Save the Children USA

Save the Children USA, legally known as Save the Children Federation, Inc., is a United States nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives and prospects of children affected by poverty, conflict, disasters, displacement, and unequal access to education and health services. It is part of the broader Save the Children movement, which originated with the British Save the Children Fund established in 1919. The United States organization was created in 1932 by Dr. John Voris and Dr. Frank Kingdon during the Great Depression. Its first major purpose was to assist children in the Appalachian Mountains, where economic hardship had created severe needs for food, health care, and basic welfare. The organization combines direct services, emergency response, international development, public advocacy, fundraising, and research. In the United States, its programs reach more than 200 poor rural communities and emphasize early childhood development, kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency, after-school safety and enrichment, and the maintenance of reading and mathematics skills during the summer. Save the Children USA also responds to domestic natural disasters and works with children and families affected by poverty and other forms of vulnerability. Internationally, the organization operates through the Save the Children network. Its work has included substantial activity in countries and regions affected by war, humanitarian emergencies, displacement, and public-health crises, including Yemen, Syria, Bangladesh, and communities on both sides of the United States southern border. The organization states that it can mobilize skilled health professionals within 72 hours of a crisis. Its international work includes child protection, health and nutrition, education, emergency relief, livelihoods, and advocacy for children's rights. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it also supported children and families facing disruptions to schooling, health care, household income, and personal safety. Save the Children USA's advocacy role is supported by commissioned and internally produced research. Its publications have included the International Development and Early Learning Assessment, or IDELA, a tool for evaluating aspects of child development; recurring End of Childhood Reports and an End of Childhood Index; reports concerning the effects of armed conflict on children; and analysis of the pandemic's impact on children's lives. These publications are used to document threats to childhood and support policy arguments concerning education, protection, health, and humanitarian action. The brand is positioned as a child-centered humanitarian and development organization with both domestic and international reach. It presents itself not only as a relief charity but also as an advocate for durable improvements in children's welfare. Public-facing ambassadors have included prominent entertainers and actors, such as Camila Cabello, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Garner, Enrique Iglesias, and Olivia Wilde, who help promote the mission, raise funds, and increase public awareness. The organization remains active and operates as a nonprofit rather than a listed commercial company.

Save the Children USA belongs to the international Save the Children movement, whose roots lie in the Save the Children Fund founded in Britain in 1919. The movement was created in response to the effects of war and deprivation on children and developed a model that combined public appeals, child-focused relief, and long-term welfare work. Save the Children USA was established in 1932 by Dr. John Voris and Dr. Frank Kingdon. Its early work concentrated on children in the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression, when unemployment, weak infrastructure, poverty, and limited access to health and education services created extensive hardship. Over time, the United States organization developed from a primarily relief-oriented charity into a broad child-development and humanitarian institution. Its domestic programs have focused particularly on underserved rural communities. These activities include early learning, preparing children for kindergarten, supporting literacy through the early grades, providing safe and constructive after-school settings, and helping children retain academic skills during the summer. The organization has also responded to natural disasters in the United States, extending its child-centered approach to families whose homes, schools, and communities have been disrupted. Its international work is conducted within the wider Save the Children network, now represented by Save the Children International and affiliated national organizations. The network works in more than 120 countries and has operated across a much larger number of communities worldwide. Save the Children USA has been associated with programs in conflict-affected and crisis-prone settings such as Yemen, Syria, and Bangladesh, as well as with work involving migrant and displaced children on both sides of the United States southern border. International activities have included emergency health care, nutrition, education, child protection, humanitarian assistance, and support for communities recovering from crisis. The organization says that it can assemble a team of qualified health professionals within 72 hours of an emergency. Research and advocacy have become important parts of the organization's identity. Save the Children USA has supported the International Development and Early Learning Assessment, a direct assessment approach designed to examine elements of young children's development. It has also published End of Childhood Reports and an End of Childhood Index, which compare countries using indicators associated with whether children are able to experience a safe and healthy childhood. Reports issued in 2019, 2020, and 2021 examined the effects of war and violations on children, while other work addressed the consequences of COVID-19 for children's lives and opportunities. The organization has also experienced reputational and operational challenges. In 1998, press reporting alleged that donor sponsorship funds had been mishandled because contributions were still being collected for children who had died. Save the Children dismissed an employee in Mali and reprimanded three additional employees. Later that year, it recalled about 2,000 mugs whose lead content exceeded an upcoming voluntary California standard, despite compliance with the federal requirements then in force. In 2020, the organization's name and hashtag were used without authorization by QAnon proponents. Save the Children publicly rejected that appropriation and clarified the distinction between its established child-welfare mission and the unrelated conspiracy-driven activity. Save the Children USA continues to operate as a nonprofit within the international Save the Children family. Its current identity rests on the combination of practical services, emergency capacity, policy advocacy, public education, fundraising, and research. Charity Navigator ratings cited in the organization's reference history varied over time: the organization received four stars from 2001 through 2014, three stars from 2015 through 2017, and four stars again in 2018 and 2019.

