15 Trusted Charities Addressing Child Poverty

According to organizations like UNICEF, 333 million children lived on less than $2.15 a day in 2022. 1.43 billion live on less than $6.85 a day. While kids are only 31% of the global population, they make up more than half of those living in extreme poverty. The impacts of poverty on kids can’t be dismissed. It stunts their development, makes them more vulnerable to disease, increases their risk for violence, and shortens their expected lifespans. Here are 15 trusted charities focused on eliminating child poverty and empowering kids and their families.

#1. Global Fund for Children

Founded in 1993, the Global Fund for Children is a grassroots NGO that supports community-based organizations helping children. The Fund identifies what partners need before providing flexible funding and capacity-building services. Since its founding, the organization has helped 11 million kids and worked with over 1,000 grassroots partners in 20+ countries. Initiatives include emergency response, post-pandemic education, youth-led change, education for girls, and much more.

The Global Fund for Children accepts one-time and monthly donations, as well as cryptocurrency gifts.

#2. Save the Children

In 1919, Eglantyne Jebb saw the catastrophic effects WWI had on European children. She founded the Save the Children Fund, and in the years since the organization expanded to other countries. The nonprofit aims to alleviate suffering and empower the most vulnerable children through health programs, education, emergency response, and policy and advocacy. You can find Save the Children working in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. 86% of every donated dollar goes to Save the Children’s mission.

People can support Save the Children in a few ways. Examples include one-time or monthly donations through credit card or PayPal, crypto or NFT proceeds, a gift box, or stock donations.

#3. ChildFund International

ChildFund International is a development organization working in 23 countries, including Kenya, Brazil, India, the United States, and Senegal. Priorities include healthy food, clean water, healthcare, protection from violence, education, and other essential rights. As a community development group, ChildFund International supports local grassroots organizations with funding, training, and resources. ChildFund also uses a child sponsorship model, so kids are matched with supporters who make monthly donations, send gifts, and write letters. In 2023, ChildFund reached 14.8 million kids and families.

ChildFund International accepts online donations, as well as corporate giving, matching gifts, planned giving, and more. You can also choose a child to sponsor. Your gift is pooled with other donations, so the nonprofit can support the entire community.

#4. UNICEF

UNICEF is the UN agency responsible for protecting children’s rights. It conducts research and provides services in areas like child survival, education, gender equality, emergencies, and more in 190 countries. Founded in 1946 after WWII, UNICEF was established to help children all over the world, regardless of the actions of their home countries. The INGO’s mandate is based on universal human rights for children.

UNICEF receives funding from governments, NGOs, foundations, corporations and individuals. You can donate once on the online portal or set up a monthly recurring donation.

#5. Children’s Defense Fund

The children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is an American nonprofit founded by Marian Wright Edelman, a Civil Rights leader and lawyer. Today, the organization advocates for the rights of all children, including marginalized children. Its policy and advocacy branch focuses on children’s health, early learning and development, family stability, and youth leadership. CDF also runs the Freedom Schools program, which helps improve reading, language skills, and relationships; increase access to social services; and strengthen families.

CDF welcomes a variety of donation options, such as online donations, stock or mutual fund donations, vehicle donations, employee matching gifts, and more.

#6. Children International

For almost 90 years, Children International has worked to end poverty. It has reached over 1 million kids and built 67 community centers in 10 countries, including India, the Philippines, Zambia, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States. Programs focus on health, education, empowerment, and employment. Like many organizations of its kind, Children International offers a child sponsorship program. $39 a month provides medical care, educational support, life skills courses, job training, and more. Community centers also provide libraries, computer labs, playgrounds, and other services.

In addition to the standard one-time or monthly online donations, Children International lets donors choose specific campaigns like the Into Employment program, the community center fund, or the Christmas fund. You can also support with matching gifts, cryptocurrency, estate planning, and more.

#7. Oxfam

Oxfam began in 1942 when supporters sent food to women and children in Greece after WWII. In the decades since, Oxfam expanded its work into different countries while responding to poverty, conflict, and inequality. Today, Oxfam works in 80 countries on economic justice, women’s rights, climate action, and more. While the organization isn’t exclusively focused on child poverty, Oxfam prioritizes issues that affect kids. As a confederation, Oxfam has 21 “sister” organizations; the secretariat office is in Kenya.

Oxfam accepts one-time and monthly donations online, by mail, or by phone. Other options include gifts through a Donor Advised Fund, from your IRA, or through your workplace.

Poverty affects children disproportionately for a few reasons, but “childism” is an important factor. Developed by psychiatrists in the 1970s, the term “childism” refers to the discriminatory belief that kids are inferior to adults and therefore not owed the same rights or respect. It can take the form of spanking kids, sharing photos online of a child without their consent, and underfunding services that focus on kids. Like racism and sexism, childism has layers of oppression based on characteristics like gender, class, disability, and age. To end child poverty, systemic childism must be addressed.

