Operation Smile
Operation Smile is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that provides free cleft lip and palate surgeries and comprehensive care to children in more than 37 countries, supported by 6,000+ medical volunteers and a global hospital partner network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersVirginia Beach, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Operation Smile firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Operation Smile
- Legal name
- Operation Smile
- Website
- https://operationsmile.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Operation Smile is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that provides free cleft lip and palate surgeries and comprehensive care to children in more than 37 countries, supported by 6,000+ medical volunteers and a global hospital partner network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Operation Smile industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cleft Care & Global Surgery Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Dentists (6212), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Group Practices (HLABAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Comprehensive Orthodontic Clinics (HLABABAA), Hospital-Based & Medically Complex Pediatric Dentistry (HLABAGAE)
Keywords
Where Operation Smile is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Virginia Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Operation Smile business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Monthly and one-time donations from individual supporters. Suggested donation amounts include $240, $100, $50, $25 or custom amounts. Monthly giving program creates predictable recurring revenue.
- Corporate Partnerships: Mutually beneficial partnerships where corporations provide funding, products, or services while demonstrating social responsibility. Includes Johnson & Johnson MedTech product donations and Microsoft AI partnerships.
- Planned Giving/Legacy Estate Donations: Charitable bequests, estate planning, and legacy giving options for donors.
- Stock and Vehicle Donations: Tax-advantaged giving through stock donations and vehicle donations.
- Donor Advised Funds (DAF): Flexible giving through DAF accounts allowing donors to recommend grants over time.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Donation tiers for individual supporters |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Operation Smile product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Operation Smile is an international children's medical charity that provides free cleft lip and palate surgery and comprehensive care (dental, orthodontic, speech therapy, nutritional, and psychosocial support) to patients in low- and middle-income countries. Care is delivered through short-term surgical missions, 33 year-round care centers in 18 countries, and nearly 200 hospital partnerships, with 6,000+ medical volunteers from 60 countries contributing pro bono. The organization also trains local health workers, advocates for surgical care policy, and operates a 400+ student club youth empowerment program.
Product overview
Operation Smile is a global nonprofit offering a comprehensive portfolio of healthcare services centered on cleft lip and palate care. The organization operates a multi-layered service model consisting of direct patient care (cleft surgery, speech therapy, nutrition, oral health, psychosocial support), medical volunteer programs, and healthcare workforce training. Strategic initiatives like Operation 100 aim to strengthen local health systems by equipping surgical teams across 100 hospitals. The organization also runs youth empowerment programs, policy advocacy initiatives, and brand campaigns (We Build Hope, Badges of Hope). With 33 care centers in 18 countries and nearly 200 hospital partnerships, Operation Smile provides comprehensive cleft care through volunteer-based medical programs, education and fellowship training, and strategic partnerships with global health organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cleft Surgery and Comprehensive Cleft Care Direct surgical and comprehensive care services for patients with cleft lip and palate, including cleft surgery, dental care, orthodontic treatment, nutritional guidance, speech therapy, and psychosocial support. Provided free of charge to children in 37+ low- and middle-income countries.
- Year-Round Care Centers 33 care centers operating in 18 countries providing ongoing dentistry, orthodontics, speech therapy, nutritional counseling, psychosocial care, and cleft surgeries for patients who need complex, multi-visit treatment beyond single surgical missions.
- Medical Volunteer Surgical Programs Short-term, two-week surgical programs executed country-wide with patient recruitment, logistics, supplies, and deployment of 6,000+ medical volunteers from 60 countries; delivered through direct field operations and nearly 200 hospital partner facilities.
- Health Workforce Training Programs Place-based, competency-based, and team-based clinical training programs for healthcare professionals in anesthesia, biomed, nursing, pediatrics, and surgery, including curriculum partnerships with COSECSA, American Heart Association (BLS/PALS/ACLS), and WFSA.
- Fellowship Programs (Global Surgery Fellowship, Global Surgery Advocacy Fellowship, Women in Medicine Leadership Fellowship) Fellowship programs that train next-generation global health professionals in surgical skills, advocacy, and leadership. Delivered in partnership with academic and clinical institutions.
- Student Programs (Youth Empowerment) Global youth empowerment initiative with 400+ student clubs in 40+ countries, including the International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC) and Latinoamérica en Acción (LEA). Engages high school and undergraduate students in fundraising, awareness, and international medical program service.
