Any hardship, whether it’s poverty, racial discrimination or conflict, disproportionately affects children and youth. According to UNICEF, children make up half of those living on less than $2.15 a day while they only make up ⅓ of the global population. Around 1 billion kids don’t have basic things like clean water or healthy food. Luckily, trustworthy charities are helping underprivileged youth and their families. Here are 15 examples:
| # | Organization |
|---|---|
| 1 | Save the Children |
| 2 | Right to Play |
| 3 | Street Child |
| 4 | Covenant House |
| 5 | StandUp for Kids |
| 6 | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital |
| 7 | Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation |
| 8 | True Colors United |
| 9 | South American Initiative |
| 10 | Kids in Need of Defense |
| 11 | Youth Off the Streets |
| 12 | Childhood Education International |
| 13 | African Children’s Fund |
| 14 | First Nations Child & Family Caring Society |
| 15 | UNICEF |
#1. Save the Children
In 1919, Save the Children was founded to help children in Europe. Over a century later, the charity works around the world. In the United States, the charity addresses the fact that 1 in 7 kids experience high rates of hunger, school dropouts, teenage pregnancy or death. Internationally, Save the Children works in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Europe and South America. Programs focus on issues like hunger, poverty, health, education, emergency response and policy.
There are many ways to support Save the Children. The charity accepts one-time donations, monthly donations, crypto donations, memorial gifts and more. There’s also a gift catalog where supporters can buy items like mosquito nets, soccer balls and clean water kits for kids and families.
#2. Right to Play
For 20 years, this charity has helped kids around the world stay in school, stay safe and reach their full potential using the power of play. Programs focus on four types of play: games, sports, creative play and free play. The charity works in 15 countries in Canada, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. By 2030, the charity hopes to empower 100 million kids. You can find information about the importance of play on the charity’s website, as well as annual reports and updates.
One-time or monthly donations can be made online. The charity also accepts corporate matching gifts, Donor Advised Funds, gifts of stock, bequests and other donation options.
#3. Street Child
Street Child is a child protection charity serving kids in 22 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Thanks to a network of over 200 local organizations, Street Child supports kids in conflict areas with mental health services, healthcare, education and much more. In 2022-2023, Street Child reached over 20,000 kids with mental health and psychological support and over 256,000 teachers, students and other community members across all target areas.
Street Child accepts one-time and monthly donations. According to its website, a €10 donation can provide a learning kit in North East Nigeria while a €100 can send a primary school girl in Afghanistan to school for one year.
#4. Covenant House
Covenant House is a charity supporting youth who are at risk of homelessness, as well as survivors of trafficking. Since its founding in 1972, the charity has helped over 1.5 million young people. Its shelters are open 24/7 in cities across North and Central America. Programs include crisis care and shelter, street and community outreach, long-term support, education and employment, and physical and mental health support.
Supporters can donate to Covenant House online, while there are also options for donations by mail and phone. Covenant House also accepts cryptocurrency donations, planned giving, stocks/investments, vehicle donations and matching gifts.
#5. StandUp for Kids
StandUp for Kids is an American nonprofit focused on youth affected by homelessness. Since 1990, the charity has worked on housing support, drop-in centers, mentoring programs and street outreach for youth under 25. Standup for Kids works in 16 cities across 11 states and Washington, D.C. In 2023, the charity supported 459 youth in maintained housing, distributed over 23,000 meals, supported 739 youth with mentoring and education, and provided over 3,000 nights of emergency shelter.
StandUp for Kids accepts one-time and monthly online donations, as well as donations by mail. A $10 donation can buy hygiene supplies, while $500 provides 30 nights of shelter.
#6. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude is a nonprofit children’s hospital that treats cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Since its founding in 1962, St. Jude has been a part of efforts that have lifted the overall survival rate from 20% to over 80%. Treatment at St. Jude is free. Programs include care, treatment, research and training. Eligible patients must have a disease the hospital treats, be referred by a doctor or other medical professional and be 21 years old or younger. Most patients are accepted based on whether they can enroll in an open clinical trial.
You can support St. Jude’s work with one-time or monthly donations, legacy and planned giving, workplace giving, gifts from a retirement account and other options.
