Heifer International
Livestock and training to help farming families achieve sustainable food security
Our editorial assessment
Heifer International's "passing on the gift" model is one of the most emotionally compelling stories in charity — a family receives a goat or cow, and when the animal produces offspring, they give one to a neighbour, creating a self-sustaining cycle. The model is genuinely appealing and has operated since 1944. However, donors should be aware that Heifer's cost-effectiveness has been questioned by some evaluators, and their programme spending ratio (84%) is lower than the top tier of hunger charities. The organisation's focus on sustainable self-sufficiency rather than direct food distribution means impact is harder to measure in the short term. For donors who value long-term livelihood development over immediate hunger relief, Heifer offers a distinctive approach.
The problem they're solving
Sustainable food security requires more than emergency feeding — it requires helping farming families build productive assets. Heifer's model addresses this by providing livestock and training that generate income and nutrition for years, while the "pass it on" mechanism multiplies the investment across communities.
About Heifer International
Heifer International provides livestock, seeds, and training to farming families who then "pass on the gift" to neighbours.
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 →