Posted on July 3, 2023
Vote for Center for Economic and Policy Research, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Take Back the Court
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute our monthly grant to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This July, you can support groups fighting for economic justice, abortion rights and expanding the Supreme Court by voting to fund the Center for Economic and Policy Research, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Take Back the Court.
Center for Economic and Policy Research
CEPR fights for economic justice everywhere. We provide progressive research and ideas to push Congress for economic policy that empowers all people to prosper, not just those at the top.
CREDO’s support will fund CEPR’s Full Employment For All campaign. We are lifting demands made 60 years ago at the March for Jobs and Freedom to push Congress to fix the nation’s chronic joblessness problem through a national subsidized jobs program.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Planned Parenthood was founded over 100 years ago on the revolutionary idea that women have the right to access the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives. Today, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund fights to protect that right.
Funding from CREDO members will help the Planned Parenthood Action Fund fight to restore and advance abortion access wherever possible while laying the foundation to reclaim and expand reproductive rights for all.
Take Back the Court
The current Supreme Court poses a grave danger to a wide range of issues. By expanding and rebalancing the Court, we can rebuild democracy, protect the rights of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color, tackle the climate crisis, and more.
This term, the Supreme Court will decide major cases threatening democracy, the environment, racial & economic justice, and more. Funding from CREDO members at this critical moment will allow us to mobilize progressive activists to take action.
Your vote this month will determine how we divide our monthly donations among these three progressive groups. Be sure to cast your vote to support one, two or all three by July 31.
CREDO members who use our products and services everyday are the reason we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile and join our movement.
Posted on July 3, 2023
Our June grantees thank you for your support
Each month, CREDO members vote on how we distribute funding to three incredible nonprofits. Those small actions add up – with one click, you can help fund groups fighting for LGBTQ rights, gender justice and fair housing. In June, CREDO members voted to distribute our monthly donation among Family Equality, Global Fund for Women, and National Fair Housing Alliance.
These donations are made possible by CREDO customers and the revenue they generate by using our services. The distribution depends entirely on the votes of CREDO members like you. And for that, our April grant recipients thank you.
Family Equality
“Thank you for your support for Family Equality and LGBTQ+ families. Together we fight for what matters most – Love. Family. Freedom.” – Stacey Stevenson, CEO, Family Equality
To learn more, visit www.familyequality.org.
Global Fund for Women
“We are in a time of change and great possibility, globally, and I am hopeful. I’m certain that shifting power to drive equity, equality, and justice for all is not only possible, but inevitable. I hope you will join us.” – Latanya Mapp Frett, President and CEO, Global Fund for Women
To learn more, visit www.globalfundforwomen.org.
National Fair Housing Alliance
“The work of breathing life into the rights guaranteed by the Fair Housing Act requires vigilance, fortitude and persistence on a national scale. Thank you for your generous support which allows us to continue this work.” – Lisa Rice, President and CEO, National Fair Housing Alliance
To learn more, visit nationalfairhousing.org.
Now check out the three groups we are funding in June, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on June 29, 2023
How to Take Better Smartphone Photos with Built-In AI
Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or someone who just enjoys capturing daily moments, your smartphone can be a powerful tool. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mobile technology, taking stunning photos has never been easier.
In this week’s tip, we’ll show you a couple tricks on how to use AI on both iPhone and Android devices to make your smartphone pictures even better.
iPhone Users: How to use Photographic Styles, Live Text and Sharpness
iPhone’s latest iOS offers a feature called Photographic Styles on the iPhone 13, iPhone 14 and iPhone SE (3rd generation). Photographic Styles uses advanced AI to personalize your camera’s look and adjust it to your aesthetic preferences. Here’s how you do it:
- Open the Camera app, and swipe up or tap the triangle to reveal the settings.
- Tap on ‘Photographic Styles’.
- Choose from the available styles: Rich Contrast, Vibrant, Warm, or Cool.
- Here, you can also customize the tone and warmth of these styles.
iPhone’s AI can also recognize and interact with text in your photos using the Live Text feature. So, you can take a photo of a recipe, a phone number, or an address, and then copy, paste, or call directly from the photo. It’s as simple as pointing your camera, taking the photo, and then tapping on the identified text.
Here’s how:
- Open your Camera app, then position the viewfinder so the text appears within the camera frame.
- After the yellow frame appears around detected text, tap the icon with a square and three lines, then choose one of these options: Copy Text, Select All, Look Up, Translate, Search the Web, or Share.
