Fulfilling Our Mission
Over 100 years ago, our founder said, “Save the Children is often told that its aims are impossible – that there has always been child suffering and there always will be. We know it’s impossible only if we make it so. It’s impossible only if we refuse to attempt it.”
Through the decades, Save the Children has continued to work to save children’s lives, and that’s still what we do today.
By supporting Save the Children, you're helping save children’s lives, too.
We Do Whatever It Takes
Our pioneering programs address children's unique needs, giving them a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Our work creates lasting change for children, their families and communities – ultimately, transforming the future we all share.
In the United States, we work in communities across rural America, where many children don’t have access to regular meals or high-quality education. Bringing decades of expertise to the table, Save the Children teams up with local partners to innovate and address the challenges families living in poverty face.
Through our work across 115 countries around the world, child safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We’re fierce advocates for children’s rights, protecting them from violence, neglect, exploitation, abuse and emotional trauma.
Last year, Save the Children responded to 121 emergencies in 63 countries. Some of the most significant of these included earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye, ongoing conflict and mass displacement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, wildfires in Hawaii and the crisis in Gaza. We saw children facing malnutrition, forced out of school and from their homes due to conflict, and far too worried about where their next meal or safe place to sleep would come from to dream about their futures. But what we also saw—that not everyone does—were glimmers of hope. Progress, however incremental, toward the lasting change that will help ensure that all children are able to survive, be educated and thrive.
This work is only made possible by the ongoing generosity of our donors, whose valuable support is used in the most cost-effective ways.
Learn More About Our Work
Health Programs
As a global leader in child health, Save the Children keeps children healthy and thriving. We empower and invest in local partners – so communities have a strong foundation to thrive when disaster strikes. We contribute to creating sustainable health systems worldwide, training community health workers and health care providers who are equipped to deliver essential health services.
Education Programs
From rural America’s poorest communities to conflict-affected countries, Save the Children ensures children are educated. But for the first time in history, an entire generation of children globally have had their education disrupted. That's why we're supporting distance learning, ensuring that children who rely on school meal programs don’t go hungry and advocating to ensure children’s right to an education.
Protection Programs
Save the Children was the first global organization devoted solely to protecting children from harm. Child safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We’re fierce advocates for children’s rights, protecting them from violence, neglect, exploitation, abuse and emotional trauma.
Emergency Response
Save the Children is the global leader in child-focused humanitarian response. We’ve been a lifeline for families fleeing violence in Gaza, responding to the earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye and the ongoing conflict and mass displacement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and dozens of other crises around the world.
Policy and Advocacy
Save the Children works to ensure children’s voices are heard, their rights are realized and their issues are given top priority. That's why U.S. policymakers look to us as the leading expert on childhood, both here at home and abroad.
Localization
Save the Children believes that localized approaches deliver the best results for children, and we aim to act as an ally to local communities and actors – including children – by elevating their voice and leadership in driving sustainable development and humanitarian action. .
Why What We Do Matters
We believe every child deserves a future. We know you believe it, too.
Without you, children’s lives and futures will be forever changed by the urgent needs they face right now. And we will have failed a generation of children. But together, we can achieve tremendous results for children. Here's proof:
In 2023 alone, Save the Children programs and partners reached 105.9 million children worldwide, in 115 countries helping them grow up healthy, learning and safe.
In the U.S. our Early Steps to School Success program expanded to 132 sites – exceeding our goal of 120 – and reached over 7,900 kids
8.5 million children were able to learn and have access to the education they deserve
33.7 million were helped through health and nutrition programs
3.3 million children have been protected from war and conflict
Thanks to you, we responded to 121 emergencies in 63 countries
Learn More About Save the Children
Your support helps our work to keep children learning, as well as healthy, nourished and protected.
Give with Confidence
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.
Where We Work
We work in over 200 of the poorest communities in rural America – where we’re often the only child-focused nonprofit. Globally, we're working in more than 100 countries.
Charity Ratings
View our ratings and learn why we rank high among other nonprofit organizations.