Best education & literacy charities
16 education & literacy charities, ranked by rating. Every rating, EIN and filing was checked in October 2026.
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CodeAI (formerly Code.org)
Creates free K–12 computer science and AI curriculum and trains teachers to use it, so every student can build digital fluency.
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Khan Academy
Provides free world-class education for anyone, anywhere through comprehensive online learning resources.
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Pratham
Improves the quality of education in India by providing innovative learning solutions to underserved children.
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Room to Read
Transforms lives through education, focusing on literacy and gender equality in education in developing countries.
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Scholarship America
Manages and funds scholarships that help students pay for college and finish their degrees.
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DonorsChoose
Lets public school teachers post classroom requests that donors fund directly.
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Teach For America
Recruits and trains new teachers to work in under-resourced schools.
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First Book
Provides new books and educational resources to children in low-income communities.
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Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Provides scholarships and support services to Hispanic American college students.
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Teach For All
Global network developing collective leadership to ensure all children can fulfill their potential through education.
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UNCF
Provides scholarships to Black students and funding to historically Black colleges and universities.
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Reading Is Fundamental
Provides books and literacy resources to children in underserved communities.
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Reading Partners
Pairs elementary students who are reading below grade level with trained community volunteers for one-on-one, curriculum-based tutoring in under-resourced schools.
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Wikimedia Foundation
Operates Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects, providing free access to information worldwide.
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Girls Who Code
Works to close the gender gap in technology by equipping young women with computing skills and opportunities.
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Pencils of Promise
Builds schools and increases access to quality education for children in developing countries.
How to judge education & literacy charities
Look for outcome data: learning gains measured by standardized assessments, graduation rates, college persistence. Strong education charities use comparison-group methodology to demonstrate their programs cause improved outcomes. Pratham, Room to Read, and Teach For All have published independent evaluations — that level of transparency is the gold standard.
What these charities do
Education nonprofits operate across school infrastructure, teacher training, learning materials, scholarships, and policy advocacy. The most effective international education charities concentrate on a few high-leverage interventions — teacher training, structured curriculum, formative assessment — backed by randomized evidence. US-focused groups span charter networks, after-school programs, college-access advisors, and adult-literacy initiatives. Funding supports staff, training, materials, scholarships, and facility development.
- School construction and refurbishment in low-income communities
- Teacher training and instructional-quality programs
- Free curriculum, learning materials, and digital learning platforms
- Scholarships and college-access advising for first-generation students
- Adult-literacy and language-learning programs
Ways to help beyond a donation
- Recurring monthly gifts let organizations plan multi-year teacher-training cohorts and scholarship commitments
- Sponsor specific programs (a scholarship, a teacher cohort) rather than individuals for cleaner accountability
- Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, or college-access advisor — most nonprofits in this space rely on volunteer support
- Donate professional skills (career mentoring, mock interviews, college essay coaching)
- Advocate for evidence-based education policy in your local school district
Frequently asked
What is the highest-rated education & literacy charity?
Among the 16 education & literacy charities in our directory, CodeAI, Khan Academy, Pratham and Room to Read share the highest Charity Navigator score, 100%. Ratings checked October 2026.
How many education & literacy charities have a 4-star rating?
15 of the 16 education & literacy 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 education & literacy charity?
Look for outcome data: learning gains measured by standardized assessments, graduation rates, college persistence. Strong education charities use comparison-group methodology to demonstrate their programs cause improved outcomes. Pratham, Room to Read, and Teach For All have published independent evaluations — that level of transparency is the gold standard.
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.