Peace Winds America

What Peace Winds America does

Peace Winds America (PWA) is a U.S.-headquartered nonprofit humanitarian organization founded in 2011 in response to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, specializing in disaster preparedness, emergency response, and long-term recovery for communities affected by natural disasters, conflict, and displacement. The organization operates through an integrated delivery model that combines its own deployable response capabilities—most notably the ARROWS disaster medical team (20 full-time doctors, nurses, and logisticians based in Hiroshima) and a fleet of helicopters, ships (including the Kensing II health ship), and amphibious vehicles—with a network of vetted local partner organizations across more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. Beyond acute emergency relief (food, water, shelter, medical care), PWA runs durable recovery and resilience programs including vocational training for refugees in Uganda and Iraq, non-communicable disease healthcare delivery via the Kensing II in Palau, community recovery regranting in West Maui following the 2023 wildfires, and children's recovery programs in Japan's Noto Peninsula.

PWA does not sell products or services; rather, it is funded by a mix of individual donations (including a recurring "Project of the Month Club" and cryptocurrency donations), institutional grants (UN-Habitat, UN Women, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S.-Japan Foundation), and corporate philanthropy (including a significant donation from Tadashi Yanai's TY Management Corporation). Distribution occurs through direct field deployment of ARROWS and partner-led last-mile delivery. Marketing and donor acquisition rely on the organization website (peacewindsamerica.org), monthly email newsletter, organic social (Facebook, LinkedIn), and event-driven emergency appeals. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors chaired by former U.S. Representative Jim McDermott, with CEO Chuck Aanenson (Dr. Charles Aanenson) leading operations and bringing over 30 years of disaster response experience.

The organization is a 501(c)(3) entity, legally domiciled in Washington, D.C., and operationally entangled with its Japanese counterpart Peace Winds Japan, which hosts ARROWS and serves as the on-the-ground response backbone. Scale signals include 13 million meals/aid units delivered in Gaza during 2025, over 160 tons of relief supplies distributed to 28,000+ Japan disaster survivors, and more than 2 million refugees supported in Uganda.

Name

Peace Winds America

Legal name

Peace Winds America

Website

https://peacewindsamerica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Peace Winds America is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit humanitarian organization founded in 2011 that delivers disaster preparedness, emergency response, and long-term recovery programs for communities affected by natural disasters, conflict, and displacement across 25+ countries, using its own ARROWS medical team, a fleet of helicopters and ships, and a network of local partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Response Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Logistics, Supply Chain & Air/Sea/Land Relief Transport (BPAGAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG), Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid Volunteering (EDAIAGAF)

Keywords

• Disaster response services
• Humanitarian aid programs
• Refugee support services
• Disaster relief operations
• Recovery assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individual supporters to fund humanitarian programs worldwide.
2. Project of the Month Club: Recurring monthly donations supporting specific programs like vocational training for refugee women in Uganda.
3. Institutional Grants: Funding from organizations such as UN-Habitat for programs like the Japan Village initiative in Mosul, Iraq, and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Palau healthcare programs.
4. Corporate Philanthropy: Major donations from corporations such as Tadashi Yanai's TY Management Corporation for West Maui community recovery.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Peace Winds America is a humanitarian nonprofit organization that provides emergency disaster response, relief, and long-term recovery services to communities affected by disasters, conflicts, and humanitarian crises worldwide. The organization deploys the ARROWS disaster medical team for search-and-rescue and medical aid, distributes emergency supplies, and runs vocational training, healthcare, and community recovery programs in partnership with local organizations.

