What Grounds for Health does

Grounds for Health is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Dan Cox and Dr. Francis Fote to address cervical cancer mortality among women in coffee-growing regions of low-income countries. The organization delivers community-based cervical cancer prevention programs using HPV self-testing, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) screening, and a Single Visit Approach that enables same-day screening and cryotherapy treatment to reduce loss to follow-up. Since inception it has screened 237,718 women for cervical pre-cancer and treated 19,848, achieving an 89% treatment and referral rate with HPV testing over a three-year period.

The organization's current programs operate in Ethiopia (since 2014) and Kenya (since 2016), with prior programs in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru, and announced plans to expand to Guatemala. Service delivery is conducted by in-country clinical teams at coffee cooperatives and community gathering points, supported by local health-system capacity building through healthcare worker training and partnership with national ministries of health. Staffing is split between a small US-based team (Ashfield, MA headquarters; 1-10 employees) and an Africa-based field team of program managers, country directors, HPV program specialists, and clinical specialists.

Grounds for Health is funded entirely through philanthropic revenue streams rather than commercial sales. Sources include anchor and major sustaining donors at $25,000+/year and $10,000+/year tiers, annual fundraising events (GFHWeek during International Women's Day, green coffee auctions raising close to $1 million cumulatively since 2009), corporate cause marketing partnerships with coffee roasters, importers, and allied businesses, individual recurring donations, and 1% for the Planet participation. Unit economics for donor messaging are set at $65 to screen and treat one woman, $100 for community education, and $1,000 to fund a one-day screening campaign.

Name

Grounds for Health

Legal name

Grounds for Health

Website

https://groundsforhealth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grounds for Health is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers HPV screening and cervical cancer prevention programs to women in coffee-growing communities in Ethiopia and Kenya, funded through coffee industry cause marketing, sustaining donors, and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Health Nonprofit — Cervical Cancer Prevention

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Promotion, Prevention & Community Health Programs (BPAIAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning (SRH/FP) Programs (BPADAIAD), Disease-Specific Global Programs (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAKAF)

Keywords

• Cervical cancer screening
• Cervical cancer prevention
• Global women's health
• Community health programs
• Coffee industry partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Williston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters. Monthly recurring donors support sustainable program planning.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Cause Marketing: Partnerships with coffee companies who donate a portion of sales or run dedicated campaigns. Includes cause marketing relationships with roasters, importers, and allied industries.
3. Green Coffee Auction: Annual online auction featuring specialty green coffee lots donated by importers and producers. Bidding by roasters with proceeds supporting programs. Raised close to $1 million since 2009.
4. Sustaining Donor Programs: Multi-year commitments from Anchor Donors ($25,000+/year) and Major Donors ($10,000+/year) providing reliable funding for program expansion.
5. 1% for the Planet: Environmental partner receiving 1% of sales from member businesses to support organizational mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grounds for Health provides cervical cancer prevention services in coffee-growing communities through HPV testing (including self-sampling), Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) screening, and same-day cryotherapy treatment via its Single Visit Approach. Services are delivered free of charge to women in Ethiopia, Kenya, and former program countries through mobile screening campaigns at coffee cooperatives, local health facilities, and community gathering points, supplemented by community health education and healthcare worker training. The organization also operates the annual GfHWeek fundraising campaign, the GFH Coffee Auction, and the Women Choosing Women giving program to sustain its programs.

