What Iris Global does

Iris Global is a private, ECFA-accredited Christian nonprofit founded in 1995 by Heidi and Rolland Baker, headquartered at 4946 Harpeth Peytonsville Rd in Thompsons Station, Tennessee with a Redding, California operational office. The organization delivers holistic, Christ-centered ministry spanning worship, evangelism, family support, education, relief, development, healthcare, and the arts across 72 locations in 40 nations, with Mozambique (Zimpeto, Pemba, Matola, and others) and Brazil as core geographies. Programmatic offerings include the 'Stop for the One' child sponsorship (799 sponsored children in 2025), Harvest School of Missions, short- and long-term missionary deployment, crisis response (notably Cyclone Chido relief), and Iris University, a degree-granting institution that opened at the Pemba, Mozambique campus in February 2025 with 501 inaugural undergraduate students. Quantitative footprint in FY2025 includes 464 missionaries deployed, 1,514 national staff, 7.2 million+ meals distributed, 17,182 children cared for, 32,000+ medical patients treated, and 10,642 students across Iris schools.

The business model is donation-funded: FY2025 revenue of $16 million came primarily from individual donors, churches, and partner organizations, with secondary recurring revenue from child sponsorships and ancillary one-time revenue from a Shopify-powered merchandise store selling apparel, books, teachings, and media. Approximately 54% of revenue ($8.6 million) flowed directly to missions, with $1.2 million to crisis response, $0.878 million to children's services, and $1.9 million to education; the organization disclosed a record-breaking $10.3 million in total grants to programs during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, combining missionary deployment, donor storytelling via the Green Room Podcast and 'This is Iris' documentary series, email appeals, and short-term mission trips that convert supporters into long-term missionary candidates and recurring donors.

The underlying technology is purely commercial off-the-shelf: Shopify for e-commerce, GoFundMe Pro and iDonate for donation processing, Thinkific for Online Missions Training, and Squarespace for the public web presence. There are no proprietary platforms, AI/ML systems, or data products disclosed; the organization's differentiation rests on field presence, founder brand, and 30 years of methodological experience rather than on technology. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors chaired by Heidi Baker with CEO Will Hart and CFO Gabriel J. Reid, CPA, and the organization holds ECFA, GuideStar Platinum, and GreatNonprofits Top-Rated credentials.

Name

Iris Global

Legal name

Iris Global

Website

https://irisglobal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Iris Global is a Tennessee-based, ECFA-accredited Christian nonprofit that deploys 464 missionaries across 72 locations in 40 nations to deliver evangelism, child sponsorship, education, healthcare, and crisis response in marginalized communities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Missions and Religious Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors) (HLAJALAO)

Keywords

• Humanitarian missions
• Child sponsorship programs
• Missions training
• Christian nonprofit services
• Community development aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Redding

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices30 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, churches, and organizations supporting the organization's global missions work. The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 generated $16 million in total revenue and granted a record-breaking $10.3 million to missions and programs.
2. Child Sponsorship Programs: Stop for the One child sponsorship program where donors sponsor individual children for education, food, healthcare, and general support. 799 children sponsored through this program in 2025.
3. Merchandise Sales: Iris Global Store sells apparel, gifts, digital books, teachings, conferences, films, and music to supporters and followers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Iris Global is a Christ-centered missions and humanitarian aid organization that operates a portfolio of programs including child sponsorship (Stop for the One), missions training (Harvest School of Missions, Online Missions Training, Iris University), crisis response, and church planting. It serves beneficiaries through 72 locations across 40 nations, delivering evangelism, education, healthcare, food distribution, clean water access, foster care, and community development services funded primarily by individual donations.

Product overview

Iris Global is a Christ-centered missions organization operating a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on global evangelism, humanitarian aid, education, and community development. The core offerings include the Stop for the One Child Sponsorship program, Online Missions Training via Thinkific, Harvest School of Missions, and Iris University (launched 2025). Additional products include the Iris Global Store (Shopify-based e-commerce for apparel, books, and media), Crisis Response initiatives, and Short-Term/Long-Term Missions programs. The organization serves through 72 locations across 40 nations, with programs spanning worship, outreach, family support, education, relief, development, healing, and the arts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stop for the One: Child sponsorship program enabling sponsors to support children in need through Iris Global locations worldwide.
• Harvest School of Missions
• Iris University
• Iris Ministries SA

