There is more than enough food to feed every person on the planet. Yet, 811 million people still go hungry. Charities around the world have been working hard to ensure every community has access to nutritious meals daily and also have the resources they need to build their own successful farms. So we had to ask: What are the best charities that fight hunger globally?

The best charities that fight hunger globally in terms of overall impact are the World Food Programme and Heifer International. Charities such as Mercy Corps and World Central Kitchen do amazing work training individuals in poor communities to be able to run their own sustainable food-related businesses.

Whether you want to save a child from malnutrition, help vulnerable individuals feel empowered to be able to support their own families, or ensure that communities affected by natural disasters get the resources they need, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that fight hunger globally 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 Fight Hunger Globally 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 Africa, providing communities in need with farming resources, training, and access to daily meals.

Many of the charities on this list focus their efforts on ensuring famine-stricken families are provided with nutritious food to prevent dangerous malnutrition. Others focus their attention on empowering individuals to set up their own businesses so they can provide for their families and contribute to the sustainable development of their surrounding communities. Yet they all share the same goal – to ensure no person goes hungry in this world.

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 Africa, providing communities in need of farming resources, training, and access to daily meals.

Many of the charities on this list focus their efforts on ensuring famine-stricken families are provided with nutritious food to prevent dangerous malnutrition.

Others focus their attention on empowering individuals to set up their own businesses so they can provide for their families and contribute to the sustainable development of their surrounding communities.

Yet they all share the same goal – to ensure no person goes hungry in this world.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Fight Hunger Globally in 2024

Below are our favorite charities that fight hunger globally (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities That Fight Hunger Globally

World Food Programme

Heifer International

Action Against Hunger

The Hunger Project

Rise Against Hunger

World Central Kitchen

Feeding America

Mercy Corps

Bread for the World

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

World Food Programme: Saving Lives. Changing Lives

The World Food Programme was founded in 1961 at the behest of US President Dwight Eisenhower. It was initially set up as an experimental initiative to provide emergency food aid through the UN system. Over 50 years later, the charity is now the world’s largest humanitarian agency, providing essential supplies when disaster strikes. 

The World Food Programme holds the Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, as well as a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.”

World Food Programme

The World Food Programme provides emergency relief and vital food assistance to communities affected by conflict or natural disasters. The charity also invests heavily in ensuring communities have the tools they need to prepare for future disasters, such as early warning systems and civil-military coordination. Through their Food Assistance for Assets program, the World Food Programme works to improve access to high-value markets to increase economic stability, and builds water ponds for irrigation in poor communities during periods of droughts. 

Every single day, the World Food Programme runs 5,600 trucks, 30 ships, and nearly 100 planes to deliver essential aid and food to communities affected by disasters. In 2020, the World Food Programme assisted 115.5 million people in 84 countries around the globe, through its $8.4 billion investment. In addition, the charity collaborated with 78 governments to ensure all communities can be reached in the event of an emergency. 

You can donate directly to the World Food Programme through their website. There are also plenty of opportunities to volunteer for the charity.

Heifer International: Empowering People to Escape Poverty

Heifer International was founded in 1944 by farmer Dan West, after returning home from feeding fatigued refugees affected by the Spanish Civil War. He realized that giving food was only a short-term solution, however, the donation of cattle would be able to feed a family for years. Today, the charity provides livestock to starving families around the globe and empowers farmers to change their own fates.

Heifer International holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, as well as a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Investing in a new breed of success.”

Heifer International

Heifer International works with poverty-stricken communities in 21 countries around the globe. It starts with the donation of livestock or agriculture. This is then followed by a mentorship program to train farmers in how to run successful businesses and connect individuals with high-value markets. Through their ground-breaking Hatching Hope program, Heifer International equips farmers in Mexico, Kenya, and India, with the tools and knowledge they need to grow sustainable chicken farms. 

To date, Heifer International has assisted 39.8 million starving families to build sustainable farming businesses. In 2020 alone, the charity worked with 924,633 households through 73 projects and 17 signature programs. These include their $1.55 million Green Business Belt program, which supports 108,650 farmers to produce spice farms in Guatemala. 

You can donate directly to Heifer International through their website. You can also support the charity by purchasing much-needed items from their Gift Catalog, such as goats, chickens, and other sustainable farming tools.

Action Against Hunger: For Action. Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger was founded in 1979 by a group of French doctors, writers, and scientists to assist malnourished children and their families in poverty-stricken communities. Today, the charity is a global humanitarian organization dedicated to tackling the causes and effects of hunger.

