Stepping Stones International
Stepping Stones International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that empowers vulnerable children, youth aged 12-25, and families in Botswana and Malawi through education, life-skills, leadership, family-nurturing, and child-protection programs funded by donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Stepping Stones International does
Stepping Stones International (SSI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana, with additional registrations in the United States (EIN 20-2900537) and Malawi (COYG-4KUEJPP). It serves vulnerable children, youth aged 12-25, and their families in Botswana and Malawi through three programmatic pillars: Child and Youth Empowerment (after-school education with adapted University of Utah Reading Clinic literacy interventions, the 'Finding the Leader Within' leadership program, and life-skills curricula), Family Nurturing (Pinagare, Young Mothers, Grannies Tea Group with SASA! violence-prevention training), and Child Advocacy and Protection (Coaching Boys Into Men, EU-funded Tsexg'ae 'Working Together' project in the Ghanzi District). The organization operates a community-led, socio-ecological service delivery model in which programs are co-created with local communities and delivered via center-based after-school activities, Community Service Provider home visits, and the Phantsa Hoo youth-led weekly radio program on Yarona FM.
The organization's technology footprint is a multi-channel engagement stack comprising community-based outreach, radio broadcasting (Phantsa Hoo on Yarona FM, Saturdays 10:00-11:00 AM), and social/digital platforms (Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram) used for awareness, behavior-change communication, and donor engagement. Proprietary programmatic features are rooted in adapted evidence-based curricula rather than software platforms; named sub-brands (Phantsa Hoo, Pinagare, Coaching Boys Into Men, Grannies Tea Group) constitute the differentiated program IP. Donations are processed through GlobalGiving and JustGiving, with the organization holding 2024 GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Nonprofit and Top-Ranked GlobalGiving Project status.
SSI's business model is donation- and grant-funded, with no fees charged to beneficiaries. Revenue streams comprise individual charitable contributions through GlobalGiving and JustGiving, plus foundation and institutional grant funding, most notably the European Union (Tsexg'ae project) and the FACET Foundation ('Finding the Leader Within'). The organization employs 101-250 staff and reports cumulative impact of 17,000+ children and youth, 300+ youth placed in employment/entrepreneurship/education, 500+ families strengthened, and 800+ caregivers trained, with 63% of participants achieving positive employment, education, or entrepreneurship outcomes.
Stepping Stones International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stepping Stones International
- Legal name
- Stepping Stones International
- Website
- https://steppingstonesintl.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Stepping Stones International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that empowers vulnerable children, youth aged 12-25, and families in Botswana and Malawi through education, life-skills, leadership, family-nurturing, and child-protection programs funded by donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stepping Stones International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development and Child Protection Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Dropout Prevention, Re-Engagement & Truancy Intervention Programs (EDAJAEAD)
Keywords
Where Stepping Stones International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Stepping Stones International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: SSI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies primarily on donations from individuals and organizations. The organization accepts contributions through platforms like GlobalGiving and JustGiving.
- Foundation and Grant Funding: SSI receives funding from foundations and institutional donors. Notably, the FACET Foundation funds the 'Finding the Leader Within' leadership program, and the European Union funds the Tsexg'ae ('Working Together') project in the Ghanzi District.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Stepping Stones International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stepping Stones International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers integrated youth development, family nurturing, and child advocacy/protection programs for adolescents and young adults (ages 12–25) in Botswana and Malawi. Services include group-based life skills and leadership curricula (e.g., Finding the Leader Within, Coaching Boys Into Men, Young Mothers program), caregiver and family strengthening activities (Pinagare, Grannies Tea Group), child safeguarding case work, and a community radio program (Phantsa Hoo) for behavior change communication.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Phantsa Hoo: A dynamic, youth-led radio programme airing on Yarona FM every Saturday, addressing issues such as mental health, gender-based violence, and reproductive health.
- Pinagare
- Young Mothers
- Coaching Boys Into Men (CBIM)
- Grannies Tea Group
Products and services
- Child & Youth Empowerment Program Integrated pillar of group-based life-skills, leadership development, and mentorship programming for adolescents and young adults (ages 12–25) in Botswana and Malawi, delivered through community centers and outreach.
- Family Nurturing Program Program pillar that engages caregivers and families (including the Pinagare model and Grannies Tea Group) to strengthen protective family environments for adolescents and youth.
- Child Advocacy & Protection Program Program pillar delivering child safeguarding, case management, and advocacy services for vulnerable children and adolescents in Botswana and Malawi.
- Phantsa Hoo (Community Radio Program) Community radio program aired on Yarona FM that delivers behavior-change communication on youth health, protection, and empowerment topics to broad audiences in Botswana and Malawi.
- Finding the Leader Within Group-based leadership development curriculum for adolescents and youth, designed to build self-efficacy, positive identity, and leadership skills.
