Nigeria is a country known for its generosity when it comes to giving. As a nation, we are passionate about making a difference, and many people often wonder about the charity foundations in Nigeria.
That’s where we come in. In this blog post, we have compiled a list of 10 of the top charities in Nigeria for those interested in donating, volunteering, fundraising, or supporting research initiatives. Gear up, friends, this is a long read, as we have provided you with all the details you need.
What Is A Charity Foundation?
A charity foundation, also called a charitable foundation, is a nonprofit organization established to support philanthropic endeavours and address societal needs. These foundations typically raise funds through various means, such as donations, endowments, and fundraising events. Their primary purpose is to distribute these funds to charitable organizations, initiatives, or projects aligning with their mission and objectives.
Criteria Used To Select The Top 10 Charity Foundations
The selection criteria we used for the top 10 charity foundations in Nigeria considered various factors, including their impact on addressing critical challenges, the scope and reach of their projects and initiatives, the amount of investment and funding allocated, and their commitment to specific focus areas such as healthcare, education, youth empowerment, and community development. We evaluated each foundation based on its effectiveness in achieving its mission, the depth of its community engagement, the scale of its programs, and its ability to drive sustainable change. We also considered transparency, accountability, and innovation factors to determine their ranking.
The Top 10 Charity Foundations In Nigeria
In this section, we'll spotlight the Top 10 Charity Foundations in Nigeria.
Bet9ja Foundation
Wellbeing Foundation Africa
Slum2School Africa
TY Danjuma Foundation
Tony Elumelu Foundation
Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria
Lagos Food Bank Initiative
Education as a Vaccine (EVA)
The Irede Foundation
Project Pink Blue
1. Bet9ja Foundation
The Bet9ja Foundation, established by Nigeria's leading online bookmaker company, Bet9ja, focuses on addressing critical challenges in Nigeria through projects, initiatives, and donations. With over 95 projects impacting 150+ communities across 19+ states and an investment exceeding 300 million Naira, the foundation is committed to healthcare, education, sports development, community projects, and youth empowerment. Here's a deeper look into their focus areas and initiatives:
Healthcare Development: The foundation is committed to improving healthcare access and outcomes in Nigeria. Their healthcare program targets various aspects, including primary and maternal health, health education, technology, equipment, and infrastructure. By addressing critical healthcare needs, the Bet9ja Foundation aims to enhance the well-being of communities across the country.
Youth Empowerment: Bet9ja Foundation is committed to empowering Nigerian youth to reach their full potential. The foundation provides young people training, mentorship, and support through programs like the Young Executive Program and the Graduate Employability and Enterprise Summit, equipping them with the skills and resources needed for personal and professional success.
Education Development: Education is a key focus area for the foundation. They support educational opportunities for Nigerian youth through initiatives such as scholarships, skill development programs, and educational infrastructure projects. The foundation aims to empower future generations and drive socio-economic development by investing in education.
Community Infrastructure: Bet9ja Foundation contributes to the development of community infrastructure projects. This includes initiatives to build libraries, schools, community centres, and other facilities that benefit local communities. The foundation seeks to create sustainable positive impacts in communities across Nigeria by improving infrastructure.
Sports Development: The foundation recognizes the importance of sports in youth development and community engagement and supports sports development initiatives. These include funding for sports programs, facilities, and events promoting physical activity, teamwork, and leadership among Nigerian youth.
Did you know you can apply for a grant from the Bet9ja Foundation? The application process is straightforward. To apply:
Visit the Bet9ja Foundation website and sign up as an agent or an NGO.
Once registered, access your account dashboard to choose the grant category that best suits your project or initiative.
Complete the application form and submit it.
2. Wellbeing Foundation Africa
As one of the charity foundations in Nigeria, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) was founded in 2004 by Her Excellency Mrs. Toyin Ojora-Saraki to improve health outcomes for women, infants, and children. Combining programs with advocacy work in Nigeria and globally, WBFA focuses on empowering and educating frontline community health workers, increasing accessibility to sustainable maternal, newborn, infant, child, and adolescent care, and advocating for gender equality. Through initiatives like EMONC (Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care) and MamaCare 360, WBFA addresses critical issues like maternal mortality and newborn health. By partnering with organizations like the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Johnson & Johnson, WBFA implements training programs and campaigns to enhance healthcare services and outcomes in Nigeria. Additionally, WBFA's advocacy efforts align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the importance of quality care, prevention of maternal and newborn deaths, and gender equality. Through research, policy development, community engagement, philanthropy, and education, WBFA strives to create meaningful and measurable impacts in healthcare and well-being in Nigeria and beyond.