Product overview

Peace Winds America is a humanitarian organization (not a technology company) offering disaster response and crisis relief services rather than software products. Its core offerings include the ARROWS Disaster Response Team for emergency deployment, humanitarian relief and recovery programs, and longer-term development initiatives including vocational training, healthcare programs, and community support. The organization operates through various program categories: disaster response and search-and-rescue, refugee and displaced person support, vocational and livelihood training, healthcare delivery, and community recovery programs. These are charitable humanitarian programs, not technology products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Humanitarian Response (Relief and Recovery) Emergency humanitarian assistance providing food, water, shelter, medicine, and hygiene supplies to disaster and crisis-affected populations worldwide.
• ARROWS Disaster Response Team A specialized disaster search-and-rescue and medical team based in Hiroshima, Japan, with 20 full-time doctors, nurses, and logisticians that deploys on several hours' notice to disasters, utilizing Peace Winds' fleet of helicopters and ships.
• Vocational Training Programs Vocational training initiatives helping displaced persons and refugees gain skills in fields such as auto mechanics, sewing, tailoring, entrepreneurship, and sustainable technologies like solar panel installation.
• Healthcare Programs (Palau) Health programs including routine screenings, non-communicable disease detection and prevention, community health supporter training, and community gardening initiatives using the Kensing II health ship in partnership with the Palau Ministry of Health.
• Sustainable Livelihoods Program (Iraq) Vocational training program helping displaced people in Mosul, Iraq, particularly women, build skills in waterproofing, electric power distribution, and solar panel installation, with climate change education activities.
• Children's Plaza (Japan) A children's play area and program in Suzu, Japan offering toys, games, jungle gyms, science classes, creative events, and outdoor field trips for children affected by the Noto earthquake.
• Migrant Parent Support Program (Thailand/Myanmar) Training program for volunteers who lead workshops and consultations for Burmese migrant parents on birth registration, school enrollment, vaccinations, parenting challenges, and children's rights.
• West Maui Community Recovery Fund A regranting initiative distributing funds to West Maui community organizations affected by the 2023 wildfires, including support for education, healthcare, youth development, food security, and environmental sustainability.
• Philippines Relief and Recovery Emergency response and ongoing recovery efforts in the Philippines following earthquakes and typhoons, including distribution of clean water, shelter materials, food, and hygiene supplies.
• Project of the Month Club A monthly giving program where donors support select Peace Winds projects each month, with donations directed to specific programs like vocational training for refugee women.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 13 million meals/aid units delivered to Gaza in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Bukere Women's GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Women's community-based organization established as part of a 2021-2024 Peace Winds program. Bukere runs the women's community center and its members earn a living teaching other women skills like sewing, cosmetology, and soap making. Peace Winds partners with them for refugee women's vocational programs in Uganda.
• Seattle MarinersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2012Seattle Mariners held 'Salute to Japanese Baseball' night to support disaster recovery. Proceeds aided maritime vocational schools, fishing cooperatives, fishermen and fish farmers affected by the 2011 earthquake.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeace Winds partners with UN Women for vocational programs empowering refugees in Uganda, specifically the auto mechanics training program for refugee women.
• Palau Ministry of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeace Winds has been working closely with Palau's Ministry of Health and Human Services for three years to strengthen the country's healthcare systems, including organizing routine health screenings and designing sustainable systems for NCD detection.
• Local Partners in LebanoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPeace Winds works with local partner organizations in Lebanon to coordinate aid distribution for displaced people, distributing emergency supplies including blankets and clothing.
• Local Government Officials (Philippines)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeace Winds coordinates with government officials in the Philippines, including Balamban city officials, to deliver aid to hard-to-reach communities affected by typhoons and earthquakes.
• Peace Winds JapancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPWA's long partnership with Peace Winds Japan has been strengthened yielding fast disaster response and rapid disbursement of resources. PWJ operates the ARROWS disaster medical team and provides on-the-ground response capability.
• Maui United WaymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of 20 West Maui organizations receiving regrants from Peace Winds. Undertaking disaster recovery initiatives and strengthening support services for West Maui nonprofits.
• Hale Makua Health ServicesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecipients of Peace Winds regrants providing essential healthcare services for Maui's elderly and frail residents.
• Maui Food BankmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecipient of Peace Winds regrants collecting, warehousing, and distributing food to Maui residents at risk of going hungry.
• Japan Business Association of SeattleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRepresented at reception honoring Japan relief supporters hosted by PWA Board Chair Jim McDermott.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee: One of the largest humanitarian NGOs globally, providing emergency relief and long-term recovery in conflict and disaster zones across 40+ countries. Directly comparable to Peace Winds' integrated acute-response-plus-recovery model, but at materially greater scale and brand recognition.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian and development organization operating in more than 40 countries with similar mix of emergency response, livelihood recovery, and vocational programming. Comparable to Peace Winds in mission and operating geographies (Uganda, Gaza, Philippines, Myanmar).
• American Red Cross: The dominant U.S. humanitarian organization providing disaster relief, emergency assistance, and recovery support nationally and internationally. Comparable in disaster response scope but vastly larger in funding, brand recognition, and emergency reserves — a structural competitor for donor dollars.

Direct peers

• Direct Relief: U.S.-headquartered humanitarian aid organization focused on emergency medical response and disaster relief, including logistics and supply chain distribution to disaster-affected populations. Comparable to Peace Winds' ARROWS medical deployment and large-scale aid distribution in Gaza and disaster zones.
• Americares: Health-focused humanitarian NGO providing emergency medical aid, medicines, and supplies to disaster-affected communities worldwide. Comparable in disaster medical response capability and donation-funded operating model.
• International Medical Corps: Global humanitarian organization specializing in emergency medical response and healthcare delivery in conflict and disaster settings, including teams of doctors, nurses, and logisticians. Closely comparable to Peace Winds' ARROWS team model with full-time deployable medical professionals.
• All Hands and Hearts: Disaster response nonprofit providing direct emergency relief and long-term recovery programs including shelter rebuilding in U.S. and international disaster zones. Comparable to Peace Winds in long-tail recovery programming (Maui, Japan disasters) and donor-funded model.

Regional players

• Peace Winds Japan: The Hiroshima-based parent-affiliate that houses the ARROWS disaster medical team and primary operational capacity for Japan and Asia-Pacific. Directly comparable but operates as a separate Japanese entity; the structural partner Peace Winds America relies on for differentiated response capability.
• Japanese Platform for Disaster Reduction (J-PAL/JPF): Japan-based humanitarian aid platform coordinating NGO disaster response and recovery in Asia, including Japan earthquake and typhoon response. Comparable as a Japan-rooted disaster response network, though J-PAL is a consortium platform rather than a single operating NGO.

Emerging players

• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led disaster response organization providing rapid deployment and recovery services in U.S. and international emergencies. Comparable to Peace Winds in rapid-deployment response model though more focused on U.S. domestic response and veteran volunteer base.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpeacewindsamerica.org%2F
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peace-winds-america

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Peace Winds America