- Coaching Boys Into Men (adaptation) Adapted evidence-based group curriculum engaging adolescent boys and young men to reflect on masculine norms, prevent gender-based violence, and promote healthy relationships.
- Young Mothers Program Targeted program supporting adolescent and young mothers with life skills, parenting support, health information, and pathways back to education or livelihoods.
- Pinagare (Family Nurturing Program Model) Family-focused nurturing program model engaging caregivers and family members to strengthen communication, support, and protection for adolescents in the household.
- Grannies Tea Group Community-based engagement group that mobilizes grandmothers as protective caregivers and peer supporters for children and adolescents in their families and communities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 63% of participants achieve positive outcomes (employment, education, or entrepreneurship)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Stepping Stones International
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Stepping Stones International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Stepping Stones International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Yarona FMcoreYarona FM is a leading youth radio station in Botswana where the Phantsa Hoo ('Speak Out') program airs weekly. The partnership enables youth-led programming addressing mental health, GBV, and reproductive health topics.
- GlobalGivingcoreGlobalGiving platform hosts SSI's fundraising projects, enabling global donors to support lifesaving services for Botswana youth. SSI has been recognized with Top-Ranked status on the platform.
- University of Utah Reading ClinicminorSSI uses adapted literacy interventions from the University of Utah Reading Clinic in its after-school education program, helping participants improve reading levels by up to two grades.
- Company Partners (Job Shadowing)minorVarious company partners provide three- to six-week job-shadowing placements for graduates of the Finding the Leader Within program, offering real-world work experience.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Stepping Stones International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Young Africa: Young Africa operates youth skills development and entrepreneurship programs across Southern and Eastern Africa, including Botswana. Directly comparable to SSI's economic opportunity and self-sufficiency mission for vulnerable youth aged 12-25.
- Grassroot Soccer: Grassroot Soccer uses sport-based programming to deliver health and life-skills education to adolescents in Southern Africa, including Botswana and neighboring countries. Highly comparable to SSI's life skills, GBV prevention, and youth-health outreach model.
- Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation: EGPAF operates adolescent health and HIV prevention programs for young women in Malawi and other Southern African countries. Strong overlap with SSI's AGYW focus, GBV/reproductive health content, and geographic footprint.
- Restless Development: Restless Development places young people as peer educators and change agents across Africa on issues including SRHR, GBV, and livelihoods. Comparable youth-led, community-based delivery model and beneficiary age band.
- Worldreader: Worldreader delivers literacy and reading programs for children and youth in Sub-Saharan Africa, including partnerships aligned with reading-level improvement outcomes. Directly comparable to SSI's adapted University of Utah Reading Clinic literacy intervention.
- Raising Voices: Raising Voices is the originator of the SASA! community mobilization methodology for violence prevention that SSI has adopted. They serve as both a content partner and as a peer organization working on gender-based violence prevention in Uganda and East/Southern Africa.
Broad incumbents
- Plan International: Plan International is a major global NGO focused on children's rights, gender equality, and youth empowerment across Africa, including programs in Botswana and Malawi. Comparable mission, broader geographic and programmatic scope.
- Save the Children: Save the Children operates education, child protection, and youth livelihoods programs in Malawi and Botswana. Overlapping population (vulnerable children/youth), with substantially larger scale and resources.
- SOS Children's Villages: SOS Children's Villages provides alternative care, family strengthening, and youth empowerment in Malawi and other African countries. Comparable wraparound support model for vulnerable children and young people transitioning to independence.
- UNFPA Botswana: UNFPA's Botswana country office runs adolescent sexual and reproductive health, GBV prevention, and youth empowerment programming aligned with SSI's Phantsa Hoo radio topics. Comparable population and thematic overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Stepping Stones International social profiles
Digital presenceStepping Stones International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stepping Stones International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Stepping Stones International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stepping Stones International 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 Stepping Stones International
What does Stepping Stones International do?
Stepping Stones International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers integrated youth development, family nurturing, and child advocacy/protection programs for adolescents and young adults (ages 12–25) in Botswana and Malawi. Services include group-based life skills and leadership curricula (e.g., Finding the Leader Within, Coaching Boys Into Men, Young Mothers program), caregiver and family strengthening activities (Pinagare, Grannies Tea Group), child safeguarding case work, and a community radio program (Phantsa Hoo) for behavior change communication.
Is Stepping Stones International a public or private company?
Stepping Stones International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Stepping Stones International founded?
Stepping Stones International was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Stepping Stones International based?
Stepping Stones International is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stepping Stones International make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Grant Funding.
Who are Stepping Stones International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Young Africa, Grassroot Soccer, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Restless Development, Worldreader and Raising Voices. Broad incumbents are Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages and UNFPA Botswana.
Does Stepping Stones International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stepping Stones International.
What industry is Stepping Stones International in?
Stepping Stones International's product category is Youth Development and Child Protection Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.