Healing Hands of Joy

What Healing Hands of Joy does

Healing Hands of Joy is a US-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-0241638), founded in 2010 by Allison Shigo and Brett O'Donnell, that operates programs to prevent and treat obstetric fistula in Ethiopia. Its core offering is the trademarked Safe Motherhood Ambassador Training Program, a holistic rehabilitation model in which fistula survivors receive a 17-day program of counseling, maternal health education, literacy, numeracy, and income-generating skills training, and are then deployed as community educators. Each Ambassador is reported to reach an average of 94 other women with maternal health education; the organization states it has trained more than 3,000 Ambassadors and supported the safe delivery of more than 28,000 babies across four Ethiopian regions (Amhara, SNNP, Oromia, and Tigray) plus Addis Ababa.

The organization's technical and program components include rehabilitation centers in Bahir Dar, Mekelle, Jimma, and Hawassa; a 2024-launched portable ultrasound pilot (which screened 413 pregnant women and is expanding to 18 rural health centers); male family member training; stakeholder workshops with health extension workers, midwives, and religious leaders; and community engagement events delivered via mobile vans and radio. Outreach is supported by a documentary film library headlined by the Emmy Award-winning "A Walk to Beautiful" and the January 2025 release "The Power of Joy."

Healing Hands of Joy generates revenue through individual donations (including a recurring "Healing Circle" monthly giving program with $35/$50/$100 tiers), institutional grants (notably a $1 million grant in 2025 from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust), and stock/DAF/IRA contributions processed via Raymond James. Its go-to-market is community-led: Ambassadors identify fistula cases and refer them to partner hospitals (including Jimma Hospital and Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia) for surgical repair, then recruit survivors into the Ambassador program. The organization maintains a US fundraising and operations base in Charlotte, NC and an Ethiopia country office in Addis Ababa, with a stated headcount in the 51–100 range. No AI/ML capabilities, technology platform, or proprietary software are disclosed.

Name

Healing Hands of Joy

Legal name

Healing Hands of Joy

Website

https://healinghandsofjoy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Healing Hands of Joy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prevents and treats obstetric fistula in Ethiopia by training survivors as Safe Motherhood Ambassadors, operating regional rehabilitation centers, and running a portable ultrasound pilot now expanding to 18 rural health centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal Health Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Postpartum Family Helper (Non-Medical) (HSAAAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Caregiver Support, Training & Coaching (HLADAGAK)

Keywords

• Obstetric fistula treatment
• Maternal health education
• Community health programs
• Nonprofit rehabilitation services
• Safe motherhood training

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors, including one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations through the Healing Circle program, and stock donations. Donors can give through the website, ACH, wire transfer, or stock transfer via Raymond James.
2. Institutional Grants: Funding from charitable foundations and trusts. The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust provided a $1 million grant to support organizational work in conflict-affected areas of Northern Ethiopia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Healing Hands of Joy runs the Safe Motherhood Ambassador Training Program, a 17-day holistic rehabilitation curriculum that transforms Ethiopian obstetric fistula survivors into community maternal health educators. The organization also operates Male Family Member Training, Stakeholder Workshops, Community Engagement Events using mobile vans and radio, and a Portable Ultrasound Screening Program supporting rural health centers. Services are delivered through four regional centers in Ethiopia and funded via donations and grants.

