Identifying Charities to Include in Our 2009 Research Process

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Published: 2009

Our goal was to (a) review as many potentially relevant charities as we reasonably could and (b) make sure to include charities that we thought had the best chance of meeting our criteria.

We therefore focused on reviewing charities that (a) were directly recommended to us by people familiar with our previous report, (b) were highlighted by another grantmaker with a selective process, (c) or are large organizations focused on international aid, which likely have the capacity to perform strong monitoring and evaluation of their activities.

Process we followed

We reviewed the websites of over 500 charities. We considered any charity that met any of the following criteria:

  • Someone recommended that we review the charity, including via our charity submission form. (Listed as "Referral" in the table below.)
  • Is one of the Global Health Partnerships (using this list from the World Health Organization). (Listed as "GHP" in the table below.)
  • Applied to GiveWell for a grant in 2007, our first year of research. (Listed as "2007 applicant" in the table below.)
  • Was included on the website for Peter Singer's book, The Life You Can Save, either as a recommendation from Peter Singer or from website readers. (Listed as "Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com" in the table below.)
  • Was listed on Charity Navigator as a charity focused on international causes with a budget of at least $13.5 million (the largest budget category under Charity Navigator). Current search results for this search. (Listed as "Charity Navigator" in the table below.)
  • Was listed as a partner of Innovators for Poverty Action or the Poverty Action Lab. (Listed as "JPAL" or "IPA" in the table below.)

All charities with sources

Note: For more information on each charity, see the full list of charities we considered with ratings and links to reviews.

Number of charities considered from each source
Source Number of charities
Referral 200
GHP 107
Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com 69
Charity Navigator 53
2007 applicant 39
IPA 37
JPAL 4
Total 509

