Showing up. Filling gaps.


20 Years of Impact—02:30

Executive letter from the CEO

Real impact doesn't come from the most expensive projects, but from solutions designed to change lives locally.

Liz Baker

CEO, Greater Good Charities

A message from our CEO — 3:45
$1.1 billion + in aid distributed
121 countries served
6 continents served
1.4 billion + meals delivered
1,354,411 acres protected
904,996,114 animals directly helped
530,451,457 people directly helped
11,745 aid deliveries
292,403 total volunteer hours

From grassroots support to over $1B in total impact—two decades of growth driven by trust, generosity, and relentless focus on need.

January 2007

GreaterGood.org was created to help protect people, pets, and the planet.

February 2009

First disaster response: Australian Bushfires. We award over $73,900 in grants to organizations on the ground to provide disaster relief for humans, pets, and wildlife.

January 2010

We celebrate $10 Million Given to Charity

January 2010

We respond to 2010 Haiti earthquake, awarding our partners on the ground $552,771 in grants to support relief efforts for both humans and animals.

May 2011

Rescue Bank (Now GOODS) sends out first truck as a national pet food donation network

July 2013

New program, GROW (Girls' right to opportunity worldwide), is launched, removing barriers that prevent girls across the globe from attaining their right to quality education.

April 2015

Emergency Animal Medical Case fundraising begins

April 2015

We respond to Nepal earthquake, awarding $152,600 in grants to provide relief for those affected

April 2016

We fly 33 lions rescued from illegal circuses to safety

June 2016

We celebrate $100 Million given to charity

July 2016

First annual National Feed a Rescue Pet Week

August 2016

Girls' Voices program is launched to raise funds for girls' secondary education through media made by girls.

January 2017

Project Wildcat is launched to establish a 31,704-acre wildlife corridor to protect the majestic jaguar.

August 2017

We conduct our largest disaster response effort to date, awarding $8 million in cash and in-kind grants to support recovery efforts after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. while our staff in Houston is directly impacted

August 2018

The Madrean Discovery Expedition uncovers an incredibly rare salamander and brand-new species of small scorpion

September 2019

We launch our new program, Good Packs, providing backpacks full of supplies to help local veterans and their pets

March 2020

#StayHomeAndFoster is launched, a national effort to provide a solution to the countless at-risk pets due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2020

Rescue Bank (Now GOODS) reaches 4,000th truck and 400 million meal milestone

September 2020

GreaterGood.org becomes Greater Good Charities

December 2020

We launch the ‘Feed Thy Neighbor’ campaign with Chris Pratt and 12 Tomatoes, providing 4,628,822 meals to people struggling to put food on their tables

July 2021

We raise $28 million for Covid relief worldwide

September 2021

Greater Good Charities launches new program, Good Fix, a high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter program

December 2021

We launch Good Home, our national pet fostering program designed to connect local animal shelters with potential foster volunteers.

March 2022

We mobilize a response to help displaced people, refugees, and pets affected by the war in Ukraine

April 2022

We launch GOODS Program to distribute food, essential supplies, clothing, housewares, toys, and more to pets and people during times of crisis

August 2023

We respond to devastating wildfires in Maui, and conducts aid deliveries and pet transports with Southwest Airlines

January 2024

We establish regional disaster hubs to store aid all over the U.S. for faster response times

September2024

We respond to the record-breaking Hurricane Helene, with its largest disaster response to date

October 2025

We respond to Hurricane Melissa, among the first agencies to get aid on the ground to support people and animals

March 2026

Greater Good Charities celebrates $1B in aid and 20 Years of Amplifying the Good

121 countries
6 continents
$1B+ in total impact

We’re there when it matters, mobilizing urgent relief for people, animals, and the environment the moment disaster strikes, then staying to rebuild long after the headlines fade.

From the Start, For the Long Haul: A Vast and Enduring Response in Ukraine

Since the earliest days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, we’ve stood alongside Ukrainian communities, helping people and animals navigate life amid destruction, displacement, and fear.

Man holding a box and a blanket from an aid distribution from Greater Good Charities in Ukraine in winter

Our Largest Disaster Response to-Date: Hurricanes Helene and Milton

In fall 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the southeastern United States just weeks apart.

