Best Most Trusted Charities 2026
Ranked by Nerq Trust Score. Last updated 2026-03-24.
| # | Name | Trust | Grade | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | 93 | A+ | Pediatric treatment and research facility. Families never receive a bill. $2.7B annual revenue. |
| 2 | International Committee of the Red Cross | 92 | A+ | Humanitarian organization providing assistance in conflict zones. Founded 1863. Nobel Peace Prize la... |
| 3 | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | 91 | A+ | World's largest private charitable foundation. $50B+ endowment. Global health and education. |
| 4 | Direct Relief | 91 | A+ | Medical aid to people affected by poverty and emergencies. 100% score on Charity Navigator. |
| 5 | Wikipedia / Wikimedia Foundation | 91 | A+ | Operates Wikipedia and sister projects. 60M+ articles. Non-profit. |
| 6 | UNICEF | 91 | A+ | United Nations Children's Fund. Works in 190 countries for children's rights and welfare. |
| 7 | Against Malaria Foundation | 91 | A+ | Distributes bed nets to prevent malaria. Top-rated by GiveWell. Extremely cost-effective. |
| 8 | Johns Hopkins Medicine | 91 | A+ | Pioneering academic medical center. Research and clinical excellence. |
| 9 | Médecins Sans Frontières International | 91 | A+ | International coordinating office of MSF. Geneva-based. |
| 10 | Khan Academy | 90 | A+ | Free online education platform. 150M+ registered users. Funded by philanthropy. |
| 11 | Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance | 90 | A+ | Vaccine access for developing countries. Public-private partnership. 1B+ children vaccinated. |
| 12 | Howard Hughes Medical Institute | 90 | A+ | Biomedical research philanthropy. $24B+ endowment. Funds top scientists. |
| 13 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | 90 | A+ | World's oldest and largest private cancer center. NYC-based. |
| 14 | Mayo Clinic | 90 | A+ | Nonprofit academic medical center. Consistently ranked #1 US hospital. |
| 15 | Smithsonian Institution | 90 | A+ | World's largest museum/research complex. 30M+ visitors annually. US government-funded. |
| 16 | World Food Programme | 90 | A+ | UN agency fighting hunger worldwide. Nobel Peace Prize 2020. Feeds 160M+ people annually. |
| 17 | Médecins Sans Frontières USA | 90 | A+ | US arm of Doctors Without Borders. Major fundraising hub for MSF operations. |
| 18 | Doctors Without Borders | 90 | A+ | Medical humanitarian organization (MSF). Provides emergency medical care worldwide. Nobel Peace Priz... |
| 19 | Fisher House Foundation | 90 | A+ | Comfort homes near military/VA medical centers. Families stay free. Top-rated. |
| 20 | GiveWell | 90 | A+ | Charity evaluator. Identifies most cost-effective charities. Moved $500M+ annually. |
FAQ
Which charities are most trustworthy in 2026?
Based on Nerq Trust Scores, the top-rated charities are listed above, scored on financial transparency, program effectiveness, governance, and accountability.
How are charity trust scores calculated?
Nerq evaluates charities on financial transparency, program expense ratios, governance structure, donor trust signals, and accountability measures.
Should I donate to the top-rated charity?
Trust scores indicate organizational integrity, not necessarily alignment with your values. Review each charity's mission and impact areas to find the best match for your donation.