What Glasswing International does

Glasswing International is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2007 by Celina de Sola, Ken Baker, and Diego de Sola to address the root causes and consequences of violence and poverty through education and health programs in Latin America and the United States. Headquartered in New York with 11 offices across nine countries (USA, El Salvador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama), the organization runs an integrated portfolio of programs: Community Schools transforming nearly 80 public schools into community hubs; SanaMente training 80,127+ frontline workers in trauma-informed care across 3,807 institutions; Youth Impact Leaders providing service-learning opportunities to 13,800+ young people with six-month stipends; and Girls Club reaching nearly 7,000 girls with violence-prevention and life-skills programming. Nucleo LabHub in San Salvador adds a permanent facility for digital manufacturing, employability, and STEM training. Since inception, Glasswing reports having impacted 10 million+ people across the region, with 98% of senior staff located in Latin America to ensure locally-led delivery.

Glasswing's business model is that of a multi-channel international development nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise. Revenue derives from three primary streams: individual donations (channeled through The Butterfly Effect monthly giving program, the annual benefit gala — which raised $1.6 million in both 2022 and 2025 — and the Sponsor a School initiative where 100% of donations flow to programs), corporate grants and partnerships (15-year relationships with TELUS Digital, Samsung Latin America, Starbucks Foundation, Hanes Brand, and others), and foundation grants (most notably an $11.6 million 2024 commitment from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation as the exclusive funder of the Youth Impact Leaders program). The organization holds a Four-Star Charity Navigator rating and a Candid/GuideStar Platinum Seal, and is a member of the UN Global Compact and UN ECOSOC. Glasswing does not sell products or services and operates no technology platform; program delivery relies on directly staffed country teams coordinating with public schools, government ministries, and a network of 151,000+ mobilized volunteers.

Name

Glasswing International

Legal name

Glasswing International

Website

https://glasswing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Glasswing International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that delivers education, mental health, and youth empowerment programs across nine Latin American countries and the United States, reaching over 7 million people annually through Community Schools, SanaMente trauma-informed training, and Youth Impact Leaders service-learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs & Supports (EDAJAIAC)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Community education services
• Trauma-informed mental health
• Nonprofit social services
• Violence prevention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Glasswing receives donations from individual supporters through its website, annual gala events, and monthly giving program (The Butterfly Effect). Donors can give via credit card, crypto, check, or wire transfer.
2. Corporate Grants and Partnerships: Corporate partners including Starbucks Foundation, TELUS Digital, Samsung Latin America, and others provide grants and volunteer support for specific programs.
3. Foundation Grants: Major foundation funders including Howard G. Buffett Foundation provide significant funding for specific initiatives like Youth Impact Leaders.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Glasswing International is a nonprofit organization that delivers education, mental health, youth empowerment, and community resilience programs to vulnerable children, youth, and families across nine countries in Latin America and the United States. Its core offerings include the Community Schools model (after-school clubs and family engagement inside public schools), SanaMente (trauma-informed care training for frontline workers in hospitals, schools, and law enforcement), Youth Impact Leaders (service-learning program with stipends), and Girls Club (life-skills and violence-prevention sessions for girls). Programs are implemented directly by Glasswing staff alongside more than 151,000 mobilized volunteers and 800+ partner organizations.

Product overview

Glasswing International operates a portfolio of interconnected youth development and community empowerment programs. Core programs include SanaMente (trauma-informed mental health training), Youth Impact Leaders (service-learning with stipends), Community Schools (school transformation model), and Girls Club. Supporting offerings include the Nucleo LabHub digital fabrication facility, Formando Profesionales vocational training, English for Tomorrow, Sanando Heridas, Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) methodology, and Un Salto al Futuro early childhood program. Donor engagement programs include The Butterfly Effect monthly giving, Sponsor a School, and the Solve for Tomorrow technology competition partnership. Programs are delivered through 9 country offices (USA, El Salvador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama) with 98% of senior staff located regionally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SanaMente: Regional mental health program that strengthens institutions, transforms practices, and promotes well-being within communities. To date, 80,127 people have been trained, 24,387 people have received direct interventions, and 3,807 institutions have strengthened their capacities.
• Youth Impact Leaders (JLI)
• Community Schools
• Girls Club
• The Butterfly Effect
• Sanando Heridas

Products and services

• SanaMente Regional mental health program that strengthens institutions, transforms practices, and promotes well-being within communities by training frontline workers in trauma-informed care and emotional regulation; has trained 80,127 people, delivered 24,387 direct interventions, and strengthened 3,807 institutions.
• Youth Impact Leaders (JLI) Service-learning initiative for youth ages 15-22 providing first work experience, leadership development, socio-emotional support, community service field placements, and six-month stipends; 13,824+ participants with 99% continuing to live in their home countries 2-3 years after completion.
• Community Schools

