Considered as the largest and the oldest international NGO exclusively working on Africa, Africare has been founded by a group of Peace Corps members in the 1970.  With over $1 billion in assistance delivered since its founding, the group has five principal areas they are addressing:
  • Health, HIV and AIDS
  • Agriculture and Food Security
  • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
  •  Resettlement and
  • Women’s Empowerment

They have reached out and helped families in 35 countries with their over 2,500 projects through the years. Their main mission is to make the lives of Africans better. Led by William O. Kirker, M.D., and Barbara Jean A. Kirker, the group of 17 volunteers were helping out West Africa at the time of severe drought. The Kirkers were the ones who named the group Africare.

With the help of Niger President Diori Hamani, the group was able to seek more assistance from the US government and was able to start with a funding of $39,550. C. Payne Lucas was made the president of the foundation. He was the director of the Peace Corps Office of Returned Volunteers in D.C.. Together with his team, they were able to address the cry for help of President Hamani.

With every $1 donation you will make, 94% will go directly to the program service. The remaining amount will go to management, general and fundraising. The foundation has offices in 18 countries in Africa with their headquarters in Washington D.C.. Their staff is mostly African descent comprising more than 90% of their total employees.

Africare is not part of any charitable institution. It is an independent private sector and has been receiving various citations for their notable works. In 2011, the Chicago Tribune as a top charity in international development. They also received a perfect four star rating from Charity Navigator. The foundation’s annual revenue is estimated to be more than $54 million.