Donate
Your donation matters
Your donation will help one million children in 2026 gain the critical thinking and communication skills they need to thrive in the world today.
How to donate
Join us in empowering children to engage in deep current affairs discussions in school, nurturing informed, open-minded and thoughtful citizens. Every donation, big or small, transforms children’s lives.
United States
As a US resident, the most efficient way to give to us is through the Charities Aid Foundation.
UK and rest of world
Donations are securely processed via JustGiving and converted to your local currency at the current exchange rate.
Want to speak to our team about other ways to donate or discuss a gift?
Please email [email protected] to reach our fundraising team.
How your donation could be used
Your generosity directly fuels our mission. These giving levels explain what your donation could be used for:
£50
The curious mind
Could provide a student with a thought-provoking lesson about current affairs (monthly/one off)£100
The budding debater
Could support a student to join regular discussions about the news (monthly/one off)
£500
The future leader
Could support a teacher with resources to deliver a full term of current affairs lessons (monthly/one off)
£1,000
The global citizen
Could enable us to reach a classroom in a disadvantaged area (monthly/one off)
£5,000
The visionary supporter
Could help develop new educational content, expanding our reach and impact (monthly/one off)
£ other
A transformative gift
Could provide support for programme expansion and long-term sustainability (monthly/one off)
Why your support matters
In an era of unprecedented global change and digital transformation, the ability to think critically, question assumptions and understand diverse perspectives is needed more than ever. The Economist Educational Foundation equips young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with these vital skills. We foster informed debate, encourage intellectual curiosity and build confidence, preparing the next generation of informed, open-minded and thoughtful citizens.
Your donation directly supports:
- An innovative programme: Delivering weekly lessons to schools in 100+ countries
- Teacher training: Equipping educators with the tools to inspire critical thinking in their classrooms
- Reaching every student: Ensuring our programmes are accessible to all, regardless of their background or location
Follow us to stay up-to-date on our work and the impact of your support.
Donation FAQs
About your donation
Is my donation secure?
Absolutely. We use a globally recognised, secure payment processor (JustGiving or CAF America) that encrypts your personal and financial information. We do not store your credit or debit card details on our servers.
How will I receive a receipt for my donation?
After you complete your online donation, an official receipt will be automatically emailed to the address you provide. If you don't receive it immediately, please check your spam or junk folder.
We will also send a receipt if you donate via wire transfer (within five working days) and cheques (within ten working days).
What payment methods do you accept?
On JustGiving, we currently accept donations made via Visa, MasterCard and American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and instant bank pay (for UK banks).
On CAF America, we accept donations made via most credit/debit cards and Google Pay.
If you would like to donate via bank transfer or cheque, please contact us at [email protected] for instructions.
Can I set up a regular donation?
Yes. You can choose to make your gift monthly on our donation form. Regular donations are incredibly helpful as they provide reliable, ongoing support for our programmes. You can manage or cancel your regular donation at any time by contacting us.
Can I make my donation go further?
If you are a UK taxpayer, ticking the Gift Aid box on the donation form allows us to reclaim basic rate tax on your donation (an extra 25p for every £1 you donate) from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), at no extra cost to you.
For US taxpayers seeking a tax-deductible donation, we are eligible to receive grants from CAF America (Charities Aid Foundation America), a US 501(c)(3) public charity. To receive a US tax receipt, you must donate directly to CAF America via our weblink and state that they make a grant to The Economist Educational Foundation.
If I donate from the US, how does CAF America handle my gift?
In the US, we have partnered with CAF America to create a “Friends Fund”. CAF America is a global grantmaking organisation that assists foundations, charities, corporations and individuals.
The Friends Fund will help US taxpayers make contributions to us as efficiently as possible. As a US public charity, CAF America is able to accept donations into The Economist Educational US Fund at CAF America. Net funds, after a small handling fee paid to CAF America, are then transferred onwards to us.
Please be aware that:
- Once a gift is made to CAF America, it becomes the property of CAF America. This means CAF America retains ultimate control, authority, and discretion over the assets. All grants are made solely at CAF America's independent discretion.
- Your gift is non-refundable.
- You will receive no tangible benefit or privilege from either CAF America or any suggested charity in return for your donation.
Impact
Where does my money go?
Your donation directly supports us to reach one million children by the end of 2026. We are committed to transparency: your gift directly funds our charitable work, including programmes and operational support that ensures our projects are effective, sustainable and deliver the maximum impact.
Can I designate my donation to a specific programme?
We generally prefer unrestricted gifts as it allows us the flexibility to respond quickly to urgent needs, but if you have a specific programme in mind, please contact us before donating.
Privacy
Will you sell or share my information with other organisations?
No. We value your privacy and trust. We do not sell or trade our donors' names or contact information with any other organisation. We will share your information within The Economist Group and use it solely to process your donation, provide you with updates on our work, issue receipts and build your profile with us.
Who should I contact if I have a problem with my donation?
If you have any questions, need a receipt re-sent, or have any issues with your donation, please contact our fundraising team: [email protected]. We aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day.
