Keep A Child Alive
Keep A Child Alive is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 by Alicia Keys that funds and partners with grassroots NGOs in 16 countries to deliver healthcare, education, child protection, and economic empowerment services to vulnerable children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty, and displacement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Keep A Child Alive does
Keep A Child Alive (KCA) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2003 by GRAMMY-winning artist Alicia Keys and Leigh Blake, headquartered at 1 Penn Plaza in New York. Its stated mission is to partner with grassroots organizations to combat the physical, social, and economic impact of HIV on children and families in Africa, with operations that have since expanded to 16 countries across Eastern and Southern Africa, South Asia, and Southern Europe. The organization functions as a fundraising and grantmaking intermediary rather than a direct-service provider, channeling resources to a curated network of 15+ local partner NGOs — including Alive Medical Services (Uganda, 218,000+ clients annually), Zoe Empowers (8 countries, 150,000+ children since 2007), WE-ACTx (Rwanda), Operation Bobbi Bear (South Africa), and the Doris Mollel Foundation (Tanzania) — that deliver healthcare, education, child protection, and economic empowerment services at the community level.
KCA's core product surface consists of four components: the central donation platform (one-time and monthly giving at preset tiers of $10, $20, $40, $100 USD plus custom amounts, with credit card and cryptocurrency accepted); the Team KCA marathon fundraising sub-brand (global events in NYC, Berlin, London, Sydney, Dublin, Copenhagen, Valencia, and Cardiff); the Every Life Newborn Survival Initiative (focused on neonatal mortality, including a NICU partnership in Tanzania); and the Digital Democracy Program (digital literacy and coding in partnership with Raspberry Pi Foundation). Revenue is generated entirely through donations, event-based fundraising, and corporate partnerships, with no products or services sold. Leadership is provided by Executive Chairman & CEO Antonio Ruiz-Giménez, Jr. and Managing Director Kathryn Llewellyn, supported by a celebrity ambassador network including Alicia Keys, Laila Ali, Lee Daniels, Padma Lakshmi, and Taraji Henson.
The go-to-market model combines an event-driven acquisition channel (Team KCA marathons, which alone generated over $400,000 annually and served 81,000 children in 2025) with a community-led engagement approach emphasizing storytelling and grassroots partnerships. KCA publicly repositioned its brand in 2023 from 'charity' to 'solidarity,' emphasizing community-led empowerment over traditional direct-service charity. The organization employs 11-50 staff and serves vulnerable children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty, displacement, abuse, and lack of access to healthcare and education, across eight documented focus areas spanning Climate/Environment, Digital Inclusion, Education, Emergency Response, Gender Rights, Health & Wellbeing, Human Rights, and Sexual Abuse & Exploitation.
Keep A Child Alive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Keep A Child Alive
- Legal name
- Keep A Child Alive
- Website
- https://keepachildalive.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Keep A Child Alive is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 by Alicia Keys that funds and partners with grassroots NGOs in 16 countries to deliver healthcare, education, child protection, and economic empowerment services to vulnerable children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty, and displacement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Keep A Child Alive industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Humanitarian Aid and Child Welfare Nonprofit
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG), Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)
Keywords
Where Keep A Child Alive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Keep A Child Alive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters. The organization accepts donations via credit card, cryptocurrency, and other digital payment methods. Donation amounts include preset options ($10, $20, $40, $100 USD) as well as custom amounts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | One-time or monthly donation options |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Keep A Child Alive product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Keep A Child Alive is a US-based nonprofit (501(c)(3)) that raises funds from individual donors and marathon fundraisers to support grassroots partner organizations serving vulnerable children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty, displacement, sexual abuse, and lack of healthcare or education in Africa and Asia. Its core offerings include the KCA donation platform, the Team KCA marathon fundraising program, the Every Life newborn survival initiative, and the Digital Democracy digital literacy program.
Product overview
Keep A Child Alive (KCA) is a global charitable movement focused on supporting children facing challenging circumstances through grassroots partnerships. The organization operates primarily as a donation-based platform with several distinct programs: the core KCA charitable platform for direct donations; Team KCA, a marathon fundraising initiative enabling athletes to raise funds through running events globally; the Every Life Newborn Survival Initiative targeting infant mortality; and the Digital Democracy Program providing coding and digital literacy education. These programs work together to provide healthcare, education, empowerment, and emergency response services across multiple countries in Africa and Asia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Team KCA: A global community of runners using iconic marathons to raise life-saving funds for children and families around the world.
- Every Life – A Newborn Survival Initiative
Products and services
- Keep A Child Alive (KCA) Donation Platform A global charitable movement and donation platform that accepts one-time and recurring monthly donations from individual supporters via the website and cryptocurrency, channeling funds to grassroots partner organizations serving vulnerable children and families across Africa and Asia.
- Team KCA Marathon Fundraising Program A global marathon and sports fundraising program that allows athletes to raise money for KCA's charitable initiatives through running major global marathons (NYC, Berlin, London, Sydney, Dublin, Valencia, Cardiff, Copenhagen), with guaranteed race entries, coaching, training plans, and team gear in exchange for per-race minimum fundraising commitments.
- Every Life – A Newborn Survival Initiative A flagship KCA initiative focused on reducing preventable newborn deaths through partnerships to establish neonatal intensive care units (including the inaugural NICU at Ngudu Hospital in Tanzania) in underserved communities, supporting newborn survival in Africa.
- Digital Democracy Program A digital literacy and coding program partnered with Raspberry Pi Foundation that increases access to digital skills for children and youth being left behind, implemented in South African primary schools through KCA's youth hub in Durban.
