Turks and Caicos Charities & Non-profits
The Turks and Caicos is home to several charities and non-profit organizations, many of which rely on donations and volunteers for survival.
Most of the country’s charitable organizations are based on Providenciales, as the island is home to most activity and the vast majority of the country's population. The main causes these groups support are animal welfare, children's well-being, and environmental protection and conservation.
Throughout the year, there are numerous organized fundraisers that you can attend to help local causes. Popular major fundraising events include In the Pink (a benefit for the local cancer society) and An Evening of Art, which raises proceeds for the local youth center.
If you want to volunteer in the Turks and Caicos, see Living and Working in the Turks and Caicos.
Turks & Caicos Reef Fund
The Turks and Caicos Reef Fund has a challenging mission—to protect and preserve the reefs and marine environment of the Turks and Caicos. This charge has taken many forms, including maintaining buoys and moorings at scuba diving and snorkeling sites, providing education to young and old alike, controlling invasive lionfish, and forwarding historical and scientific research.
The Reef Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization and welcomes both donations and volunteers.
Food for Thought
Food for Thought has an important objective: provide breakfast to every school child in the Turks and Caicos. Malnutrition has an enormous effect on physical and mental development and the children’s ability to concentrate and learn. Food for Thought provides free breakfast every school day to approximately 550 children throughout the islands.
The non-profit seeks donations and corporate sponsors. There are many ways to help: you can make recurring monthly donations or one-off donations, purchase merchandise, attend their fundraising events, or host your own fundraising event.
Visit their website for more details.
TCSPCA
The Turks and Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TCSPCA) has long been established on Providenciales, rescuing and caring for animals in need across the country. In addition to Potcake dogs and cats, the organization has helped care for a wide range of animals, including local donkeys and goats.
One of the most important missions of the TCSPCA is finding good homes for unwanted local cats and dogs, both in the Turks and Caicos and abroad. The organization often has a need for couriers willing to take pets to their new home in the U.S. or Canada, so a great way to help is to take a puppy or kitten with you on your flight out of the Turks and Caicos.
The National Trust
The Turks and Caicos National Trust oversees many historical and natural sites in the islands, including the attractions of Wade’s Green Plantation, Cheshire Hall Plantation, Haulover Plantation, Conch Bar Caves, Indian Cave, Little Water Cay, and Bird Rock Point Trail.
Maintaining sensitive historical sites requires constant care and attention. The National Trust needs all the help it can get.
Turks & Caicos National Museum
Founded decades ago, the Turks and Caicos National Museum has striven to preserve, protect, and display an incredible range of Turks and Caicos artifacts. These include priceless treasures from the pre-Columbian Taíno peoples, remains from one of the oldest European shipwrecks in the Americas, and much more.
The National Museum has primarily been based on the island of Grand Turk in the iconic Guinep House for decades. While there is a satellite location of the museum on Providenciales, the plan is to expand it to house a greater number of artifacts.
The future Providenciales museum site is located in The Village at Grace Bay. Currently, there’s a development office, some indoor artifacts, a reproduction heritage house, and some outdoor exhibits on historical cannons, anchors, and the Caicos Sloop.
Potcake Place
The Potcake Place is a dog rescue shelter located in the heart of Grace Bay at the Saltmills Plaza. This organization works to rescue and find caring homes for neglected dogs in the Turks and Caicos, especially for the well-loved Potcake breed (which can be found feral on many of the larger islands).
Potcake Place welcomes donations of money and animal care necessities. They also need help with couriering adopted pets to their new homes outside of the Turks and Caicos. A fun way to donate your time is to walk a puppy—visitors are welcome to take the shelter's puppies out on walks to socialize them and prepare them for adoption.