In the US alone, over 19 million people suffer from some sort of addiction. People with addiction use substances or repeatedly engage in compulsive behaviors, despite harmful consequences. Reaching out for help can be challenging due to stigma, guilt, and shame. Fortunately, many charities are working to combat the stigma and provide help for everyone affected by addiction. So we had to ask: What are the best charities helping to overcome addiction?

The best charities that help to overcome addiction are The Harren Project, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, and the Rosecrance Foundation. Other charities such as the Cenikor Foundation and SMART Recovery offer services to help adolescents recover from addiction.

Whether you want to overcome addiction yourself, assist individuals in recovery, or advocate to end the stigma that surrounds addiction, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities overcoming addiction are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Help Overcome Addiction Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their proven track records, transparent financial practices, and commitment to making a positive impact. 

They operate all over the world, from North America to Asia, assisting people struggling with addiction.

Many of these charities provide a sanctuary for sufferers where they can recover. Others work to support the families of sufferers and the communities affected by addiction.

Yet, they all share the same goal of helping individuals to overcome addiction and live their lives to the fullest.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Help Overcome Addiction in 2024

Below are our favorite charities helping to overcome addiction (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities That Help Overcome Addiction

The Herren Project

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Rosecrance Foundation

Faces and Voices of Recovery

Shatterproof

The Council on Recovery

The Partnership to End Addiction

SMART Recovery

Cenikor Foundation

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.) 

The Herren Project: Recovery and Prevention of Substance Use Disorder

The Herren Project was founded in 2011 by Chris Herren to provide free resources and support for the treatment, recovery, and prevention of substance use disorders. Today, the Herren Project is a national organization offering support services and raising awareness of addiction.

The Herren Project has a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

”To help individuals and families of all ages live healthy, fulfilling lives by preventing substance misuse, celebrating recovery, and creating resilient communities.”

The Herren Project

The Herren Project offers addiction treatment placements for adults aged 18 and over, as well as recovery housing scholarships and family consultations to help individuals transition to a healthy lifestyle. They also provide free 15-minute consultations and live online support groups for families and loved ones affected by addiction. 

Since their founding, the Herren Project has provided in-kind treatment scholarships amounting to over $6 million for the recovery of substance use disorders. Additionally, the organization has assisted 4,849 individuals in accessing treatment options. Furthermore, they have successfully advocated for $6.3 million in treatment scholarships and granted 1,040 recovery scholarships. Notably, their recovery housing and coaching scholarships have seen 78% of recipients achieve 90 to 180 days of sobriety.

You can donate directly to the Herren Project via their website. You can also join their community of individuals by creating awareness and raising funds through athletic events.

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Addiction Treatment and Advocacy

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation was founded in 1949 as a merger between the Hazelden Foundation and the Betty Ford Center, to provide recovery support for individuals and families affected by addiction. Today, the charity provides comprehensive behavioral health care and treatment options for people suffering from addiction.

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“Providing confidential help to individuals and families impacted by addiction and leading the community in prevention, education, and awareness.”

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation offers personalized, evidence-based addiction treatment programs. The charity also offers support and education for families dealing with addiction, such as mental health assessments and personalized coaching. Furthermore, the Hazelden Betty Ford Patient Care Network collaborates with healthcare organizations to improve addiction treatment and recovery. 

Since their founding, the Hazelden Betty Ford has provided successful treatment for 90% of their young patients with co-occurring mental health symptoms. They have also enhanced technology for their Children’s Program and provided $50,000 worth of hearing aids for veterans in treatment. Moreover, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation established a National Center for Families and Children with a $10 million grant from the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation.

You can donate directly to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation through their website. You can also get involved by joining their advocacy network.

Rosecrance Foundation: Mental Health and Substance Use 

The Rosecrance Foundation was founded in 1916 by Dr. James and Fannie Rosecrance to offer substance abuse and mental health treatment services for orphaned children. Today, the charity is a recognized leader in addiction treatment and mental health services in the US.

The Rosecrance Foundation has a 3-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Bronze Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To provide help, hope, and lasting recovery to children, youth, adolescents, adults, and families.”

Rosecrance Foundation

The Rosecrance Foundation offers comprehensive, evidence-based addiction and mental health treatment services, catering to both in-house residents and surrounding communities. They also offer comprehensive substance abuse and mental health services for teens and young adults, accelerating progress and creating a long-term recovery roadmap. In addition, the charity offers a structured and supportive sober living environment where they teach sufferers essential life skills such as coping skills and career coaching.

Since their founding, the Rosecrance Foundation has remained committed to helping people overcome addiction and mental health crises. For example, they have expanded their adult treatment services by opening a 72-bed Harrison Avenue center that serves an additional 98 inpatients. In addition, the Rosecrance Foundation opened the $14 million Griffin Williamson Adolescent Treatment Center, serving Rockford youth through prevention, outpatient services, and recovery homes. The charity also offers comprehensive addiction treatment for over 4,000 children, adolescents, and adults every year, in partnership with Jackson Recovery Centers.

