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Charity

Finding Legitimate Charities to Donate to in Kenya

10 min read
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Easy Access Staff

Introduction

Many Kenyans want to give back to their communities through charitable donations. However, with increasing reports of fake charities and misuse of donated funds, it is important to know how to identify legitimate organizations. Your hard-earned money should reach people who truly need help, not fund scams or pay for unnecessary administrative costs.

This guide will help you identify trustworthy charities in Kenya, check their credentials, and ensure your donations make real impact.

Why Verification Matters

Common Problems with Fake Charities

Fundraising Scams

  • People claiming to help sick individuals but keeping the money
  • Fake orphanages that exploit children for donations
  • Organizations that exaggerate needs or fabricate stories
  • Collections for funerals or medical bills that never happened

Mismanagement

  • Real charities that spend most donations on salaries and overhead
  • Poor financial accountability
  • Lack of transparency about how money is used
  • No clear impact from the work they claim to do

Consequences

  • Donors lose money to scammers
  • Real charities struggle because people lose trust
  • Communities in need do not get help
  • Charitable giving gets a bad reputation

How to Verify a Charity is Legitimate

1. Check Official Registration

NGO Coordination Board

All NGOs in Kenya must be registered with the NGO Coordination Board.

How to Check

  • Visit www.ngobureau.go.ke
  • Look for the organization in their database
  • Verify registration number and status
  • Check if they file annual returns (sign of active compliance)

Red Flags

  • Organization refuses to provide registration number
  • Cannot find them in official database
  • Registration is suspended or revoked
  • Registered recently but claiming years of experience

Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)

Registered with county Department of Social Development.

How to Verify

  • Contact your county social development office
  • Ask if the organization is registered
  • Request to see their registration certificate (they should have original)

Trusts and Foundations

Registered with Registrar of Trusts.

Verification

  • Ask for trust registration documents
  • Check with Registrar of Trusts at Sheria House, Nairobi

2. Check KRA PIN and Tax Exemption

Kenya Revenue Authority Registration

Legitimate charities should have:

  • KRA PIN (Personal Identification Number)
  • Tax exemption certificate (if they claim tax-deductible donations)

How to Verify

  • Ask the charity for their KRA PIN
  • Request copy of tax exemption certificate
  • Contact KRA to verify (if making large donation)

Why This Matters

  • Shows they operate formally
  • Tax exemption requires vetting by KRA
  • Indicates financial accountability

3. Review Their Track Record

How Long Have They Operated?

  • Established charities have history you can check
  • New organizations need extra scrutiny
  • Ask about past projects and outcomes

Online Presence

  • Check their website (if they have one)
  • Look at social media activity
  • Search their name online for news articles
  • Look for reviews or mentions by others

Physical Office

  • Do they have actual office or workspace?
  • P.O. Box only can be a red flag for larger organizations
  • Visit if possible before donating large amounts

References

  • Ask for contacts of other donors
  • Request references from partners or beneficiaries
  • Check if reputable organizations or companies have worked with them

4. Examine Financial Transparency

Financial Reports

Good charities should:

  • Publish annual financial reports
  • Show how donations are used
  • Breakdown of program costs vs. administrative costs
  • Be willing to share financial information with donors

What to Look For

  • 70-80% of funds should go to programs (helping people)
  • 20-30% for administration and fundraising is reasonable
  • Higher administration costs may indicate problems

Red Flags

  • Refuse to provide financial information
  • No audited accounts
  • Cannot explain where money goes
  • Excessive salaries for leadership

Bank Account

Legitimate charities have:

  • Official bank account in organization’s name
  • Should not ask you to send money to personal accounts
  • Multiple signatories required for withdrawals (good practice)

5. Assess Their Mission and Impact

Clear Mission Statement

  • Do they have specific, measurable goals?
  • Is their purpose clearly stated?
  • Does it match what they actually do?

Documented Impact

  • Can they show results of their work?
  • Do they measure outcomes, not just activities?
  • Stories and testimonials from beneficiaries
  • Photos and reports of actual programs

Realistic Claims

  • Be suspicious of promises to solve huge problems with small donations
  • Good charities are honest about challenges they face
  • They show both successes and limitations

Where to Find Legitimate Charities

Established Organizations

Large International NGOs Operating in Kenya

  • World Vision Kenya
  • Save the Children Kenya
  • Kenya Red Cross Society
  • Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Kenya
  • Oxfam Kenya
  • CARE International Kenya

These have strong oversight, transparency, and proven track records.

Faith-Based Organizations

  • Catholic Diocese programs (Caritas, etc.)
  • Anglican Church of Kenya community programs
  • Islamic charitable organizations
  • Other religious charity arms

Many have good accountability through their institutions.