Product overview

Healing Hands of Joy is a nonprofit organization offering a suite of maternal health programs focused on eliminating obstetric fistula in Ethiopia. The core offering is the Safe Motherhood Ambassador Training Program, which transforms fistula survivors into educators who provide life-saving maternal health education. This core program is supported by Male Family Member Training, Stakeholder Workshops, and Community Engagement Events that use mobile vans and radio broadcasts to reach remote areas. The organization also operates a Portable Ultrasound Screening Program and produces documentary films for awareness. The programs work together to prevent fistula, rehabilitate survivors, and reintegrate them into their communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safe Motherhood Ambassador Training Program Trademarked 17-day holistic rehabilitation program that helps Ethiopian obstetric fistula survivors restore their self-esteem and trains them as community maternal health educators who each reach an average of 94 women.
• Male Family Member Training Program that trains male family members of fistula survivors to become allies in fistula prevention and recovery support within their households and communities.
• Stakeholder Workshops Workshops that connect Safe Motherhood Ambassadors with community influencers such as health extension workers, midwives, women's association members, and religious leaders to build support networks.
• Community Engagement Events Community outreach using mobile vans, radio broadcasts, and educational film screenings to spread maternal health education to remote Ethiopian communities.
• Portable Ultrasound Screening Program Portable ultrasound technology deployed at rural health centers to screen pregnant women and identify those needing emergency or cesarean delivery, supporting safe motherhood for rural populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 Safe Motherhood Ambassadors trained across four regions
• +4 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hamlin Fistula EthiopiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for fistula surgical treatment. The organization works with Hamlin Hospital network including Mekelle Center and Jimma Hospital to provide surgical repairs and post-operative care for women suffering from obstetric fistula.
• Jimma HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral hospital where Safe Motherhood Ambassadors bring women for fistula treatment. Located in Jimma, Oromia region, the hospital provides surgical repairs and post-operative care.
• UNFPA Campaign to End FistulaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridget O. Asiamah, Technical Specialist and Coordinator of the UNFPA's Campaign to End Fistula, participated in the 'Power of Joy' premiere panel discussion, indicating alignment with global fistula elimination efforts.
• The New York TimesminorOthersFeatured in The New York Times 'Morning' section interview with East Africa Correspondent Abdi Latif Dahir regarding the Tigray peace agreement and fistula work. The organization was also mentioned in The Seattle Times Opinion section.
• Raymond JamesminorOthersBrokerage firm used for stock donations. Account Name: Healing Hands of Joy, DTC Number: 0725, Account Number: 426ym818.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia: Direct peer and current referral partner operating the largest fistula hospital network in Ethiopia; offers surgical treatment that complements HHOJ's identification and rehabilitation model.
• Fistula Foundation: US-based nonprofit that funds obstetric fistula treatment globally, including in Ethiopia; directly comparable mission, donor base, and beneficiary population to HHOJ.
• Every Mother Counts: Maternal health nonprofit focused on pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum complications globally; shares the storytelling-driven fundraising model and target population of women at risk of childbirth-related morbidity.
• EngenderHealth: Global reproductive and maternal health organization running fistula prevention and treatment programs; comparable mission and target beneficiaries with deeper geographic footprint.
• Jhpiego: Johns Hopkins-affiliated global health nonprofit focused on maternal and newborn health in low-resource settings; comparable programmatic focus on pregnancy-related mortality and morbidity prevention.

Broad incumbents

• UNFPA (Campaign to End Fistula): UN agency running the global Campaign to End Fistula; HHOJ leadership has direct engagement with UNFPA's fistula work and the organizations share a mandate to eliminate obstetric fistula.
• Merck for Mothers: Pharma-backed global initiative funding maternal health programs including pregnancy and childbirth complications in low- and middle-income countries; potential institutional peer and funding source.
• Partners in Health: Global health nonprofit delivering comprehensive maternal and women's health services in low-resource settings; operates at significantly larger scale but shares the model of community-based care and accompaniment.

Regional players

• Amref Health Africa: Largest Africa-based health nonprofit running maternal, neonatal, and community health programs across the continent; comparable community health worker model and target geography (including Ethiopia).

Others

• Direct Relief: Global humanitarian medical aid organization supporting maternal and child health programs in Ethiopia and similar contexts; adjacent peer in the global maternal-health funding ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/healinghandsofjoy
• Facebookfacebook.com/healinghandsofjoy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healing-hands-of-joy
• Instagraminstagram.com/healinghandsofjoy
• Xx.com/hhoj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Healing Hands of Joy