Action Against Hunger holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“For food. Against hunger and malnutrition. For clean water. Against killer diseases. For freedom from hunger. For everyone. For good.”

Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger prevents and treats malnutrition in over 45 countries around the world. They do this by treating young children and expectant mothers of severe malnutrition through their highly effective Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program. The charity also has 24-hour emergency response teams, with pre-made stocks of essential supplies ready to assist vulnerable communities when a natural disaster strikes.

To date, Action for hunger has assisted over 25 million people through its hunger prevention and treatment programs. In 2020, the charities’ nutrition, health, and care programs reached over 13.1 million people in need. In the same year, they improved access to food and sustainable income techniques to 2.2 million people and helped 550,068 people prepare for, and reduce the risk of, natural disasters. 

You can donate directly to Action Against Hunger through their website. You can also support the charity through fundraising or by purchasing a virtual gift to support families in need. 

The Hunger Project: Ending Hunger Starts With People

The Hunger Project was founded in 1977 by Joan Holmes, in response to the rising debate on world hunger. Joan did not want her charity to be another unsustainable relief organization so she created a strategic organization that would empower communities to escape poverty. Today, the charity is dedicated to providing access to education and other resources to poor families around the world. 

The Hunger Project holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. The Charity also has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“To end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies and advocating for their widespread adoption in countries throughout the world.”

The Hunger Project

The Hunger Project runs village-level training workshops in 23 underdeveloped countries around the world, to help communities develop their own business ideas. The main focus of their work is to empower women, who often bear the main responsibility to provide for their families. After the training is complete, a local leader is chosen to run the workshops for other members of the community. In addition, the charity works with local governments to ensure all people have access to the resources they need. 

To date, the Hunger Project has assisted an estimated 15.4 million people across 2,200,000 project sites in rural communities. In these areas, the work of the charity has led to a 41% decrease in severe hunger, a 25% decrease in household poverty, and a 39% increase in female business ownership. In 2020, the Hunger Project trained 53,746 people in income generation and skills workshops. 

You can donate directly to the Hunger Project through their website. You can also support the charity by involving your kids in their innovative youth-led movement, FeelGood, which teaches the skills required to run successful charitable enterprises in order to raise money for the Hunger Project. 

Rise Against Hunger: It Starts With a Meal

Rise Against Hunger was founded in 1998 by Ray Buchanan after he served as a US Marine during the Vietnam War. Driven by his desire to end world hunger, Ray formed Stop Hunger Now, which was later changed to Rise Against Hunger in 2017. Today, the charity is a growing network dedicated to empowering lives and nourishing communities in the poorest regions. 

Rise Against Hunger holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. The charity also has a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator

“Hunger doesn’t have to exist – let’s end it together.”

Rise Against Hunger

Rise Against Hunger is dedicated to ending world poverty by 2030 through the implementation of sustainable community development projects such as agriculture and other income-generation initiatives. In addition, the charity provides crisis relief by delivering food, medical aid, and other forms of essential assistance to communities in conflict zones or those that have been affected by natural disasters. 

Since its launch, Rise Against Hunger has continued to provide life-saving assistance to communities in need across 78 countries. In 2020, the charity assisted an estimated 2.8 million people worldwide. This included the packaging and shipment of over 543,410,686 nutritious meals to vulnerable people through the help of their 84,993 volunteers.

You can donate directly to Rise Against Hunger through their website. You can also support the charity by hosting a fundraising event or by volunteering to help package up vital food supplies. 

World Central Kitchen: The Power of Food

World Central Kitchen was founded in 2010 by chef Jose Andres and his wife Patricia, to use their passion for cooking to strengthen communities and economies in the poorest regions. Today, the charity is dedicated to changing lives through nourishing food and trains individuals in cooking so they have the skills to provide for their families. 

World Central Kitchen holds the Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, as well as a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Using the power of food to nourish communities and strengthen economies in times of crisis and beyond.”

World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen provides nutritious hot meals to hungry families across the Caribbean and Latin America that have been affected by natural disasters. They also make long-term commitments to ensure no individual goes hungry. In addition, the charity runs numerous culinary courses, such as kitchen skills and safety, and their more intensive Chef Relief training program, to provide school and community cooks with the skills they need to provide nourishing meals for their communities. 