Quantifiable outcome
- 81,000 children served annually through Team KCA program
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Keep A Child Alive
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Keep A Child Alive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Keep A Child Alive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Alive Medical Services (AMS)coreLeading Ugandan NGO providing free, comprehensive HIV/AIDS/SRHR services to over 218,000 vulnerable clients annually. AMS is a key KCA partner in East Africa delivering healthcare services.
- Zoe EmpowerscoreNon-profit helping orphaned children and youth-led families become self-sufficient in eight countries. Distinctive participant-led empowerment model has helped over 150,000 children since 2007.
- WE-ACTxcoreRwandan non-profit providing comprehensive healthcare and support to women and children, including psycho-social support and specialized groups for vulnerable populations in Rwanda.
- Operation Bobbi BearcoreHuman rights organization that rescues, cares for, and supports sexually abused children in Amanzimtoti, South Africa. Addresses sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
- Doris Mollel FoundationcoreDedicated to fighting prematurity in Tanzania. Aims to reform the country's health system and policies to minimize preterm births and related deaths. Partnership includes inaugural NICU at Ngudu Hospital.
- One Acre FundsupportingCommitted to empowering smallholder farmers in Africa through education, training, and resources, while also building a diverse workforce and leadership team.
- Salama AfricasupportingYouth facility in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi bridging the gap for children left out of the schooling system through creative learning opportunities.
- Sahara AalhadsupportingClient-centric NGO in Pune, India providing comprehensive services to disadvantaged communities, focusing on empowerment and livelihood enhancement.
- Sabrina Love FoundationsupportingFounded in 2004, supports disabled children in Greater Plettenberg Bay, South Africa through Day Care and Therapy Centre offering specialized care, therapy, and inclusive education.
- Acompañando ProcesossupportingRelief organization in Madrid, Spain providing basic needs, information, advice, and mutual aid to vulnerable households.
- SahaaseesupportingIndian NGO with 'Promotion of rights in South Delhi slums' project empowering poor women through community mobilization, institution building, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
- SWAPOLsupportingNGO in Eswatini providing counseling, education, and support to people affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS, especially women in rural areas.
- PrayassupportingNon-profit trust in Pune, India using research, policy analysis, and training to empower the disadvantaged and facilitate people's own action to shape their future.
- Raspberry Pi FoundationcorePartnership for Digital Democracy program increasing access to digital skills to children and youth being left behind. Combines KCA's community reach with Raspberry Pi's educational technology.
- Blue Roof Life Space / Zoe Life Innovative SolutionscoreHolistic youth development project in Wentworth, South Durban, South Africa. Partnership includes youth hub with programs for educational support, community engagement, and holistic empowerment.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Keep A Child Alive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- (RED): Co-founded by Bono, (RED) partners with brands to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa — the most direct peer to KCA given shared HIV/AIDS mission in Africa, celebrity co-founder model, and corporate-partner fundraising.
- charity: water: Donation-funded nonprofit running multi-country programs with strong digital fundraising, recurring giving, and a transparent impact model — directly comparable donor-acquisition and storytelling approach to KCA.
- mothers2mothers: African-based nonprofit tackling HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health — directly comparable cause area, geography, and partner-empowerment operating model.
- Global Fund for Children: Funds and partners with grassroots organizations serving vulnerable children globally — closely mirrors KCA's partner-network model and child-focused international development mission.
- Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation: Focused on pediatric HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in Africa — same core cause as KCA's original mission, with a similar donor-supported, multi-country operating model.
Emerging players
- Team for Kids: Uses endurance-event fundraising (including NYC Marathon) to raise money for youth-focused programs — directly comparable to KCA's Team KCA marathon acquisition model and child-focused giving.
Broad incumbents
- UNICEF: Larger, established incumbent operating across child welfare, health, and education globally — overlaps with KCA across multiple focus areas but at vastly greater scale.
- Save the Children: Major incumbent in child welfare, health, and education across Africa and Asia — directly overlaps with KCA's vulnerable-children mission as part of a broader portfolio.
- USAID (children & youth programs): Government funder of HIV/AIDS, health, and education programs across the same African and South Asian geographies where KCA operates — a relevant incumbent for funding flows and program design.
Others
- charity:buzz: Auction and celebrity-experience fundraising platform — relevant ecosystem participant for celebrity-amplified nonprofit fundraising, similar to KCA's ambassador-driven acquisition model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Keep A Child Alive social profiles
Digital presenceKeep A Child Alive financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Keep A Child Alive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Keep A Child Alive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Keep A Child Alive 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 Keep A Child Alive
What does Keep A Child Alive do?
Keep A Child Alive is a US-based nonprofit (501(c)(3)) that raises funds from individual donors and marathon fundraisers to support grassroots partner organizations serving vulnerable children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty, displacement, sexual abuse, and lack of healthcare or education in Africa and Asia. Its core offerings include the KCA donation platform, the Team KCA marathon fundraising program, the Every Life newborn survival initiative, and the Digital Democracy digital literacy program.
Is Keep A Child Alive a public or private company?
Keep A Child Alive is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Keep A Child Alive founded?
Keep A Child Alive was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Keep A Child Alive based?
Keep A Child Alive is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Keep A Child Alive make money?
One revenue line is on record: individual Donations.
Who are Keep A Child Alive's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are (RED), charity: water, mothers2mothers, Global Fund for Children and Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Team for Kids is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are UNICEF, Save the Children and USAID (children & youth programs). charity:buzz is listed as an others.
Does Keep A Child Alive have an API?
No public API is recorded for Keep A Child Alive.
What industry is Keep A Child Alive in?
Keep A Child Alive's product category is International Humanitarian Aid and Child Welfare Nonprofit. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights, with a secondary code of BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.