Fistula Foundation
Funding surgeries that repair obstetric fistula and restore health to women worldwide
Our editorial assessment
Fistula Foundation addresses one of the most neglected injuries in global health: obstetric fistula, a childbirth complication that leaves women incontinent and often socially isolated, yet is repairable with a single surgery. The Foundation funds these surgeries through local hospitals, and has been repeatedly recommended by The Life You Can Save for its cost-effectiveness. Charity Navigator has awarded it a four-star rating every year since 2006, and CharityWatch grades it an "A", with more than 85% of spending reaching programmes. For donors seeking a high-impact women's-health focus, it is a standout.
The problem they're solving
Obstetric fistula affects an estimated one to two million women, overwhelmingly in low-income countries, and it is both preventable and treatable — yet surgery is often out of reach. Fistula Foundation funds the operation that restores a woman's health and dignity, typically for a few hundred dollars.
About Fistula Foundation
Fistula Foundation funds surgeries and treatment for women suffering from obstetric fistula — a devastating childbirth injury — across Africa and Asia, working through a network of local hospitals and surgeons.
Where your dollar goes
How this score was produced
The GiveWise score is our own editorial assessment, produced with a weighted rubric covering program spending, transparency and governance, evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and leadership. It draws on publicly available reports from independent evaluators such as GiveWell, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch, but it is not a rating issued or endorsed by any of those organisations. Read the full methodology →