To date, the World Central Kitchen’s Chef Relief Team has served over 60 million meals around the world, to survivors of natural disasters. The charity has also trained 705 cooks which have positively impacted 80,025 students in Haiti, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Every year, over 40 students graduate from the program run at the Ecole des Chefs culinary school in Haiti, with the skills and confidence to run their own restaurants or hotels. 

You can donate directly to World Central Kitchen through their website. You can also support the charity by volunteering or you can purchase Jose Andres’ book ‘We Fed an Island’ where 100% of the author’s net profits go directly into the work of World Central Kitchen.

Feeding America: Working Together to End Hunger

Feeding America was founded in 1979 by John Van Hengel, who also founded the concept of food banks in the 1960s. His idea came after working at a soup kitchen, where he witnessed a desperate mother scrambling in rubbish bins to find food for her children. Today, the charity is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. 

Feeding America holds the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“To advance change in America by ensuring equitable access to nutritious food for all.”

Feeding America

Feeding America supports 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries across the US, to ensure no family goes hungry. They do this by working with food manufacturers, stores, farmers, and restaurants, to rescue the billions of pounds of food that go to waste in the country each year, and donating it to food banks. They also run summer food service programs for low-income families during school holidays and hold emergency supplies to help those affected by natural disasters whenever they occur.

Since its inception, Feeding America has been dedicated to providing vulnerable American families with nutritious meals. They are also focused on reducing the amount of food waste that is thrown away every year, so they can assist other poverty-stricken countries. In 2020, they saved 4 billion pounds of food that was destined for landfill, which provided over 5.2 billion meals to families in need across America. In addition, the charity awarded $240 million in grants to America’s food banks. 

You can donate directly to Feeding America through their website. You can also support the charity by getting involved in one of their campaigns to end hunger in America, or by volunteering.

Mercy Corps: Creating a Future Where Everyone Can Prosper

Mercy Corps was founded in 1979 by Dan O’Neil and Ellsworth Culver, to provide relief after the Cambodian genocide. Since then, the charity has grown to become a global humanitarian organization dedicated to delivering long-term solutions to poverty. 

Mercy Corps holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“To alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.”

Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps works in poor communities in over 40 countries, connecting people to resources and opportunities so they can build strong livelihoods for themselves. They do this by working with traders and governmental bodies, to improve access to agriculture equipment, land, and supplies to farmers in rural communities. They also provide struggling families with cash assistance, in the form of vouchers and prepaid cards, and work with like-minded organizations to lessen food insecurity in vulnerable areas. 

Every year, Mercy Corps connects around 1 million farmers with the resources they need to increase production. In 2020, the charity gave nearly $55 million in cash assistance to families in need and reached 3.7 million people through their food security efforts. 

You can donate directly to Mercy Corps through their website. You can also support the charity through fundraising or by volunteering. 

Bread for the World: Have Faith. End Hunger

Bread for the World was founded in 1974 by a group of Christians led by Rev. Art Simon, after he found himself regularly responding to emergencies caused by hunger and poverty in New York. Today, the charity is dedicated to ending world hunger and child malnutrition through its numerous hunger programs. 

According to their financial report, Bread for the World spent 81% of its income on program services and 19% on administration and fundraising. The charity also has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Moved by God’s grace in Jesus Christ, we advocate for a world without hunger.”

Bread for the World

Bread for the World regularly communicates with Congress to inspire a change in the legislation that addresses hunger in the US and abroad. Alongside their network of churches and like-minded organizations, including the Alliance to End Hunger, Bread for the World educates the public on the world hunger issue and inspires them to make a difference. In addition, the charity runs numerous research projects to come up with practical solutions to world hunger and presents them to US leaders. 

Just one year after Bread for the World was founded, Congress passed the Right to Food Resolution which declared that everyone has a right to food. This is the most sweeping statement on world hunger Congress has ever made. In 2017, the charity secured $1 billion in supplemental aid for famine-stricken families in Yemen, South Sudan, and Northeastern Nigeria. In 2020, after two years of continuous advocacy and 83,384 letters by the charity, Congress finally approved the Senate Global Nutrition Resolution, meaning the country is now dedicated to ending maternal and child malnutrition on a global scale. 

You can donate directly to Bread for the World through their website. You can also support the charity by getting involved in their campaigns by sending your own letter to Congress using their Activist tools and resources.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that fight hunger globally. 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 fighting hunger globally – 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

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