In October 2026, in partnership with Eternal Life Mission for the Aged, the OIOTA Family Foundation provided free medical consultations, health advice, medical tests and medications to elderly community members in Nigeria. The page for that visit, Outreach for Elderly Nigeria (https://oiotafamilyfoundation.org/global-outreaches/outreach-for-elderly-nigeria/), lists 42 documented field photos.
That kind of record is what you should look for before you donate to a charity in Nigeria from the USA. This guide is for Nigerians in the diaspora and friends of Nigeria who want their gifts to reach people and be used well. It gives you six checks to run before you give, so you can decide with confidence before National Philanthropy Day on 15 November 2026 or Giving Tuesday on 1 December 2026.
How do you donate to charity in Nigeria from the USA before National Philanthropy Day?
To donate to charity in Nigeria from the USA, pick a charity with documented work in a named place, check its registration and leadership, confirm how your gift will be used, and give through a traceable method such as an online form, Zelle or PayPal. Keep your receipt and ask for a report afterward.
National Philanthropy Day falls on Sunday, 15 November 2026, and Giving Tuesday follows on Tuesday, 1 December 2026. Planning ahead gives you time to run your checks without feeling rushed. The steps in this guide work for any charity, large or small.
Why giving to Nigeria from abroad needs a few checks
Distance hides the proof
When you live in the US, you cannot visit the clinic, school or home where your gift is used. You depend on what the charity shows and tells you. For that reason, documentation matters more than a polished website.
Nigerians abroad already send money home
According to the World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief published in 2024, remittances to Nigeria reached $19.5 billion in 2023, about 35 percent of the flows to sub-Saharan Africa. AllAfrica’s report on the brief (https://allafrica.com/stories/202407010180.html) has the details. Giving to a charity differs from sending money to family, because the people you help are strangers. That is why a clear way to judge who you are trusting is worth having. allafrica
Newer charities have shorter records
Established charities usually have long public records. A newer, family-run foundation has a shorter one, so you can judge it by the work itself. We were founded in 2023 by Harry A. Osawe and Dr. Taiye O. Osawe and their family, and a small team runs the foundation. We invite you to run the same checks on us.
What we have seen on the ground
A charity’s own outreach pages are the best place to start. A good page names the place, the month and the items or services provided. You can compare those details with what the charity says in its appeals.
From the Field
Medical Outreach, Benin City, January 2026 (https://oiotafamilyfoundation.org/global-outreaches/medical-outreach-benin/): Hundreds of people received free care, including eye screenings, dental checkups and health consultations, many for the first time in years. Families also received relief packages with rice, beans, salt and dental care kits. Each of these details is specific enough for a donor to compare with what a charity says it does.
Some gifts leave a finished result you can ask about. In December 2025, we carried out a full renovation of one of the boys’ hostels at Ibadan School for the Deaf (https://oiotafamilyfoundation.org/global-outreaches/ibadan-school-of-the-deaf/), creating a safer and more comfortable place to live and learn. A completed renovation gives a donor a clear question to ask and a clear record to look for.
From the Field
Outreach for Elderly Nigeria, October 2026: In partnership with Eternal Life Mission for the Aged, we offered free medical consultations, health advice, medical tests and medications to elderly community members. The outreach page includes 42 documented field photos. A named partner and a photo record give donors two more things to check.
If you want more detail before you decide, read the outreach pages on our website and write to us at info@oiotafamilyfoundation.org through our contact page (https://oiotafamilyfoundation.org/contact-information/). We are glad to hear from donors.
What works: six checks to run before you give
These checks apply to any charity. Each one also shows how you can check the OIOTA Family Foundation.
1. Check registration and tax status
In the US, the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-select-check) lets you look up an organization’s federal tax status and its filings. In Nigeria, ask how the charity or its local partners are registered. [CONFIRM: insert the OIOTA Family Foundation’s registration details and EIN as confirmed by the team.] irs
2. Look for named places, dates and photos
Outreach pages should name a place, a month and a year. Ours name places such as Benin City, Ibadan and Lagos, along with months and years. If a charity cannot point to specific places and dates, ask why.
