9 Best Charities That Advance Healthy Nutrition (Complete 2024 List)

9 Best Charities That Advance Healthy Nutrition (Complete 2024 List)

By
Diana Stancu

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Worldwide, around 1 billion people go hungry, while 2 billion suffer from obesity and other health issues related to unhealthy eating. In addition, 45 million children suffer from severe malnutrition every year, with a child dying from acute malnutrition every 10 seconds. Yet the efforts to improve nutrition and nutrition education are chronically underfunded, receiving less than 1% of governmental budgets in many areas of the world. So we had to ask: What are the best charities that advance healthy nutrition?

The best charities that advance healthy nutrition are Nutrition International, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, and the Power of Nutrition. Charities like Thrive for Good, Table for Two, and MANA Nutrition help malnourished and underserved communities to improve their eating habits.

Whether you want to help malnourished communities receive the nutrients they need, ensure that children in first-world countries eat healthily and don’t become overweight, or improve food systems so they are nourishing and sustainable, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that advance healthy nutrition are all about, how they work, and what would be your best way to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Advance Healthy Nutrition 

The charities on this list were chosen based on their impact, mission, transparency ratings, and achievements.

They operate all over the world, from North America to Asia, delivering critical nutrients and making sustainable food changes. 

The charities below distribute healthy meals and nutrient-fortified foods to communities vulnerable to critical malnutrition.

They also advance policies and change local systems to encourage healthy eating choices, promote local and sustainable agriculture, and teach nutrition education to children.

Yet through these different means, all of these charities share the same goal of ensuring that people worldwide have access to nutritious and safe foods.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Advance Healthy Nutrition in 2024

Below are our favorite charities that advance healthy nutrition (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

1

Nutrition International: We Make a Difference Because Nutrition Is the Difference

Logo for Nutrition International
Working to improve nutrition around the world

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, Nutrition International spent 92% of their total income on charitable programs and 8% on management expenses.

We fight malnutrition because the right nutrition at the right time builds the capacity to dream, it fuels the power to achieve, and it lays the foundation upon which to build a better world.

Nutrition International

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What they do:

Nutrition International fortifies people’s health by delivering critical micronutrients to underserved communities, like Vitamin A, Iron, Zinc, or Folic Acid. They also run individualized programs to advance the diets of infants, pregnant mothers, and adolescents to ensure proper physical development and avoid the risk of nutrition-related illnesses. Furthermore, they give nutrition education classes to vulnerable youth and support people to change behaviors that benefit their health and nutrition choices. In addition, they advocate for improved nutrition policies and increased resources for nutrition development worldwide.

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What they’ve achieved:

Today, Nutrition International works to improve people’s eating habits and access to proper food in 60 countries through 38 nutritional projects. For example, in 2020, they helped nearly 445 million people to access iodized salt and 100 million children to receive Vitamin A. In the same year, they supplied 250 million people with nutrient-fortified foods and provided over 550,000 adolescents with nutrition education classes. Through their efforts, they helped avert 1,2 million cases of anemia, 430,000 cases of stunted child growth, and 80,000 deaths. In addition, in 2021, they invested nearly $44 million across all their programs of nutritional aid and intervention.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Nutrition International on their website. You can also get involved by joining their team or subscribing to their newsletter. In addition, you can participate in their online courses for improved nutrition.

2

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition: Better Nutrition for All

Logo for Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
GAIN's vision: A world without malnutrition

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Their transparency & ratings:

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition has a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator and holds the Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

We are driven by a vision of a world without malnutrition, in which all people have access to and consume nutritious and safe food.

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

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What they do:

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition funds farmers that grow nutrient-fortified foods while advocating for improved distribution of such products. They also provide business development services to smaller food companies to tackle both the quality of food and the economic growth of vulnerable communities. Moreover, they work to adapt food markets to current environmental changes so that nourishing food can remain sustainable for future generations. In addition, they advocate with local governments to change food systems by providing their expertise in nutrition and healthy diets while holding legislators accountable

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What they’ve achieved:

Today, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition improves people’s nutrition in tens of countries worldwide. For example, they have provided business development services to over 500 small companies and helped 60 countries improve national food systems and food safety regulations. In addition, they have helped 40 low and middle-income countries to access nutrient-fortified foods by investing $250 million in grants and technical assistance. Moreover, their Commercialization of Biofortified Crops program has provided over 100,000 megatons of nutrient-enhanced grains to more than 1 billion consumers worldwide.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition on their website. You can also contribute by applying for a job, subscribing to their newsletter, or following their Twitter and Facebook accounts. 

3

The Power of Nutrition: Investing in Better Nutrition 

Logo for The Power of Nutrition
The Power of Nutrition - Breaking the Cycle of Undernutrition

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, the Power of Nutrition spent 94.4% of their total income on charitable activities and 5.6% on fundraising events. 

