How many charities and NGOs are there in Lebanon?
GiveRadar tracks 766 charities, NGOs, nonprofits and civil-society organizations in Lebanon. This searchable directory was compiled from public sources, chiefly the arab.org Lebanon NGO Directory, and then enriched for discovery and contact research (arab.org).
Coverage is strongest for practical contact information: 555 (72.5%) listings have a website and 288 (37.6%) have an email address. A founding year appears for 437 (57.0%). These figures describe GiveRadar's coverage, not the total number of associations, foundations or non-profit organizations operating across Lebanon.
Is GiveRadar's Lebanon list an official charity register?
Lebanon's GiveRadar list is an independent directory, not an official government register. Inclusion does not establish legal status, government recognition, financial health, effectiveness or eligibility for tax benefits. Most rows have no official notification number, so users should treat each profile as a discovery and contact lead rather than official verification.
Lebanon has no single comprehensive public online charity register. Individual association notices and amendments may appear in the Official Gazette, while private directories make organizations easier to find. Learn how GiveRadar handles public-source information through its methodology and directory process.
How do Lebanese associations, or jam'iyya, register, and who oversees them?
Lebanon forms ordinary associations through notification to the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, not prior authorization. An association, or jam'iyya, is generally governed by the Ottoman Law on Associations of 1909. Founders establish bylaws and notify the Ministry of the organization's objectives, address and responsible people (icnl.org).
The resulting notice is commonly called Ilm wa Khabar, meaning knowledge and information. It evidences notification, but it is not a discretionary charity licence or proof of impact. The Ministry receives association notifications and subsequent changes (interior.gov.lb).
What causes do Lebanese NGOs and charities work on?
Lebanon's listed NGOs and charities work across education, arts and culture, health, advocacy and civil rights. GiveRadar classifies 205 organizations under education, 122 under arts and culture, 119 under health, and 114 under advocacy and civil rights. Other fields include humanitarian assistance, children and youth development, social services, religion and environmental protection.
The directory also includes organizations described publicly as associations, foundations, collectives and non-profit organizations. These labels do not always represent distinct legal forms. Searchers can use cause and location information to identify potential partners, community services or donation opportunities, including organizations on the Lebanon health cause page.
How do you check a Lebanese NGO or charity before you donate?
Lebanon donors should independently verify identity, notification details, finances and current activity before giving. A directory profile or Ilm wa Khabar can support research, but neither proves responsible management, measurable results or present-day operations.
- Ask for the exact legal name, Ilm wa Khabar number and date, then request a copy of the Ministry notice.
- Search the Official Gazette where possible and contact the Ministry when authoritative confirmation is needed.
- Confirm that the payment beneficiary matches the association or a clearly disclosed fundraising partner.
- Review recent reports, financial statements, leadership information, safeguarding policies, programme results and working contact details.
- Compare independent directory entries, remembering that inclusion is not endorsement or government recognition.
How can you donate to charities and causes in Lebanon?
Lebanon donors can support verified organizations directly or through a clearly identified fundraising partner. Before transferring money, check available payment methods, currency and banking requirements. Do not assume that a donation is tax-deductible, because treatment depends on your jurisdiction, the recipient and the transaction.
- Choose a specific cause, such as education, health, children, humanitarian relief, human rights, culture or the environment.
- Use the country directory to discover organizations and confirm their current website and contact channels.
- Complete the verification steps above and ask how the donation will be used.
- Donate through the organization's confirmed channel, retain the receipt and review subsequent reporting. See guidance for donors for further research prompts.