Makarios

What Makarios does

Makarios International is a faith-based nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with operational centers in the Dominican Republic and Uganda. The organization serves vulnerable communities through a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on family spiritual restoration: the Makarios School (Pre-K through high school, located in Montellano in the Dominican Republic), the Family Empowerment Program, the University and Career Readiness Program (UCRP), and multi-year Equipping Programs delivered to partner churches and schools. Operations were originally established in Pancho Mateo, Dominican Republic, with subsequent expansion into Uganda. The Makarios School functions as both a direct beneficiary service and a proving ground for curriculum and methods that are then scaled outward through the Equipping Programs to partner institutions.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led and relationship-driven, building multi-year trust with local churches, schools, and families rather than relying on transactional customer acquisition. Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit funding stack: one-time and recurring donations, recurring student and staff sponsorships, fee-based mission trips priced at $300–$875 per participant, stock donations, and gifts-in-kind. Makarios operates without proprietary technology, running on off-the-shelf SaaS tools including Aplos for donation management, Reach for sponsorship portals, ClickUp for forms, BambooHR for HR, and Canva for impact reporting. Executive leadership is anchored by Executive Director Ryan VanArsdalen, with Board Chair Jared Kinchen. No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary platforms, or external funding rounds are identified in the available data.

Name

Makarios

Legal name

Makarios International

Website

https://makariosinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Makarios International is a faith-based nonprofit that operates the Makarios School and family empowerment programs serving vulnerable families, partner churches, and schools in the Dominican Republic and Uganda from its Austin, Texas headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Community development programs
• Christian education services
• Family empowerment programs
• Nonprofit ministry services
• Church equipping programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: General donations to the Impact Fund which provides for program and operating expenses. Donors can give one-time or recurring donations through the website.
2. Student Sponsorship: Monthly sponsorship program where donors support individual students at the Makarios School, providing educational and spiritual support.
3. Staff Sponsorship: Monthly sponsorship program to support local staff members serving in Dominican Republic and Uganda.
4. Mission Trips: Revenue from Vision & Prayer Trips ($300), Learning Trips ($675-$875), and Serving Trips ($875). All in-country expenses included; airfare additional.
5. Stock Donations: Accepts gifts of stock through a third-party stock donation platform.
6. Gifts in Kind: Accepts physical donations and gifts in kind; contact process for sending contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Makarios operates a portfolio of faith-based nonprofit programs centered on family spiritual restoration in vulnerable communities in the Dominican Republic and Uganda. Core offerings include the Makarios School (Pre-K through high school), the Family Empowerment Program, the University and Career Readiness Program for graduates, and multi-year Equipping Programs for partner churches and schools.

Product overview

Makarios operates as a ministry organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on family spiritual restoration in vulnerable communities. The core offerings include the Makarios School (a full Pre-K through high school educational institution in the Dominican Republic), the Family Empowerment Program, the University and Career Readiness Program (UCRP), and the Equipping Programs for Churches and Schools. These programs work together as a unified ecosystem: the Makarios School serves as the primary demonstration site where family empowerment methodologies are developed and tested; the UCRP provides post-graduation support for students; and the Equipping Programs scale these proven approaches to partner churches and schools in both the Dominican Republic and Uganda. Additional offerings include mission trips (Vision & Prayer, Serving, and Learning trips), a student sponsorship program, and disaster relief initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Makarios School: A school located in Montellano, Dominican Republic serving vulnerable children and families, operating as the organization's primary demonstration site and testing ground for family empowerment programs.
• Family Empowerment Program
• Equipping Program
• University and Career Readiness Program (UCRP)