- Policy and Advocacy Global advocacy engagement with governments, WHO, UN ECOSOC, G4 Alliance, and national health ministries to develop policies that expand access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical and anesthesia care, including the WHO Acute Care Action Network (WHO ACAN).
- Operation 100 Strategic Initiative Five-year strategic initiative equipping 100 local cleft operative teams with advanced skills, essential equipment, and enhanced health infrastructure across 100 hospitals globally, bringing surgical care within two hours of patients' homes in Rwanda, Guatemala, Ghana, and other countries.
- AI for Access Surgical Planning and Care Delivery (Microsoft partnership) Partnership with Microsoft applying Azure OpenAI Service and computer vision models to optimize surgical access and preoperative cleft severity assessment, allowing surgeons to bring the gold standard of care to remote locations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2,000 patients treated in Rwanda alone since 2010
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Operation Smile
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Operation Smile technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature1 record
Operation Smile partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Johnson & JohnsoncoreJohnson & Johnson has donated $100 million of MedTech products since 2020 through its J&J CareCommunity social impact platform, with an additional $20 million in funding planned for 2026 to support programs and impact investments. Focuses on expanding access to cardiovascular, surgical, and vision care.
- MicrosoftcorePartnership leveraging Artificial Intelligence to allow surgeons to bring gold standard of care to even the most remote places. Microsoft Azure and AI solutions help Operation Smile optimize surgical access and care delivery.
- College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA)corePartnership to increase plastic and reconstructive surgeons in sub-Saharan Africa, support plastic surgery training, provide cleft surgery education and strengthen the surgical ecosystem. Since 2021, offers surgical training and internationally recognized surgical qualification. Second activity agreement (2023) will fund training of 16 plastic surgeons over five years.
- United Nations ECOSOCcoreOperation Smile holds consultative status with the UN through its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), allowing participation in UN events including the UN General Assembly, Commission on the Status of Women, and World Health Assembly.
- World Health Organization ACANcoreActive participant in WHO's Acute Care Action Network (WHO ACAN), working towards global strategy and action plan to advance emergency, critical and operative care around the world.
- G4 Alliance (Global Alliance for Surgery, Obstetrics, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care)coreWorks to ensure that every individual, regardless of location or circumstance, has access to safe, timely and affordable surgical and anesthesia services.
- Global Health CouncilcoreActive member advancing global health priorities including multilateral engagement, health system strengthening, global health equity, non-communicable diseases, and maternal, newborn and child health.
- Global Initiative for Children's SurgerycoreWorks to define and promote optimal resources for children's surgery in resource-poor regions. Operation Smile is one of leading providers of children's surgical care globally involved in this initiative.
- World Cleft CoalitioncoreAlliance of international NGOs addressing needs of patients with cleft lip and palate and engaging in long-term local capacity-building partnerships. Collaborated on development of globally recognized minimum core practice and best practice guidelines for safe and comprehensive cleft care.
- The Global Surgery FoundationcorePartners under the umbrella of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in expansion of provision of surgical obstetrics and anesthesia care for all.
- American Heart AssociationcoreProvides training courses in Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) for health workers across the world.
- World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA)coreGlobal network of national societies working to make safe anesthesia universally accessible and to improve patient care around the world.
- College of Anaesthesiologists of East, Central and Southern Africa (CANECSA)coreAims to advance education, standards and research in safe anesthesia and critical care for the people of East, Central and Southern Africa.
- Lions Clubs International FoundationcorePartner in expanding access to cardiovascular, surgical, and vision care by equipping health workers with tools, training, and sustained support in under-resourced communities.
- Global Surgery FoundationcorePartner in scaling healthcare access programs globally alongside Johnson & Johnson and other organizations.
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediacoreAcademic partnership supporting speech therapy training and education for Operation Smile Peru. Milagros Rojas serves as professor at the university while coordinating speech therapy with Operation Smile.
- Sheraton Grande SukhumvitminorHosted 'Once In A Lifetime' charity dinner at Basil restaurant featuring Thai culinary masters. Proceeds donated to Operation Smile and Mercy Centre Klong Toey.
- Mercy Centre Klong ToeyminorCommunity partner receiving proceeds from charity dinner at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.
