Kids in Need of Defense

What Kids in Need of Defense does

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by Microsoft Corporation and Angelina Jolie to address the gap in legal representation for unaccompanied and separated migrant children. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KIND provides free legal representation and psychosocial support to children fleeing violence, trafficking, or abuse through a network of 850+ pro bono law firm, corporate, law school, and bar association partners, combined with in-house social services including counseling, medical referrals, school enrollment, and family reunification support. The organization also conducts policy advocacy, strategic litigation (including the Ms. L v. ICE family separation class action), and operates specialized programs such as the Labor Exploitation Prevention Programs (LEPP), Family Separation Response, the Suzir'ya Project for Ukrainian displaced children, and the EU AMIF-funded CO.A.ST initiative. KIND's geographic footprint spans 14 US field offices (Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Fresno, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, New York, Northern Virginia, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.), 4 Mexico offices (Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico City, Tapachula), a Brussels-based European headquarters with operations across 9 European countries, and coordinated UK delivery through 5 partner organizations.

KIND's service architecture is built on a community-led, partner-distributed model rather than a proprietary technology platform. There is no AI/ML component, software product, or technology stack referenced in source data; the technology field explicitly notes "no proprietary technology platform." Distribution operates through direct field offices (in-house attorneys and social workers) and a channel/reseller network of 850+ pro bono partners (firms, corporations, law schools, bar associations) plus 14 European expert NGOs and 51 law firms, with KIND providing training and mentorship to volunteers regardless of prior immigration experience. Marketing and fundraising channels include a multilingual website (English/Spanish), weekly blog, email newsletter, social media, petition/advocacy campaigns, signature events ("Coming Together for Children Alone"), monthly giving, workplace giving, and peer-to-peer fundraising.

KIND's revenue model is donation- and grant-based: it generates no fees from clients and relies on individual donations, foundation grants, corporate giving, peer-to-peer fundraising, government contracts (including US ORR and EU AMIF), and debt. The most recent disclosed capital instrument is a $9 million revolving line of credit from EagleBank in October 2023, secured in connection with a new Vera Institute of Justice contract to scale legal services for unaccompanied children. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Kids in Need of Defense

Legal name

Kids in Need of Defense

Website

https://supportkind.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a nonprofit founded in 2008 by Microsoft and Angelina Jolie that provides free legal representation and psychosocial support to unaccompanied migrant children across the US, Mexico, and Europe via 850+ pro bono law firm partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG), Education in Emergencies (EiE) & Safe Schools (BPADAKAJ)

Keywords

• Immigration legal services
• Pro bono representation
• Psychosocial support services
• Child advocacy
• Humanitarian legal aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: KIND is funded through charitable donations and grants from individuals, foundations, and organizations supporting immigrant and refugee children's rights.
2. Revolving Line of Credit: EagleBank provided a $9 million revolving line of credit to support KIND's legal services for unaccompanied children, in connection with a new contract with Vera Institute of Justice.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a nonprofit organization that provides free legal representation and psychosocial support services to unaccompanied and separated immigrant and refugee children in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. The organization delivers services directly through staff offices and through a network of more than 850 pro bono legal partners, complemented by policy advocacy, child protection programs, and reintegration support.