A wave of global malnutrition is on its way unless we act now. We work to fulfill our vision of a world where every child has the right nutrition to achieve their full potential.”

The Power of Nutrition

⚒️

What they do:

The Power of Nutrition partners with global charities to serve countries with the highest rates of malnutrition. They do this by designing action plans and interventions that their partners invest in to eliminate or prevent malnutrition in at-risk communities. Moreover, they support families’ nutrition from pre-pregnancy and aid their children from birth to 5 years old with nutritive supplementations for vitamins, macronutrients, and mixtures for preventing acute malnutrition. They also run a 3-stage project to transform global nutrition financing by increasing funding for nutrition and advocating for nutrition education worldwide.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Power of Nutrition has helped nearly 100 million people to access better nutrition services. Moreover, they have invested over $540 million and partnered with 40 organizations on 19 global programs that tackle malnutrition across 15 countries. Moreover, their investments have enabled over 70 million children and 22 million new mothers to access critical nutrition interventions. For example, in 2021, they started 3 new programs and supplied $17 million in additional funds for educational projects. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to The Power of Nutrition through their website. You can also contribute by joining their team, starting a corporate partnership, or following their Twitter account

4

Thrive for Good: Planting Hope, Harvesting Change

Logo for Thrive for Good
Thrive For Good - What Seeds of Change will you Plant?

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Their transparency & ratings:

Thrive for Good holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“The hunger for nutrition is universal – access is not. We are on a mission to change that.”

Thrive for Good

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What they do:

Thrive for Good equips people with the knowledge to grow organic, nutrient-rich foods. They do this by training community leaders in their Thrive Institute through workshops and agricultural mastering programs. After completing the training, the members teach rural communities how to improve their nutrition by growing Life Gardens. In these gardens, they use organic-growing techniques and include a variety of fruits and vegetables to fulfill all their nutritional needs. In addition, the charity gives communities all the necessary gardening tools while teaching them how to grow medicinal plants and connecting their surplus food to local markets.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Today, Thrive for Good helps communities in 13 countries worldwide to create 2,3 million nutritious meals each month worth nearly $900,000 in total. For this, they have developed 38,500 Life Gardens that produced $7,5 million worth of nutritional food to date. Moreover, their Life Gardens have lifted 65,000 people out of poverty and helped produce 15 million meals that advanced good nutrition. In addition, their Thrive Institute has trained over 35,000 community members and partnered with 25 local organizations to give agricultural knowledge to 960 agricultural communities

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Thrive for Good on their website. You can also contribute through fundraising, corporate giving, or corporate partnerships. In addition, you can shop from their affiliate organic stores and part of the sum will go to the charity.

5

Table for Two: Towards a World of Healthier Eating

Logo for Table for Two Japanese-inspired Nutrition
Table For Two

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

Table for Two has a 90% encompass rating for Finance & Accountability from Charity Navigator. They also hold the Bronze Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“Our mission is to eliminate global hunger and reduce health issues related to unhealthy eating.”

Table for Two

⚒️

What they do:

Table for Two works to provide healthy nutrition through their Meal Sharing Program that offers healthy foods in restaurants, grocery stores, or vending machines and tackles unhealthy eating habits in the US. Afterward, they invest part of the sales in healthy school meals for malnourished children in developing countries. They also fight obesity in the first world by organizing Japanese-inspired food education for K-12 and college students as part of their school curriculum. By teaching principles of healthy eating and doing hands-on practice with the students, the charity equips them with lifelong healthy eating behaviors.

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

To date, Table for Two has delivered over 80 million school meals to malnourished children. After providing the meals, their community research found that the number of students with physical development issues decreased from 27% to 4% while their grades improved by 20%. Moreover, the charity has provided over 500 classes on healthy food habits to over 7,000 students and parents across the US. By the end of the classes, the number of students who could identify the components of a balanced meal doubled, and there were three times as many students confident in their Japanese cooking skills.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to Table for Two on their website. You can also get involved by volunteering or buying their merchandise. In addition, you can help implement a TFT healthy eating program in local schools. 

6

The Food Foundation: Delivering Health and Wellbeing

The Food Foundation logo
The Food Foundation: About

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Their transparency & ratings:

According to their financial report, the Food Foundation spent 100% of their total income on charitable programs and activities. 

Our vision is a sustainable food system which delivers health and wellbeing for all.

The Food Foundation

⚒️

What they do:

The Food Foundation works to change food policy and business practices so that people can access and afford a healthy diet. For this, they run campaigns to improve children’s diets across the UK while tackling child obesity and developmental issues related to unhealthy eating. In addition, they push food retailers to promote healthier foods and producers. They also work with over 100 businesses to improve the availability and affordability of vegetables and encourage people to include them in daily meals. Moreover, they advocate with legislators to keep the food system nourishing and sustainable amid environmental changes. 