You can donate directly to the Rosecrance Foundation through their website. You can also get involved by supplying any of the items on their wish list.

Faces & Voices of Recovery: Advocate, Act, Advance.

Faces & Voices of Recovery was founded in 2001 by a group of recovery advocacy pioneers to draw attention to a growing advocacy force among people in recovery from addiction. Today, Faces & Voices of Recovery is the nation’s leading addiction recovery advocacy organization.

Faces & Voices of Recovery has a 3-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To envision a world where the diverse voices of individuals and families affected by addiction are embraced and connected in communities, free from discrimination and injustice.”

Faces & Voices of Recovery

Faces & Voices of Recovery offers peer-run training and technical assistance to enhance the knowledge, capacity, and accountability of recovery support providers. They also promote recovery and wellness initiatives through networking, advocacy, support for the peer workforce, strategic planning, education, networking, and fundraising. The charity also identifies under-supported needs in recovery communities and provides recovery support services, promoting diverse pathways for long-term recovery.

Since their founding, Faces & Voices of Recovery have successfully passed the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. These acts prevent group health plans and insurance issuers from imposing less favorable benefit limitations on mental health or substance use disorder benefits. Faces & Voices of Recovery also campaigned for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which was signed into law. Furthermore, in 2021, they provided 27 virtual training sessions to a national audience and empowered 15 recovery Ambassadors and 645 individuals to advocate for their communities.

You can donate directly to Faces & Voices of Recovery through their website. You can also get involved by designating Faces & Voices of Recovery as the beneficiary of specific assets, a portion of your estate, or a residual.

Shatterproof: Transforming Addiction 

Shatterproof was founded in 2013 by Gary Mendell to reverse the addiction crisis in the United States and address the devastation caused by addiction. Today, the charity is the leading organization focused on enhancing addiction prevention and treatment.

Shatterproof has a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To reverse the course of the addiction crisis in the United States.”

Shatterproof

Shatterproof works to transform addiction treatment by establishing a national standard of care, promoting clinical best practices, and bringing together industry experts to improve outcomes for Americans struggling with addiction. Shatterproof works to end addiction stigma, which hinders recovery for millions of Americans and their loved ones. The charity also empowers communities by advocating for lifesaving policy changes, providing educational resources, and hosting national events to build community among those impacted by addiction.

Since their founding, Shatterproof’s advocacy efforts have led to President Biden signing the MATE and MAT Acts, promoting science-based substance use disorder treatment and removing barriers. They also expanded the Shatterproof Treatment AtlasTM platform to 11 states, covering 40% of the US population. Moreover, in 2022, their Shatterproof Activated billing codes for the evidence-based Collaborative Care Payment Model significantly improved patient health outcomes and served 49 million Medicaid members.

You can donate directly to Shatterproof through their website. You can also get involved by creating a memorial to honor a loved one, with the donation supporting Shatterproof’s work.

The Council on Recovery: Hope, Healing, and Recovery

The Council on Recovery was founded in 1946 by a group of community members to provide recovery services to people adversely affected by alcoholism, drug abuse, and co-occurring mental health disorders. Today, the Council on Recovery is the oldest and largest non-profit organization in Houston, Texas.

The Council on Recovery has a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Bronze Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To lead the community in creating a path to freedom from substance abuse and related issues.”

The Council on Recovery

The Council on Recovery provides counseling and treatment for alcoholism, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. For example, they offer behavioral health services for community prevention and education, promoting better-educated communities and reducing substance abuse. The charity also offers holistic support for long-term recovery, guiding individuals towards sobriety and wellness activities.

Since their founding, the Council on Recovery has provided prevention, education, treatment, and recovery support programs to over 60,000 individuals and 21,000 youth. The charity also hosted 31,000 visitors at the Houston campus,delivering 88% of treatment services at reduced or no cost. 100% of clients felt helped with mental health and substance use issues. Furthermore, their Charity Center for Recovering Families has helped 97% of clients successfully, with 95% recommending the program to others. In addition, 83% of adolescent clients improved their emotional understanding after receiving services.

You can donate directly to the Council on Recovery through their website. You can also get involved by referring someone to the charity through their website or social media handles.

The Partnership To End Addiction: Advocate, Training and Research

The Partnership to End Addiction (formerly known as the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids), was founded in 1987 by a group of parents who were concerned about the impact of drug and alcohol abuse on their children. Today, the charity has parent advocates in all 50 states and 93% of congressional districts.

The Partnership to End Addiction has a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To transform the nation’s approach to addiction by empowering families, advancing effective care, shaping public policy, and changing culture.”

The Partnership to End Addiction

The Partnership to End Addiction advocates for policies and practices supporting addiction prevention, treatment, recovery, and reducing stigma. The charity also provides training for practitioners on evidence-based practices, family involvement, and medication use, tailored for behavioral health professionals. In addition, the charity conducts research to improve the reach, accessibility, and quality of substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

Since their founding, the Partnership to End Addiction has provided direct support, education, and amplified the voices of over 20,000 parents, resulting in 89% satisfaction, 79% self-confidence, and 84% hopefulness. In 2022, The Partnership to End Addiction, with the support of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, also increased Spanish-language content by 33%. In the same year, over $20,000 was raised to help families navigate their children’s addiction through guidance and resources.