Product overview

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a nonprofit organization (not a technology company) that provides legal representation and psychosocial support services to unaccompanied and separated migrant children. KIND operates as a service organization rather than a software product company, offering a holistic approach through four core service areas: Legal Representation Services (pro bono attorneys through partnerships with 850+ law firms), Psychosocial Support Services (trauma-informed care including counseling and school enrollment), Global Programs (international work in Central America, Mexico, Europe, and UK), and Policy & Advocacy. Additional specialized programs include the Labor Exploitation Prevention Programs (LEPP), Family Separation Response, Child Migrant Return and Reintegration, Gender and Migration Initiative, and Ukraine-focused Suzir'ya Project and CO.A.ST Project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Representation Services KIND provides attorneys to represent unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings through a network of 850+ pro bono law firms, corporations, law schools, and bar associations, including strategic litigation, anti-trafficking efforts, direct legal services, and Know Your Rights presentations.
• Psychosocial Support Services KIND's Social Services team delivers trauma-informed care to migrant children through counseling referrals, play therapy, mental and health insurance assistance, school enrollment support, and job placement services to help children adjust to new environments.
• Policy and Advocacy KIND works with governments, policymakers, and international partners to advance laws, policies, and practices ensuring unaccompanied and separated children receive fair, humane, and child-centered treatment throughout migration and protection systems.
• Global Programs KIND conducts international research and education on root causes of child migration while promoting regional standards and joint action for the protection of children on the move across Central America, Mexico, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
• Labor Exploitation Prevention Programs (LEPP) KIND's LEPP prevents and mitigates labor exploitation of unaccompanied children and youth through know-your-rights materials, training for pro bono attorneys, judges, and law enforcement, and partnerships with corporate and community stakeholders to establish accountability mechanisms and pathways to safer working conditions.
• Family Separation Response KIND's Family Separation Response Team addresses family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border by providing social services coordination, legal representation for reunification, and advocacy through the Ms. L v. ICE class action, assisting more than 800 individuals impacted by family separation.
• Suzir'ya Project An initiative providing essential protection, support, and access to justice for children displaced from Ukraine in Europe, working with partners in Czechia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia to identify and document conflict-related crimes and provide legal and psychosocial assistance.
• CO.A.ST Project My Coming-of-Age (CO.A.ST) is an EU AMIF-funded initiative strengthening guardianship and legal support for unaccompanied and separated children in Europe as they transition to adulthood, led by the Italian Council for Refugees with partner organizations in six EU countries.
• Child Migrant Return and Reintegration Program KIND helps children from Guatemala and Honduras who are returning through deportation or voluntary departure reintegrate safely by providing mental health care, education support, counseling, and jobs skills training through local NGO partners.
• Gender and Migration Initiative KIND's initiative to prevent and address gender-based violence against migrant children in Central America and Mexico, combining research, advocacy, and local organizational partnerships to create GBV prevention programming for survivors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Immigration judges are 100 times more likely to grant legal relief to unaccompanied children with counsel than to those without
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vera Institute of JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIND received a new contract with Vera Institute of Justice in connection with the EagleBank financing. The partnership supports KIND's legal services for unaccompanied children.
• Microsoft CorporationcoreOthersMicrosoft Corporation co-founded KIND in 2008 alongside Angelina Jolie to address the gap in legal services for unaccompanied children.
• Angelina JoliecoreOthersAngelina Jolie co-founded KIND in 2008 with Microsoft Corporation and serves as Patron, bringing global attention to the protection of unaccompanied children.
• 850+ Law Firms, Corporations, Law Schools and Bar AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIND partners with over 850 law firms, corporations, law schools and bar associations who agree to represent children referred to KIND at no cost. KIND provides training and mentorship with no immigration experience necessary.
• 800+ Global Legal PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 800 legal partners including law firms, corporations, law schools and bar associations provide pro bono representation to KIND clients, having donated 1.3 million hours and helping with 40,000 child referrals.
• 14 Expert NGOs and 51 Law Firms in EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIND works with 14 expert NGOs and 51 law firms across 9 European countries (Belgium, Czechia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, UK) to deliver legal information and assistance to unaccompanied and separated children.
• Italian Council for Refugees (CIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIR is the coordinator of the CO.A.ST project and KIND's primary partner in Italy providing children with essential information about their rights and legal assistance to regularize their status and reunify with family.
• European Lawyers in Lesvos (ELIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn Greece, ELIL helps unaccompanied children living in refugee camps to apply for family reunification in other EU countries, challenge incorrect age determinations, and prepare for asylum interviews.
• Rule of Law Institute Foundation (Poland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Lublin, Poland, the foundation is part of the Suzir'ya project providing essential support to children displaced from Ukraine and has been committed to supporting free legal counseling and law school clinics since 2001.
• Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) and Irish Refugee Council (IRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn Ireland, KIND works with ICI and IRC to train and mentor pro bono lawyers to help unaccompanied children who have been granted asylum to reunite with their families and obtain citizenship.
• ArtolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIND partnered with Artolution for creative arts workshops where clients worked together to create murals to tell their stories, process trauma, and find their power.
• POMA GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPOMA Global partnered with KIND to complete a mental health needs assessment for children from Ukraine, focusing on improving mental health in crisis-impacted communities.
• Central England Law CentrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK partner providing applications for British citizenship and leave to remain for children in Midlands, South and Mid Wales, and London.
• Coram Children's Legal CentrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK partner providing legal advice and representation for children in London, the South, West and East of England.
• Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK partner providing legal advice and representation for children in the North of England.
• JustRight ScotlandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK partner providing legal advice and representation for children in Scotland.
• Migrant and Refugee Children's Legal Unit at Islington Law CentrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK partner providing legal advice and representation for children in London.
• Office for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIND's Child Protection Specialist for Europe participated in OSCE training in Warsaw, Poland to deliver vital training on supporting child victims of trafficking.
• Ministry of Interior and Administration of Poland (MSWIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIND joined Poland's Ministry for a three-day conference on multidisciplinary pathways for protecting children from Ukraine.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES): Texas-based nonprofit providing free and low-cost legal services to immigrant children and families, including unaccompanied minors in immigration court. Directly competes for the same pro bono partners, donors, and government contracts in the US.
• HIAS: Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society provides legal aid, resettlement, and protection services to refugees and asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children. Operates a similar pro bono attorney model across multiple countries and is one of the closest direct comparables to KIND.
• Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project: Provides free legal services to detained immigrants, including unaccompanied children, in Arizona. Operates a similar pro bono volunteer model and shares KIND's mission of ensuring no child faces immigration court without counsel.
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC): National network of Catholic immigration legal service providers offering representation to immigrants including unaccompanied minors. Competes for the same BIA-accredited attorney capacity and federal recognition programs.
• Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights: National organization providing child advocates (Best Interests Guardians ad Litem) for unaccompanied immigrant children in US immigration proceedings. Closely aligned with KIND's child-centered legal representation model.

Emerging players

• Women's Refugee Commission: Advocacy and research organization focused on women, children, and youth displaced by conflict. More research-and-advocacy oriented than KIND but shares a child protection mission and overlapping policy goals.

Broad incumbents

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Immigrants' Rights Project: Pursues impact litigation and advocacy for immigrant rights, including class actions like KIND's Ms. L v. ICE. Larger and broader, but overlapping on key litigation and policy campaigns affecting unaccompanied children.
• U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National nonprofit delivering refugee resettlement, anti-trafficking, and immigration legal services. Operates a comparable pro bono model and competes for federal refugee resettlement funding.
• Human Rights Watch (Children's Rights Division): International human rights organization that investigates and reports on the treatment of migrant and refugee children globally. Operates as an advocacy and research peer rather than direct service provider but competes for institutional donor attention in the same space.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): One of the largest global humanitarian NGOs, operating refugee resettlement, child protection, and legal aid programs across the same geographies as KIND (US, Europe, Mexico, Central America). Broader mandate but overlapping service lines and donor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/supportKIND
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kids-in-need-of-defense-kind-
• Facebookfacebook.com/supportkind

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kids in Need of Defense