Each charity with its source
Organization Source
100 Friends Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Accelerating Access Initiative to HIV Care (AAI) GHP
ACCION International Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Action Against Hunger USA Charity Navigator
Action TB Programme GHP
ADRA Charity Navigator
Aeras, Global TB Vaccine Foundation GHP
AfDevInfo Referral
Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria (AMFm) Taskforce (previously Global ACT Subsidy) Referral
Afghan Institute of Learning Referral
Aflatoun (formerly Child Savings International) Referral
African Comprehensive HIV/Aids Partnership (ACHAP) GHP
African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) GHP
Africare Charity Navigator
Aga Khan Foundation, USA Charity Navigator
Aga Khan Planning and Building Services IPA
Against Malaria Foundation Referral
Al Amana IPA
Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) GHP
Alliance for Microbicide Development (AMD) GHP
Alola Foundation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Amazon Conservation Team Referral
Amendis IPA
American Assistance for Cambodia/Japan Relief for Cambodia (2) Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
American Council on Renewable Energy Referral
American Jewish World Service Charity Navigator
American Near East Refugee Aid Charity Navigator
American Red Cross International Referral
American Refugee Committee International Charity Navigator
Americares Referral
AMMOR Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Amnesty International Referral
AMREF Referral
Anchor International Ministries Referral
Anti-Slavery International Referral
Apopo Referral
Aquaya Referral
Arariwa IPA
Aravind Eye Care Referral
Artesunate Suppository for Emergency Treatment of Severe Malaria GHP
Arzu, Inc. Referral
ATINCHIK IPA
AWaPo Referral
Badin Rural Development Society IPA
Børnefonden Referral
Bandhan IPA
Barakat, Inc. Referral
Barefoot College (Social Work and Research Centre) Referral
Be A HERO Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Benetech Referral
Best Buddies International Referral
BETHANY CHILDREN SUPPORT NETWORK - KENYA Referral
BioRegional Development Group Referral
Blood:Water Mission Referral
BODHI Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
BRAC Referral
Bruce Peru Referral
Bugando Medical Centre Referral
Build Change Referral
Business Council for Peace Referral
Caja Municipal de Ahorro y Credito de Ica S.A IPA
Caja Nacional del Sureste IPA
CAMFED Referral
Canadian Crossroads International Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
caravane d' evangelisation et de conseil social Referral
CARE Referral
Caritas Referral
Catholic Relief Services IPA
Center for Gender Health and Gender Equity Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Central Asia Institute (4) Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Centre for Environment and Human Development Referral
Ceres, Inc. Referral
Chad Relief Foundation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
CHARITY CAMP CHILDRENS HOME Referral
CHF International Charity Navigator
Child Family Health International 2007 applicant
Child Health Foundation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Childcare Worldwide Charity Navigator
Children International Charity Navigator
Children's Vaccine Initiative (CVI) (Historical) GHP
Children's Vaccine Programme at PATH (CVP at PATH) GHP
Christian Children's Fund Charity Navigator
Christian Fellowship and Care Foundation Referral
Christian Foundation for Children and Aging Charity Navigator
Christian Relief Fund 2007 applicant
Church World Services Charity Navigator
CIDA City Campus Referral
Citizen Schools Referral
Ciudad Saludable Referral
Clean Water Action Referral
CO-ID Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
College Summit Referral
Committee for Democracy in Information Technology (CDI) Referral
community wake organization Referral
Compartamos Banco IPA
Compassion International Charity Navigator
Concept Foundation GHP
Concern America Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
CONRAD GHP
Conservation Stewards Program at Conservation International Referral
Consorcio de Organizaciones Privadas de Promoción al Desarrollo de la Micro y Pequeña Empresa (COPEME) IPA
Consortium for Industrial Collaboration in Contraceptive Research (CICCR) GHP
Contraceptive Research and Development GHP
Convoy Of Hope 2007 applicant
Co-operation In Development Referral
Credito con Educacion Rural (CRECER) IPA
CURE International Charity Navigator
CUSO-VSO Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Danish Refugee Council Referral
Dengue Vaccine Project (DVP) GHP
Deutsche Welthungerhilfe Referral
Developing Indigenous Resources Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Development and Peace Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Development of Norplant (Historical) GHP
Deworm the World Referral
Diakonia Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Dialogue on Water, Food and Environment GHP
Diflucan Donation Programme GHP
Digital Divide Data Referral
Direct Relief International Referral
DKT International Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Doctors Of The World-u S A Inc 2007 applicant
Doctors without Borders, USA Charity Navigator
Domes for the World Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
DrumNet IPA
Easter Seals Referral
Ecofuturo IPA
EcoLogic Development Fund Referral
