Giving Compass' Take:

• The Chronicle of Philanthropy examines the charitable endeavors of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have asked guests to donate to several small organizations in lieu of gifts for their royal wedding.

• The causes of the couple range from women's health to HIV/AIDS to the environment. How will the attention focused on their wedding weekend shine a light on these important issues?

• Don't forget about the philanthropic legacy of Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.

The philanthropic community may have something to look forward to besides dresses and flowers at Saturday’s royal wedding.

The union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could bring a rush of attention to little-known nonprofits.

In lieu of wedding gifts, the couple has asked for donations to seven small organizations focused on women’s health, the environment, children of veterans, and more.

"They’re not doing a garden club or one of those big children’s charities or the Red Cross," says Eileen Heisman, president of the National Philanthropic Trust. "They’re just looking at the world through a slightly different lens."

In announcing their engagement in November, Markle said she would leave acting to focus on philanthropy. She’s previously advocated for women’s health care and worked with the United Nations in Africa.

"She had a pretty substantial footprint in philanthropy for somebody who has been in entertainment a lot of her life," Heisman says. "She’s not afraid of hard issues" she adds, citing Markle’s work with the Myna Mahila Foundation, which produces affordable menstrual hygiene products for women in India.

In recent years, Harry, who is sixth in line to the British throne, has launched various efforts that support veterans as well as organizations focused on erasing stigma behind AIDS and mental health.

Read the full article about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's charitable endeavors by Ariella Phillips at The Chronicle of Philanthropy