Giving guide
Where to give in hunger
Hunger charities fight food insecurity — from domestic food banks and school-meal programmes to famine relief and child nutrition in low-income countries. The best of them leverage existing infrastructure so that each dollar unlocks far more than its face value in meals delivered.
The charities below are ranked by our composite GiveWise score, which reflects how efficiently they turn donations into programmes and how transparently they report their results.
The ranking
Top Hunger charities
5 organisations, ranked by GiveWise score. Each links to a full profile with its rating breakdown, financials, and a donate link.
1Feeding AmericaNation's largest hunger-relief network: 200+ food banks, 60,000+ food pantries88Score98%To programs
2No Kid Hungry (Share Our Strength)Ending childhood hunger in America through school meal programs and food access85Score93%To programs
3World Food Programme USASupporting the UN's WFP — the world's largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger83Score91%To programs
4Second Harvest Food BankNorthern California's largest food bank, distributing 140,000+ meals per day83Score97%To programs
5Heifer InternationalLivestock and training to help farming families achieve sustainable food security81Score84%To programs
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do food charities make a dollar go further?
Many secure donated or bulk food and tap into government nutrition programmes, so a single dollar can translate into several meals. Look at the "meals per dollar" figures charities publish, and at their programme-spending ratio.
Domestic or international hunger relief — which has more impact?
Both matter. Dollar for dollar, nutrition programmes in the lowest-income countries can avert the most severe harm, but domestic food banks address real local need. Give according to the community you most want to support.