Fistula Foundation
Funding surgeries that repair obstetric fistula and restore health to women worldwide
Our editorial assessment
Fistula Foundation addresses one of the most neglected injuries in global health: obstetric fistula, a childbirth complication that leaves women incontinent and often socially isolated, yet is repairable with a single surgery. The Foundation funds these surgeries through local hospitals, and has been repeatedly recommended by The Life You Can Save for its cost-effectiveness. Charity Navigator has awarded it a four-star rating every year since 2006, and CharityWatch grades it an "A", with more than 85% of spending reaching programmes. For donors seeking a high-impact women's-health focus, it is a standout.
The problem they're solving
Obstetric fistula affects an estimated one to two million women, overwhelmingly in low-income countries, and it is both preventable and treatable — yet surgery is often out of reach. Fistula Foundation funds the operation that restores a woman's health and dignity, typically for a few hundred dollars.
About Fistula Foundation
Fistula Foundation funds surgeries and treatment for women suffering from obstetric fistula — a devastating childbirth injury — across Africa and Asia, working through a network of local hospitals and surgeons.
Where your dollar goes
What your donation could do
Your $100 contributes toward life-changing fistula surgeries.
Illustrative estimate based on figures this organisation publishes about its own programs — not a statement from the charity itself. Actual impact varies by program and year.
What donors say about Fistula Foundation
Donors signed in with Google can rate Fistula Foundation from one to five stars and share a short review of their experience — whether as a donor, volunteer, or beneficiary. Community ratings are displayed as their own criterion alongside our editorial metrics; they never alter the editorial 0–100 score.
Sign in with Google to rate this charity and read donor reviews.
How this score was produced
The Charity Ranking score is our own editorial assessment, produced with a weighted rubric covering program spending, transparency and governance, evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and leadership. It draws on publicly available reports from independent evaluators such as GiveWell, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch, but it is not a rating issued or endorsed by any of those organisations. The community rating shown above is a separate signal contributed by signed-in donors; it is displayed alongside our criteria but never feeds into the editorial score. Read the full methodology →