- Note: You can also touch and hold the text, then use the grab points to select specific text and perform the actions above.
Tap a quick action at the bottom of the screen to do things like make a phone call, visit a website, start an email, convert currencies, and more. - Tap the same button to return to your Camera app.
For blurry photos, you can open the image in your Photos app, tap edit, and slide your finger across the options until you find the adjustment for sharpness.
But if you’ve intentionally shot your image in Portrait Mode (which provides a blurry background), you can edit the background in your Photos app.
Android Users: Leverage Google Lens, Night Sight and Magic Eraser
Android devices, particularly the latest Pixel models, also have powerful AI-based features. Google Lens is an image recognition technology that can provide information about objects and texts it recognizes in your photos. Here’s how you can use it (note: all instructions below may vary between model, manufacturer and operating system):
- Open your Camera app and select ‘Google Lens’.
- Point your camera at the subject of your image.
- Tap on the object or text on your screen.
- You’ll then see results or actions based on what you’ve tapped.
For those who enjoy nighttime photography, Android’s Night Sight uses AI to brighten your photos taken in low-light conditions while preserving the details and colors.
- Open your Camera app and scroll to ‘Night Sight’.
- Steady your phone and take the photo.
- Wait as the AI works its magic – it might take a bit longer than a typical photo.
If you are a Google One subscriber (Pixel owner or not), you can now take advantage of the Magic Eraser feature in Google Photos to remove annoying background distractions, like street signs, power lines and even people. Here’s how:
- Open the Google Photos app on your smartphone and choose the photo you’d like to edit.
- Tap Edit > Tools > Magic Eraser.
- You may now see some suggestions based on the built-in AI to remove distractions, or you can swipe your finger across the elements you’d like to remove.
With these features in your hands, you can really improve your photography and create great long-lasting memories. Remember, the best camera is the one you have with you, and with AI, your smartphone’s camera is more powerful than ever. Happy snapping!
Posted on June 15, 2023
Turn off these default smartphone settings to protect your privacy
Our smartphones are amazing little machines. But did you know that these devices can collect a lot of personal data about our usage habits by default without us even knowing?
It’s true. Manufacturers and app makers are collecting data by default to improve their products, fix bugs, and even serve up advertisements — but sharing too much information is unnecessary and probably not in our best interests.
In this week’s tip, we’ll give you a few quick ways you can turn off these default settings to protect your privacy.
Turn off these default settings on Apple devices
- Allow Apps to Request to Track allows app manufacturers to track your usage across other apps and websites. By turning off this default setting, you can automatically deny all apps from tracking.
To turn it off: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking > Toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track
- iPhone Analytics allows Apple to track how you use your device to improve its services and devices, but it could drain your battery, too.
To turn it off: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Toggle off Share iPhone [& Watch] Analytics
While you’re there, you can toggle off sharing iCloud analytics as well.
- Apple Advertising. Apple promises that it does not track you, but it can personalize ads for you among its own sites and apps and you may not want to share this kind of data.
To turn it off: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising > Toggle off Personalized Ads
- Location Services allows apps to know your current location. It’s an important setting when using maps, a rideshare service or another app that relies on your location to function properly. However, many apps that have know business knowing your location still want to know where you are and where you’ve been.
To turn it off on an app-by-app basis: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > then click on the app you want to change > choose from the options Never/Ask Next Time/While Using the App/Always.
A tip from the New York Times: You can also turn off Apple-specific location services tracking by scrolling down to the bottom of the list, choosing System Services, and toggling off “iPhone Analytics and Routing & Traffic to prevent the device from sharing geodata with Apple for improving Apple Maps.”
Turn off these default settings on Android devices
- Turn Off or Limit History by visiting https://myactivity.google.com/ and changing the settings for Web & App Activity, Location History and YouTube History. You can set these to never store your history or to auto-delete after a set period of time.
- Personalizations allow Google to track you around the web. You probably want to turn this off.
Go to: myaccount.google.com > Manage your data & privacy > Turn off Web & App Activity, Location History, and YouTube History.
To turn off personalized ads, click on My Ads Center > Toggle off Personalized Ads.
- Location Tracking. Just like iPhone, Android devices can track your location and you can turn this off as well. The settings may differ by manufacturer or your OS version, but to turn this off on an app-by-app basis:
Go to Settings > Privacy > Permissions manager > Location > then choose the permissions for each app (Allowed all the time, allowed only while in use, or denied)
To learn more about protecting your privacy on your Android device, visit this great post from Android Police.
