Fulfilling Our Mission
Over 100 years ago, our founder said, “ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ 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.â€
Through the decades, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ has continued to work to save children’s lives, and that’s still what we do today.
By supporting ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, 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, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ teams up with local partners to innovate and address the challenges families living in poverty face.
Through our work across 113 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, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ responded to 112 emergencies in 75 countries. We’ve worked to fill the education gap in rural America, supported those first displaced by violence in Syria and then by devastating earthquakes in °Õü°ù°ì¾±²â±ð. We’ve championed the power of cash assistance for families uprooted by conflict in Sudan and emphasized the importance of food preservation—so that when the next cyclone hits Vanuatu, families won’t face hunger as an added burden.
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, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ 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, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ 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
ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ 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
ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ 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 °Õü°ù°ì¾±²â±ð 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
ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ 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
ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ 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 2024 alone, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ programs and partners reached 114 million children worldwide, in 113 countries helping them grow up healthy, learning and safe.
In the U.S. our Early Steps to School Success, supported over 7,000 children and their caregivers across 11 states.
7.5 million children were able to learn and have access to the education they deserve
28.9 million children were helped through health and nutrition programs
2.9 million children have been protected from crisis
Thanks to you, our emergency response work supported over 30.9 million people – including 16.9 million children across 75 countries.
Learn More About ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ
Your support helps our work to keep children learning, as well as healthy, nourished and protected.
Give with Confidence
For over 100 years, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ 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.
Updated August 5, 2025