EcoPeace (Friends of the Earth Middle East Referral
Eli Lilly Mental Health Donation GHP
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Referral
EMAS Canada Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
EngenderHealth Referral
Episcopal Relief and Development Charity Navigator
Escuela Nueva Foundation Referral
European Malaria Vaccine Initiative (EMVI) GHP
FairBank IPA
Family Care International Inc 2007 applicant
Farm Sanctuary Referral
Feed My Starving Children 2007 applicant
Feed The Children Inc 2007 applicant
FINCA International Charity Navigator
FINCA Peru IPA
First Isabela Cooperative (FICO) IPA
First Macro Bank (FMB) IPA
First Valley Bank IPA
Fistula Foundation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Food for Life Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Food For The Hungry Inc 2007 applicant
food for the poor, inc. Referral
Foundation for Development of Needy Communities (FDNC) Referral
Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics GHP
Franciscan Family Apostolate Referral
Fred Hollows Foundation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Free Africa Foundation Referral
Free The Children Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Free the Slaves Referral
Freedom From Hunger IPA
Friends of African VIllage Libraries Referral
Friends of the World Food Program Referral
Friends Of Wwb Usa Inc 2007 applicant
Friends-International Referral
Fundación Paraguaya Referral
Gaia Amazonas Referral
Gates Foundation/University of North Carolina Partnership for the Development of New Drugs (GFUNC) GHP
Genesis Foundation Referral
Gift of Life International Referral
Gleaning for the World Charity Navigator
Global Action 2007 applicant
Global Aid Network Charity Navigator
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Referral
Global alliance for TB Drug Development (GATB) GHP
Global Alliance for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GAELF) Referral
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) GHP
Global Alliance to Eliminate Leprosy (GAEL) GHP
Global Business Council on HIV & AIDS (GBC) GHP
Global Campaign for Microbicides GHP
Global Collaboration for Development of Pesticides for Public Health (GCDPP) GHP
Global Elimination of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) GHP
Global Elimination of Trachoma (GET 2020) GHP
Global Footprint Network Referral
Global Fund For Women Inc 2007 applicant
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria GHP
Global Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP) GHP
Global Heritage Fund Referral
Global Microbicide Project (GMP) GHP
Global Network for Neglected Tropical Disease Control GHP
Global Operations And Development- Giving Children Hope 2007 applicant
Global Partnership to Stop Tuberculosis (STB) GHP
Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) GHP
Global Public-Private Partnership for Hand Washing with Soap GHP
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) GHP
Global Resource Alliance Referral
Global Retirees Welfare Organisation Local Non-Profit N.G.O. Referral
Global Task Force on Cholera Control GHP
Go Green Initiative Referral
GOAL Referral
Gram Vikas Referral
Grameen Foundation 2007 applicant
Grameen Trust Chiapas IPA
Green Bank, Inc. IPA
GSK African Malaria Partnership GHP
Habitat for Humanity of Kent County Referral
Half the Sky Foundation Referral
Healing Hands International Inc 2007 applicant
Health Care Without Harm Referral
Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI) GHP
Healthstore Foundation 2007 applicant
Heifer Project International Charity Navigator
Helping Afghan Women Project Referral
Hidaya Foundation Referral
HIMILO Foundation Referral
HIV/AIDS INFO AFRICA Referral
HKI 2007 applicant
Hookworm Vaccine Initiative (HVI) GHP
Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI) GHP
Hope for the Nations Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Hope Through Health Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
HOPE Worldwide Charity Navigator
House of IDEA orphanage centre Referral
HRC Referral
ICCDR,B Referral
ICCIDD GHP
ICS Africa JPAL
Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) GHP
Injaz al-Arab Referral
INMED Partnerships for Children Charity Navigator
Institute for Development Studies and Practices Referral
Institute for OneWorld Health Referral
Instituto Poblano para la Productividad Competitiva (IPPC) IPA
Intercompany Collaboration for AIDS Drug Development (ICCADD) GHP
Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) GHP
International Aid Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) GHP
International Bridges to Justice Referral
International Center for Transitional Justice Referral
International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Reqs for Registration of Pharmaceutical Human Use (ICH) GHP
International Development Enterprises 2007 applicant
International Development Enterprises (India) Referral
International Disaster Emergency Service Inc 2007 applicant
International Eye Foundation 2007 applicant
International Justice Mission Referral
International Kids Fund Referral
International Leprosy Association Referral
International Medical Corps Charity Navigator
International Orthodox Christian Charities Charity Navigator
International Partnership Against AIDS in Africa GHP
International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) GHP
