Ayuda a la Iglesia que Sufre - ACN Colombia

What Ayuda a la Iglesia que Sufre - ACN Colombia does

ACN Colombia (Fundación Pontificia Ayuda a la Iglesia que Sufre) is the Colombian national office of the international Pontifical Foundation Ayuda a la Iglesia que Sufre (Aid to the Church in Need), headquartered in Bogotá at Calle 98 # 71 A – 42, and registered under NIT 900.778.531-3. The parent organization was founded in 1947 to support Catholic pastoral work in regions facing poverty, religious persecution, armed conflict, or natural disaster. ACN Colombia raises funds from individual Catholic benefactors through an online donation portal, themed fundraising campaigns (Venezuela Emergency, Catatumbo, Ukraine, Tierra Santa, Nigeria, Lebanon, Syria, and others), and a Mass-stipend (Misas) program offering ordinary, Triduo, Novena, and Gregorian Masses at preset Colombian peso tiers. All designated funds are routed through the global ACN network to support priests, religious communities, seminarians, catechists, church construction, evangelization media, and emergency humanitarian relief.

Underlying infrastructure includes a web-based donation platform accepting payments in Colombian pesos, euros, and US dollars via Stripe, PSE, credit/debit cards, and direct bank deposits to DAVIVIENDA and BANCOLOMBIA accounts; the CRTN (Catholic Radio & Television Network) documentary production studio; and the "Reza por Mí" prayer-intention platform connecting benefactors with contemplative religious communities. Distribution relies on local Church networks including diocesan structures, Cáritas chapters, and Episcopal Conferences as last-mile partners. The organization markets across Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, WhatsApp, and email newsletter channels, and maintains a volunteer program.

The business model is donations-based with no product sales: revenue derives from one-time gifts, recurring monthly contributions, Mass stipends, and campaign-designated giving, with 100% of designated funds directed to project support per the organization's stated positioning. Beneficiary-side scale reached 5,500+ projects in 138 countries and 1,744,410 Masses celebrated for benefactor intentions in 2023, supporting roughly 40,767 priests globally. The Colombian office is one of 23 ACN national offices, with 11-50 employees, and is governed by the international foundation under Executive President Regina Lynch.

Name

Ayuda a la Iglesia que Sufre - ACN Colombia

Legal name

Fundación Ayuda a la Iglesia que Sufre - ACN Colombia

Website

https://acncolombia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACN Colombia is the Colombian national office of the Pontifical Foundation Ayuda a la Iglesia que Sufre, raising donations from Catholic benefactors to fund pastoral projects, priest sustenance, Mass stipends, and emergency aid in 138 countries worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Charity and Pastoral Aid

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Religious charity foundation
• Catholic pastoral support
• Humanitarian donations
• Mass stipends program
• Religious freedom advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ACN Colombia raises funds from individual benefactors through one-time and recurring donations. All funds raised worldwide are destined for the sustenance of Catholic pastoral work through projects requested by communities in need or religious persecution.
2. Misa (Mass) Stipends: Donors request Mass celebrations for specific intentions and provide stipends to priests. In 2023, 1,744,410 Masses were celebrated supporting 40,767 priests globally. Stipends help cover basic needs, medical assistance, and pastoral activities.
3. Campaign-Based Fundraising: Targeted campaigns for specific causes (Venezuela emergency, Ukraine, Tierra Santa, Nigeria, Lebanon, Colombia, etc.) with designated funding allocations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ACN Colombia is a Pontifical Foundation that raises donations from individual Catholic benefactors and routes them to pastoral projects supporting the suffering Church worldwide. Its core offerings include Mass stipend programs (Ordinary, Triduo, Novena, Gregorian), themed fundraising campaigns (Venezuela Emergency, Ukraine, Nigeria, Syria, Tierra Santa, Catatumbo, Franciscan Jubilee, etc.), priest and religious formation/sustenance support, emergency humanitarian aid, evangelization materials (Children's Bible in 180 languages), missionary transportation, and church construction funding. Projects are delivered through local diocesan structures, Cáritas networks, and Episcopal Conferences in 138 countries.

Product overview

ACN Colombia (Ayuda a la Iglesia que Sufre) is a Pontifical Foundation supporting evangelization through pastoral project financing in countries where Catholics face difficulties due to poverty, religious persecution, wars, or natural disasters. The organization operates over 5,000 projects annually across 138+ countries, structured around nine forms of aid: priest formation, priest sustenance, religious sustenance, transportation for missionaries, missionary formation, church construction, emergency aid, catechetical materials, and media support. Key services include a Mass stipends donation program (Misas), the CRTN documentary production platform, the 'Reza por Mí' prayer intention service, and summer camps for youth in conflict zones. The organization also conducts themed fundraising campaigns (Venezuela emergency, Nigeria, Syria, Ukraine, etc.) and publishes annual activity reports and religious freedom reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CRTN (Catholic Radio & Television Network): A modern production studio specialized in documentaries and reports about the Catholic Church in the most remote areas. CRTN produces programs for radio and television stations worldwide to promote evangelization and solidarity.

