Best children & youth charities
16 children & youth charities, ranked by rating. Every rating, EIN and filing was checked in October 2026.
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National CASA/GAL Association for Children
Supports volunteer advocates who represent abused and neglected children in court.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Matches children facing adversity with volunteer adult mentors.
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Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Collects and distributes new toys to children whose families can't afford holiday gifts.
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Special Olympics
Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
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YMCA of the USA
National resource office for the country's YMCAs, which run youth development, health and community programs.
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ChildFund International
Helps deprived, excluded, and vulnerable children improve their lives and become young adults, parents, and leaders.
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Girls Inc.
Runs programs that build girls' confidence and skills in STEM, health and leadership.
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Plan International
Advances children's rights and equality for girls through community development and disaster response programs.
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SOS Children's Villages
Provides loving homes and family-based care for children who have lost parental care or are at risk of losing it.
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UNICEF
Provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, focusing on health, education, protection, and emergency relief.
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Save the Children
Works to improve the lives of children through education, health care, emergency relief, and protection from harm.
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Boys Town
Provides residential care, family services and behavioral health care for at-risk children.
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Make-A-Wish Foundation
Creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope and joy.
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International Children's Fund
Provides humanitarian aid to children in crisis situations including food, medical care, and educational support.
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Children International
Works to eradicate poverty one child, one family, one community at a time through health, education, and empowerment programs.
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Boys & Girls Clubs of America
National organization supporting local clubs that offer after-school programs, mentoring and safe places for young people.
How to judge children & youth charities
Look for outcome data on children served: graduation rates, growth indicators, mental-health outcomes, longitudinal tracking. Be cautious of organizations that emphasize child photos and emotional storytelling without backing data. The best child-welfare nonprofits report on long-term outcomes (one, five, ten years out), not just immediate services delivered.
What these charities do
Children and youth-focused nonprofits work across health, education, nutrition, protection, and family support. Strong organizations combine direct services (food programs, mentoring, after-school care) with policy advocacy on child welfare. Many operate through field offices in low-income countries, partnering with schools, clinics, and local family-support networks. Funding supports staff salaries, school construction, nutrition programs, child-protection services, and emergency response when crises affect children disproportionately.
- Childhood nutrition and food-security programs, including school meals
- Immunization and basic-healthcare access for children under five
- Mentoring and after-school programs in underserved communities
- Child protection: anti-trafficking, foster-care advocacy, family preservation
- Education access: school construction, scholarships, learning materials
Ways to help beyond a donation
- Recurring monthly gifts are particularly valuable for child-focused charities — programs span school years and require predictability
- Sponsor a school, classroom, or specific program rather than an individual child for cleaner accountability
- Volunteer locally — mentoring, tutoring, and youth-sports coaching all need adults
- Advocate for child-protection and family-support policies in your state
- Donate professional skills (legal, medical, technical) through pro-bono platforms
Frequently asked
What is the highest-rated children & youth charity?
Among the 16 children & youth charities in our directory, National CASA/GAL Association for Children has the highest Charity Navigator score, 100%. Ratings checked October 2026.
How many children & youth charities have a 4-star rating?
16 of the 16 children & youth charities we list hold Charity Navigator's top rating of 4 stars. Each charity's page shows its exact score, its EIN and its recent Form 990 financials.
How do I choose a children & youth charity?
Look for outcome data on children served: graduation rates, growth indicators, mental-health outcomes, longitudinal tracking. Be cautious of organizations that emphasize child photos and emotional storytelling without backing data. The best child-welfare nonprofits report on long-term outcomes (one, five, ten years out), not just immediate services delivered.
How we rank: GiveWell and Animal Charity Evaluators picks come first, then charities by Charity Navigator's overall score. Financials come from each charity's IRS Form 990, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. More on our method.