Ethics encompass the moral principles that govern a person’s behavior. Basically, they determine the concepts of right and wrong. Yet, around the world, people are still subjected to discrimination, violence, economic disadvantages, and a lack of choice. Fortunately, many charities are dedicated to improving equality and ethics to ensure that every person is able to feel free and make decisions about their own lives. So, we had to ask: what are the best charities that advance ethics worldwide?

The best charities that advance ethics worldwide are Amnesty International, Oxfam International, and Human Rights Watch. Charities such as BAPS Charities and the Tearfund offer humanitarian aid and community support to people affected by natural disasters or conflict.

Whether you want to ensure every child has a good education, make sure that every person has access to life-saving medical assistance, or support communities affected by natural disasters, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that advance ethics worldwide are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Advance Ethics Worldwide Have in Common

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

They operate all over the world, from North America to Asia, supporting the world’s most vulnerable communities and ensuring everyone has access to basic human rights.

Many of the charities on this list focus on providing humanitarian aid and advocating for better human rights policies.

Other charities focus their efforts on ensuring that every person is freed from oppression so they are free to make choices about their own lives.

Yet, they all share the same goal of advancing ethics worldwide.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Advance Ethics Worldwide in 2024

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

Best Charities That Advance Ethics Worldwide

Amnesty International

Oxfam International

Human Rights Watch

Concern Worldwide

The Fund for Global Human Rights

Tearfund

BAPS Charities

Equal Rights Trust

International Association for Human Values

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

Amnesty International: A World Where Human Rights are Enjoyed by All

Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson to campaign against the discrimination experienced by two Portuguese students after they raised a toast to freedom. Today, the charity is a global advocacy organization promoting freedom and justice.

Amnesty International has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“A global movement campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.”

Amnesty International

Amnesty International fights abuses of human rights worldwide through their hard-hitting, evidence-based campaigns. For example, they conduct on-site and remote investigations into violations of international law during armed conflicts and use this information to promote change. They also advocate for freedom of speech without fear of prosecution, including police brutality, by holding governments accountable for their actions and working to tighten laws. 

Today, Amnesty International is a network of over 10 million people documenting the state of human rights in more than 156 countries around the world. For example, in 2007, thanks to the advocacy efforts of the charity, the UN General Assembly adopted a worldwide suspension of executions. This led to 93 countries abolishing the death penalty for all crimes and 10 countries abolishing the penalty for ordinary crimes. Furthermore, in 2023, Amnesty International successfully lobbied for the Taiwanese government to allow same-sex marriages, which has been hailed as a big win for the LGBTQ+ community. 

You can donate directly to Amnesty International through their website. You can also support the charity by getting involved in their campaigns or by signing up to take a free online course through their Human Rights Academy. 

Oxfam International: The Future Is Equal

Oxfam International was founded in 1995 by a group of dedicated non-profit organizations to reduce global poverty and injustice. Today, the charity consists of 21 member organizations, all working to ensure that every person on the planet can enjoy a life free from poverty, discrimination, and hardship. 

According to their financial report, Oxfam International spent 68% of their expenditure on charitable programs, 12% on trading, and 11% on fundraising. 

“Together, we fight inequality to end poverty and injustice.”

Oxfam International

Oxfam International delivers development programs, humanitarian assistance, and public education to improve the lives of vulnerable communities around the world. For example, they invest in small-scale farmers to help them grow their businesses and become more independent. In addition, the charity advocates for better access to education and other essential services for women and children. Moreover, Oxfam International runs long-term projects to install sustainable water sources and sanitation stations to tackle water scarcity in developing countries. 

Today, Oxfam International works in 90 countries worldwide to end inequality for good. For example, in 2021, they worked directly with 25.7 million people through their development programs and mobilized 2.8 million people through their advocacy efforts. In the same year, they successfully secured the commitment of high-income countries to transfer $100 billion in SDRs (Special Drawing Rights) to lower-income countries. Over 55 countries have already used their SDRs to reduce their IMF debt by $7.7 billion.  

You can donate directly to Oxfam International through their website. You can also support the charity by volunteering or by joining one of their campaigns.

Human Rights Watch: Defend Rights. Secure Justice

Human Rights Watch was founded in 1971 by a group of passionate individuals to support nonconformist movements in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Today, the charity investigates and reports on human rights violations all around the world.

