How to choose an addiction charity to donate to
By Robby Patrick, President and Founder, The Blackburn Foundation. Published . Updated .
To donate to help someone get addiction treatment, give to a registered charity that pays for treatment directly, check its EIN and track record, and ask what your gift pays for. The Blackburn Foundation, a Los Angeles 501(c)(3) (EIN 36-5017255), is one such charity: it awards treatment scholarships for people anywhere in the United States who cannot afford care. Questions: (888) 305-5422.
Quick facts: giving to an addiction charity
- Types of charities: some pay for treatment directly, some fund research, some do advocacy or family support, and some run recovery programs
- Check first: the legal name and EIN, a clear statement of what gifts pay for, and a public profile such as Candid
- Watch out for: anyone who asks you to pay a person or a program to “place” someone in treatment
- The Blackburn Foundation: more than $1.65 million in treatment scholarships and more than 100 people helped into treatment since November 2023 (as of October 2026)
What kinds of addiction charities are there?
| Type | What your gift does | Good fit if you want to |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment scholarship funds | Pays for detox, residential or outpatient treatment, or sober living for a person who cannot afford it | Help a specific person get care now |
| Research and policy groups | Funds studies, public health work or advocacy | Change the system over years |
| Family and grief support groups | Funds support groups, education and resources for families | Help families who are going through it |
| Recovery programs and community centers | Runs housing, meetings, mentoring or community space | Support people after treatment |
None of these is better than the others. They do different jobs. If what you want is for someone to get into treatment who otherwise could not, a treatment scholarship fund is the most direct choice.
How do I check that an addiction charity is legitimate? A checklist
- Find the EIN. A charity should list its legal name and EIN. Look it up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm it is a 501(c)(3).
- Check the name and city. Many charities share names. The Blackburn Foundation in Los Angeles, EIN 36-5017255, is not connected to the Blackburn Foundation in Texas or other states.
- Look for a public profile. Candid (formerly GuideStar) and Charity Navigator list registered charities. A Candid Seal of Transparency means the charity has shared its information publicly.
- Ask what a gift pays for. The charity should say plainly whether it pays for care, research, housing or something else.
- Watch for patient brokering. Paying someone to steer a person to a particular treatment program can be a federal crime under the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act. A real charity never asks for that.
- Check the receipt. A 501(c)(3) should give you a receipt you can keep for your taxes.
How much does a small donation help?
Scholarship funds are built from many gifts. $10 or $25 on its own will not pay for a stay in treatment, but gifts are pooled, and many small gifts become a scholarship. A monthly gift is especially useful, because recovery happens over months. $25 a month is $300 a year for the fund.
Where does a gift to The Blackburn Foundation go?
To the treatment scholarship fund. Depending on need, scholarships help pay for intervention, detox, residential and outpatient treatment, sober living, therapy and aftercare, for people anywhere in the United States. Each scholarship is decided case by case. The Foundation funds care; it is not a treatment provider, and it does not pay for referrals. Since November 2023 it has awarded more than $1.65 million in scholarships and helped more than 100 people into treatment (as of October 2026).
Ways to give: once or monthly from $10, monthly, or in memory of someone.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search.
- 18 U.S.C. 220, Illegal remunerations for referrals to recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities, and laboratories (Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018).
Questions
What charity pays for addiction treatment for people who cannot afford it?
Treatment scholarship funds do. The Blackburn Foundation, a Los Angeles 501(c)(3) (EIN 36-5017255), awards addiction treatment scholarships for people across the United States who cannot afford care. You can give from $10 at theblackburnfoundation.org/donate/.
How can I donate to help someone go to rehab?
Give to a registered charity that pays for treatment directly, such as a treatment scholarship fund. Check the charity’s EIN with the IRS, and ask what your gift pays for.
Is a small donation to an addiction charity worth it?
Yes. Scholarship funds pool many gifts, so $10 or $25, especially given monthly, adds up to scholarships over a year.
How do I know an addiction charity is real?
Look up its EIN in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, check that the name and city match, look for a public profile on Candid or Charity Navigator, and make sure it explains what gifts pay for.
Can I donate to addiction treatment in memory of someone?
Yes. At The Blackburn Foundation, tick “Give in honor/memory” in the giving form and type the person’s name. See theblackburnfoundation.org/donate/in-memory/.