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 …
GiveRadar doesn't take a cut. Donate directly on their site.
Make your donationAbout The Underdog Project
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 AfricaConcerns
· None foundGiveRadar Analysis
Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations
Based on the records currently verified by GiveRadar, The Underdog Project has a partial profile, cross-referenced across 4 independent sources.
- GiveRadar has cross-referenced this organization across 4 independent sources - among the most thoroughly sourced profiles in its cohort. See the sources
- It has more complete contact information than 73% of similar organizations, with a verified website, email and address on record. See national comparisons
- Its integrity score of 35 is below most of the 382 animal welfare charities in South Africa GiveRadar tracks. GiveRadar bases this on limited verified information so far, with little on record for its financial disclosures and its registration. Explore South Africa data
- a website
- a contact email
- a donation page
- financial records
- leadership details
- third-party accreditation
- an owner-submitted profile claim
Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.
Common 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 Department of Social Development NPO Directorate. It was founded in 2011 and has been operating for 15 years. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 35/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate.
The Underdog Project has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 35/100. 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 35 ('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 51/100.
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 an Animal Welfare organization, registered in South Africa.
According to GiveRadar's records, The Underdog Project is registered with the Department of Social Development NPO Directorate and overseen by the Department of Social Development (DSD). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.
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 an animal welfare organization registered in South Africa. The organization was founded in 2011.
The Underdog Project is registered with the South African Department of Social Development as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO). If the organisation also holds Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), donations may be tax-deductible. Organisations with Section 18A approval can issue tax-deductible donation receipts, allowing donors to deduct contributions up to 10% of their taxable income. Verify PBO and Section 18A status directly with SARS before claiming a deduction.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
Sign up to viewTaxes
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
9 articles found
From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.
Summer Jam – Afro House Remix | The Underdog Project | DENKAA (I5EhXC2KL4) - Fathom Journal
Game of Thrones Was Peak but Emilia Clarke’s Drama Film on Prime Is Her Real Underdog Win - IMDb
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 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
Underdog plans Tails by the Lake fundraiser - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
The Underdogs project is changing how children in Townships view dogs! - Good Things Guy
The Underdogs project is changing how children in Townships view dogs! - Good Things Guy
Activity timeline
Filings and press mentions, merged
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.
Have you donated or volunteered here?
Share your experience - it takes 30 seconds. Verified reviews help other donors decide.
Sign up to write a reviewCause areas in South Africa
How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.
Most common causes in South Africa
Causes charities work on most.
Sources and verification
- 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 know and don't know
Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.
-
Mission statement · Published
-
Official website · On record
-
Headquarters address · On file
-
Direct contact · Email or phone published
-
Founding date · 2011
-
Financial dataNo NPO Annual Report (DSD) on file
-
Named leadershipBoard and officer list not yet indexed
-
Executive payTop-officer pay not disclosed
-
Government registrationNo public registry ID
-
Programs & activitiesNo named programs listed by the charity
-
Tax-deductibilityNot verified
Methodology
GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
Read full methodologyAre you the owner or a board member?
If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.
Report an issue
Tell us what's wrong with this charity's page. We review every report and typically reply within 2 business days.
Report sent
Thanks for flagging this. Our team will review it.
Press Esc to close
Save The Underdog Project?
Create a free GiveRadar account to save charities and track them in your dashboard.
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, Western Cape, South Africa.
- Is The Underdog Project trustworthy?
- The Underdog Project has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 35 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.