Unlike many charities that do many different things, The Smile Train is focused on solving a single problem: cleft lip and palate. We focus all our time, effort and money on studying, understanding and treating clefts.

We are a small and efficient team

The idea for The Smile Train was conceived by a small group. Our organization is governed by a small board of directors. And our staff, that oversees 90,000+ surgeries a year, hundreds of partners and programs, in 71 of the world’s poorest countries, consists of just 30 people.

We are cost conscious

We are very cost-conscious and proud of our low overheads (3%). Our average cost-per-surgery of Rs. 8,000 is the lowest of any cleft organization.

We make decisions, develop programs and move much faster than larger charities. We’re more responsive to our donors and much more in touch with our partners. The millions of dollars that we save in salaries, offices, furniture, etc. means thousands of extra smiles every year.

We empower local doctors

Unlike many charities that send medical teams to developing countries, we believe empowering local doctors is more productive and cost-effective.

The Smile Train works only with local doctors and hospitals in India, helping them treat children in their own communities. Through free training, equipment and financial assistance, we help them ensure the highest standards of safety and quality – the same as in developed countries. This leads to eventual self sufficiency rather than perpetuates dependence.

We select the best

The process of selecting “partners” is tough and detailed, but fair and completely transparent. It’s overseen by a local Medical Advisory Board, comprising of highly eminent, senior medical professionals who take all the medical decisions.

To date, 110 hospitals and 180 surgeons have been approved to become Smile Train partners, and from the time of inception (late 2000), The Smile Train has sponsored over 110,000 surgeries in India.

We leverage technology to benefit the whole community

We developed — and give away for free — virtual surgery videos that can teach a surgeon how to perform cleft surgery in a fraction of the time it used to take. We built the world’s first web-based, cleft library and make it available to anyone to use for free. We are constantly developing new high tech tools that help the entire cleft community be more effective and productive.

Here’s what makes The Smile Train unique:

• Focused on a single problem: cleft lip and palate
• Teach a man to fish strategy: we empower local doctors in developing countries
• The lowest cost per surgery of any cleft charity
• Best safety and quality record amongst cleft charities
• We bring donations to the poorest countries on earth which magnifies the impact
• We help children in 71 of the world's poorest countries