Volunteer Kristin Armer handing out Good Packs at Feeding Tampa Bay distribution. Food/water/Good Pack distribution with Feeding Tampa Bay during Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Melissa: On the ground in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa was the strongest Atlantic hurricane to make landfall, quickly devastating the southern and western parishes in Jamaica.

Greater Good Charities staff delivering essential aid to children in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

Rebuilding Lives, Reuniting Families

When the wildfires that swept through communities in Maui, we met the moment—listening, mobilizing, and adapting to many different needs on the ground.

Rebuilding Lives, Reuniting Families

On the Ground in Türkiye: How We Provided Food, Aid, and Animal Support After the 2023 Earthquake

Following two massive earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, hundreds of thousands of people were killed, injured and left without food, water or shelter.

On the Ground in Türkiye: How We Provided Food, Aid, and Animal Support After the 2023 Earthquake

Fighting Food Insecurity: How Feed Thy Neighbor Supported Communities Nationwide During COVID-19 

At the coronavirus pandemic's peak, the need for food assistance surged to levels not seen since the Great Depression.

Fighting Food Insecurity: How Feed Thy Neighbor Supported Communities Nationwide During COVID-19 

There When It Matters: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was unlike anything the United States had seen in decades. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria left a trail of destruction valued at $339.2 billion in damages.

There When It Matters: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria

Wildfires Devastate the Pantanal: Saving Brazil’s Wildlife

Wildfires scorched over 3 million acres of the Pantanal in 2024— the world's largest tropical wetland, spanning Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay — devastating three wildlife reserves, destroying rewilding enclosures, and killing or injuring countless animals.

Treating an injured Jaguar after the wildfires in the Pantanal, Brazil
Greater Good Charities employee handing a box to a ukraine woman during a disaster relief distribution

We’re there when it matters, mobilizing urgent relief for people, animals, and the environment the moment disaster strikes, then staying to rebuild long after the headlines fade.

We deliver meals, renovate shelters, and provide life-saving medical care and transport to help animals and the people who care for them.

We safeguard critical habitats and rescue endangered species through grants, fieldwork, and scientific expeditions.

We empower communities around the world with essential supplies, food, education, and long-term projects so vulnerable people can recover and thrive.

How we do it

In every context and community, we listen thoughtfully, respond flexibly, and solve creatively.

These operating principles shape how we work—from field response, logistics, and transport to safe housing and shelter, health and safety, food and nutrition, education, veterinary care, environmental protection and research, and community partnership.

  1. 01

    We fill critical gaps in need

  2. 02

    We combine program excellence with operational expertise

  3. 03

    We bring global reach and resources to local needs

292,403 volunteer hours
10,905 community partners
20+ years of donor trust
$1.1B mobilized together

Our volunteers

Volunteering means offering your time and skills to help make the world a better place. Everyone has something they can offer; you just have to find an organization that fits your personality and has the same passions

TM

Teresa Myers

Greater Good Charities Volunteer

I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to find this organization, and to be able to volunteer with them, the amount that I have learned and gained from them and the friendships I’ve built is just amazing.

EK

Elise Korican

Greater Good Charities Volunteer

Veterinarian volunteers for Greater Good Charities at a spay and neuter clinic in Alaska. The volunteers are each holding cats.

Yes, I’m tired. Yes, I used vacation days to be there. Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY! This was the most rewarding event to volunteer. The people of the community, the animals and the teamwork were incredible!

CT

Carlene Teterud

Greater Good Charities Volunteer

Our leadership

Jam Stewart

Jam Stewart

Board Chair

Dr. Julie Ryan-Johnson

Dr. Julie Ryan-Johnson

Board Vice Chair

John Gehrt

John Gehrt

Board Treasurer

Julia Christopherson

Julia Christopherson

Board Secretary

David Yaskulka

David Yaskulka

Board member

Ben Hamilton

Ben Hamilton

Board member

Jeffery R. Zuba, D.V.M.

Jeffery R. Zuba, D.V.M.

Board member

Greg Hesterberg

Greg Hesterberg

Board member

Our Financials

We are proud to hold a 4 star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid. See prior year audited financials and 990s here.

FY25 Total Support:   173,325,399.84% of Total Expenses
Programs & Grants Expenses:   152,802,631.1492.9%
Fundraising Expenses:       8,849,782.195.4%
Management Expenses:       2,799,048.321.7%