#8. CARE

With a presence in 109 countries, CARE has worked in service of women, girls, and economic security since after WWII. In 2023, the organization reached 167 million with 1,600 projects. Focus areas include food and water, health, education, work, climate, equality, and crisis. 90% of expenses go to program services. In addition to humanitarian aid, CARE runs CARE Action, which lobbies the U.S. Congress on issues like global hunger, foreign assistance, and the rights of women and girls.

CARE accepts a variety of donation methods by phone, mail, or online. You can give cash, stocks, or mutual funds, through a Donor Advised Fund, through an IRA, or in other ways. CARE also accepts vehicle donations and airline miles through Delta’s SkyWish program.

#9. Ayuda en Acción (Action Aid Mexico)

Established in 1981, Ayuda en Acción (which translates to Help in Action in English) has been a nonprofit since 2014 and a sister organization of ActionAid International. It empowers vulnerable communities in countries like Mexico, Spain, Columbia, Peru, and Ecuador. Programs focus on education, employment, entrepreneurship, child protection, humanitarian aid, and more. The nonprofit also runs a child sponsorship program. Individuals and companies can sponsor kids. 250 pesos buys an oral hygiene kit and instructions on proper tooth brushing.

You can donate online. According to the organization’s website, 86% of each donation goes to projects.

#10. Child Foundation

Child Foundation is a charity focused on children experiencing poverty. Since 1994, the organization has worked to empower kids with education, basic necessities, and other services. When kids get a good education, they’re better protected from rights violations like child labor and child marriage. Child Foundation is based in the United States with affiliation offices in Australia, Germany, and Switzerland, and a presence in countries like Iran, Indonesia, and Nepal. In 2023, 10,800 children were sponsored each month, 965 students started university and over 40,000 families received support.

Child Foundation accepts several donation methods. You can sponsor a child or donate to a specific campaign. The charity also accepts company matching, legacy gifts, and gala and event sponsorship.

#11. Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian charity working in 25 states across the country. Programs focus on education, healthcare, disaster response, women’s empowerment, and more. Since the charity’s founding in 2002, it’s reached more than 300,000 kids with education, provided over 2 million people with healthcare, and trained 65,000 youth with vocational education. The Smile Foundation also produces documentaries and short films that raise awareness about poverty’s societal effects and the need for education.

The Smile Foundation accepts donations online. It can accept donations in USD and pounds through checks, drafts, or online payment.

#12. So They Can

So They Can is a children’s organization registered in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. It works with governments and local communities, so every child in Africa can access good education. Its projects focus on student well-being, teacher training, school infrastructure, community and stakeholder participation, government partnerships, and school board management and development. It also has a child and youth development project, a women’s empowerment project, and a community health project.

So They Can offers individuals and businesses several ways to support the charity’s work. As an individual, you can volunteer, fundraise, donate, or sponsor a student, school, or family. Businesses can get involved through workplace giving, sponsorship, and business or philanthropic partnerships.

#13. Children of the Mekong

In 1958, a dentist asked French blanket manufacturers to donate to a boarding school in Laos. The company sent blankets and 100 francs, which led to the founding of The Association of Friends of St. Joseph’s School, now called Children of the Mekong. Today, the charity also works in Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Focus areas include education for girls, early childhood education, and programs for ethnic minorities, refugees, and people with disabilities. The charity works on development projects, education centers, career development, and child sponsorship.

Children of the Mekong welcomes sponsors from around the world, including the UK, USA, Hong Kong, and Singapore. You can sponsor one child or a group of children.

#14. Plan International

Plan International is a UK-based humanitarian and development organization. With a presence in over 80 countries, the charity focuses on children, especially girls. In 2023, Plan reached over 22 million girls with services and programs in education, protection from violence, youth empowerment, sexual and reproductive health rights, and early childhood development. The charity also responds to emergencies like conflict and climate change.

You can support Plan International by donating to a specific appeal, such as its hunger appeal, the Gaza/Middle East appeal, the Sudan appeal, and so on. You can also give a general donation or sponsor a child.

#15. Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, which means “our little brothers and sisters,” is a Catholic charity organization working across Latin America and the Caribbean. Since its founding in 1954, the organization has helped over 20,000 children thanks to its residential care facility program. It also provides daycare centers, food kitchens, family reintegration programs, healthcare, education, vocational training, and much more. In 2023, the charity supported over 2,300 kids.

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos runs a child sponsorship program and accepts donations online. Supporters can choose specific programs to donate to, such as meal programs, dental care, or a special needs program.