#7. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
At four years old, Alexandra Scott set up a lemonade stand and raised more than $2,000 for childhood cancer research. When she died of cancer in 2004, Alex had raised $1 million, and her family established the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Since the foundation’s start in 2005, it’s funded more than 1,500 grants at around 150 institutions. Donations fund pediatric cancer research, as well as funds for emotional, financial and logistical support to cancer patients and their families.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation accepts donations online. $50 funds an hour of research, while $1,000 funds over two days. Supporters can target their donation to a specific fund or cancer type if they like.
#8. True Colors United
Co-founded by singer Cyndi Lauper in 2008, True Colors United (formerly the True Colors Fund) serves LGBTQ+ youth, who are more likely to experience discrimination and homelessness than their straight, cisgender peers. True Colors United provides free training and resources on how to help LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. It also does media and government advocacy, youth action and technical assistance.
True Colors United accepts online donations (you can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation) through PayPal, Venmo, credit card or bank transfer. The charity also accepts cryptocurrency, stocks and Donor Advised Funds.
#9. South American Initiative
South American Initiative is a US-based charity that serves orphans, sick children, infants, expectant mothers, seniors and even abandoned dogs and zoo animals in Venezuela. Programs and activities include running a medical clinic; providing meals, clean water, diapers and formula; supporting Venezuelan refugees; and running a no-kill shelter sanctuary for dogs.
South American Initiative accepts one-time and monthly donations, employer matching programs, Donor Advised Funds, Bitcoin donations and stocks.
#10. Kids in Need of Defense
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is an international NGO committed to protecting unaccompanied and separated children. Programs cover areas like legal protection, psychological support, policy and advocacy, and family separation response. While the charity focuses on kids arriving in the United States, it also maintains civil society partnerships, a large pro bono network and locations in Central America, Mexico and Europe. Every year, KIND represents over 6,000 kids and conducts over 70,000 Know Your Rights presentations.
Supporters can make a one-time or monthly donation to KIND’s work online. The website supports PayPal, Venmo, credit card and bank account transfers.
#11. Youth Off the Streets
Youth Off the Streets is a nonprofit youth charity based in Australia. It serves young people, their families and communities with housing services, independent high schools, alcohol and drug counseling, youth justice support, employment programs and more. In 2023, Youth Off the Streets helped 463 young people at risk of homelessness, supported 250 students in grades 9-12 and served over 8,800 meals from its food van, according to its annual report.
Donations to Youth Off the Streets can be made online. $57 provides an emergency safety kit, while $163 can give a young person access to the charity’s life skills and employment programs. You can also support the charity by leaving a gift in your will, volunteering or fundraising.
#12. Childhood Education International
Childhood Education International is a nonprofit that works with a global network of specialists, teachers and education leaders to give kids get the best learning opportunities. It specializes in areas like early childhood development, inclusive education, child rights, and education during migration, displacement and emergencies. Recent projects have been based in Singapore, Serbia, Ukraine, Jordan, Niger and the United States.
If you want to support Childhood Education International, you can donate through its online portal. It accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and electronic check.
#13. African Children’s Fund
Since 2006, the African Children’s Fund has supported local initiatives serving underprivileged children and youth. Local staff and NGO partners develop and run the projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Examples of programs include Porridge Clubs, which supply vitamin-fortified porridge to kids; a legal aid program; a school program for kids who lost their parents to HIV/AIDS; and child protection awareness forums. In 2023, the Fund provided meals to 2,100 kids and reached 2,290 girls and 172 boys with education programs.
The African Children’s Fund accepts online donations. If you choose the monthly recurring option, £5 a month can provide a girl with improved sanitation facilities and sanitary towels.
#14. First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
Founded in 1998, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (the Caring Society) supports First Nation child and family service providers through research, policy, professional development and networking. The Caring Society uses a reconciliation framework. In 2023, the organization hosted events, distributed wildflower seeds, released its second film, participated in over 130 media engagements, and much more.
The Caring Society accepts donations in several ways, including by phone, by mail and through CanadaHelps. The charity also accepts vehicles through a partnership with Donate a Car Canada.
#15. UNICEF
While not a charity in the traditional sense, UNICEF is an important UN organization devoted to children and youth. It works in areas like child protection, child protection, child rights, climate change, children with disabilities and more. It also compiles research on issues affecting children through the “The State of the World’s Children” report and its annual report. UNICEF has a presence in 191 countries and territories.
You can support UNICEF’s mission through tax-deductible donations. You can give once or set up a monthly recurring gift.