ShelterBox
ShelterBox is an international nonprofit providing emergency shelter and essential supplies to families displaced by disasters and conflicts across 17+ countries. Funded entirely by public donations, it has supported over 3 million people since 2000 through shelter packages, kits, and household items.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersBradenton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ShelterBox does
ShelterBox is a privately held international humanitarian nonprofit founded in 2000 in Cornwall, UK as a Rotary Club millennium project, with US operations headquartered as ShelterBox USA, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Florida) and a regional entity, ShelterBox Operations Philippines, established in 2017. The organization provides emergency shelter and essential supplies to families displaced by natural disasters, conflicts, and humanitarian crises, operating across 17+ countries including in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Its core products are physical aid packages: the ShelterBox (tents, tarpaulins, ropes, nails, and household essentials averaging $800 USD per unit) and Shelter Kits (tools and materials for home repair), supplemented by solar lights, mosquito nets, blankets, and kitchen sets. The organization has supported over 3 million people since founding, including 270,000 in 2024 and 231,000+ in 2025, with operations in places such as Gaza, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Cameroon, Mozambique, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Venezuela. ShelterBox is funded entirely by public donations — individual giving (including the monthly ShelterBox Builder program), Rotary club partnerships through the tiered HERO program, corporate partnerships, real estate industry partnerships (Give a Home), and fundraising events such as ShelterBox Adventurers. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on a global network of supporters, volunteer Response Teams, and operational partners including Rotary International (its exclusive Project Partner since 2012), IFRC, Habitat for Humanity, IOM, CARE, and country-specific implementation NGOs. With 11-50 professional staff augmented by hundreds of volunteers, ShelterBox directs an average of 85% of every donation to direct shelter provision.
ShelterBox firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ShelterBox
- Legal name
- ShelterBox USA, Inc.
- Website
- https://shelterboxusa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ShelterBox is an international nonprofit providing emergency shelter and essential supplies to families displaced by disasters and conflicts across 17+ countries. Funded entirely by public donations, it has supported over 3 million people since 2000 through shelter packages, kits, and household items.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ShelterBox industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Aid Services
- NAICS
- Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) (BPADADAB)
Keywords
Where ShelterBox is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bradenton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
ShelterBox business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Donations: ShelterBox is funded entirely by public donations. Individual donors contribute through online donations, monthly giving programs (ShelterBox Builder), major gifts, legacy giving, corporate partnerships, and fundraising events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Standard ShelterBox |
| Subscription | Monthly | ShelterBox Builder Monthly Giving |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
ShelterBox product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and essential household supplies to families displaced by natural disasters and conflicts worldwide. The core product is the ShelterBox - a package containing family-sized tents, heavy-duty tarpaulins, ropes, nails, and household essentials designed to provide immediate emergency shelter. Shelter Kits supply tools and materials for families to repair and rebuild damaged homes. Aid is delivered directly to families in disaster zones through Response Teams and a network of operational partners.
Product overview
ShelterBox is a humanitarian charity that provides emergency shelter and essential aid to families affected by disasters and conflicts worldwide. The organization's core offering is the ShelterBox - a package containing tents, shelter kits, tarpaulins, tools, and household essentials. Supporting programs include volunteer initiatives like the Ambassador Program and Adventurers, training programs (S.A.F.E.), and various giving options including monthly giving (ShelterBox Builder), legacy giving, and the HERO Rotary Club partnership program. The Give a Home program engages real estate professionals in fundraising efforts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 270,000 people supported with emergency shelter in 2024 alone
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ShelterBox
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ShelterBox technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ShelterBox partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rotary InternationalcoreShelterBox began in 2000 as a Rotary Club's millennium project in Cornwall, UK. Since 2012, ShelterBox has been Rotary International's only Project Partner in disaster relief. Rotary provides logistical support including acting as consignees, translators, local knowledge, and transport assistance. Rotary clubs help reach families who might otherwise go without aid.
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)coreShelterBox is one of the few organisations to have a global cooperation agreement with IFRC. This partnership enables close collaboration on humanitarian coordination, shelter innovation, and emergency shelter delivery to vulnerable people after disaster.
- Habitat for Humanity InternationalcoreAfter many years of successful collaboration, ShelterBox has a formalized relationship with Habitat for Humanity. ShelterBox focuses on initial emergency needs while Habitat for Humanity looks to longer-term support for families and communities.
- Airbnb (Open Homes Program)minorShelterBox partnered with Airbnb through their Open Homes program to provide accommodation for Response Team Volunteers while responding to disasters. The Open Homes community has helped house over 30,000 people in need.
- Public Concern (Cameroon)coreShelterBox's operational partner in Cameroon, a national NGO working in the far north of the country. First project helped over 63,000-86,000 people displaced by conflict with emergency tents and shelter kits.
- HELP - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe (Burkina Faso)coreGerman NGO implementing partner in Burkina Faso, supporting thousands of displaced people with shelter and household items like pans, water filters, and solar lights.
- INTERSOS (Chad)coreInternational humanitarian organization with projects across Africa, Asia and South America. Partner for ShelterBox projects in Chad responding to Sudan conflict refugees.