Posted on June 10, 2023
As more politicians run on anti-immigrant platforms, the National Immigration Law Center Immigrant Justice Fund is fighting back
As more politicians run on anti-immigrant platforms, our grantee partners at National Immigration Law Center Immigrant Justice Fund are building power on all fronts by pushing for Congress to advance key legislation, supporting pro-immigrant candidates running for office and building partnerships to achieve electoral wins.
In November 2022, CREDO members voted to donate $26,383 to fuel NILC Immigrant Justice Fund’s legislative advocacy, messaging research, and electoral work geared toward advancing inclusive, equitable policies that improve the lives of low-income immigrants and their loved ones.
Powered in part by the generosity of CREDO and our members, NILC Immigrant Justice Fund had some recent victories and launched some great new initiatives. Here’s a quick report from the organization on how your donations are making an impact
Recent Victories
After the 2022 midterm elections, the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund analyzed the role immigration played in key electoral races across the country and met with allies in the progressive movement to better understand how to engage them in the upcoming election cycle.
We focused on applying lessons learned to build upon and refine our program strategies, as well as adding new tactics and new partners to strengthen the IJF’s impact and continue to fulfill our goals to defend and advance the rights of low-income immigrants and their families.
We also initiated an opposition research project focused on top contenders for the Republican Party’s nomination for President, and then produced profiles on these candidates. Recognizing that these candidates will be trying to “out-extreme” one another on immigration-related issues during the upcoming election cycle, we are compiling in-depth reports of policies, statements, and any other actions these candidates have taken to produce a detailed report on what their administrations might pursue and what is at stake if they were to become President.
Visit https://www.immigrantjusticefund.org/extremism to learn more.
New Initiatives
Going forward, we will work to garner earned media attention on our findings, share our report with political committees, partners in the progressive movement, and other stakeholders, and co-brand digital ads during key presidential debates so that we can apply more lessons learned toward our electoral cycle work to include the public debate on immigration issues.
We also plan to create a candidate, “Immigration 101” training program, which will be a succinct, but comprehensive guide to policy and messaging that helps promote and advance immigrant justice.
If you’d like to learn more or get involved with NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, please visit their website, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Posted on June 7, 2023
With CREDO funding, the National Fair Housing Alliance is fighting housing and lending discrimination
Note from the CREDO team: This June, the National Fair Housing Alliance is among three amazing groups that will receive a share of our monthly grant. Funding from the CREDO community will play a critical role in NFHA’s efforts to address housing inequalities that persist in this country
Read this important blog post from NFHA’s President and CEO Lisa Rice, then click here to visit CREDODonations.com to cast your vote to help determine how we distribute our monthly grant to this organization and our other amazing grantees this March.
Fifty-five years ago, on February 29, 1968, the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, also known as the Kerner Commission, issued a seminal report noting that our nation was “moving toward two societies, one black, one white‒separate and unequal.” Just weeks later, on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a champion of justice who had been outspoken on the nation’s economic and racial inequalities, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Just seven days later, the Fair Housing Act became law.
We have come a long way since that tumultuous time 55 years ago.
Yet, with these accomplishments, and amid material abundance, we still have unfair systems that are driving racial wealth and homeownership gaps; economic inequality; and structural barriers for women, people with disabilities, certain religious groups, new immigrants, and LGBTQ+ communities.
That is why efforts like CREDO Mobile’s grant program play a critical role in NFHA’s efforts to address inequalities that persist in this country.
Through NFHA’s education and outreach, member services, public policy, advocacy, housing and community development, tech equity, enforcement, and consulting and compliance programs, our team works to dismantle those long standing barriers to equity and build diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities where everyone can thrive. Funding is the pillar of NFHA’s efforts to continue this work.
This year, as part of the 55th Anniversary Campaign celebrating Dr. King’s legacy and commemorating key events of 1968, NFHA is working with its allies and partners to examine what has been achieved over the years and develop solutions that must be put in place to make fair housing a reality in the United States. We are creating and implementing strategies for addressing appraisal bias, discrimination against people who use Housing Choice Vouchers, algorithmic injustice, the racial wealth and homeownership gaps, the affordable housing crisis, restrictive zoning challenges, ways to implement the Fair Housing Act’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing mandate, and much more.
Fair housing should be the norm in this country. A fair housing system makes for stronger families, livable communities, and resilient businesses to create a robust, productive economy that generates opportunities for all to thrive and prosper.