You can donate directly to The Partnership to End Addiction via their website. You can also support the charity by utilizing your ideas to host a fundraiser or participating in an existing event with fundraising opportunities.

SMART Recovery: Evidence-Based Addiction Recovery

SMART Recovery was founded in 1994 by Dr. Joe Gerstein to meet the increasing demand from health professionals and their patients for a secular and science-based alternative to the well-known 12-Step addiction recovery program. Today, SMART provides over 2,000 local meetings, extending its reach to numerous countries globally.

SMART Recovery has a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To help participants gain independence from any problematic addictive behavior.” SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery offers young people self-empowering support for addiction recovery using a no-shame, no-blame approach. SMART Recovery provides effective easy-to-learn tools that are based on SMART Recovery and CRAFT Therapy to help family and friends cope with their loved one’s situation and regain peace of mind. The charity also provides support and help for veterans and First Responders in a safe environment.

Since their founding, SMART Recovery has expanded from 42 meetings to over 2,000 in North America and now operates in 23 countries worldwide. The Charity established 15 connections, 34 speaking engagements, and 67 presentations to community organizations, treatment centers, medical facilities, and court programs. In addition, SMART Recovery’s InsideOut program, funded by $1 million in NIDA grants, assists individuals with harmful addictions, including those in therapy and correctional facilities.

You can donate directly to SMART Recovery via their website. You can also volunteer to become a facilitator of the Successful Life Skills 12-session course in one of their recovery homes.

Cenikor Foundation: Drug Rehabilitation and Mental Health

The Cenikor Foundation was founded in 1967 by James “Luke” Austin to provide high-quality substance abuse and behavioral health services for adults and adolescents across a continuum of care. Today, the Cenikor Foundation is one of the largest private providers of drug and alcohol treatment services in Texas.

The Cenikor Foundation has a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The charity also holds a Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To provide a foundation for better health and better lives.”

Cenikor Foundation

The Cenikor Foundation offers comprehensive services for adolescents, including screening, assessment, early intervention, individual therapy, and prevention services. The Cenikor Foundation also offers alumni care and support post-treatment, encouraging participation in the Cenikor Alumni community for sharing experiences, attending social events, giving back, and maintaining a stable support network. In addition, the charity provides dedicated services for veterans and active duty service members, addressing substance use disorder through their VA Community Care Network.

Since their founding, the Cenikor Foundation has positively impacted over 150,000 individuals’ recovery journeys. The Charity has also assisted 10,000 people annually in recovery and achieving healthier lives. In addition, Cenikor collaborated with San Jacinto College in Houston to create a structured curriculum for Behavioral Health Technicians, covering tuition, textbooks, and stipends.

You can donate directly to the Cenikor Foundation via their website. You can join their volunteer team to deliver high-quality substance abuse treatment and program services.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities helping to overcome addiction. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarise yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to helping to overcome addiction – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

Sources

• American Addiction Centers: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics
• The Herren Project: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: The Herren Project
• GuideStar: The Harren Project
• The Herren Project: Help and support
• The Herren Project:Impact
• The Herren Project: Donate
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
• GuideStar: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Prevention
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: About
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Donate
• Rosecrance Foundation: Home
• Charity Navigator: Rosecrance Foundation
• GuideStar: Rosecrance Foundation
• Rosecrance Foundation: Programs
• Rosecrance Foundation: About
• Rosecrance Foundation: Donate
• Rosecrance Foundation: Wish-list
• Faces and Voices of Recovery: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: Faces and Voices of Recovery
• GuideStar: Faces and Voices of Recovery
• Faces and Voices of Recovery: Programs
• Faces and Voices of Recovery: About
• Faces and Voices of Recovery: Publication
• Faces and Voices of Recovery: Donate
• Shatterproof: Homepage
• Charity Navigation: Shatterproof
• GuideStar: Shatterproof
• Shatterproof: Our Work
• Shatterproof: About
• Shatterproof: Donate
• Shatterproof: National Memorial
• The Council on Recovery: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: The Council on Recovery
• GuideStar: The Council on Recovery
• The Council on Recovery: Programs
• The Council on Recovery: Resources
• The Council on Recovery: Donate
• The Partnership to end Addiction: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: The Partnership to end Addiction
• Guidestar: The Partnership to end Addiction
• The Partnership to end Addiction: Our Policy Work
• The Partnership to end Addiction: Impact
• The Partnership to end Addiction: Donate
• SMART Recovery: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: SMART Recovery
• GuideStar: SMART Recovery
• SMART Recovery: Family
• SMART Recovery: Veterans
• SMART Recovery: Our Impact
• SMART Recovery: Donate
• Cenikor Foundation: Homepage
• Charity Navigator: Cenikor Foundation
• GuideStar: Cenikor Foundation
• Cenikor Foundation: Programs
• Cenikor Foundation: About Us
• Cenikor Foundation: Donate
• Cenikor Foundation: Volunteer