Nonprofit Ratings
When people ask if Save the Children is a good charity, we let our results, financial statements and our nonprofit ratings speak for themselves.
It is because of our commitment to children that we rank high among other nonprofit organizations. Charity watchers, prestigious publishers, consumer advocates and others agree — Save the Children is a top charity that you can trust.
Below are just a few of the ratings we’ve received as well as frequently asked questions.
Most Recent Rating for Save the Children: Four Stars
Founded in 2001, Charity Navigator has become the nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. Ratings are updated annually based on two broad areas of a charity's performance: Financial Health and Accountability & Transparency. Charity Navigator applies an overall rating (zero-to-four stars).
Save the Children is proud to be named one of the MacArthur Foundation 100&Change Charities.
Most Recent Rating for Save the Children: A-
CharityWatch is a nonprofit charity watchdog and information service that provides ratings for approximately 500 major U.S. charities. Ratings are updated annually using data from the IRS Form 990 and audited financial statements.
CharityWatch measures the percentage of expenditures spent on program activities and the cost to raise $100. Based on these figures, they determine a charity’s overall rating (in the form of a letter grade).
The 2021 Forbes list of America's Top 100 Charities places Save the Children as ranking 31st. The Forbes list of America's Top 100 Charities is based on the most recently reported fiscal year and the rankings reflect private contributions only.
Better Business Bureau: Wise Giving Alliance
Most Recent Rating for Save the Children: Accredited Charity
The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance reviews charities governance and oversight, effectiveness, finances and fundraising and informational materials to determine whether a charity meets its standards of becoming an accredited charity. Save the Children meets the 20 standards needed to be rated as an accredited national charity.
Awarded 2019 Top-Rated Nonprofit
The Great Nonprofits Top-Rated Awards is the one and only people’s choice award where volunteers, donors, and people served by nonprofits are asked to share stories of inspiration and express their appreciation. Based on a series of positive reviews, Save the Children received a top-rated award for 2019.
Most Recent Rating for Save the Children: A
Save the Children Becomes First Nonprofit to be Certified Gender Fair.
Save the Children is Gender Fair-certified, receiving an A in each the four categories measured: Leadership, Employee Policies, Advertising and Philanthropy. We are proud to be the first nonprofit and first non-governmental organization (NGO) to achieve this designation. Learn More.
Gender Fair is the world’s first and only market-based solution for achieving gender fairness.
Most Recent Rating for Save the Children: Platinum
GuideStar provides as much information as they can about each nonprofit's mission, legitimacy, impact, reputation, finances, programs, transparency, governance, and so much more.
Save the Children’s website is tested and certified daily to pass the “TrustedSite” Security Scan
TrustedSite is dedicated to building and protecting trust for websites. To help address concerns about possible hacker access to confidential data and the safety of visiting or shopping at certain sites, the TrustedSite trustmark appears only when a site passes the daily scans. The TrustedSite trustmark ensures the site is free of malware, viruses, phishing attacks, and other malicious activities, and verifies that a business is reliable and safe to business with.
Nonprofit Rating FAQs
Is Save the Children a good charity?
Save the Children is the world’s leading expert on childhood. Since our founding 100 years ago, we have changed the lives of over 1 billion children. In 2021, we reached more than 183 million children, including 837,000 here in the United States.
These results are reflective of our proven efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. Our independently audited financial statements consistently show that out of every dollar spent, 85 cents goes directly to programs and services for children and families in need. By keeping administrative costs low, more funding goes to children’s programs.
Where does Save the Children fall in nonprofit and charity rankings?
Charity watch groups name us as a top-rated children’s charity among other children’s charities and non-profit organizations. Included among these charity rankings are a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, an A rating from GenderFair and an A- rating from CharityWatch.
What percentage of expenditures go to program services?
You can be assured that Save the Children uses the valuable resources donors have provided in the most cost-effective ways possible.
In fiscal year 2021, 85% of all expenditures went straight to our mission. This means that, out of every dollar spent, 85 cents goes to programs and services for children and families in need. Learn more here.
Who helps make Save the Children an effective charity?
We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.
Our experienced and highly skilled staff and teams around the world work tirelessly to build a better future for and with children by responding to emergencies and conflict, delivering innovative development programs, and ensuring children’s voices are heard through our campaign and advocacy work. This wouldn’t be possible without our supporters who donate to kids in need.
Over 1.3 million people in the U.S. supported Save the Children as donors, advocates and volunteers, plus millions more around the world.
For over 100 years, Save the Children has been one of the charities you can trust, with a track record of using donations efficiently and effectively.
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