Products and services

• Stop for the One Child Sponsorship A child sponsorship program that allows individual donors to sponsor children in need through Iris Global's global ministry locations, providing education, food, healthcare, and general support. 799 children were sponsored through this program in 2025.
• Online Missions Training Online training courses led by experienced missionaries such as Heidi Baker and Will Hart, available live or on-demand for individuals seeking to learn about missions.
• Harvest School of Missions An intensive missions training school that equips individuals for global ministry through spiritual formation, practical training, and cross-cultural experience.
• Iris University A university offering undergraduate and graduate programs, with its first year of academic operations beginning in February 2025 at the Pemba, Mozambique location. Inaugural class of 501 students including 89 masters track students.
• Iris Global Store An e-commerce platform selling apparel, gifts, digital books, teachings, films, and music related to Iris Global's mission and branding.
• Short-Term Missions Opportunities for individuals to visit and serve alongside Iris Global teams at various ministry locations around the world for short durations.
• Long-Term Missions Commitments for individuals to serve as full-time missionaries with Iris Global at various international locations for extended periods.
• Crisis Response Emergency humanitarian response programs addressing natural disasters and humanitarian crises, including Cyclone Chido relief efforts in Mozambique.
• Ministry Training Programs Various training programs including discipleship, Bible schools, vocational training, and leadership development across Iris Global locations, with 16,000+ ministry training attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.2 million+ meals distributed annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Feed My Starving ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for food distribution and meal programs. Iris Global distributed 7.2 million+ meals in 2025, with Feed My Starving Children supporting nutritional programs.
• Samaritan's PursecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian humanitarian aid organization providing support for crisis response and disaster relief programs.
• Operation BlessingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian charitable organization partnering for humanitarian relief and community development programs.
• UNICEF SenegalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership in Senegal working with social welfare ministry and UNICEF to draft national foster care laws and formalize family-based care systems.
• Save the Children InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Senegal contributing to government think tank on family-based care models for orphaned and vulnerable children.
• LeSEA Global Feed the HungrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShipped millions of pounds of food for emergency relief to Mozambique, distributed through Iris bush pastor network in remote areas.
• Justice Rising InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings peace to communities affected by war by providing quality education to children at risk. Builds schools and develops programs in Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Somalia.
• Bethel Church ReddingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConnected through Convergence Church which is part of Bethel Church Global Legacy family. Shares resources and training for supernatural ministry.
• International Association of Healing MinistriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in healing ministry training and resources.
• Israel MovementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for His Heart Internship program in Israel focused on worship, restoration of Israel, and revival.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• World Vision: Large Christian humanitarian organization operating child sponsorship, emergency response, and community development in roughly 100 countries. Directly overlaps Iris in international relief, child welfare, and water/development programming.
• Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based global organization specializing in foster care, adoption, and refugee services. Overlaps directly with Iris's child welfare, foster care, and family-based care work in Mozambique, Senegal, and similar African geographies.
• Compassion International: Faith-based child sponsorship organization serving more than 2 million children globally. Mirrors Iris's 'Stop for the One' model with comparable recurring-donor revenue mechanics, ECFA accreditation, and faith-driven ministry positioning.
• Youth With A Mission (YWAM): Global Christian missionary movement operating in over 180 countries with missions training, short-term trips, and Discipleship Training Schools. Directly comparable to Iris's Harvest School of Missions and Online Missions Training curriculum.
• Samaritan's Purse: Franklin Graham-led Christian humanitarian organization operating worldwide in disaster relief, child sponsorship, and medical programs; listed as a Core strategic partner to Iris Global and operates a nearly identical faith-based missions model with comparable global footprint.
• Food for the Hungry: Christian relief and development organization focused on child sponsorship, disaster response, and community transformation in 20+ countries. Closely comparable to Iris in faith-driven programming, ECFA accountability, and integrated relief-to-development models.
• GFA World (Gospel for Asia): Mission-focused organization ministering to millions across Asia and Africa through national missionaries. Overlaps with Iris's missionary deployment model, church planting, and national-staff-led ministry strategy.
• Operation Blessing: Christian humanitarian aid organization providing disaster relief, medical care, and community development. Listed as a Core strategic partner to Iris Global and operates a directly parallel relief-and-development model across Latin America and Africa.
• ChildFund International: International child-focused nonprofit operating child sponsorship, education, and youth development programs across more than 20 countries. Mirrors Iris's recurring donation model and orphan/vulnerable children programming.

Regional players

• Mission of Hope: Christian missions organization focused on Haiti (where Iris also operates from Port Au Prince), combining church planting, child sponsorship, and crisis response. Comparable to Iris's Caribbean and Latin American programming model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLx212wKhabIJCW_ODDokVbSPmrqdrYvQu
• Facebookfacebook.com/IrisGlobalOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iris-global
• Instagraminstagram.com/irisglobal

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Iris Global