Standout Charities - February 2017 Version
We have published a more recent version of this page. See our most recent version of this page.
The organizations listed below support programs that may be extremely cost-effective and are supported by some evidence. We do not feel as confident in the impact of these organizations as we do in our top charities; the charities listed below may be implementing programs with weaker evidence bases, may have shorter track records, or may collect less monitoring information than our top charities.
Although we don't recommend these organizations as strongly as we do our top charities, they stand out from the vast majority of organizations we have considered in terms of the evidence base for their work and their transparency, and offer additional giving options for donors who feel highly aligned with their work. We have published reviews of all of these organizations.
Updated: February 2017
Previous version of this page here
Development Media International (DMI)
Producing mass media to promote improved health behaviors in developing countries.
DMI produces radio and television broadcasts in developing countries that encourage people to adopt improved health practices. DMI's program may be highly cost-effective. DMI has completed a randomized controlled trial of its program. Read More
Food Fortification Initiative (FFI)
Working to reduce micronutrient deficiencies by assisting with food fortification programs.
FFI works to reduce micronutrient deficiencies by doing advocacy and providing assistance to countries as they design and implement flour and rice fortification programs. We believe that food fortification with certain micronutrients may be a highly effective intervention. Read More
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) - Universal Salt Iodization (USI) program
Aiding salt iodization programs in developing countries.
Iodine deficiency, which remains common in the developing world, harms cognitive development. Fortifying salt with iodine successfully alleviates this problem. (For more, see our full report on salt iodization.) GAIN’s USI activities vary considerably across countries and include advocacy, technical assistance, supplying equipment, training government officials and salt producers, and monitoring, among others. Read More
Iodine Global Network (IGN), formerly ICCIDD
Aiding salt iodization programs in developing countries.
Iodine deficiency, which remains common in the developing world, harms cognitive development. Fortifying salt with iodine successfully alleviates this problem. (For more, see our full report on salt iodization.) IGN aims to reduce iodine deficiency globally by advocating for national salt iodization programs, tracking progress on iodization, and providing global and country-specific guidance on related programmatic and scientific issues. Read More
Living Goods
Supporting a network of community health promoters in Uganda.
Living Goods sells health products door-to-door and provides basic health counseling in sub-Saharan Africa. A randomized controlled trial measured a 27% reduction in childhood mortality as a result of its program. Read More
Project Healthy Children (PHC)
Working to reduce micronutrient deficiencies by assisting with food fortification programs.
PHC aims to reduce micronutrient deficiencies by providing assistance to small countries as they design and implement food fortification programs. We believe that food fortification with certain micronutrients can be a highly effective intervention. Read More
Other Charities Running Cost-Effective Evidence-Backed Programs
We've identified a number of other charities running cost-effective, evidence-backed programs. We have not completed full reviews of these organizations. Details here.