3. Slum2School Africa
Slum2School Africa is a volunteer-driven organization that empowers underserved children in slums and remote African communities through quality education, entrepreneurial skills, and psychosocial support. They have positively shaped their futures by impacting over 653,662 children with academic scholarships and learning programs. With a focus on service, efficiency, passion, and innovation, Slum2School works directly with communities to design and implement tailored impact programs. Their initiatives include scholarship programs, teacher support, school support, and community outreach, addressing various needs such as infrastructure, technology, and educational materials. Through partnerships with individuals, corporate organizations, and the government, Slum2School fosters positive change, creating opportunities for children to realize their full potential and become social reformers.
4. TY Danjuma Foundation
The TY Danjuma Foundation, Nigeria's first indigenous grantmaking foundation, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life by supporting health and education initiatives. Established in 2009 by Lt. Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, the foundation has awarded over $41.5 million in grants, implemented over 340 projects across Nigeria, and reached over 10 million people.
The foundation operates through annual and discretionary grants, inviting NGOs to apply for funding to implement projects in health and education. Additionally, it provides rapid response grants for humanitarian emergencies. The foundation focuses on community involvement, government participation, and accountability to beneficiaries, aiming to promote informed and responsive grantmaking.
Its main goals include enhancing community healthcare, improving education quality, and alleviating extreme poverty. The foundation primarily collaborates with NGOs and CBOs and encourages collaboration with government agencies and other grantmakers.
The foundation supports initiatives nationwide through its annual grantmaking process, while its community funds target specific interventions in Taraba and Edo states. These funds provide small grants to grassroots organizations to address socio-economic challenges.
The foundation also emphasizes partnership and collaboration, engaging with resources, networks, and learning partners to expand its reach and maximize impact. By supporting innovative projects and fostering collaborations, the TY Danjuma Foundation strives to build a Nigeria where all citizens have access to affordable healthcare, education, and equal opportunities.
5. Tony Elumelu Foundation
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is a prominent philanthropy dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs and driving economic development across the continent. Since its establishment in 2010 by Tony O. Elumelu, the foundation has been committed to poverty eradication, job creation, and inclusive economic empowerment.
Key highlights of TEF's impact include:
Training and Funding: TEF has trained over 1.5 million young Africans through its digital platform, TEFConnect, and disbursed nearly $100 million in direct funding to over 20,000 African entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Africapitalism: TEF's mission is rooted in Africapitalism, emphasizing the role of the private sector and entrepreneurs as catalysts for Africa's social and economic development.
Partnerships: The foundation collaborates with various global organizations, including the European Union, UNDP, USADF, and Google, to support entrepreneurship. It mainly focuses on female empowerment and growth in fragile states.
Impact Pillars: TEF focuses on seven impact pillars, including leadership development, economic growth, job creation, innovation and technology, sustainable businesses, research and advocacy, and partnerships and networking.
Through its programs and initiatives, TEF aims to equip entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and networks necessary to build successful businesses, contribute to poverty eradication, and drive sustainable economic development across Africa.
6. Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria
The Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) was established in November 1994 as a non-governmental and non-profit organization that addresses sickle cell disorder (SCD) in Nigeria. SCD is the most common inherited disorder in tropical Africa, with Nigeria contributing about half of the estimated 300,000 newborns affected annually. The foundation aims to provide proper care and control for SCD through capacity building, research, policy development, and implementation.
Despite the significant impact of SCD in Africa, there was no dedicated sickle cell centre on the continent until SCFN was established. The foundation partners with the Nigerian government and affiliated institutions like the Lagos University Teaching Hospital & College of Medicine, the Lagos State Ministry of Health, and the Federal Ministry of Health. It also supervises sickle cell clinics in Delta, Edo, Kano, and Lagos States.