Posted on June 6, 2023
Envisioning feminist philanthropy with the Global Fund for Women
Note from the CREDO team: This June, the Global Fund for Women is among three amazing groups that will receive a share of our monthly grant. Take a minute to read this important blog post, then click here to visit CREDODonations.com to cast your vote to help determine how we distribute our monthly grant to this organization and our other amazing grantees this June.
Traditional philanthropy is typically white and male dominated, and that’s bad news for feminist activists who end up getting the short end of the stick. Only 1.9% of all charity makes it to women and girls. And Black feminist social movements get even less—smaller than 0.5%.
Global Fund for Women is flipping the script in favor of a new way of showing solidarity and support: Feminist Philanthropy. It’s about time, right?
We’re shifting power to the people left behind by the old boys’ club—Black and Indigenous people, LGBTQI+ people, rural women, people with disabilities, sex workers, and more people most impacted by gender injustice. We believe they know their communities best, and we trust them to know how best to spend funds and create revolutionary change in their communities.
That’s why we created the 1.9 Rising community, where supporters can make a monthly gift, and receive a welcome gift featuring feminist artwork, access to online and in-person events, and more. Dependable funding every month is a meaningful way to reach out to an activist and offer direct support so they can spend their time making revolutionary change in their own communities instead of raising money.
It’s not new for all of us at Global Fund for Women. We’ve been at it for over 30 years, funding human rights and gender justice for women, girls, and all marginalized people at the local level and trusting local partners to drive solutions that make sense.
Partners like our longtime sister fund in Ukraine, who is reeling from the Russian invasion and war. Global Fund for Women has supported feminist work in this region for over 20 years. In addition to help with evacuations and humanitarian aid such as food and medicine, Ukrainians are also asking for support in publicizing their simple ask: stop the war.
Because of our deep relationship with partners in Ukraine, we are listening to what local needs are on the ground right now—and for the foreseeable future. Global Fund for Women will be there long after the cameras and news reports move on.
As a feminist funder, we’re shifting power to historically marginalized communities including women, girls, and gender non-conforming people. We’re getting flexible funding and resources directly to feminist activists who know exactly how to use it.
And here’s what makes it especially great: activists can spend their days making change instead of raising cash. It matters every day, and especially in times of crisis.
Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh of Women for a Change, Cameroon said, “We need not just more funding, but better funding: flexible core funding that allows organizations to use the grants how they wish. It was this unrestricted funding from Global Fund for Women that allowed our organization to quickly turn our attention towards the Covid response and gave us the autonomy to provide what our communities really needed.”
We know this approach supports bold grassroots gender justice movements creating meaningful change that will last beyond our lifetimes.
Join us in our feminist approach to philanthropy, and support the work of feminist leaders working at the forefront of climate justice, sexual and reproductive justice, racial justice, economic justice, and so many more gender justice movements. To learn more, visit https://www.globalfundforwomen.org/.
Posted on June 5, 2023
Vote for Family Equality, Global Fund for Women and National Fair Housing Alliance this June
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute our monthly grant to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This June, you can support groups fighting for LGBTQ rights, gender justice and fair housing by voting to fund Family Equality, Global Fund for Women, and National Fair Housing Alliance.
Family Equality
Our mission is to ensure that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing equality for the LGBTQ+ community. We are creating a world where everyone can experience the love, safety, and belonging of family.
Funding from CREDO will help Family Equality fight back against the hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures this year, empower LGBTQ+ families to find community and celebrate their joy, and drive the LGBTQ+ family narrative.
Global Fund for Women
Global Fund for Women envisions a world where movements for gender justice have transformed power and privilege for a few into equity and equality for all.
Only 1.9% of all donations make it to organizations dedicated to women and girls. And Black feminist social movements get even less—smaller than 0.5%. With your support, Global Fund for Women is changing that.
National Fair Housing Alliance
The National Fair Housing Alliance is the country’s only national civil rights organization dedicated solely to eliminating all forms of housing and lending discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all people.
This grant will have a tremendous impact on NFHA’s work and would directly support its Advancing a Blueprint for Equity campaign. As part of that campaign, NFHA is commemorating Dr. King’s legacy, the Kerner Commission Report and the Fair Housing Act.
Your vote this month will determine how we divide our monthly donations among these three progressive groups. Be sure to cast your vote to support one, two or all three by June 30.
CREDO members who use our products and services everyday are the reason we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile and join our movement.
