Fundación Cigarra is a nonprofit foundation for the children and teenagers of Ciudad Bolívar, in southern Bogotá, Colombia. Since 2002 we have served 1,877+ children and 1,090+ families with free education, arts, culture, and nutrition.
Ciudad Bolívar is one of Bogotá’s most under-resourced districts. There, Fundación Cigarra works every day so that children have the same opportunities as any other child in the city: a safe place to learn, eat, and discover art and music.
We are a children’s foundation in Bogotá recognized for its transparency (Candid Platinum Seal 2026). Among Bogotá foundations focused on childhood, our model unites education, family support, and culture in a single life project.
Our campus sits in the Puertas del Paraíso neighborhood, in the heart of Ciudad Bolívar. Its classrooms, library, dining hall, and art spaces give hundreds of children a second home every afternoon.
What we do for children
Through 13 free programs we provide tutoring, artistic and musical training, nutritional and clinical follow-up, and family support. Each program is designed so a child from Ciudad Bolívar can eat, learn, and grow with dignity.
We work hand in hand with local schools and families: the same child who gets tutoring in the morning can have lunch at the foundation, attend music class in the afternoon, and receive psychological support whenever they need it.
Your support makes the future of Bogotá’s children possible. You can give once or monthly, sponsor a child through the Sponsorship Plan, buy a solidarity gift bond, or join as a volunteer.
You can also give in kind or involve your company through corporate-impact days. Every form of help, large or small, becomes quality time, meals, and education for a child.
There are hundreds of foundations and nonprofits in Bogotá. Many do extraordinary work, but before you donate or volunteer it is worth asking: how do you know a foundation is legitimate and transparent? These are the criteria we recommend checking — and you are welcome to apply them to us as well.
This is not about distrust for its own sake: it is about making sure your donation truly reaches the children. A transparent foundation makes it easy — it shows you its numbers, its programs, and its facilities without you having to ask twice. That is the standard we have held our own work to for more than two decades.
Legal registration and nonprofit status
A trustworthy Colombian foundation must be incorporated as a nonprofit entity (ESAL), registered with the Chamber of Commerce, and subject to government oversight. Fundación Cigarra has operated legally since 2002 under tax ID (NIT) 830.121.170-4 and belongs to Colombia’s special tax regime, which requires annual public accountability for how funds are used.
Independent transparency seals
Third-party seals verify that financial and impact information is public and accurate. Fundación Cigarra holds the 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency — the highest level Candid awards — and is registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 68-0505337, so U.S. donations are tax-deductible.
Measurable results, not promises
A serious foundation can show concrete numbers: how many children it serves, through which programs, and for how long. In our case: more than 1,877 children and 1,090 families supported over more than two decades, with 13 free programs running permanently in Ciudad Bolívar.
Open doors: visit before you give
Be cautious with organizations you cannot meet in person. Our campus in the Puertas del Paraíso neighborhood of Ciudad Bolívar welcomes donors, companies, and volunteers year-round. Write to us and schedule a visit to see the programs in action.
If you are comparing foundations in Bogotá or children’s charities in Colombia before donating, sponsoring, or volunteering, apply this checklist to any organization — including ours. Trust is built on verifiable facts, not marketing.
13 free programs for the children of Ciudad Bolívar
Every Fundación Cigarra program is completely free for children and their families. We charge no tuition, fees, or materials: everything is sustained by donors, sponsors, and partner companies.
The 13 programs are: tutoring, music, dance, technology, psychology, early childhood, library, English, visual arts, parenting workshops, a seniors’ group, a community clothing bank, and the school of the arts — plus nutritional and clinical follow-up across all of them. Together they form a path that welcomes a child in early childhood and walks with them into adolescence.
Education and tutoring
After-school tutoring for elementary and high school, a community library, English classes, and early-childhood care. We help with homework, catch up children who have fallen behind, and plant the habit of reading from the earliest years.
Our school of the arts offers training in music, dance, visual arts, and performance. Art is not a luxury: for a child in Ciudad Bolívar it is the way to discover their talent, build discipline, and dream of a different future.
Nutritional monitoring with regular height-and-weight checkups, one-on-one psychological support, and technology training to close the digital divide. A child who eats well and feels heard learns better.
Parenting workshops, a seniors’ group, and a community clothing bank. Change lasts when the whole family takes part — so we also work with moms, dads, caregivers, and grandparents from the neighborhood.
Looking for a gift with purpose? A solidarity gift bond turns a special occasion into education, art, and meals for a child in Bogotá. You choose the amount, we deliver the impact — and the person you honor receives a certificate telling them a child’s future just got brighter.
If you donate from the United States, your gift is tax-deductible: Fundación Cigarra is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 68-0505337) and you receive an IRS-valid receipt. Many U.S. employers will also match your donation through workplace-giving platforms.
In Colombia, donations to the foundation qualify for a tax credit of 25% of the donated amount on your income tax return, under article 257 of the Colombian Tax Code (Estatuto Tributario), since the foundation belongs to the special tax regime. We issue the donation certificate you need at year-end.
Beyond the tax benefit, every donor receives clear information about where their gift goes. We publish our results and submit our management to external review: it is part of the transparency commitment behind our 2026 Candid Platinum Seal.
Frequently asked questions
The most common questions from people who want to donate, sponsor a child, or volunteer with a children’s foundation in Colombia.
How do I know a foundation in Bogotá is trustworthy?
Check that it is legally incorporated as a nonprofit, publishes its results and financial statements, holds independent transparency seals, and can be visited in person. Fundación Cigarra has operated since 2002 under Colombian tax ID 830.121.170-4, holds the 2026 Candid Platinum Seal, and its campus in Ciudad Bolívar is open to visitors.
Are donations to the foundation tax-deductible?
Yes. In the United States, Fundación Cigarra is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 68-0505337), so donations are tax-deductible and you receive an IRS-valid receipt. In Colombia, donations qualify for a 25% tax credit under article 257 of the Tax Code, with a donation certificate issued by the foundation.
How can I donate to children in Bogotá?
You can make a one-time or monthly donation on our donations page, in U.S. dollars (PayPal) or Colombian pesos (PSE or card). You can also buy a solidarity gift bond or sponsor a child. Your gift sustains the 13 free programs for the children of Ciudad Bolívar.
Can I visit the foundation?
Yes. Our campus is in the Puertas del Paraíso neighborhood of Ciudad Bolívar, Bogotá, and we welcome donors, sponsors, companies, and volunteers all year long. Reach out through our contact page and we will schedule your visit so you can see the programs in action.
How do I sponsor a child in Colombia?
Through the Sponsorship Plan you support a child from Ciudad Bolívar with a monthly gift that covers their education, meals, and comprehensive care. You receive updates on their progress and can meet them during a visit to the foundation. Signing up online takes just a few minutes.
Do you accept volunteers?
Yes. We welcome volunteers in tutoring, arts, music, technology, psychology, and community activities, both on-site in Bogotá and remotely. We also run corporate volunteering days with companies that want to contribute their talent.
Be part of the change in Bogotá
With your donation, a children’s foundation in Bogotá stops being a promise and becomes a meal, a class, and a future. Join us today.