Products and services

• Makarios School Flagship educational institution operated by Makarios in Montellano, Dominican Republic, serving vulnerable children from Pre-K3 through high school. Functions as the demonstration and testing site for family empowerment programs before distribution to partner organizations.
• Family Empowerment Program Comprehensive program that walks alongside vulnerable families in the Dominican Republic and Uganda, equipping them for healthier homes through biblical principles and spiritual restoration. Includes family visits, parent education on healthy boundaries, bed distribution, counseling, and community-building activities.
• University and Career Readiness Program (UCRP) Post-high school program providing scholarships, mentorship, Bible studies, community service opportunities, and workshops on budgeting, computer skills, and communication for Makarios School graduates pursuing university or technical training.
• Equipping Program for Schools Multi-year training program for under-resourced Christian schools in the Dominican Republic and Uganda, covering the relationship between school and family, leadership development, team building, organizational culture, and program design and implementation. Partner schools receive ongoing coaching, resources, and a support network.
• Equipping Program for Churches Multi-year training program for local churches wanting to minister to families in their congregation and communities. Training covers technical areas (vision/mission, leadership, planning), ecclesiastical areas (hermeneutics, homiletics, shepherding), and impact areas (identity in Christ, healthy relationships, parenting, purpose).
• Vision & Prayer Trip A 4-day trip (2 full in-country days) designed for potential church and school partners to discover Makarios' mission and vision and explore partnership opportunities. Cost is $300 covering in-country expenses.
• Serving Trip An 8-day trip (6 full in-country days) for existing church and school partners to bring skills and training to support local churches and schools on specific projects. Cost is $875 covering in-country expenses.
• Learning Trip An 8-day trip (6 full in-country days) for existing school and church partners providing cross-cultural learning experiences in community investment. Cost is $875 covering in-country expenses.
• Student Sponsorship Program Monthly sponsorship program that allows individuals to sponsor children at the Makarios School, building meaningful relationships as extended family members while providing life-changing opportunities for students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ beds provided to families in need over three years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iglesia Templo Biblico Villa MontellanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church in Tamarindo community, Montellano. Part of the Makarios ecosystem of partner churches that work to bring spiritual restoration to families in their congregation and communities through family empowerment programs.
• Iglesia Manantial de Vida de las Asambleas de DioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church in Tamarindo community, Montellano. Collaborates with Makarios in family empowerment and community restoration efforts.
• Iglesia Biblica Comunidad de la GraciacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church in Pancho Mateo community. One of the churches connected with Makarios since the early days of the ministry, located in the original community where Makarios began operations.
• Iglesia Union En EL Espiritu SantocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church in Chichigua community. Haitian congregation that has been involved with Makarios since Pastor Mares connected with the ministry early on.
• US Church Partner (Pader, Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based church partnership that led to the establishment of Makarios operations in Pader, Uganda. Through this connection, Makarios built a Ugandan team and formally began equipping local church and school leaders in 2021.
• Pastor in Pader, UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal pastor in Pader, Uganda who partnered with Makarios to launch the equipping program, facilitating connections with local churches and schools.
• Institution for Haitian Documentation SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn institution that operates to advise and work with documentation cases for Haitian students lacking citizenship or legal residency. Contacted Makarios to help walk through the lengthy and confusing legal process for Haitian students to obtain necessary documents for university acceptance.
• Word of Life Institute (CCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiblical institute offering 1-2 year programs for studying the bible, growing in relationship with God, and being equipped for ministry. Bernito, first UCRP graduate, attended this program for ministry training.
• Children of the Light OrphanageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn orphanage for boys who are orphaned or face difficult family circumstances. Bernito, a Makarios UCRP graduate, began serving as a mentor and discipler to these boys.
• Novel Work Co.minorOthersStrategic design firm led by Jared Kinchen (Board Chair) that designed the Makarios website. Jared is CEO of Novel Work Co. and Founder of Thread Rocket.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ChildFund International: International child sponsorship and community development organization with operations in developing countries. Comparable sponsorship model serving vulnerable children and families through local partnerships.
• Samaritan's Purse: Major evangelical relief and development organization running international projects including child sponsorship, disaster relief, and church-based community programs. Comparable faith-based international ministry model with similar donor base.
• Compassion International: Large-scale faith-based child sponsorship and family development organization operating internationally. Highly comparable in faith-rooted sponsorship model and international community empowerment work, though at vastly greater scale.
• World Vision: One of the largest Christian humanitarian organizations, focused on child sponsorship, community development, and family strengthening in developing countries. Direct parallel in combining education, family empowerment, and church partnerships internationally.

Direct peers

• Esperanza International: Faith-based nonprofit focused on poverty alleviation in the Dominican Republic through education, microfinance, and family empowerment. Direct geographic and programmatic peer with similar faith-rooted approach.
• Children of the Nations: Faith-based nonprofit providing education, healthcare, and family empowerment in developing countries including the Dominican Republic. Comparable integrated model serving vulnerable children through community-based programs.
• Bright Hope: Faith-based nonprofit working with local churches in developing countries to deliver poverty alleviation programs. Closely comparable model of partnering with under-resourced churches and schools for community transformation.
• Food for the Hungry: Faith-based nonprofit implementing child sponsorship, community development, and church-partnership models in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Highly comparable size and operating model with family-centered biblical framework.
• Lifesong for Orphans: Faith-based nonprofit supporting vulnerable children internationally through sponsorship and education, with a focus on biblical family restoration. Highly comparable ministry model and donor base.

Regional players

• Latin America Mission: Faith-based organization focused on church partnership and community development across Latin America. Comparable faith-based international mission work with shared donor base and Spanish-speaking community focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MakDR
• Facebookfacebook.com/makariosint
• Instagraminstagram.com/makariosint
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/makarios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Makarios