Every child deserves a fair start
Small gifts. Lasting change.
We partner with local leaders in 14 communities to keep kids in school, put food on tables and help parents earn a fair living.
84,000
People reached in 2026
14
Partner communities
$6.1M
Raised from 9,000 donors
4★
Charity Navigator
What your support did last year
12,400
Kids kept in school
1.6M
Meals served
3,200
Parents in job training
91%
Of every dollar to programs
Our work
Three programs, one family at a time
Led by local staff who live in the communities they serve.
Education
Classrooms First
School fees, uniforms, books and after-school tutoring for children aged 6–16.
Food security
Full Plates
Community gardens and school meals so no child learns on an empty stomach.
Livelihoods
Fair Work
Micro-grants and skills training that help parents start sustainable businesses.
Our story
Built with communities, not for them
Common Ground began in 2011 when teacher Grace Mensah raised $4,000 to reopen a shuttered village school. Fifteen years later, we work alongside 14 communities across three continents.
Every program is designed with local parents, teachers and elders — and every dollar is tracked and reported publicly.
15 yrs
Of community partnership
210
Local staff & volunteers
Radical transparency
Where every dollar goes
Audited annually and published in full. Here's how $100 works.
01
$58 — Education
Fees, books, uniforms and tutors for children who would otherwise leave school.
02
$22 — Food security
Seeds, tools, school meals and community garden training.
03
$11 — Livelihoods
Micro-grants and business training for parents.
04
$9 — Running the charity
Audits, staff and the systems that keep us accountable.
When my son went back to school, our whole family's future changed. Now I run a tailoring shop and employ two neighbors.
Amina Yusuf
Fair Work graduate & parent
Donate
Choose your monthly gift
Cancel anytime. Gifts are tax-deductible and you'll get a field update every quarter.
Partners & funders
Brightpath Fund
Meridian Trust
Open Harvest
Kinfolk Bank
Lumen Foundation
FAQ
Giving with confidence
Questions about a gift? Our donor care team is at (720) 555-0158, weekdays 9–5 MT.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes. Common Ground is a registered 501(c)(3) and you'll receive a receipt instantly.
How much goes to programs?
91 cents of every dollar goes directly to programs, verified by independent annual audits.
Can I give in someone's name?
Absolutely — choose a tribute gift and we'll send them a personalized card.
Can I cancel a monthly gift?
Anytime, in one click from your donor account or by emailing us.
Give a child a fair start today.
Your first monthly gift is matched by the Meridian Trust until December 31.