International Planned Parenthood Federation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS INCHEM Database) GHP
International Relief And Development Inc 2007 applicant
International Rescue Committee Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) GHP
International Women's Development Agency Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
International Youth Foundation Charity Navigator
invisible children, inc Referral
Islamic Relief, USA Charity Navigator
Island Conservation Referral
Jamaican Children's Heart Fund Inc. Referral
Japanese Pharmaceutical, Ministry of Health, WHO Malaria Drug Partnership (JPMW) GHP
Joint Compassion Keepers (JCK) Referral
K.I.D.S Charity Navigator
Kashf Foundation Referral
Keep A Child Alive Referral
Kenya Society for the Blind Referral
Kickstart 2007 applicant
Kids Alive Referral
Kiva Referral
K-Rep Development Agency IPA
Kupu Kupu Foundation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
LAPDAP Antimalarial Product Development (LAPDAP) GHP
LAPDAP Antimalarial Product Development (LAPDAP) GHP
Lassa Fever Initiative (LFI) GHP
LewaUSA Referral
Lifewater International Referral
Light Up The World Foundation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Lions Club International Foundation Referral
Living Goods Referral
Living Water International 2007 applicant
Love A Child, Inc. Charity Navigator
Lutheran World Relief Charity Navigator
MA Center Referral
MADRE Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Mahboba's Promise Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Making Pregnancy Safer Initiative (MPR) GHP
Malarone Donation Program (Historical) GHP
Malawi Freshwater Project Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Management Sciences for Health (MSH) GHP
Manchester Bidwell Corporation Referral
Manuela Ramos IPA
Map International 2007 applicant
Marine Stewardship Council Referral
Mazon Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Measles Initiative Referral
Mectizan Donation Program GHP
Medical Missionaries Inc 2007 applicant
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) GHP
Medicins Sans Frontieres Drugs for Neglected Diseases (MSF DND) GHP
Meds & Food for Kids Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Medshare International 2007 applicant
Meningitis C Vaccine Development and Supply in the UK (Historical) GHP
Meningitis Vaccine Project at WHO/PATH (MVP) GHP
Mennonite Central Committee (3) Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Mercy Corps Charity Navigator
Mercy Ships Charity Navigator
Merlin Referral
MicroDreams Referral
Microenterprise Access to Banking (MABS) IPA
Micronutrient Initiative (MI) GHP
mothers2mothers Referral
MTCT Plus Initiative GHP
Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) GHP
Mumuadu Rural Bank IPA
MVP Referral
Namlo International Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Near East Foundation 2007 applicant
Nepalese Youth Opportunity Fund Referral
Net for Life (program of World Bible Society) Referral
NetMark, a Regional Partnership for Sustainable Malaria Prevention GHP
Network on Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders(IDD) GHP
New Hope Africa Children Ministries Referral
New Hope Africa Children Ministries - Uganda Referral
niall mellon township trust Referral
Niramaya Foundation Referral
Norwegian Church Aid Referral
Norwegian People's Aid Referral
Norwegian Refugee Council Referral
Nuru International Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Nyaya Health Referral
ODEF IPA
OICI 2007 applicant
Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP) GHP
One Acre Fund Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
One by One Referral
ONE Spirit Referral
OneKid OneWorld Referral
Operation Blessing Referral
Operation Mercy-usa 2007 applicant
Operation OF Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Opportunity International Charity Navigator
Oprah's Angel Network Charity Navigator
Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) Commercialisation in Bolivia (Historical) GHP
ORBIS International Charity Navigator
Orphans of Rwanda Referral
Outreach Africa Referral
Oxfam America Charity Navigator
PACSA Referral
PADME IPA
Panel of Experts on Environmental Management for Vector Control (PEEM) GHP
Partners in Global Health Through Hand Washing (PHW) GHP
Partners in Health Charity Navigator
PATH Charity Navigator
Pathfinder International Charity Navigator
PCDA Referral
PeaceWorks Foundation Referral
Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative (PDVI) GHP
PeopleAid Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Pharmaceutical Security Institute GHP
Physicians for Peace Charity Navigator
Plan USA Charity Navigator
PlayPumps International Referral
Pneumococcal Vaccines Accelerated Development Plan GHP
Population and Community Development Association Referral
Population Media Center Referral
Practical Action Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
PRASAD Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Pratham JPAL
Praziquantel Manufacturing Project (Historical) GHP
Prevention International: No Cervical Cancer Referral
PRISMA IPA
Pro Mujer IPA
PRODIFAM IPA
Prohijar Referral
Project Concern International Charity Navigator
Project Hope 2007 applicant
Project Medishare Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Project Muso Ladamunen Referral
PSI 2007 applicant
Quaker Bolivia Link Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Refugees International Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Relief International Charity Navigator