Human Rights Watch holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator as well as a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“Defending the rights of people, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice.”

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch investigates and reports on abuses to improve equity and ethics worldwide. They then publicize their research-based accounts to news media outlets and social media to inspire a movement of change. The charity also meets with governments, corporations, and rebel groups to discuss solutions and ensure that legislative changes are made to better protect vulnerable people. For example, they exposed war crimes such as sexual violence, the bombing of civilian areas, and the looting of cultural property in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine War.

Today, Human Rights Watch is a network of over 500 people of 70 nationalities, including lawyers, country experts, and journalists, protecting marginalized and vulnerable communities. Their researchers now work in over 100 countries, uncovering human rights violations and holding governments accountable. For example, thanks to a 2016 report published by Human Rights Watch, Indonesian authorities agreed to take steps to eliminate the shackling of mental health patients in local facilities and ensure people have access to appropriate mental health services. 

You can donate directly to Human Rights Watch through their website. You can also support the charity by joining one of their campaigns.

Concern Worldwide: Fighting Extreme Poverty 

Concern Worldwide was founded in 1968 by John and Kay O’Loughlin-Kennedy to set up a major aid operation in response to famine and conflict in Biafra, Nigeria. Today, the charity provides humanitarian aid on a global scale to end extreme poverty. 

Concern Worldwide holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We are committed to ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes.”

Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide works directly with the most vulnerable communities in the world’s 25 poorest countries to improve livelihoods, nutrition, education, and gender equality. For example, through their Engaging Men projects, the charity runs counseling and health promotion activities to improve the cultural view of women from Sierra Leone to Lebanon. In addition, their Emergency programs provide humanitarian aid in times of conflict or natural disasters and they also advocate for better ways in which the world responds to emergency situations. 

Since their founding, Concern Worldwide has fought to end extreme poverty and work toward a more equitable world. For example, in 2022, the charity supported 16 million vulnerable people affected by 76 emergency situations and reached 8.1 million people through their health and nutrition programs. In total, they supported 36 million people across the 25 poorest countries in 2022. 

You can donate directly to Concern Worldwide through their website. You can also support the charity by volunteering or by joining their Women of Concern Community.

The Fund for Global Human Rights: Local Activism. Global Change.

The Fund for Global Human Rights was founded in 2002 by a group of concerned activists to connect grassroots human rights defenders with long-term support and funding. Today, the charity invests in innovative human activists and organizations to transform communities around the world.

The Fund for Global Human Rights holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We believe that the people whose rights are denied belong at the forefront of the push for change.”

The Fund for Global Human Rights

The Fund for Global Human Rights invests in and supports activists around the world to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable communities across Africa, South America, and Asia. For example, they offer funding and support to youth-led activist groups to ensure their voices are heard and taken into account when discussing new legislation. Furthermore, they fight for LGBTQ+ rights and work to end discrimination by providing free legal aid and access to safe shelters as well as healthcare support. 

Since their founding, the Fund for Global Human Rights has invested over $124 million into the work of over 900 activists and organizations across 50 countries. For example, in 2021, the charity helped organizers in a Mayan town to secure a Supreme Court Judgement to stop the construction of a mega farm with 49,000 pigs. This was a huge victory for indigenous rights. Furthermore, in 2020, their advocacy efforts led to the improvement of domestic worker rights in Mexico, with the addition of paid leave and a cap on working hours.

You can donate directly to the Fund for Global Human Rights through their website. You can also support the charity by joining their Global Activist Alliance or through Planned Giving.

Tearfund: Bringing an End to Extreme Poverty and Injustice

The Tearfund was founded in 1968 by the Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund Committee to marry Christian compassion with practical action in order to care for people’s physical and spiritual needs around the world. Today, the charity works in over 50 countries to tackle the root causes of poverty. 

The Tearfund holds a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“We tackle poverty through sustainable development, responding to disasters, and challenging injustice.”

Tearfund

The Tearfund works directly with local partners and churches in underserved communities to deliver humanitarian response, community development, and advocacy. For example, they advocate for governments to reduce taxes on renewable energy technologies. They also promote empowerment in vulnerable communities by helping local churches understand the role they can play in humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, and sustainability. This assistance involves building new facilities, forming support groups, and improving access to vital services, such as cash assistance schemes.