Posted on June 3, 2023
Our May grantees thank you for your support
Each month, CREDO members vote on how we distribute funding to three incredible nonprofits. Those small actions add up – with one click, you can help fund groups fighting for climate justice, survivors of domestic violence, and paid leave. In May, CREDO members voted to distribute our monthly donation among Friends of the Earth Action, National Domestic Violence Hotline and Paid Leave for All.
These donations are made possible by CREDO customers and the revenue they generate by using our services. The distribution depends entirely on the votes of CREDO members like you. And for that, our April grant recipients thank you.
Friends of the Earth Action
“Thank you for voting for Friends of the Earth Action! CREDO members like you are fueling our work for climate justice. You are empowering us to push leaders for a fair and equitable solution to the climate crisis – one that puts people over profits.” – Erich Pica, President. Friends of the Earth Action
To learn more, visit www.foeaction.org.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
“Thank you for standing with survivors of domestic violence. More people than ever are reaching out for support—we receive 3000+ calls, chats, and texts a day. Your life changing investment provides a path to safety and HOPE for a life free from abuse.” – Katie Ray-Jones, Chief Executive Officer, National Domestic Violence Hotline
To learn more, visit www.thehotline.org.
Paid Leave for All
“Thank you for your support of our movement to pass paid leave for all. Nothing is more important than being there for our families—having the time to recover and care for loved ones. Thanks to you we are close to making paid leave for all reality.” – Dawn Huckelbridge, Director, Paid Leave for All
To learn more, visit www.paidleaveforall.org.
Now check out the three groups we are funding in June, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on June 2, 2023
Advancing Equality for LGBTQ+ Families
Note from the CREDO team: This June, Family Equality is among three amazing groups that will receive a share of our monthly grant. Funding from the CREDO community will help Family Equality fight back against the hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures this year, empower LGBTQ+ families to find community and celebrate their joy, and drive the LGBTQ+ family narrative.
Read this important blog post, then click here to visit CREDODonations.com to cast your vote to help determine how we distribute our monthly grant to this organization and our other amazing grantees this June.
At least 20 million American adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ+)—and many of them have or are considering expanding their families! Research shows that nearly 63% of LGBTQ+ millennials are considering expanding their families in the coming years.
That’s where Family Equality comes in! Since 1979, Family Equality has been working to advance lived and legal equality for LGBTQ+ families across the country, driven by the belief that everyone deserves the right and opportunity to form and sustain a loving family, live in communities that respect them, and access services free from discrimination. We work in four critical areas to usher in change for good: community-building, education, advocacy, and organizing.
Family Equality is advocating for lived and legal equality and organizing LGBTQ+ families to speak out and take action. As it stands, there is no federal law prohibiting anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination—and 13 states allow adoption and foster care agencies to turn away LGBTQ+ parents. In 2022 there was a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the country. This year we have seen that number almost double to over 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills. As hateful and damaging anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric also ramps up, our families’ freedoms are at stake.
Family Equality’s policy team tracks legislation on a range of issues that directly affect both existing LGBTQ+ families and the ability of LGBTQ+ individuals to expand their families. These attacks on LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender youth, in healthcare, in sports, and in the classroom, are very real threats to our families.
As well as advocating for the rights of LGBTQ+ families, Family Equality also connects LGBTQ+ families, youth from those families, and prospective parents across the country. Our equitable programming moves us closer to gender, racial, and economic freedoms through allyship bridge building, LGBTQ+ community building, and education and resource creation.
Family Equality is addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ families right now. With the increased anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, policies, and rhetoric across the country, families are reaching out to us for information, resources, and help. In response, we created Path2Familyequality.org, a hub for families to stay informed, create a plan, and find hope. Whether a family decides they need to flee their home state or seek resources to advocate for their children as they stay put, Path2FamilyEquality is evolving to address their needs and buoy them in a challenging time.
We also work to educate community members, neighbors, and allies through important research, training, and resources. For instance, Family Equality’s Open Door Program offers family-building providers and HR professionals in-depth, interactive courses to equip them with the tools necessary to develop inclusive policies and practices.
(We also create resources by and for LGBTQ+ families, including our Path to Parenthood webinars with LGBTQ+ fertility experts and our robust resource library!)
Family is fighting for what matters most – Love. Family. Freedom. Advancing both legal and lived equality is our mission and we won’t stop this work until all families are recognized, respected and protected. Learn more at familyequality.org.