- Southern African Development CommunitycorePartner organization to the SADC Technical Expert Working Group on Surgery, charged by ministries of health with advancing strategies to enhance implementation of surgery as part of national health strategies and plans.
- Coalition to Address the Burden of Congenital ConditionscoreWorking with WHO's Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing alongside Global Arch, Children's HeartLink, JHPIEGO, Miracle Feet and International Federation on Spina Bifida to increase care for patients with congenital conditions.
- Global Health Equity Network of the World Economic ForumcoreOperation Smile is a signatory to the Global Health Equity Pledge and participates in exchange sessions and advocacy efforts to advance oral health.
- Partnership for Quality Medical DonationscoreGlobal alliance of more than 40 corporations and nonprofit organizations leading development and championing high standards in medicine and medical equipment and services donations.
Scale indicators42 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Operation Smile competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mercy Ships: Mercy Ships operates hospital ships delivering free surgical care, including cleft repair, in low-income countries. It shares Operation Smile's volunteer medical mission model and patient population focus.
- ReSurge International: ReSurge International provides reconstructive surgical care including cleft lip and palate repair in low-income countries. It shares Operation Smile's focus on building local surgical capacity through training and partnerships.
- CURE International: CURE International operates children's hospitals in developing countries providing surgical care for conditions including cleft palate. It shares Operation Smile's mission of providing specialty surgical care to under-served children globally.
- Smile Train: Smile Train is the largest cleft-focused global nonprofit and Operation Smile's primary direct competitor. It funds local partner surgeons in 90+ countries, using a sustainable training-and-partnership model similar in mission but differentiated in delivery approach.
- Global Smile Foundation: Global Smile Foundation provides cleft care to underserved populations across multiple countries, mirroring Operation Smile's mission and volunteer-driven model in a narrower geographic footprint.
Broad incumbents
- International Medical Corps: International Medical Corps delivers healthcare and training in conflict and disaster-affected areas. It shares Operation Smile's global footprint, volunteer-driven model, and institutional donor base.
- Doctors Without Borders / MSF: MSF is a larger, more diversified medical humanitarian organization providing emergency and surgical care across many countries. While broader in scope, it competes for the same pool of medical volunteers and institutional donor support.
- Project HOPE: Project HOPE is a global health nonprofit addressing health equity through education, training, and direct care delivery. It overlaps with Operation Smile's health workforce training and capacity-building activities.
- Partners in Health: Partners in Health is a major global health nonprofit delivering healthcare in low-income countries including surgical services. It shares Operation Smile's focus on health system strengthening and serving the global poor.
Regional players
- Smile Foundation (South Africa): Smile Foundation is a South African nonprofit providing corrective surgeries including cleft repair to children. It serves as a regional peer operating in a subset of the geographies where Operation Smile works.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
Operation Smile social profiles
Digital presenceOperation Smile financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Operation Smile leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles31 records
Operation Smile subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Operation Smile funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Operation Smile M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Operation Smile
What does Operation Smile do?
Operation Smile is an international children's medical charity that provides free cleft lip and palate surgery and comprehensive care (dental, orthodontic, speech therapy, nutritional, and psychosocial support) to patients in low- and middle-income countries. Care is delivered through short-term surgical missions, 33 year-round care centers in 18 countries, and nearly 200 hospital partnerships, with 6,000+ medical volunteers from 60 countries contributing pro bono. The organization also trains local health workers, advocates for surgical care policy, and operates a 400+ student club youth empowerment program.
Is Operation Smile a public or private company?
Operation Smile is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Operation Smile founded?
Operation Smile was founded in 1982. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Operation Smile based?
Operation Smile is headquartered in Virginia Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Operation Smile make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, planned Giving/Legacy Estate Donations, stock and Vehicle Donations and donor Advised Funds (DAF).
Who are Operation Smile's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mercy Ships, ReSurge International, CURE International, Smile Train and Global Smile Foundation. Broad incumbents are International Medical Corps, Doctors Without Borders / MSF, Project HOPE and Partners in Health. Smile Foundation (South Africa) is listed as a regional player.
Does Operation Smile have an API?
No public API is recorded for Operation Smile.
What industry is Operation Smile in?
Operation Smile's product category is Cleft Care & Global Surgery Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLABAKAE, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Group Practices, with a secondary code of HLABABAA, Comprehensive Orthodontic Clinics. Its NAICS code is 6212 and its SIC code is 8000.