Product overview

Grounds for Health is a women's health non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) that provides cervical cancer prevention programs in coffee-growing communities. The core service offering consists of HPV screening services, HPV self-testing programs, and cervical cancer treatment services, delivered through community health education programs and healthcare worker capacity building. The organization operates primarily in Ethiopia and Kenya, with past programs in Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Tanzania. Supporting programs include GfHWeek (annual fundraising week), the GFH Coffee Auction, Women Choosing Women Campaign, and cause marketing partnerships with coffee industry businesses. The organization does not offer a software product; it is a service-based non-profit focused on direct healthcare delivery and education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HPV Screening Services
• HPV Self-Testing
• Cervical Cancer Treatment Services
• Community Health Education Programs
• Healthcare Worker Capacity Building
• GfHWeek (Grounds for Health Week)
• GFH Coffee Auction
• Women Choosing Women Campaign
• Cause Marketing Partnerships
• GfH Week Marketing Kit
• Donation Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 237,718 women screened for cervical pre-cancer
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Royal Coffee IncflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAnchor donor and long-term supporter (15+ years). Family-owned specialty green coffee importer. Co-founded The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room. Matching donor for summer 2026 campaign up to $125,000. Co-founder Robert Fulmer serves as Board Member Emeritus.
• Royal New YorkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnchor donor supporting Grounds for Health for years. Specialty coffee and tea importing company in South Plainfield, NJ. Supports women's health access in coffee communities.
• Peet's CoffeeflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAnchor donor and longtime supporter. Major supporter during 25th anniversary $100K challenge. Contributed $10,000 during anniversary campaign.
• Swiss Water Decaffeinated CoffeecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnchor donor supporting since 2003. Inspired Canada Coffee Companies giving initiative in November 2024 with goal of $70K to double Canada's impact.
• DescamexcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnchor donor since 2018. Opened first coffee decaffeination plant in Central America in 1980. Longtime supporter of green coffee auctions.
• La Colombe Coffee RoasterscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining Major Donor contributing annually as part of Todd and J.P.'s mission to make the world better through coffee.
• Dean Cycon / Dean's Beans Organic CoffeecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor donor supporting Ethiopia programs. Founded on ethical business practices impacting farmers' lives.
• Reunion Coffee RoasterscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining Major Donor. President Adam Pesce serves on Board of Directors. B Corp-certified specialty roaster. Formalized giving through cause marketing efforts and donations to auctions.
• Monin Gourmet Flavored SyrupsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor donor supporting programs. Provides annual raffle basket for Grounds for Health booth at Specialty Coffee Expo.
• Mother Parker's Tea and CoffeecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor donor. One of North America's leading private label coffee and tea suppliers with facilities in Mississauga, Ontario and Fort Worth, Texas. Director of Commodity Procurement Katie Ryan serves on Board.
• Bennetts CoffeecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor donor and seed funder for Kenya programs. Supporting for 15+ years. Hosting collaborative charity auction August 27-28 featuring specialty coffees.
• Tony's CoffeecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor donor and seed funder for Kenya programs. Created 'Sea to Sky' blend sold nationwide at Sprouts supporting Grounds for Health.
• Go Doc GocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration in global women's health, particularly focusing on rural communities. Both nonprofits share goal of providing healthcare access to underserved populations.
• Jane Goodall InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-country partner in Tanzania Kigoma program. Partnership ended with program completion.
• Coffee Cooperatives (CESMACH, Finca Triunfo Verde, Comon Yaj Noptic, Ramal Santa Cruz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partners recruiting women, coordinating transportation, and providing logistical support for screening campaigns in Mexico. Co-ops use Fair Trade premiums to support community health promoters and transport.
• Kenya Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in development of Kenya National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan. Contributing to policy at national level on HPV DNA testing, health worker training, and self-sampling integration.
• Fero Co-op (Ethiopia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee cooperative in Hawassa, Ethiopia hosting HPV screening campaigns. Women take breaks from work for on-site screening.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TogetHER for Health: Global advocacy and partnership organization focused exclusively on cervical cancer elimination in low-resource settings. Directly comparable mission, target population (women in LMICs), and advocacy-driven model.
• Basic Health International: Cervical cancer prevention nonprofit operating in Latin America and Africa using visual inspection and single-visit treatment approaches. Direct operational and methodological peer in cervical cancer screening.
• CureCervicalCancer: Nonprofit that builds sustainable cervical cancer screening and treatment clinics in low-resource countries in Africa and Asia. Direct peer using similar screen-and-treat models and training local clinicians.
• Go Doc Go: Nonprofit providing cervical cancer prevention and women's health services in underserved rural communities. Listed as a strategic partner of Grounds for Health; directly comparable in target population and intervention model.
• Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon (now Resolve): Global health organization focused on cervical and breast cancer prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Direct peer in women's cancer prevention with similar geographic and disease focus.

Broad incumbents

• JHPIEGO: Johns Hopkins-affiliated global health nonprofit working on women's health, cervical cancer prevention, and health worker training in LMICs. Much larger, established incumbent with overlapping cervical cancer programs.
• Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI): Global health organization operating in 35+ countries, including cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccine programs in Africa. Larger, well-funded incumbent with significant cervical cancer footprint.
• PATH: Global health innovation organization with extensive work on cervical cancer prevention, HPV vaccine introduction, and screening technologies in LMICs. Broader portfolio but overlapping mission.
• Partners In Health: Major global health nonprofit delivering comprehensive healthcare, including women's health and cancer care, in resource-poor settings. Much larger organization with healthcare delivery model.

Emerging players

• Lwala Community Alliance: Community-led health organization in rural Kenya addressing maternal and child health. Comparable in operating geography (Kenya), community health worker training model, and small nonprofit scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/groundsforhealth
• Xx.com/grounds4health
• Facebookfacebook.com/groundsforhealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grounds-for-health

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 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 Grounds for Health