Products and services

• Mass Stipends (Misas) Donation service allowing individual Catholic benefactors to request Masses for specific intentions (spiritual, memorial, or special occasions) by providing a stipend payment. Stipends support the sustenance of priests serving in impoverished or persecuted communities worldwide. Tier options include Ordinary Mass, Triduo (3 consecutive Masses), Novena (9 consecutive Masses), and Gregorian (30 consecutive Masses).
• CRTN - Catholic Radio & Television Network Documentary and media production platform producing reports and documentaries about the Catholic Church in the most remote and underserved regions. Content is distributed to radio and television stations worldwide to promote evangelization and solidarity awareness with the suffering Church.
• Reza por Mí (Pray for Me) Prayer intention service connecting benefactors with religious communities (currently in Bosnia, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia) who pray before the Blessed Sacrament for the benefactor's specific needs, providing spiritual support in exchange for charitable contributions.
• Emergency Aid Campaigns Themed fundraising campaigns addressing specific crises or geographic regions, including the Venezuela earthquake emergency response, Ukraine war support, Nigeria persecution, Syria and Lebanon aid, Tierra Santa (Holy Land), Catatumbo conflict zone, Franciscan Jubilee, and Persecuted Christians initiatives. Each campaign routes donations to specific beneficiary projects.
• Summer Camps Program (Campamentos de Verano) Summer camp support program for children and youth in conflict zones, providing protection, pastoral accompaniment, emotional healing, and hope. Camps operate across 11 countries with 407 camps supported in 2026 reaching 33,631 direct participants.
• Volunteer Program (Voluntariado) Volunteer engagement program enabling supporters to participate in ACN's mission of supporting persecuted and suffering Christians through awareness, fundraising, prayer, and on-the-ground activities.
• Boletín (Newsletter) Recurring email newsletter providing updates on ACN-funded projects, news from persecuted churches worldwide, prayer intentions, and donation appeals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,744,410 Masses celebrated in 2023 supporting 40,767 priests globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ACN International (Global Office)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2026International network coordination. ACN Colombia operates as part of a global Pontifical Foundation with 23 country offices supporting 5,500+ projects in 138 countries. Global Office provides strategic direction, resource sharing, and coordinated emergency response.
• Cáritas VenezuelacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Collaboration for earthquake emergency response. Cáritas Venezuela coordinates humanitarian distribution at parish level, managing centers for affected families with food, medicine, clothing, and shelter. ACN approved 100,000 euros emergency fund channeled through this partnership.
• Conferencia Episcopal Venezolana (CEV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Strategic coordination for Church emergency response in Venezuela. CEV provides institutional framework for ACN's humanitarian aid distribution and pastoral support activities during earthquake crisis.
• Local Dioceses and Parishes (Global)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary distribution partners worldwide. Bishops and parish priests request and implement projects funded by ACN, from Mass stipends to infrastructure. 40,767 priests supported globally through these partnerships.
• Religious Congregations and OrderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupport for contemplative and active religious communities. Includes 13,862+ religious women in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America who receive subsidies in exchange for prayer intentions.
• CRTN (Catholic Radio & Television Network)supportingTechnology or IntegrationMedia production partnership for documentaries and reports about the Catholic Church in remote areas. Distributes content to radio and TV stations worldwide for evangelization and solidarity awareness.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• World Vision: A large Christian humanitarian organization focused on child welfare and disaster relief in nearly 100 countries. Comparable as a faith-motivated NGO with international aid distribution, though focused on child sponsorship rather than pastoral support.
• Jesuit Refugee Service: An international Catholic Jesuit organization serving refugees and forcibly displaced people in conflict zones. Comparable mission focus on accompaniment of suffering Catholic and Christian communities, though narrower in scope.
• Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers: A Catholic mission society supporting overseas mission work in poverty and persecution contexts. Comparable as a faith-based organization funding priest and missionary support in developing countries.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Internationalis: A global Catholic humanitarian confederation of 162 member organizations delivering aid and emergency relief worldwide. Comparable as a faith-based international aid network operating through local Church structures, though more diversified beyond strictly Catholic pastoral support.
• Catholic Relief Services: The official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, operating in over 100 countries. Directly comparable as a US-rooted Catholic international aid organization with similar fundraising and program execution model.
• Catholic Charities USA: A national network of Catholic charities providing social services in the United States. Comparable mission focus on Catholic charity, though more domestically focused than ACN Colombia's international pastoral aid.
• Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International: The global parent Pontifical Foundation of ACN Colombia. ACN International coordinates 23 country offices and 141.5M EUR of aid distribution across 138 countries, making it the most direct peer and operational umbrella.

Direct peers

• Pontifical Mission Societies: The Catholic Church's official support organization for mission territories, also a Pontifical organization. Directly comparable as a Vatican-recognized entity funding Catholic missionary and pastoral work in developing regions.
• Open Doors: An international ministry supporting persecuted Christians worldwide through prayer, advocacy, and aid. Highly comparable mission (suffering Church support), global reach, and faith-motivated donor base, though non-Catholic ecumenical.
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul: An international Catholic charitable organization providing aid to those in poverty and supporting priests and religious. Comparable as a Catholic faith-based charity with global reach and grassroots parish-based volunteer network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iglesiaquesufre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/iglesiaquesufre
• Facebookfacebook.com/acninternationalorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acn-colombia
• Instagraminstagram.com/acn_co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ayuda a la Iglesia que Sufre - ACN Colombia