Discover which states pay family members to care for loved ones, how programs work, eligibility, payment methods, and practical advice for getting started.
When it comes to family caregiver pay, programs that compensate relatives for caring for aging or disabled family members. Also known as paid family caregiving, it’s not a handout—it’s a practical solution to a growing crisis. More than half of U.S. states now offer some form of financial support, often through Medicaid waivers, helping people keep their loved ones at home instead of in expensive facilities. This isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity, choice, and recognizing that the work of caring for someone is real labor—often unpaid for decades.
charitable trust, a legal tool used to hold assets for charitable purposes while potentially generating income for donors. Also known as charitable remainder trust, it’s not a loophole—it’s a way for people to support causes they care about while managing taxes and estate planning. Behind every trust is a person deciding: do I want my wealth to vanish after I’m gone, or can it keep giving? Meanwhile, nonprofit salaries, the pay levels for people working in charities and advocacy groups. Also known as charity pay, they’re low not because these jobs are unimportant, but because funding is stretched thin across missions, overhead, and donor expectations. People work in nonprofits because they believe in the cause—not because they’re chasing a paycheck.
And it’s not just about money. In June 2025, we looked at who’s actually fighting for the environment. environmental groups, organizations dedicated to protecting natural resources and pushing for policy change. Also known as green organizations, they range from national giants to local volunteers planting trees in city parks. We asked: who’s making a difference? Turns out, it’s not always the loudest ones. Sometimes it’s the small group that tracks pollution in their river, or the teen who got her school to drop plastic bottles.
Then there’s volunteer opportunities, ways for people to give time without pay, often to support community needs. Also known as community service, they’re not always about feeling good—they’re about survival. People quit volunteering when it drains them. Others stick with it because it gives them purpose. We dug into why some programs work and others burn people out. And we asked: what if you got paid to volunteer? Turns out, some nonprofits do offer stipends—not salaries, but enough to cover gas, meals, or childcare.
What ties all this together? People. Real people doing real work. Whether it’s a daughter caring for her mom with dementia, a lawyer setting up a trust to fund clean water projects, or a teacher organizing a food drive, these aren’t abstract concepts. They’re daily choices. And in June 2025, the stories we shared weren’t about perfect solutions. They were about what’s working, what’s broken, and what you can actually do about it.
Below, you’ll find a collection of guides, facts, and honest conversations about how these systems really work—no fluff, no jargon, just what you need to know to make smarter choices, whether you’re caring for someone, donating, volunteering, or just trying to understand the world around you.