- IOM - UN Migration Agency (Ethiopia)coreUN migration agency is the leading shelter actor in Ethiopia with nationwide presence and access to vulnerable communities. ShelterBox works with IOM to support people displaced by conflict and drought.
- Juba Foundation (Somalia)coreSomali NGO experienced with supplying shelter in areas impacted by severe drought and flash flooding. Provided durable mud-brick homes and emergency shelter to displaced families.
- Islamic Relief PakistancorePartner for response to severe monsoon flooding in Pakistan. More recent work focused on creating more durable shelters.
- BCHR - Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief (Yemen)coreBCHR has been working in Yemen since 2015. Together with ShelterBox they provide shelter and essential household items for internally displaced people.
- Bahar (Syria)coreSyrian partner organization working with ShelterBox to support families affected by the ongoing civil war. Provides tents and winter supplies.
- Relief Aid (Syria)coreSyria partner providing shelter and essential household items for families affected by civil war. Winters in Syria are harsh with temperatures below freezing.
- Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)corePartner working with ShelterBox to import vital aid for displaced families in Gaza.
- Egyptian Red CrescentcorePartner in Gaza response providing vital humanitarian aid for displaced families.
- PARC (Palestine)corePartner in Gaza importing vital aid for displaced families including tents and essential supplies.
- CARE MozambiquecoreShelterBox works closely with CARE Mozambique to supply emergency shelter and non-food aid in ECHO EU-funded consortium project in northern Mozambique.
- ShelterBox CanadacoreShelterBox Canada affiliate coordinating relief supplies for Venezuela earthquake response alongside Canadian community groups.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ShelterBox competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): The IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian network, providing emergency shelter, disaster response, and relief supplies globally. ShelterBox holds a global cooperation agreement with the IFRC, making it a direct operational and strategic peer in emergency shelter delivery.
- American Red Cross: A major US-based humanitarian organization providing emergency shelter, supplies, and disaster relief domestically and internationally. Overlaps with ShelterBox USA's domestic response work and donor fundraising base.
- Oxfam America: Global confederation focused on poverty, humanitarian response, and disaster recovery including emergency shelter delivery. Operates in overlapping disaster and conflict zones with similar donor and beneficiary dynamics.
- UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): The UN agency mandated to lead and coordinate international action for refugees. Operates in virtually all of ShelterBox's conflict-response geographies and is the dominant institutional player in the displacement sector.
Direct peers
- Direct Relief: A humanitarian aid organization focused on delivering medical supplies and emergency relief to disaster-affected communities worldwide. Shares ShelterBox's model of pre-positioned supplies, last-mile delivery, and partnerships with local responders.
- Habitat for Humanity International: Global nonprofit providing shelter and housing solutions. ShelterBox has a formalized partnership with Habitat, where ShelterBox handles emergency shelter and Habitat covers longer-term recovery — making them direct, complementary peers.
- Mercy Corps: A global humanitarian organization that responds to disasters and conflicts with emergency relief, including shelter, supplies, and recovery support. Operates in many of the same geographies as ShelterBox and serves similar displaced populations.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): A major humanitarian organization responding to the world's worst crises with emergency aid, shelter, and recovery programs. Operates in overlapping conflict and disaster zones (Syria, Yemen, Somalia) with similar beneficiary populations.
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS): US-based international humanitarian agency delivering emergency relief, shelter, and recovery assistance in over 100 countries. Comparable in mission, beneficiary base, and donor-driven funding model.
Emerging players
- Team Rubicon: A veteran-led disaster response nonprofit providing emergency relief and recovery support. Operates in overlapping US domestic disaster response territory and shares ShelterBox USA's volunteer-driven delivery model for emergency shelter and supplies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ShelterBox social profiles
Digital presenceShelterBox financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ShelterBox leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ShelterBox subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ShelterBox funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ShelterBox 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 ShelterBox
What does ShelterBox do?
ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and essential household supplies to families displaced by natural disasters and conflicts worldwide. The core product is the ShelterBox - a package containing family-sized tents, heavy-duty tarpaulins, ropes, nails, and household essentials designed to provide immediate emergency shelter. Shelter Kits supply tools and materials for families to repair and rebuild damaged homes. Aid is delivered directly to families in disaster zones through Response Teams and a network of operational partners.
Is ShelterBox a public or private company?
ShelterBox is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ShelterBox founded?
ShelterBox was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ShelterBox based?
ShelterBox is headquartered in Bradenton, United States, in the North America region.
How does ShelterBox make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Donations.
Who are ShelterBox's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), American Red Cross, Oxfam America and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Direct peers are Direct Relief, Habitat for Humanity International, Mercy Corps, International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Team Rubicon is listed as an emerging player.
Does ShelterBox have an API?
No public API is recorded for ShelterBox.
What industry is ShelterBox in?
ShelterBox's product category is Humanitarian Aid Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAHAG, Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations, with a secondary code of BPAGAAAC, Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI). Its NAICS code is 624221 and its SIC code is 8300.