This guest-post is brought to you by Miranda.

When it comes to credit card offers, it is rare that the company boasts about its “green” record. And for many people, the idea of responsible personal finances – from ethical investing to buying fair trade items – is starting to include the credit cards they use.

There are some credit card companies that offer you the option to donate a portion of your purchases to worthy causes. American Express has the RED card, and other credit card issuers, including MBNA, have similar programs. You can get a credit card that donates to the World Wildlife Fund, or a card that gives money to efforts to fight poverty.

But beware! Even though you are donating to worthy causes, some credit card issuers are deeply involved in harmful practices. If you are interested in choosing cards from companies that have better environmental track records, Real Money offers this scoop:

• JP Morgan Chase has adopted a policy to address deforestation and global warming. JP Morgan Chase owns Citibank, Bank One and Chase and Bank of America.
• Morgan Stanley (which owns Discover) is among those dinged for poor rain forest action policy.
• Wachovia, Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse First Boston and Wells Fargo also have poor records.

Miranda Marquit is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance. She writes for Yielding Wealth and is an editor at Creditor Web.

Vaccines are a proven, cost-effective tool for controlling or eradicating childhood diseases such as measles, polio, tetanus and meningitis, yet children living in poverty continue to die due to lack of immunization.

Did you know that:

• More than 2 million children die annually because they have not been vaccinated?
• Someone in the world is newly infected with tuberculosis every second?
• It costs only $17 to fully immunize 1 child against the top 6 childhood killer diseases: measles, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tuberculosis and tetanus?

Aid workers in crowded refugee camps immunize thousands of children, while others undertake the dangerous job of going house to house in places like war-torn Iraq.

Others develop innovative ways to ensure temperature and quality control as the vaccines travel around the world.

Global Impact charities, including Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO), Plan USA, Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and U.S. Fund for UNICEF, have made immunizing children a priority and are overcoming major obstacles to reach the goal of eliminating needless deaths.

Your gift of $100 can provide enough vaccine to immunize 100 children against polio.

Global Impact is dedicated to helping the poorest people on Earth. Representing more than 50 of the most respected U.S.-based international charities in giving campaigns across the nation, Global Impact touches more than 400 million lives worldwide through disaster relief, education, health training and economic programs that promote self-sufficiency.

In many developing countries, most of the poor are self-employed, selling produce at market, making clothing or baskets and repairing tools.

Without the capital to improve their yield or increase their productivity, however, the poor can never grow their tiny businesses enough to help them escape poverty.

Photo credit: FINCA International.

Did you know that:

• 80% of the world’s population does not have access to credit, and women are the least able to access credit?
• Women who borrow from microfinance institutions enjoy increased self-confidence and take a more active role in the community?
• 98% of all microloans are repaid on time?

By providing initial loans of as little as $50, Global Impact member charities, including ACCION International, FINCA International, Freedom From Hunger and Opportunity International, empower women with fledgling businesses to create their own jobs, raise their incomes, increase the well-being of their families and eventually hire others in their community.

Your gift of $100 will help women to build the small businesses that feed families and strengthen communities in developing countries worldwide.

Global Impact is dedicated to helping the poorest people on Earth. Representing more than 50 of the most respected U.S.-based international charities in giving campaigns across the nation, Global Impact touches more than 400 million lives worldwide through disaster relief, education, health training and economic programs that promote self-sufficiency.