Crises like war, climate change, disease outbreaks and extreme poverty affect people of all ages, but children are uniquely disenfranchised. According to groups like the United Nations, children make up more than 50% of those living in extreme poverty. This makes them more vulnerable to poor health, violence, and exploitation. Governments also often neglect to establish legal protections for children, which makes it much harder for kids and families to obtain assistance and justice. Charities around the world help fill the gaps with humanitarian aid and economic empowerment, while many also provide platforms for young people to speak for themselves. In this article, we’ll go over 15 trusted charities focused on helping children.
| # | Charity Organization |
|---|---|
| 1 | Save the Children |
| 2 | Oxfam |
| 3 | UNICEF |
| 4 | Plan International |
| 5 | Right to Play |
| 6 | Child Rights International Network |
| 7 | Amnesty International |
| 8 | International Literacy Association |
| 9 | Children’s Defense Fund |
| 10 | Children’s Rights Alliance |
| 11 | Global Fund for Children |
| 12 | World Vision |
| 13 | Defence for Children |
| 14 | Children International |
| 15 | Malala Fund |
#1. Save the Children
In 1919, Eglantyne Jebb witnessed children dying of hunger and disease after the end of WWI. She created the Save the Children fund to raise money. Today, the organization has grown into an international umbrella group with members in 120+ countries. Five core values drive the nonprofit’s work: accountability, integrity, ambition, collaboration and creativity. Programs vary across countries, but Save the Children’s priority areas include hunger and famine, the climate crisis, education, health and poverty in America. The organization has earned many accolades over the years, such as a 2023 top-rated award from the Great Nonprofits Top-Rated Awards and an A- from CharityWatch.
#2. Oxfam
Founded in England, Oxfam is a leading organization fighting poverty and injustice. It works with a global network of local organizations to deliver clean water, food, money and education to communities affected by climate change, disease, war and other urgent issues. While Oxfam doesn’t focus exclusively on children, its work on poverty, gender equality, economic justice and climate action are vital to the rights and safety of kids. CharityNavigator gives Oxfam America a 99% score, which makes it a four-star charity, the highest rating given by Charity Navigator. CharityWatch gave Oxfam a B+ in 2021.
#3. UNICEF
UNICEF (officially called the United Nations Children’s Fund) is an agency of the UN and charity providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children. It works in over 190 countries and territories on areas such as child survival, education, emergencies, gender, child protection and much more. It was founded in 1946 and relies on contributions from private donors and governments. On Charity Navigator, UNICEF USA has a 92% and four-star rating. CharityWatch gave UNICEF USA an A grade in 2021.
#4. Plan International
Plan International, which works in over 80 countries, is a developmental and humanitarian nonprofit working to advance children’s rights and gender equality. Founded in 1937, it works to empower children, make changes in practice and policy, work with kids and communities on crisis response, and support children from birth to adulthood. It has programs focused on education, protection from violence, youth empowerment, sexual and reproductive rights, early childhood development, skills and works, and emergencies. Plan International USA has a 100% score and four stars on Charity Navigator, while Plan International Inc. has an 86%.
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#5. Right to Play
For more than two decades, this international organization has worked to help kids stay in school, graduate, stay safe and heal from the traumas of war and abuse. Founded in 1994, Right To Play now reaches millions of kids in 15 countries through programs focused on games, sports, creative play and free play. Right to Play’s goal is to empower 100 million kids by 2030. Through the power of play, the organization wants to empower girls, build peaceful communities, protect boys from violence, prevent HIV and do better in school. Right to Play has a 100% score and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
#6. Child Rights International Network
Child Rights International Network describes itself as a “creative human rights organization with a focus on children’s rights.” It seeks to challenge the status quo regarding children and young people’s place in society by advocating for rights – not charity – to shift how governments and culture treat young people. It uses research, art, policy and advocacy to articulate its mission. Its priorities include access to justice, age assessment, bodily integrity, children’s rights in the digital age, sexual violence and more.