Since their founding, Tearfund has implemented church and community improvement processes in over 40 countries worldwide. People living in these areas have seen a 50% increase in earnings and are 26% less likely to have a family member miss out on education because of financial issues. For example, in 2021, the charity trained 316 peacebuilding champions in 5 conflict-affected countries and supported over 1,000 women through their gender-based violence survivor groups. Moreover, in the same year, they distributed over $970,000 in cash voucher assistance to vulnerable families. 

You can donate directly to Tearfund through their website. You can also support the charity by fundraising or by joining their Rubbish Campaign.

BAPS Charities: The Spirit of Service

BAPS Charities was founded in 2000 by a group of dedicated volunteers in South Asia to promote selfless service as a way to support vulnerable communities. Today, the charity is a global organization delivering humanitarian relief and community empowerment. 

BAPS Charities holds a Bronze Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“Volunteers drive our efforts, dedicating a portion of their lives in selfless service of others both in their local neighborhoods as well as globally.”

BAPS Charities

BAPS Charities works across five key areas to improve the lives of vulnerable communities and advance ethics worldwide. These are humanitarian relief, health awareness, educational services, environmental protection, and community empowerment. For example, they run regular fundraising events to advance education initiatives in the US and improve facilities across primary and secondary educational institutions. They have also provided additional medical supplies and temporary hospital beds in India to tackle the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Since their founding, BAPS Charities has continued to promote selflessness and support vulnerable people around the world in times of need. For example, in 2022, they set up a mobile field kitchen in the Polish City of Rzeszow to provide over 1,000 hot meals to displaced citizens amidst the Ukraine crisis. In addition, they organized a record-breaking 100 blood drives across North America, collecting 4,000 pints of blood that could potentially save 12,000 lives. They also held 94 health awareness lectures across 74 centers throughout North America.

You can donate directly to BAPS Charities through their website. You can also support the charity by joining one of their fundraising events or through their Matching Gifts Program.

Equal Rights Trust: Advancing Equality Through Law

The Equal Rights Trust was founded in 2007 by Dr. Dimitrina Petrova to promote equality as a basic human right. Today, the charity works to eliminate discrimination by securing the implementation of equality laws. 

According to their financial report, the Equal Rights Trust spent 91% of their income on charitable programs and 3% on fundraising. 

“To eliminate discrimination and ensure everyone can participate in society on an equal basis.”

Equal Rights Trust

The Equal Rights Trust strives to advance equality and ethics on a global scale by using the power of law. For example, they work with like-minded partners to provide accessible legal services to vulnerable people who have experienced discrimination. Moreover, they provide workshop training sessions and research-based resources to parliamentarians, trade unions, and civil society actors on the best practices regarding the rights to equality, organizational development, and effective advocacy. 

Since their founding, the Equal Rights Trust has remained committed to advancing ethics and equality worldwide. For example, they successfully established a coalition of 60 organizations to campaign for legal reform on equality in Kenya and provided legal advice to over 4,000 women victims of discrimination. They also established a secure platform for journalists in Central Asia so they can investigate and report on human rights abuses safely.

You can donate directly to the Equal Rights Trust through their website. You can also support the charity by joining their International Network of Equality Defenders.

International Association for Human Values: Connectedness and Respect for All People and the Environment

The International Association for Human Values was founded in 1997 by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to solve world issues by uplifting human values. Today, the charity runs programs to reduce stress and develop resilient leaders that will allow human values and ethics to flourish.

The International Association for Human Values holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“To show the world that through achieving inner peace, we will be able to see our human interconnectedness and become a One World Family.”

International Association for Human Values

The International Association for Human Values offers research-based programs to solve the root causes of the world’s most pressing problems. For example, they mobilize their network of volunteers to provide immediate humanitarian aid to communities affected by conflict or natural disasters. Furthermore, they work to advance the role of women in society through their Women Empowerment Program, which takes a holistic approach to establish clarity of mind and focus as bases for pursuing leadership roles in their communities. In addition, they educate prisoners on how to manage stress, aggression, and deal with trauma. 

Since their founding, the International Association for Human Values has remained committed to achieving equality for every person, no matter their situation. For example, their 1,418 volunteers in 8 different countries have worked to support displaced populations in Ukraine by providing 6,000 medical kits, 23,612 nutritious meals, and housing for 4122 families. In addition, they answered 7,668 helpline calls and offered counseling support to 18,147 people in need.