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of Youth Impact Leaders participants ages 18-22 continue living in their countries even 2-3 years after completing the program
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• TELUS DigitalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner15-year partnership supporting Community Schools in El Salvador. More than 1,200 volunteers participate in Days of Giving events. 5,900+ students have participated in 540+ extracurricular clubs with support of around 2,000 TELUS Digital volunteers. Community Schools model implemented in three schools in Santa Tecla.
• Samsung Latin AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional alliance including Samsung Smart School program in Dominican Republic and Paraguay. Solve for Tomorrow competition encourages public school students to design technology-based community solutions. Costa Rica team won 2025 Regional Championship with AgroTico Smart proposal using IoT sensors and AI for small farmers.
• Hanes Brand Inc.supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing corporate partner supporting Glasswing programs in Dominican Republic. Employees participate as corporate volunteers through weekly activities at schools including Discovery Clubs, Reading Clubs, Little Leaders, Mini Glee, Volleyball, and Basketball.
• Ayuda en AcciónmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of Indigenous Autonomy Project in Costa Rica's Tayní Indigenous Territory. Initiative focuses on strengthening autonomous governance, multicultural inclusion, and full exercise of economic and social rights in Indigenous communities.
• FUNPADEMmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of Indigenous Autonomy Project alongside Glasswing and Ayuda en Acción. Partnership addresses autonomy and multicultural inclusion for Indigenous Peoples of Costa Rica.
• Museum of Art of El Salvador (MARTE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Glasswing and Starbucks Foundation for youth artistic workshops. Professional artists guide participants in developing artistic works celebrating Salvadoran identity, exhibited at Starbucks Casa Bou and public spaces.
• The Giving BlocksupportingTechnology or IntegrationCrypto philanthropy partner processing charitable cryptocurrency donations. Accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, and over 100 additional cryptocurrencies. Enables safe, easy cryptocurrency donations to Glasswing.
• TelevisaUnivisionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonored at 11th Annual Gala for commitment to civic engagement and collaborations with Glasswing. Executive Chairman Alfonso de Angoitia recognized for supporting organization's mission.
• MillicomsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through digital education platform #Conectadas in Central America. Collaboration focused on digital inclusion and educational technology for underserved communities.
• LA ESCUELA___supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized Education as Resistance exhibition at MoMA PS1 featuring artwork from Glasswing New York students. Collaboration with Salvadoran artist Studio Lenca and 25 students from Glasswing programs.
• La Sesal (Honduran Health Ministry)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned convention on mental health with Glasswing International. Establishes formal framework for SanaMente mental health training program implementation in Honduran health institutions.
• Global Partnership for EducationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished blog content on safe spaces and after-school programs transforming students' lives across Latin America. Collaboration amplifies Glasswing's education impact messaging.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Ashoka: Global network supporting social entrepreneurs and youth changemakers, with strong Latin America presence. Comparable in the Youth Impact Leaders civic-leadership model and Skoll-aligned changemaker ecosystem.
• Room to Read: Global education nonprofit operating literacy, girls' education, and school support programs across the Global South. Highly comparable to Glasswing's Community Schools, TaRL literacy methodology, and Girls Club programming.
• International Youth Foundation: Global nonprofit focused on youth employability, leadership, and life-skills training in emerging markets. Directly comparable to Glasswing's employability, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment programs.

Broad incumbents

• Partners In Health: Large established health-focused nonprofit delivering healthcare and trauma-informed services in low-resource settings. Comparable in mission scope (health + community empowerment), Latin America presence, and systems-strengthening approach.
• Save the Children: Major international NGO providing education, health, and child protection services in vulnerable communities. Overlaps with Glasswing's child-and-youth focus and trauma support work across Latin America.
• CARE International: Major international humanitarian organization addressing poverty, gender equality, and education in Latin America. Comparable in serving vulnerable populations across the same geographies via community-based programming.
• UNICEF Latin America & Caribbean: UN agency delivering education, health, and child protection programs across the region. Comparable in mission and target beneficiaries, though operates at vastly larger scale as a multilateral.

Emerging players

• Sesame Workshop: Educational nonprofit deploying SEL and early childhood programs internationally. Comparable to Glasswing's SEL focus in schools and Un Salto al Futuro early-childhood program.

Regional players

• FUNDACION PARA UNA MEJOR EDUCACION (EDUCA): Dominican Republic education nonprofit focused on public-school improvement and youth development. Comparable to Glasswing's school-based community model in the same geography (DR) and beneficiary population.
• Fundación Avina: Latin American foundation supporting sustainable development and social inclusion through partnerships and community initiatives. Comparable in regional footprint, multi-stakeholder model, and Latin America community empowerment focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@glasswinginternational8978
• Xx.com/glasswingint
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlasswingI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glasswinginternational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Glasswing International