social media and to inspire others to make a difference in their own communities.

K9 Magazine is the leading lifestyle title for modern, forward thinking dog lovers. Featuring a most diverse selection of content, everything from expert dog advice, book reviews and opinion to free pet stuff, pet product reviews and high quality editorial. Get a free trial copy today!

No Meat Athlete shares vegetarian recipes, marathon- and triathlon-training advice, and animal-friendly product reviews to spread the message that you can achieve incredible things without eating animals.

The Pet Museum The lives, times, art and history of our pets.

Wildlife Forever conserves America’s fish and wildlife through education, preservation of habitat and management of all things wild.

-- David Weir

Meanwhile last week, the Animal Welfare Institute, Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network and Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a joint lawsuit against BP for its controlled burns of the oil slicks. The groups contend that the controlled burns are killing endangered sea turtles that are stuck in the oil.

But sea turtles are not the only species threatened by the Gulf oil spill. Surge Desk lists whale sharks, brown pelicans, dolphins, sperm whales and bluefin tuna among “BP’s animal victims to date.”

With the oil spill wreaking havoc on so many species and their ecosystems, it is timely (in a sad way) that GreatNonprofits is focusing on animal welfare nonprofits this month. Until July 31, any nonprofits working on behalf of animals are eligible to qualify for our top-rated animal nonprofits list, which will be published at the conclusion of the campaign. All it takes is ten positive reviews on GreatNonprofits to qualify as a top-rated organization.

Have you had a particularly memorable experience with an animal nonprofit? What is your opinion of the animal and conservation organizations lending a helping hand in the oil spill cleanup efforts? Make your voice heard on GreatNonprofits.org.

-- Xenia Shih

The reviews were posted as part of the 2010 GreatNonprofits Health Campaign, conducted in partnership with the National Association for Health and Fitness, Mental Health America, Diabetes Hands Foundation, Cancer Schmancer, FACE AIDS, HopeLab and Blisstree.

Over the course of the campaign, 50,000 people visited the GreatNonprofits site, and 278 nonprofit organizations working to improve the health of our communities were rated and reviewed by stakeholders.

In the process, a total of 3,458 new user reviews were gathered.

All the organizations on the top-rated list received ten or more positive reviews.

“We are excited to have learned about the many wonderful nonprofit organizations that are working to improve the health of our communities,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits. “We hope our campaign helps bring deserved attention to their efforts.”

About the Campaign

The health campaign ran throughout the month of June and all reviews appeared on the GreatNonprofits.org and GuideStar.org websites. Nonprofits with 10 or more positive reviews are listed on the GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Health Nonprofits List. Review submissions must have been received from June 1st through June 30th, 2010.

Partners in the Campaign

Mental Health America is the nation’s largest and oldest community-based network dedicated to helping all Americans live mentally healthier lives.

National Association for Health and Fitness— The network of State Governors’ Councils and Coalitions. Mission: To improve quality of life through participation in physical activity and sports.

FaceAIDS fights HIV/AIDS by building a movement of young leaders dedicated to global health equity and social justice.

The Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects people touched by diabetes and raises diabetes awareness.

Cancer Schmancer is dedicated to saving women's lives through early detection of cancer.

HopeLab “We combine rigorous research with innovative solutions to improve the health and quality of life of young people with chronic illness.”

Blisstree is a new health and wellness site for discerning women in their 30s and 40s who appreciate smart information delivered with a sharp sense of humor.

GuideStar is the leading source of philanthropic research on the web.

GreatNonprofits is the leading provider of user-generated ratings and reviews of nonprofits.

Our partners in the campaign, which will run for the month of July, include the The Humane Society, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, I Love Rescue Animals, Wildlife Forever, and the American Humane Association; and media partners DogTipper and K9 Magazine.

Any nonprofit working on behalf of animals that has at least 10 positive reviews by July 31st will be recognized on the GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Animal Nonprofits List, which will be published at the conclusion of the campaign.

“There are so many wonderful nonprofit organizations working on behalf of animals, including conservation groups, rescue organizations, service groups, and many more,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits. “Through this campaign, we hope to shine a spotlight on all of these different types of important work.”

Participants in the campaign often receive increased exposure to donors and volunteers and increased visibility in their communities and the media.

The user reviews gathered by GreatNonprofits are written by anyone with personal experience with a nonprofit, i.e., a donor, volunteer, board member, client, or member of the public.

Over the past year more than 450,000 people visited GreatNonprofits to read and write these reviews.

About the Campaign

The animal welfare campaign will run throughout the month of July and all reviews will appear on both the GreatNonprofits.org and GuideStar.org websites. Nonprofits with 10 or more positive reviews will be included on the GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Animal Nonprofits List. Review submissions must take place from July 1st through 31st, 2010.

Partners in the Campaign

American Humane Association Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane provides national leadership in developing policies, legislation, curricula and training programs -- and taking actions -- to protect children and animals from cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Animal Legal Defense Fund For more than three decades, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system.

DogTipper.com features tips for dog lovers, by dog lovers as well as news, product reviews, celebrity canines, and more.

The Humane Society of the United States, which is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, has worked since 1954 to celebrate animals and confront cruelty in all its forms.

I Love Rescue Animals is a site dedicated to celebrating rescued animals, supporting shelters, rescues and animal rights organizations and to animal welfare worldwide. We seek to raise awareness utilizing the vast resources available online through social media and to inspire others to make a difference in their own communities.

K9 Magazine is the leading lifestyle title for modern, forward thinking dog lovers. Featuring a most diverse selection of content, everything from expert dog advice, book reviews and opinion to free pet stuff, pet product reviews and high quality editorial. Get a free trial copy today!

Wildlife Forever conserves America’s fish and wildlife through education, preservation of habitat and management of all things wild.

Cleanup workers have not had to evacuate the area yet, but an evacuation plan is ready all alongthe Louisiana coast for the entire hurricane season. In the event of an emergency, BP will have to evacuate its thousands of workers and either take or nail down cleanup equipment at least 16 hours before area residents are evacuated.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the spill, people all over the world have been demonstrating against offshore oil drilling. As Hurricane Alex was gathering wind this past weekend, thousands of people around the world were gathering on their local beaches in a symbolic protest against offshore oil drilling. “Hands Across the Sand” united beach-going strangers on Saturday, June 26, and some of our readers were among those who made it out to their local events.

Stephanie from Wallingford, CT, was participating in a Project Limulus crab census on some small beaches in Guilford when she and her fellow volunteers decided to hold their own “Hands Across the Sand” event – not once, but twice:

“There were 7 of us Project Limulus volunteers, and we paused in our work to hold our own, impromptu demonstration. Then, at the second each, a short distance away, we performed our census, watched by about 20 beachgoers. After we finished, we held a second Hands Across the Sand, on that beach, explaining to the people on the beach what we were doing…most of the people joined us!”

Dave from Clearwater, FL wrote:

“I just went today and participated in this wonderful event! There were people as far as the eye could see! ‘Hands Across the Sand’ was a success in Clearwater Florida!”

There were approximately 200 “Hands Across the Sand” events in Florida, and 500 in the rest of the world. If you attended one of these, be sure to let us know!

-- Xenia Shih