Read the 2005 report by the United Nations Millennium Project about reducing gender inequality through education.

Read a August 23, 2012, story on the World Food Programme website about how the organization’s programs to improve maternal health have changed one community.

Read an August 2012 research report about the effects of religion on the spread of AIDS in Africa.

Read a Jan. 6, 2011, article in Bloomberg Businessweek about Kiva, a microlending non-profit, and how microfinancing can help women around the globe.

The Institute of Halal Investing in Portland, Ore., can provide an Islamic perspective on microfinance and development assistance. It is associated with Rubicon Global, a halal financial advisory firm.

Youth With a Mission is one of the largest interdenominational and international Christian ministries, with about 12,000 volunteer staff (and thousands more affiliated workers) based in over 800 locations in over 135 countries. The organization works to get youth involved in missions.

No Regrets Men’s Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry dedicated to preparing the local church to equip, empower, and deploy men in Christian service to their family, church, community, and the world.

Ron Hutchraft Ministries in Wayne, N.J. equips “believers to become spiritual rescuers” and provides men and women with educational resources to become leaders to spread the word of Christ.

Proverbs 31 Ministry is a non-denominational, nonprofit organization, dedicated to “glorifying God by touching women’s hearts to build godly homes.”