County and National Programs

  • Boma Yangu Initiative
  • Kazi Mtaani programs
  • County-specific welfare programs

Government programs have official oversight.

Finding Smaller Local Charities

Through Community Networks

  • Ask your chief or village elder
  • Church or mosque recommendations
  • School guidance counselors
  • Community leaders

Online Directories

  • NGO Coordination Board website lists registered NGOs
  • GuideStar (international charity database)
  • Local business directories
  • Social media groups focused on charity work

Through Existing Donors

  • Ask friends who donate regularly
  • Corporate social responsibility programs often vet charities
  • Employer matching gift programs (companies only match donations to verified charities)

Questions to Ask Before Donating

About the Organization

  1. “What is your registration number?”
  2. “Can I see your registration certificate?”
  3. “Do you have a website or social media page I can review?”
  4. “Who are your board members or trustees?”
  5. “Where is your physical office located?”

About Finances

  1. “Can I see your latest financial report?”
  2. “What percentage of donations goes directly to programs?”
  3. “Do you have audited financial statements?”
  4. “What is your annual budget?”
  5. “How are salaries for staff determined?”

About Their Work

  1. “What specific programs do you run?”
  2. “How do you measure your impact?”
  3. “Can you share success stories with documentation?”
  4. “Who benefits from your work?”
  5. “Can I visit your programs or meet beneficiaries?”

About Your Donation

  1. “Will I receive a receipt?”
  2. “Is my donation tax-deductible?”
  3. “How will my specific donation be used?”
  4. “Will I receive updates on the impact of my donation?”
  5. “Can I designate my donation for a specific purpose?”

If They Cannot or Will Not Answer These Questions, Be Very Cautious

Red Flags to Watch For

Warning Signs of Scams

Pressure Tactics

  • Urgent requests demanding immediate donations
  • High-pressure sales tactics
  • Emotional manipulation without facts
  • Threats or guilt if you don’t donate

Suspicious Requests

  • Want money sent to personal M-Pesa or bank accounts
  • Ask for cash only
  • No official receipt provided
  • Payment to individuals, not organizations

Lack of Transparency

  • Refuse to provide registration information
  • No verifiable address or contact
  • Cannot show previous work
  • No references or testimonials
  • Avoid answering direct questions

Too Good to Be True

  • Promise your small donation will solve massive problems
  • Claim 100% of donations go to beneficiaries (some administration is normal)
  • Guarantee specific outcomes
  • Use stock photos instead of real photos from their work

Poor Communication

  • Only contact you when asking for money
  • Generic form letters
  • Spelling and grammar errors in official documents
  • No follow-up on how donations were used

Suspicious Behavior

  • Change story about what they do
  • Cannot provide details about programs
  • Leadership is secretive or unknown
  • No clear governance structure

Common Scam Tactics in Kenya

Fake Medical Fundraisers

  • Social media posts with hospital photos (often stolen images)
  • Claims of urgent surgery needed
  • Child or parent dying unless funds received immediately
  • M-Pesa number to personal account

How to Verify

  • Ask for hospital bill and doctor’s letter
  • Contact the hospital directly to confirm
  • Request to visit the patient
  • Ask for regular updates with photos

Orphanage Scams

  • Claim to care for orphans but children are not actually orphaned
  • Use children to attract donations
  • Keep children in poor conditions despite receiving funds
  • Deny access to verify children’s welfare

How to Protect

  • Visit unannounced if possible
  • Ask to see children’s files and intake processes
  • Check with local children’s services
  • Observe children’s condition and happiness

Fake School Fundraisers

  • Claims to build or support schools
  • Request money for bursaries that don’t exist
  • Show photos of students who are not real beneficiaries

Verification

  • Visit the school personally
  • Talk to teachers and students
  • See completed projects
  • Check with Ministry of Education records

Safe Ways to Donate

Choose Secure Payment Methods

Bank Transfer to Official Account

  • Organization’s account (not individual)
  • Get official receipt
  • Keep transaction records

M-Pesa Paybill

  • Organizations can have official paybills
  • Verify the paybill is actually theirs (check website/documents)
  • Safer than sending to personal M-Pesa numbers
  • Provides transaction record

Online Donation Platforms

  • Charity’s official website
  • Verified crowdfunding platforms (M-Changa, GoFundMe, etc.)
  • Check URL is correct (not a fake copy)

Check or Cash (Less Recommended)

  • Only in person
  • Demand official receipt immediately
  • Get receipt with organization stamp and signature

What to Avoid

  • Personal M-Pesa or bank accounts (unless very small community group you know personally)
  • Cash to individuals claiming to represent charity
  • Bitcoin or cryptocurrency (harder to trace and recover)

Get Proper Documentation

Always Request

  • Official receipt with organization name and stamp
  • Receipt number for tracking
  • Description of what donation is for
  • Date and amount
  • Contact information

Keep Records

  • All receipts
  • Email confirmations
  • Bank/M-Pesa statements
  • Correspondence with charity

Start Small

Test Before Major Donation

  • Make small initial donation
  • See how they handle it
  • Check if they provide receipt and updates
  • If satisfied, consider larger donation

Designate Your Donation

Specify Purpose

  • “For school supplies only”
  • “For food program”
  • “General support”

This helps ensure money is used as you intended.

