Top Charities – June 2016 Archived Version
We have published a more recent list of top charities. See our most recent list.
Our top charities are evidence-backed, thoroughly vetted, underfunded organizations.
We recommend charities according to how much good additional donations can do. We examine charities' overall quality and cost-effectiveness, as well as what more funding would enable them to do. We regularly publish discussions of our top charities' strengths and weaknesses. November 11, 2016 note: we plan to update this page within the next month.
Preventing deaths from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria is one of the leading killers of children in Africa. Insecticide-treated bed nets prevent deaths and many other non-fatal cases of malaria and are relatively inexpensive — about $5 per net. (For more details, see our full report on bed nets.) We believe that AMF effectively expands access to bed nets. Read More
Donors in many countries are able to make tax-deductible donations to AMF. Details here.
Treating people for parasite infections in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI) supports programs that treat people for parasitic worm infections that cause short-term symptoms such as anemia, and may cause longer-term developmental problems. These worms are extremely inexpensive to treat. (For more, see our full report on deworming.) We believe that SCI cost-effectively expands access to deworming treatment. Read More
Donors in many countries are able to make tax-deductible donations to SCI. Details here.
Treating children for parasite infections in developing countries.
The Deworm the World Initiative, led by Evidence Action, supports programs that treat children for parasitic worm infections that cause short-term symptoms such as anemia, and may cause longer-term developmental problems. These worms are extremely inexpensive to treat. (For more, see our full report on deworming.) Deworm the World focuses on advocacy and technical assistance to governments providing deworming, and we believe that it cost-effectively increases the number of children receiving deworming treatment. Read More
Donors in many countries are able to make tax-deductible donations to Deworm the World. Details here.
Distributing cash to very poor individuals in Kenya and Uganda.
Directly transferring money to poor individuals allows them to purchase that which they believe will help them most. Strong evidence indicates that cash transfers lead recipients to spend more on their basic needs (such as food) and may allow recipients to make investments with high returns, with no evidence of large increases in spending on items like alcohol or tobacco. (For more, see our full report on cash transfers.) We believe that GiveDirectly effectively distributes cash to extremely low-income individuals. Read More
Donors in many countries are able to make tax-deductible donations to GiveDirectly. Details here.
Other Standout Charities
Development Media International (DMI)
Producing mass media to promote improved health behaviors in developing countries. Read More
Iodine Global Network (IGN), formerly ICCIDD
Aiding salt iodization programs in developing countries. Read More
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) - Universal Salt Iodization (USI) program
Aiding salt iodization programs in developing countries. Read More
Living Goods
Supporting a network of community health promoters in sub-Saharan Africa. Read More
Past Recommendations
Archives of our past charity recommendations: