The Vitamin Angel Alliance, Inc. (Vitamin Angels) is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization headquartered in Santa Barbara, California.

President Howard Schiffer founded Vitamin Angels in response to the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Since then, the organization has expanded distributions to children in developing countries in recognition that essential nutrients can save lives. With the support of manufacturers, retailers, corporations, and individuals, Vitamin Angels continues to reach children and mothers in need of vital nutrients domestically and around the world.

Vitamin Angels reduces child mortality by connecting infants and children under five with essential nutrients. We help children attain good health and the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives.

Essential nutrients address chronic malnutrition and the resulting morbidity and mortality caused by vitamin deficiencies. By mobilizing public sector organizations, private sector resources and motivated individuals in partnership with Vitamin Angels, we strive to reach underserved children and mothers domestically and internationally.

In 2008 we reached 7 million children in 42 countries while maintaining ongoing programs in 20 countries. In 2009, we are expanding Operation 20/20 to reach 10 million children with vitamin A and antiparasitics, the next benchmark to reaching our goal of eliminating vitamin A deficiency by the year 2020.  Through our Thrive to Five program we will distribute 100 million doses of multivitamins to children and mothers in need around the world.

Vitamin Angels receives support from private individuals, foundations and businesses that entrust us with the resources to fulfill our mission. Much of our funding comes directly from the natural products industry, which supports us through sponsorships of specific programs, commodity donations and retail promotions.

Vitamin Angels has received the coveted 4-star from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management. Our administrative expenses total less than 5% of our operating budget. Because the research has already been done and there is considerable international support for vitamin supplementation, Vitamin Angels is able to use donor funds to support our programs and further our mission. 

The figure of $.25 refers to the cost of reaching one child with two doses of both vitamin A and antiparasitics through Operation 20/20. This is the amount needed to alleviate vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children under five for one year, a solution proven to reduce overall child mortality by 23%. In other words, vitamin A supplementation alone can save one in four children who will die this year. $.25 reflects the approximate cost for the purchase (as necessary) of the vitamins and antiparasitics, logistics, transportation, and staff costs. Costs absorbed by our field partners are not included. The cost to reach children and mothers with a year’s supply of daily multivitamins through our Thrive to Five program is even lower. Ultimately, no matter what the financial investment, as little at $.25 can make a huge difference.

Essential nutrients, including vitamin A and multivitamins, are part of a foundational strategy to address nutritional gaps and help break the cycle of poverty by improving health, educational achievement and economic productivity. The World Bank and UNICEF recognize the critical role that good nutrient status plays in meeting development goals across the spectrum, including maternal and child health, HIV/AIDs, education, and gender equity. For more information click here.

Supplementation is also an extremely cost-efficient solution that economists estimate to have benefits worth $17 for every $1 spent. This generates considerable impact for cash strapped governments and international organizations dedicated to building local, long-term capacity in other arenas from infrastructure to education.

In addition, Vitamin Angels is actively developing projects that use innovative distribution systems, such as market-based systems, that allow local businesses and non-profit organizations to facilitate self-sustaining processes for the procurement and distribution of vitamin A to deficient populations.

Vitamin Angels is a non-sectarian international aid organization. We partner with qualified organizations that agree not to deny availability, access or use of a commodity donated by Vitamin Angels to any prospective beneficiary on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or ability to pay.

Yes. Vitamin Angels has a limited number of domestic internship opportunities at our headquarters in Santa Barbara, CA. Please visit our employment page for current openings.

Vitamin Angels hires deeply committed, talented and experienced individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children worldwide. Please visit our employment section for current openings.

Branded products are “off the shelf” donations with the original sales packaging and formulation of the company that is donating the product. Vitamin Angels is pleased to accept these donations and will distribute them according to our ability to place them.

We also encourage and actively solicit the production of micronutrient formulations and labeling to Vitamin Angels specifications, which are aligned with international standards. This greatly aids our ability to export product and assist technical projects at the international level with governments and implementation partners alike. It also presents the donor an opportunity to co-brand with Vitamin Angels.