Request Updates

Follow-Up

  • Ask for report on how donation was used
  • Photos of beneficiaries or projects (if appropriate)
  • Financial accounting
  • Impact stories

Good charities will happily provide this.

Making Impact with Your Donations

Choose Charities Aligned with Your Values

Identify What Matters to You

  • Children’s welfare
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Environment
  • Elderly care
  • Poverty alleviation
  • Women’s empowerment

Focus donations where you care most.

Consider Local vs. International

Local Community Charities

  • Direct impact in your area
  • Lower overhead costs
  • You can see results personally
  • Build local capacity

Larger National/International NGOs

  • Professional operations
  • Better infrastructure
  • Greater reach
  • More transparency and accountability
  • Audited regularly

Both have value - choose based on your preference.

Regular Giving vs. One-Time

Monthly Donations

  • Helps charities plan better
  • Shows sustained commitment
  • Can be small amounts
  • Builds relationship with organization

One-Time Donations

  • Flexibility
  • Can be strategic (responding to specific needs)
  • Easier to stop if concerns arise

Volunteer Your Time

Beyond Money

  • Offer professional skills (accounting, legal, marketing)
  • Volunteer at events
  • Mentor beneficiaries
  • Serve on boards

This helps you understand the charity better and adds non-financial value.

Reporting Suspected Fraud

If You Suspect a Scam

Gather Evidence

  • Save all communications
  • Screenshots of posts or websites
  • Receipt or transaction records
  • Names and contacts of people involved

Report To

NGO Coordination Board

  • If registered NGO
  • Email or visit their offices
  • File formal complaint

County Social Development Office

  • For CBOs
  • Report misuse of funds or fake registration

Police

  • Criminal fraud
  • CID or local police station
  • Bring all evidence

Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)

  • For serious fraud cases
  • Cybercrime unit for online scams

Social Media Platforms

  • Report fake fundraising posts
  • Report accounts impersonating charities
  • Help prevent others from being scammed

Kenya Red Cross Fraud Hotline

  • If scam uses Red Cross name
  • They take impersonation seriously

Warn Others

Share Information

  • Post on social media (with facts, not just accusations)
  • Tell community groups
  • Warn family and friends
  • Report to charity watchdog groups

Be careful to have solid evidence before publicly accusing anyone.

Building a Giving Strategy

Set a Giving Budget

Decide How Much

  • What percentage of income to donate (many people do 1-10%)
  • Annual giving budget
  • Monthly automatic donations

Balance

  • Support multiple causes
  • Mix of local and larger organizations
  • Emergency funds for urgent needs

Do Your Research

Before Every Major Donation

  • Spend time verifying
  • Larger donation = more verification needed
  • Build a list of trusted charities

Build Relationships

Long-Term Partnerships

  • Choose 2-3 charities to support consistently
  • Get to know their work
  • Attend events
  • Provide feedback

Track Your Impact

Keep Records

  • Where you donated
  • How much
  • What for
  • Follow-up received

Review Annually

  • Which charities are effective?
  • Where has impact been greatest?
  • Adjust giving strategy

Resources for Charity Verification

Government Websites

Help and Advice

  • County Social Development offices
  • Community leaders and chiefs
  • Established charity networks
  • Legal advice (for large donations)

Warning Lists

  • Check social media for reported scams
  • Police announcements about fraud
  • News articles about charity fraud
  • Community WhatsApp groups

Conclusion

Donating to charity is a generous act that can make real difference in people’s lives. However, in Kenya’s growing charitable sector, you must be careful to ensure your donations reach legitimate organizations.

Always verify registration, check financial transparency, ask tough questions, and start with small donations before committing larger amounts. Use secure payment methods, get proper receipts, and request updates on impact.

Remember that good charities welcome your questions and scrutiny. They are happy to prove their legitimacy because they want donors to trust them. If an organization is defensive, secretive, or evasive, that is a warning sign.

By doing your due diligence, you protect yourself from scams while ensuring your generosity creates real positive change for Kenyans in need. Take time to verify, donate wisely, and your contributions will make meaningful impact in communities across Kenya.