You can donate directly to the International Association for Human Values through their website. You can also support the charity by volunteering for a cause. 

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that advance ethics worldwide. 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. 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 ethics worldwide—based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

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:

Sources

• Council of Europe: Intersectionality and Multiple Discrimination
• Amnesty International: Home page
• Charity Navigator: Amnesty International
• GuideStar: Amnesty International
• Amnesty International: Armed Conflict
• Amnesty International: Arms Control
• Amnesty International: Freedom of Expression
• Amnesty International: Detention and Imprisonment
• Amnesty International: Police Violence
• Amnesty International: Our Finances
• Amnesty International: Countries
• Amnesty International: Learning from success
• Amnesty International: Six months of human rights successes
• Amnesty International: Donate
• Amnesty International: Take Action
• Amnesty International: Know Your Rights
• Oxfam International: Home page
• Oxfam International: How we are organized
• Oxfam International: Our finances and accountability
• Oxfam International: Emergency response
• Oxfam International: Food, climate, and natural resources
• Oxfam International: Gender justice and women’s rights
• Oxfam International: Water and sanitation
• Oxfam International: Annual Report 2021-22
• International Monetary Fund: Special Drawing Rights
• Oxfam International: Donate
• Oxfam International: Volunteer with us
• Oxfam International: Campaign with us
• Human Rights Watch: Home page
• Charity Navigator: Human Rights Watch
• GuideStar: Human Rights Watch
• Human Rights Watch: About us
• Human Rights Watch: Russia-Ukraine War
• Human Rights Watch: Living in Hell
• Human Rights Watch: Indonesia Upholds Rights of People with Mental Health Conditions
• Human Rights Watch: Donate
• Human Rights Watch: Take Action
• Concern Worldwide: Home page
• Charity Navigator: Concern Worldwide
• GuideStar: Concern Worldwide
• Concern Worldwide: Where we work
• Concern Worldwide: Livelihoods
• Concern Worldwide: Health and Nutrition
• Concern Worldwide: Education
• Concern Worldwide: Gender equality
• Concern Worldwide: Emergencies
• Concern Worldwide: Donate
• Concern Worldwide: Volunteer
• Concern Worldwide: Women of Concern
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: Home page
• GuideStar: The Fund For Global Human Rights
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: What we do
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: Children’s and youth rights
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: LGBTQ+ rights
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: Who we are
• Mexico News Daily: Supreme Court confirms suspension of Yucatan pig farm
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: Q&A: Major win for Mayan rights
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: 10 big wins for human rights activists
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: Donate
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: Global Activist Alliance
• The Fund For Global Human Rights: Other ways to give
• Tearfund: Home page
• Tearfund: What we do
• Charity Navigator: Tearfund
• Tearfund: Advocacy
• Tearfund: Church and community transformation
• Tearfund: Disasters and crises
• Tearfund: Economic empowerment
• Tearfund: Donate
• Tearfund: Fundraise
• Tearfund: This is a Rubbish Campaign
• BAPS Charities: Home page
• GuideStar: BAPS Charities
• BAPS Charities: About Us
• BAPS Charities: Disaster Relief
• BAPS Charities: Educational Institutions Support
• BAPS Charities: What We Do
• BAPS Charities: Community
• BAPS Charities: Events
• BAPS Charities: Support for Education – 2018
• BAPS Charities: COVID-19 Pandemic Response for India
• BAPS Charities: Annual Report 2022
• BAPS Charities: Donate
• BAPS Charities: Matching Gift Program
• Equal Rights Trust: Home page
• Register of Charities Commission: Equal Rights Trust
• Equal Rights Trust: Litigation and legal services
• Equal Rights Trust: Supporting equality defenders
• Equal Rights Trust: Research and resources
• Equal Rights Trust: Advocacy
• Equal Rights Trust: Kenya
• Equal Rights Trust: Donate
• Equal Rights Trust: Partner with Us
• International Association for Human Values: Home page
• Charity Navigator: International Association for Human Values
• GuideStar: International Association for Human Values
• International Association for Human Values: Disaster & Trauma Relief Initiatives
• International Association for Human Values: Women’s Empowerment
• International Association for Human Values: Prison Program
• International Association for Human Values: Donate
• International Association for Human Values: Volunteer