Remote Area Medical Referral
Resplendent Hope Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
ReSurge International (formerly Interplast) 2007 applicant
Roberto Clemente -Santa Ana Clinic Inc Referral
Roll Back Malaria Global Partnership (RBM) GHP
Room to Read Charity Navigator
Root Foundation Referral
Rural Bank of Mabitac IPA
Ryan's Well Foundation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Safe Injection Global Network (SIGN) GHP
SAFER Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Samaritan's Purse Charity Navigator
Sauti Moja (3) Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Save Dafur Referral
Save the Children Charity Navigator
Schistosomiasis Control Initiative GHP
Secure the Future GHP
Sequella Global Tuberculosis Foundation (SGTBF) GHP
Serrv International Inc 2007 applicant
Serve The Children Referral
Seva Foundation Referral
Seva Mandir IPA
Shanti Bhavan Referral
Sight Savers International Referral
Sindh Agricultural and Forestry Workers' Coordinating Organization (SAFWCO) IPA
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Consortium Ltd. (SNP) GHP
Sleeping Children Around the World Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Sleeping Sickness Initiative (SSI) GHP
Slums Information Development and resource Centres (SIDAREC) Referral
Small Enterprise Education And Promotion Network 2007 applicant
Smiles Change Lives Referral
SNV Netherlands Development Organization IPA
Socially Sensitives - Bentota - Sri Lanka. Referral
Sok Sabay Clinic Initiative Referral
SOLAR ELECTRIC LIGHT FUND Referral
SOOTHEZAMBIA Referral
Soroptimist International Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
SOS Children's villages Referral
Spandana JPAL
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) GHP
St. Judes Children Research Hospital Referral
St.Labre Indian School Referral
STAYING ALIVE FOUNDATION Referral
Stephen Lewis Foundation (2) Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Stepping Forward.. for the World's Children GHP
Stop TB Partnership (Stop TB) GHP
Strathmore University Referral
Straws for Life Referral
SurfAid International Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Syringes – Autodestruct Development (Historical) GHP
Tam Tam Africa JPAL
Team Continuum Referral
Tear Australia Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Tearfund Referral
TechnoServe Charity Navigator
TENDER HANDS INITIATIVE Referral
Terre des Hommes International Federation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
The $10 Club (2) Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
The Banyan Referral
The Big Issue Namibia Referral
The Carter Center Referral
The Corporate Council on Africa GHP
The Fabretto Children's Foundation Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
The Global School Health Initiative GHP
The Guatemalan Project Referral
The Hunger Project 2007 applicant
The Leprosy Mission International Referral
The School of St. Jude Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
The Smile Train Referral
Think on These Things Ministries International Referral
Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) / Tobacco Free Sports Initiative GHP
TreeAid Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
TreesWaterPeople.ORG Referral
Trickle Up Referral
TROPIVAL GHP
Tuberculosis Diagnostics Initiative (TBDI) GHP
UNAIDS Anti-Retroviral Drug Access Programme (UNAIDS-Industry) (Historical) GHP
UNFPA (End Fistula Campagin) Referral
UNFPA Contraceptives Access Project (UNFPA/Industry) GHP
UNHCR Referral
UNICEF Referral
United Methodist Committee for Relief Charity Navigator
United Nations Development Fund for Women Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Unitus Inc 2007 applicant
Until There's A Cure Foundation Referral
Vaccine Fund GHP
Vaccine Vial Monitors (Historical) GHP
Vaccine Vial Monitors, Development of GHP
Village Enterprise Fund Referral
Village Reach Referral
Vipani Referral
Viramune Donation Programme GHP
Viramune Donation Programme GHP
Vision 2020 GHP
VisionSpring (AKA Scojo Foundation) 2007 applicant
Vitamin A Global Alliance GHP
VODA Uganda Referral
Voices of Hope Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
War Child Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Water and Sanitation Program at the World Bank Referral
Water For People 2007 applicant
Water for the Weary Referral
Water Missions International 2007 applicant
WaterAid Referral
WaterCan/EauVive Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Waterpartners International Inc 2007 applicant
Watoto Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
Wells of Hope Referral
West Africa Fistula Center Foundation Referral
WHO Programme to Eliminate Sleeping Sickness GHP
WHO/Novartis Coartem GHP
WHO_Pharmaceutical Industry Association Anti-Counterfeit Drugs GHP
Whole Child Referral
WHO-Pharmaceutical Industry Associations – NGO Anti-Counterfeit Drug Initiatives GHP
Women for Women International Charity Navigator
Women's Dignity Project Referral
World Bicycle Relief Included on www.lifeyoucansave.com
World Education Charity Navigator
WORLD GRACE 2001 Referral
World Missions Referral
World Neighbors Inc Referral
World Relief Charity Navigator
World Villages for Children Charity Navigator
World Vision Charity Navigator
Worldwide Fistula Fund Referral
Yashua Sanctuary Referral
Yayasan Emmanuel Water Program Referral
Zahana Referral