SCFN's vision is to alleviate the burden of SCD in Nigeria and ensure all affected individuals can live normal, pain-free lives. Their mission involves developing a world-class National Sickle Cell Centre and driving the search for effective solutions to the challenges associated with SCD in Nigeria and beyond.
7. Lagos Food Bank Initiative
The Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) is a non-profit organization committed to addressing hunger, reducing food waste, and tackling malnutrition in Nigeria. Through a range of programs targeting vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, seniors, and indigent families, LFBI strives to improve access to nutritious food and combat hunger-related issues. Their initiatives include school feeding programs, community nutrition interventions, urban farming projects, and job placement support for beneficiary resilience.
LFBI operates with core values emphasizing commitment, compassion, community collaboration, and contribution to delivering services to beneficiaries. It fosters its operations' transparency, accountability, and result-driven approaches while encouraging growth, innovation, and future-mindedness. The organization seeks partnerships with individuals, corporate donors, NGOs, and governmental agencies to expand its reach and impact.
With achievements spanning over 160 communities, LFBI has reached over 2.3 million beneficiaries and engaged 24,000 registered volunteers. Their impactful work has garnered awards and recognition, and they have forged partnerships with government bodies, NGOs, and international organizations to combat food insecurity and malnutrition effectively. Through sustainable interventions and community empowerment, LFBI remains dedicated to ending Nigeria's poverty, malnutrition, and food insecurity.
8. Education as a Vaccine (EVA)
Education as a Vaccine (EVA) is a non-profit organization established in 2000 to improve the health and development of children, adolescents, and young people in Nigeria. Through child and youth-friendly approaches, EVA empowers stakeholders to drive social change in health, protection, and education, aligning its priorities with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Since its inception, EVA has impacted over 1 million children and young people across Nigeria, leveraging young volunteers distributed across state offices to drive community engagement and participation. EVA's achievements include advocacy efforts, the provision of sexual and reproductive health services, capacity-building initiatives, and strategic behaviour change communication interventions.
Partnering with entities like UNICEF and UNFPA, EVA continues to expand its impact, advocating for the rights and well-being of children and young people and driving positive change in communities across Nigeria.
9. The Irede Foundation
As one of the charity foundations in Nigeria, the Irede Foundation (TIF) is a Nigerian NGO established in 2012. Its focus is supporting children with limb loss to live fulfilling lives. Through various programs, TIF provides prosthetic limbs, disability advocacy, caregiver support groups, and skills development training for children aged 0-18 with limb loss, whether acquired or congenital.
The foundation's main goals revolve around education, empowerment, and encouragement for children with limb loss. It aims to help them live without limitations and free from social stigma. By inspiring action among child amputees, their families, and caregivers, TIF seeks to foster independence and limitless potential.
Through initiatives like the Limb Empowerment Programme, Psycho-Social Support Programme, Inclusive Education, and School-Based Advocacy, TIF tirelessly supports African children who have lost limbs, providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive.
10. Project Pink Blue
Project Pink Blue is a Nigerian NGO fighting cancer through various initiatives. They conduct cancer awareness campaigns, offer free cancer screenings, support patients, offer patient navigation services, advocate for cancer policy changes, and raise funds for cancer patients. Their mission is to stimulate action against cancer, and their vision is to create an Africa without late cancer detection. Through community outreach, education, and partnerships, they strive to reduce cancer incidence and improve cancer care in Nigeria and Africa.
In addition to its core activities, Project Pink Blue runs several programs to support cancer patients and raise awareness about the disease. These programs include the Psychological Support Centre, which offers counselling and emotional support to cancer patients and their families, and initiatives like Pink October and World Cancer Day, which amplify their message and engage the public in the fight against cancer. Through innovative approaches, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to excellence, Project Pink Blue continues to significantly impact the battle against cancer in Nigeria and beyond.
Conclusion On The Top 10 Charity Foundations In Nigeria
In conclusion, Nigeria's top 10 charity foundations are making significant strides in addressing critical challenges across various sectors, including healthcare, education, youth empowerment, and community development. Through their impactful initiatives, innovative approaches, and commitment to driving sustainable change, these foundations are positively impacting the lives of millions of Nigerians and contributing to the overall well-being and development of the country.