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Food Foundation’s advocacy work has led 5 out of 11 supermarkets in the UK, or 60% of the retail department, to set targets for sales of healthier food. In addition, in 2021, they helped introduce a policy to support 1,7 million children with free school meals during the school holidays. In the same year, they served 636 million portions of vegetables across food outlets and pushed 4 out of 18 restaurant chains to increase sales of plant-based products.

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Food Foundation via their website. You can also get involved in their advocacy campaigns, volunteer, or participate in their awareness events.

7

MANA Nutrition: Nourishing the World

Logo for MANA Nutrition
NetSuite Customer Story - MANA Nutrition

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Their transparency & ratings:

MANA Nutrition holds the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“By fighting malnutrition, we aim to make a difference, save lives, and fulfill children’s true potential.”

MANA Nutrition

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What they do:

MANA Nutrition partners with hunger-fighting organizations to distribute ready-to-use packages of specific mixtures that prevent or treat malnutrition. Their Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) contains peanut paste, milk, and a special mix of vitamins and minerals to meet a child’s basic nutritional needs. With it, they treat children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. They also prepare supplementary foods to treat low-grade malnutrition that leads to stunted growth in children. In addition, their lipid-nutrient supplement prevents malnutrition in babies and new moms that cannot access nourishing food. 

🚀

What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, MANA Nutrition has helped nearly 5,5 million children in 45 countries across 4 continents to recover from or avoid malnutrition. In addition, they produce the packages in an 80,000-square-foot factory in Georgia that empowers over 60 people. Today, they make 121,000 pounds of produce daily, which fills four shipping containers of RUTF and can feed 4,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition for six weeks. Moreover, they researched their products’ impact and discovered that more than 90% of children recover when treated with three packets of RUTF a day for six weeks. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to MANA Nutrition on their website. You can also get involved by donating via Amazon or starting a corporate partnership.

8

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation: The Transformative Power of Food and Nutrition

Logo for Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation
Your Academy Foundation at Work

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, with a 100% score for the Transparency and Leadership metrics. The charity also holds the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“We empower current and future food and nutrition practitioners to optimize global health. We envision a world where all people thrive through the transformative power of food and nutrition.”

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation

⚒️

What they do:

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation funds research grants and scholarships of up to $25,000 to promising nutritionists to innovate nutritional knowledge. By offering research opportunities, awards, and fellowships, the charity works to empower nutrition professionals to help consumers achieve healthy eating habits and eliminate eating-related illnesses. They also offer an educational library on important nutrition information, such as healthy eating for children, disease-fighting foods, sustainable diets, or various guides for proper nutrition to give the public the necessary tools to live healthily.

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What they’ve achieved:

Since their founding, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation has provided nearly $3 million in various grants to tens of thousands of professionals. For instance, in 2012, they awarded $462,000 in scholarships to 370 dietetic students. In the same year, they provided over $185,000 in awards and fellowships to nutritionists worldwide. They also offered $300,000 in scientific grants to registered nutritionists to run research projects and advance current knowledge. In addition, in 2021, they awarded 11 research grants worth $104,000 in total

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation on their website. You can also get involved by volunteering, joining their public events, or starting a corporate sponsorship

9

MANNA: Delivering Nourishment, Improving Health

Logo for MANNA
MANNA Mission Video 2022

🔎

Their transparency & ratings:

Charity Navigator gives MANNA a 4-star rating, with a 100% score for the Transparency and Leadership metrics. The charity also holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar

“Our vision for the future is a healthcare system that recognizes the healing effects of proper nutrition for people with serious illnesses.”

MANNA

⚒️

What they do:

MANNA serves nutritious meals to advance the recovery of patients with acute or chronic illnesses. They do this by creating individualized, home-delivered meal plans from the nutrition guidelines of expert associations to serve each client’s medical needs. Furthermore, they promote good nutrition for the general public by organizing Nutrition Education & Counseling with accredited dietitians. The classes tackle nutrition issues from various health problems, like hypertension or diabetes. Moreover, they fight to include medical nutrition therapy and medical meals as services in all health insurance options.

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What they’ve achieved:

Today, MANNA delivers nutritious meals to the 9 counties of the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey area. For example, in 2021, they delivered more than 1,5 million meals to over 5,000 clients and 600 dependents. Furthermore, in 2013, they ran a research project to evaluate how their services improved their clients’ health. The research showed that their clients had $13,000 less monthly healthcare costs, and their hospital visits decreased by 50% and were 37% shorter. As a result, in 2019, they established the MANNA Institute to explore the impact of nutrition on people with serious illnesses. 

Ways to contribute:

You can donate to MANNA through their website. You can also contribute by volunteering, fundraising, or buying their merchandise

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that advance healthy nutrition. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

  • Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarize yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
  • Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
  • Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
  • Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
  • Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
  • Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

  • Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
  • Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
  • Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
  • Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
  • Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to advancing healthy nutrition – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

Illustration of a signature for Diana

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

The way we think about charity is dead wrong | Dan Pallotta

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