#7. Amnesty International
Established in 1961, Amnesty International is one of the world’s largest advocacy NGOs. It may have as many as ten million members and supporters around the world. Through advocacy campaigns, including its famous letter-writing campaign, Amnesty International raises awareness of human rights abuses and petitions governments to take action. Its priority areas include armed conflict, climate change, discrimination, torture, police brutality and child rights. Amnesty International monitors human rights violations against children and hosts a free online child rights education course. Charity Navigator gives Amnesty International a 99% and four-star rating.
According to UNICEF, child labor affects around 1 in 10 children. Here’s our article on Child Labor 101.
#8. International Literacy Association
The International Literacy Association (ILA) is a professional membership organization with more than 300,000 literary educators, researchers and educators from 128 countries. The group advocates for children’s rights to read, as well as excellent literacy instruction and equitable access to education, resources and opportunities. ILA performs its work through publishing research, creating resources for educators, providing professional development and supporting teachers and other literacy professionals. Charity Navigator gives ILA a 100% and four-star score.
#9. Children’s Defense Fund
The Children’s Defense Fund has strong roots in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Marian Wright Edelman, the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, founded the Children’s Defense Fund in 1973 to call on the government to improve its policies and programs for children. Today, the Fund operates a range of programs such as Freedom Schools and Beat the Odds. The organization’s goal is to work directly with kids and youth to help empower them. Its priorities include health, poverty, early childhood, youth justice and racial justice. The Children’s Defense Fund has a 99%, four-star rating from Charity Navigator. CharityWatch gave the charity an A grade in 2020.
#10. Children’s Rights Alliance
Established in 1995, the Ireland-based Children’s Rights Alliance has created a network of over 100 members working to improve children’s rights in Ireland. With 17 other organizations, the Alliance makes up the Community and Voluntary Pillar of Social Partnership. The group is also a member of the Eurochild network and the Children’s Mental Health Coalition/Mental Health Reform. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child guides the charity’s principles. Current projects include children’s access to justice, reform for child refugees, child poverty and early childhood development.
#11. Global Fund for Children
The Global Fund for Children was founded in 1993 by Maya Ajmera, who was inspired after learning a group of children were living, attending school and begging on a train platform in India. The charity takes the approach that innovative, community-based organizations can use small amounts of money to make long-term impacts on children and youth. The Fund finds organizations, funds programs, advises and guides partners, and builds national and regional networks. Charity Navigator gave the Global Fund for Children a 99%, four-star score.
#12. World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian aid, development and advocacy organization. It operates in over 100 countries with over 33,000 staff members, making it one of the world’s largest NGOs. It doesn’t focus exclusively on children, but child rights and protection is one of its target areas. It also works on education, economic development, health and nutrition, and clean water and sanitation. World Vision has a 94%, four-star score from Charity Navigator. Charity Watch gave the organization an A grade in 2022.
#13. Defence for Children
Defence for Children International (DCI) is a child rights, membership-based grassroots movement. Founded in 1979, the organization believes children should have full human rights and dignity. Its priorities include children affected by armed conflict, children on the move, violence against children and children deprived of liberty. It also pays special attention to gender equality and child participation. Because the DCI has a unique structure, its National Sections operate as grassroots organizations that identify and create programs that directly correspond to what kids in their countries need. The charity also partners with entities like the European Union and the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Women’s empowerment is closely linked to children’s rights. Here’s our article on women’s empowerment jobs.
#14. Children International
Children International began in 1936 as a Christian mission providing food baskets and medical care in Israel. The organization has since expanded around the world, including countries in Asia, South America, Africa, and North and Central America. Its programs focus on health, education, empowerment and employment. Through its work, the organization helps more than 200,000 children and their families break out of poverty. Its recognitions include a 100% from Charity Navigator and an A- from Charity Watch.
#15. Malala Fund
Malala and Ziauddin Yousafzai founded the Malala Fund in 2013. The charity’s goal is to ensure all girls receive their right to 12 years of safe, free and good-quality education. The Fund invests in education advocates and community activists working to improve access to education in places where that right is threatened. Target regions include Turkey, India, Nigeria, Brazil, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Malala Fund also works in advocacy and research. Charity Navigator gave the Malala Fund a 100%, four-star rating.