Yes. For bulk donations, a packing list must accompany each shipment.

No, Vitamin Angels is unable to accept any expired product. We require that the expiration date must be at least one year out to allow time for international shipments and customs clearance. However, if the product is retested and a new Certificate of Analysis is produced with an extended expiration date, Vitamin Angels will be able to accept this product. Donors are responsible for all costs associated with retesting the product.

Yes. Vitamin Angels has developed technical specifications for vitamin A, and recommended formulations for essential multivitamins. Many of our contributors either manufacture product to our specifications or, in the case of vitamin A especially, order this product from approved manufacturers on our behalf. Vitamin Angels has preferred formulations for multivitamins; multivitamins already manufactured may be accepted if they are within an approved range of dosages for children or pregnant/lactating women.

Product donors are responsible for coordinating and covering the cost of shipping the product domestically. The cost of shipping is also a tax-deductible donation.

Yes, the entire donation (including shipping) is tax-deductible in the United States. (If you are outside of the United States, please consult with your accountant or tax advisor.) When the donation is finalized, Vitamin Angels will provide a letter of acknowledgment and tax forms to the donor within 4 weeks of receiving the product.

Please fill out the Interest Form and our staff will be in touch shortly. If your product is ready for donation, please have information on the dimensions, weights, and value of the donation available, as well as Certificate of Analysis and Certificate of Origin from the manufacturer.

The product must be donated directly from the manufacturer, distributor or store. Vitamin Angels cannot accept product donations from individuals. The expiration date must be at least one year out. This makes it possible for us to ship internationally and clear customs overseas. In addition, the product must be new with all labels and packaging in place. If the product is expired but the donor retests it to extend the expiration date, we can accept the product.

Vitamin Angels requests that certain documents are provided with each product donation. These documents certify the safety and origin of the product. They also facilitate international shipping, as they are required by customs officials in order to import product.

1. Certificate(s) of Analysis. The manufacturer must provide a Certificate of Analysis for each product lot number. This analysis specifies the product ingredients, results of dosage testing for each ingredient, and product expiration date.

2. Certificate of Origin: This document confirms the manufacturer’s incorporated name and address. Often times, it also lists the final consignee address in order to facilitate the import of the product to another country. This requires that Vitamin Angels either provide the final destination address for the product to the manufacturer, or request a CoO in PDF that allows us to change this address at a later date to facilitate the split of the shipment to multiple consignees.

Donors providing vitamin A must further provide:

1. GMP Certificate. Our technical specifications for vitamin A require that a manufacturer be certified for GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices). Vitamin Angels needs to have a copy of this certificate on file once a donation is arranged.

2. Halal Certification. Vitamin Angels also requires that vitamin A manufacture be certified halal, which can be done either for a particular batch of product, or for the entire manufacturing facility on a regular basis. This allows us to send product internationally without limitation.

We primarily accept:

• 50,000 IU vitamin A
• 100,000 IU vitamin A
• 200,000 IU vitamin A
• child and adult essential multi-micronutrients (multivitamins)
• essential multi-micronutrients (multivitamins) for pregnant and lactating women
• albendazole and mebendazole

We do accept other types of supplements and donations that are offered to us, but only the products listed above can be contributed to one of our two principal programs: Operation 20/20, an international vitamin A and deworming campaign, and Thrive to Five, a global multivitamin campaign. While gratefully received, other products will be distributed according the requests of our partner organizations and our ability to place them.

Please contact us at 805-564-8400 or email us at donate@vitaminangels.org, and we will be in touch shortly. Thank you very much for your interest in supporting Vitamin Angels!

Thank you for your interest!

Please see our Volunteer Form to determine whether your skill sets match our current needs. Or, we always encourage our supporters to Get Involved in other ways.

Our limited staffing resources do not allow us to oversee field volunteer opportunities or serve as a liaison between our implementation partners and volunteers. Also, please note that there are inherent dangers and risks in the various regions we support, and safety considerations are paramount.

Several organizations that may provide more far-reaching opportunities include: Cross Cultural Solutions, Global Volunteers, UN Volunteers and Volunteer Abroad.