3. Find the people behind the work
A charity should name its leaders. Our team page (https://oiotafamilyfoundation.org/team/) lists the founder, the CEO, a general manager, an outreach manager, a medical advisor and an accountant. If you cannot find names, ask for them.
4. Ask about local partners
A charity that delivers care or education usually works with clinics, hospitals, schools or homes. Ask for the partners’ names and see whether they match the outreach pages. Our October 2026 elderly outreach names Eternal Life Mission for the Aged as its partner.
5. Ask what your gift supports
Ask which kinds of work your gift supports. Our mission covers education, healthcare through counseling, and essential resources such as food, clean water, clothing, shelter and health services. If you have questions about our programs, write to us.
6. Give in a way you can trace
Use a method that leaves a record, such as an online donation form, Zelle or PayPal. Save your confirmation. Be careful with any request to pay by gift card or by wire transfer to a personal account, or with pressure to give at once.
Leadership Insight
Dr. Taiye O. Osawe, CEO of the OIOTA Family Foundation, emphasizes that collaboration is one of the foundation’s five pillars, and that this pillar includes transparent donor stewardship. Dr. Osawe is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and psychiatric provider, and the foundation’s mission includes healthcare through counseling.
How you can help from the US
If you are an individual donor in the US, here are four ways to support our work:
- Donate online through our donate page (https://oiotafamilyfoundation.org/donate-now/).
- Send a gift by Zelle to info@oiotafamilyfoundation.org, or use the PayPal QR code on the donate page.
- Ask your employer whether it offers matching gifts, then give through that program.
- Host a fundraiser (https://oiotafamilyfoundation.org/host-a-fundraiser/) with friends, family or your community group.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I donate to a charity in Nigeria from the US?
Choose a charity with documented work in named places, then give through a method that leaves a record. The OIOTA Family Foundation accepts gifts through its donation page, Zelle to info@oiotafamilyfoundation.org, PayPal and employer matching gifts. The foundation is based in the Los Angeles area and runs outreach programs in Benin City, Ibadan and Lagos in Nigeria.
How do I know if a Nigerian charity is legitimate?
Check its registration and filings, look for outreach pages with named places, dates and photos, and confirm that its leaders and partners are listed by name. Compare what the charity says in its appeals with what its outreach pages show. If the details do not match, or you cannot find any, ask the charity to explain before you give.
Is it safe to send money to a charity in Nigeria?
Safety depends on the charity and on how you pay. Use an online form, Zelle or PayPal, which leave a record, and avoid sending money to a personal account. Be careful with any group that asks for gift cards or pressures you to give at once. Run the six checks in this guide before your first gift.
What should I ask a charity before I donate?
Ask where it works and when, who its partners are, who leads it, and which kinds of work your gift supports. Ask how it is registered and whether it can share photos or outreach pages. A charity that answers clearly and points you to written records gives you more to judge than one that gives vague replies.
Who runs the OIOTA Family Foundation?
Harry A. Osawe and Dr. Taiye O. Osawe founded the foundation in 2023 with their family. Dr. Osawe is the CEO, a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a psychiatric provider. A small team includes a general manager, an outreach manager, a medical advisor and an accountant. OIOTA stands for the initials of the family names Osasuyi, Iyobosa, Osaretin, Taiye and Amen.
How can I support medical outreaches in Nigeria?
You can donate online, give by Zelle or PayPal, ask your employer about matching gifts, or host a fundraiser. Companies can sponsor a full medical outreach and receive an impact report plus photo and video assets for CSR reporting. Medical and other professionals can volunteer in the field or offer pro-bono skills.
Give with clear information
Good giving starts with good information. Run the six checks on any charity you are considering, and give when the answers satisfy you. To support our outreaches in Nigeria, you can donate through our donate page (https://oiotafamilyfoundation.org/donate-now/) at any time, including on Giving Tuesday, 1 December 2026. If this guide helped, share it with a friend or relative who gives to causes in Nigeria.