• 2020

  Response to unauthorized #SaveTheChildren use

  [1]Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org

  Save the Children issued a statement after QAnon proponents attempted to use the organization's name and hashtag for unrelated activity.

• 2019

  Stop the War reporting begins

  [1]Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org

  The organization published reporting focused on the effects of war and alleged war crimes on children; related reports followed in 2020 and 2021.

• 2016

  International Development and Early Learning Assessment research

  [1]Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org

  Save the Children USA published work concerning IDELA, a direct approach for assessing aspects of children's early development.

• 1998

  Sponsorship-fund mishandling becomes public

  [1]Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org

  Press reporting described donations being collected for children who had died. The organization dismissed one employee and reprimanded three others.

• 1998

  Lead-related mug recall

  [1]Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org

  Approximately 2,000 mugs were recalled because their lead content exceeded a voluntary California standard scheduled for introduction, although the products met applicable federal guidelines at the time.

• 1932

  Save the Children USA is established

  [1]Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org

  Dr. John Voris and Dr. Frank Kingdon founded the United States organization to help children in the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression.

• 1919

  The Save the Children movement is founded in Britain

  [1]Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org

  The British Save the Children Fund, which later provided the model for affiliated national organizations including the United States organization, was established to assist children affected by war and deprivation.

A child-centered nonprofit combining humanitarian relief, long-term development, education, health, protection, research, and advocacy in the United States and internationally.

• Domestic child development

  U.S. rural-community programs

  Programs serving children in more than 200 poor rural communities in the United States. Their objectives include kindergarten readiness, reading proficiency by third grade, safe and enriching after-school activities, and preserving reading and mathematics skills during summer periods.

• Humanitarian relief

  Emergency response

  Emergency assistance for children and families affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, displacement, disease outbreaks, and other crises. The organization states that it can mobilize skilled health professionals within 72 hours of a crisis.

• International development

  International child protection and education

  Programs delivered through the Save the Children network in countries including Yemen, Syria, and Bangladesh, and in communities affected by migration and displacement along the U.S. southern border. Activities include education, health, nutrition, protection, and recovery support.

• Research and advocacy

  End of Childhood Index and Reports

  A recurring research and advocacy platform that evaluates countries using indicators associated with major threats to childhood and the ability of children to grow up safely, healthily, and with access to opportunity.

• Child-development assessment · 2016

  International Development and Early Learning Assessment

  A direct assessment approach used to study selected dimensions of early childhood development and to support evaluation of development programs and policy interventions.

• 2020

  Unauthorized QAnon appropriation of the Save the Children name

  QAnon proponents used the organization's name and hashtag in unrelated activity. Save the Children disavowed the unauthorized use and publicly distinguished it from the organization's work.

  Source

• 1998

  Child-sponsorship reporting controversy

  A Chicago Tribune investigation reported that some donor payments continued to sponsor children who had died. The organization dismissed a Mali-based employee and reprimanded three others for failing to report deaths.

  Source

Read more

• 2020#SaveTheChildren clarification campaign

  United States · Online and international audiences

  Save the Children responded publicly after QAnon proponents attempted to co-opt the organization's name and the #SaveTheChildren hashtag for unrelated conspiracy-oriented campaigns. The organization sought to protect its identity and clarify its established child-welfare mission.

  Outcome. The organization issued a public statement on August 7, 2020; the hashtag had also been temporarily blocked on Facebook amid the controversy.

  Source

• 2020

  Public disavowal of unauthorized hashtag useStrategy

  Background

  The #SaveTheChildren hashtag was appropriated by QAnon proponents for activity unrelated to the organization's humanitarian and child-rights work.

  Action taken

  Save the Children issued a statement clarifying that the campaigns were unauthorized and separate from the organization.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued to distinguish its established programs and identity from the online conspiracy movement's use of its name.

  Source

• 1998

  Disciplinary response to sponsorship-reporting failuresOther

  Background

  Press reporting identified cases in which donations were collected for children who had died and whose deaths had not been properly reported.

  Action taken

  Save the Children dismissed one employee based in Mali and reprimanded three additional employees.

  Aftermath

  The incident became a significant reputational controversy concerning sponsorship administration and donor communications.

  Source

• 1998

  Recall of lead-containing mugsOther

  Background

  Testing showed that approximately 2,000 mugs had lead content above a voluntary California standard that was due to take effect, although they complied with then-current federal guidelines.

  Action taken

  The organization recalled the mugs.

  Aftermath

  The products were withdrawn as a precaution in response to the stricter voluntary standard.

  Source

• 2020

  Save the Children USA expanded COVID-19-related child and family assistance[1]Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The organization provided international relief and documented how the COVID-19 pandemic affected children's education, health, safety, and household circumstances.

• 1998

  Save the Children USA recalled mugs over lead levels[1]Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org

  Recall

  The organization recalled approximately 2,000 mugs after testing found lead content above a voluntary California standard that was scheduled to take effect, even though the products complied with then-current federal guidelines.

1. 1Save the Children USAen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Save the Children USA official websitesavethechildren.org