The Underdog Project
The Underdog Project aims to transforms the lives of at-risk youth in Cape Town, South Africa, by pairing them with shelter dogs in a unique program that builds …
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THE UNDERDOG PROJECT Get involved today! The Underdog Project is on a crusade of kindness. Using highly successful animal assisted activities and therapeuti ...
Mission
The Underdog Project aims to transforms the lives of at-risk youth in Cape Town, South Africa, by pairing them with shelter dogs in a unique program that builds empathy, leadership, and emotional intelligence. Through weekly training sessions, youth learn to care for and communicate with the dogs, improving their resilience and employability. Simultaneously, the dogs benefit from the training and love, increasing their chances of adoption. Together, they foster growth and compassion in their communities. Challenge: Youth in Cape Town's underserved communities face barriers like poverty, violence, and unemployment, with limited access to safe spaces or life-skill development opportunities. Many struggle with trauma, low self-esteem, and a lack of positive role models. At the same time, shelter dogs experience neglect and limited chances of adoption. This dual problem impacts the youth's ability to thrive and the dogs' opportunities for a better life, creating a cycle of disconnection and loss. Solution: The Underdog Project addresses these challenges by pairing at-risk youth with shelter dogs in a supportive, therapeutic program. Youth learn critical life skills like empathy, responsibility, and leadership by training and caring for the dogs. The program fosters emotional growth in the youth and prepares the dogs for adoption by teaching them positive behaviors. Together, youth and dogs build bonds that enable healing, growth, and a stronger sense of purpose for both. Long-Term Impact: This project creates a ripple effect of change. Youth develop resilience, employability skills, and leadership qualities that enable them to inspire positive change in their communities. Graduates often mentor their peers, spreading lessons of empathy and non-violence. Shelter dogs benefit from training and care, increasing their adoption chances and reducing shelter overcrowding. Over time, the program contributes to building more compassionate communities where both humans and ani
Focus areas & reach
· What they work on and whereHow it stacks up against peers
· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in South AfricaRed flags
· All clearCommon questions
· Auto-generated from filings + methodologyThe Underdog Project is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. It is registered with the official charity registry of South Africa. It was founded in 2011 and has been operating for 15 years. It has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 32/100 (Limited data available). This reflects limited public data, not concerns about the organization.
The Underdog Project has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 32/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 32 ('Limited data available') reflects limited public data, not concerns about the organization. This is common for smaller, newer, or non-US charities that file fewer public records. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in South Africa is 36/100.
The Underdog Project is located in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. The organization was established in 2011 and has been active for 15 years. Its registered address is The Underdog Classroom, Lower level Darg, Main Road.
The Underdog Project is classified as a Animal Welfare organization, registered in South Africa.
The Underdog Project has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 32/100. We recommend reviewing the full profile before making a donation decision. You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research purposes and does not endorse any organization. Always do your own due diligence.
THE UNDERDOG PROJECT Get involved today! The Underdog Project is on a crusade of kindness. Using highly successful animal assisted activities and therapeuti ... The Underdog Project is classified as a animal welfare organization registered in South Africa. The organization was founded in 2011.
Among animal welfare charities registered in South Africa: The Underdog Project's GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 32/100 is in line with the peer average of 36/100.
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Tax-deductibility for donors
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of South Africa under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.
The Underdog Project is registered in South Africa. Donations from the Netherlands to charities outside the EU/EEA are generally not tax-deductible for Dutch donors unless the charity is listed on the Dutch ANBI register with foreign-recognized status.
The Underdog Project is registered in South Africa. US donors generally cannot deduct gifts to non-US charities directly. To claim a deduction, route the gift through a US 'Friends of' fiscal sponsor or a donor-advised fund that performs equivalency determination (IRS Rev. Proc. 92-94).
Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.
We check government filings and charity disclosures quarterly. If you represent this charity, claim this page to add officers directly.
Latest news
From global news sources
10 articles found
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Sentiment
NeutralSummer Jam – Afro House Remix | The Underdog Project | DENKAA (I5EhXC2KL4) - Fathom Journal
Does every dog have its day? - SA Good News
'Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate' actor Karan Joshi reveals the team lied the locals during shoot in Junag - The Times of India
Game of Thrones Was Peak but Emilia Clarke’s Drama Film on Prime Is Her Real Underdog Win - IMDb
Disney+ Celebrates 30 Years Of ‘A Goofy Movie’ With New Documentary ‘Not Just a Goof’ - LRMonline
Video: Project Underdog Trailer With Sung Kang—The Journey Begins - Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
Zachary Levi To Play Football Hall Of Famer Kurt Warner In ‘American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story’ - Deadline
The Youngest 2020 Candidate Pushes A Platform Of 'Inter-Generational Justice' - NPR
The Underdogs project has launched an adorable campaign and you can all join in - Good Things Guy
The Underdogs project has launched an adorable campaign and you can all join in - Good Things Guy
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Other animal welfare in South Africa, by integrity assessment
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- Registration and legal identity
- South African Department of Social Development (NPO Directorate)
- News and media coverage
- GDELT Project + Google News
- Supplementary verification
- Wikidata structured data
- Supplementary verification
- GlobalGiving partner directory
Data freshness
What we don't know
Honest gaps - our score reflects transparency, not impact
Methodology
GiveRadar combines public registry filings, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and news archives into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
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Quick facts about The Underdog Project
- What is The Underdog Project?
- The Underdog Project is a animal welfare nonprofit organization based in Cape Town, South Africa. THE UNDERDOG PROJECT Get involved today! The Underdog Project is on a crusade of kindness. Using highly successful animal assisted activities and therapeuti ...
- When was The Underdog Project founded?
- The Underdog Project was founded in 2011.
- Where is The Underdog Project located?
- Headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Is The Underdog Project trustworthy?
- The Underdog Project has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 32 out of 100 (Limited data available). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
- What is The Underdog Project's website?
- https://underdogproject.org/
- Are donations to The Underdog Project tax-deductible?
- Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of South Africa under local rules. US donors should check whether the charity has an equivalency-determination letter or a US-based fiscal sponsor before claiming a deduction.