What Plan UK does

Plan International UK is a charity registered in England and Wales (Charity Number 276035) and a member of the Plan International global federation, founded in 1937 and headquartered at Discovery House, 28-42 Banner Street, London. It advances equality for girls and children's rights, operating programmes through the federation's Global Hub and 50 Country Offices across more than 80 countries. Core activities span thematic programme areas in Education & Opportunity (including a Work in Tech initiative), Health & Rights (period poverty, sexual health), Protection from Violence (child marriage, public sexual harassment), and Emergency Response (DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal, Gaza-Middle East, Sudan appeals). Its commercial offering is a portfolio of donation-based products: Child Sponsorship at £19.50/month with letter exchange via an online postbox, one-time and regular donations (Fierce Voices community at approximately £3/month), fundraising tools, legacy giving, and campaigning/advocacy memberships.

Revenue is generated through five streams: individual donations and regular giving (subscription-recurring), child sponsorship (subscription-recurring at £19.50/month), institutional grants from FCDO, the EU and multilaterals (managed services), corporate partnerships with brands such as McLaren Automotive, Admiral Group and AstraZeneca (cause-marketing and programme co-delivery), and legacies/gifts in wills. Go-to-market is a hybrid direct-to-consumer fundraising model via the plan-uk.org website, telephone fundraising, direct mail and event-driven campaigns (notably the annual Girls' Takeover on International Day of the Girl), complemented by enterprise-style institutional donor cultivation and corporate business development. Audience segments include UK individual donors and regular givers, sponsored children and their communities, corporate partners pursuing ESG and CSR objectives, and institutional donors (FCDO, multilaterals, foundations). Plan International UK has no disclosed proprietary technology platform, no subsidiaries, no parent company and no external equity ownership; it is independently governed with a Board and CEO (Rose Caldwell, appointed 2019).

Name

Plan UK

Legal name

Plan International UK

Website

https://plan-uk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Plan International UK is a London-based charity (founded 1937) and member of the Plan International federation that raises funds in the UK to advance girls' rights and children's welfare across more than 80 countries, primarily through child sponsorship, regular giving, institutional grants, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development & Humanitarian Charity Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Global Health Financing Mechanisms (HLAJAKAC)

Keywords

• International children's charity
• Girls' rights advocacy
• Humanitarian development aid
• Child sponsorship programme
• International development programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Regular Giving: Monthly regular giving donations and one-time gifts from individual supporters via the website, direct mail, and telephone fundraising.
2. Child Sponsorship: Monthly sponsorship programme where donors contribute £19.50 per month to exchange letters, photos, and drawings with a sponsored child. Funds support community programmes rather than direct transfers to the child.
3. Institutional Grants: Funding from institutional donors including the UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), European Union, and multilateral organizations. These funds are used for development and humanitarian programmes.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Strategic partnerships with corporations such as McLaren Automotive and Admiral Group for fundraising, awareness campaigns, and programme delivery.
5. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Charitable bequests and legacies left by supporters in their wills to support ongoing work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Plan International UK is a registered charity (Charity Number 276035) that raises funds in the UK from individual donors, child sponsors, institutional donors (FCDO, EU, multilaterals), and corporate partners. Funds are channelled to the Plan International Global Hub for delivery of programmes in over 80 countries, advancing children's rights and equality for girls through education, health, protection from violence, and emergency response initiatives. The organisation also runs advocacy and campaigning work, including the successful #CrimeNotCompliment campaign that led to UK legislation on public sexual harassment.

Product overview

Plan International UK operates as a global children's charity offering a portfolio of donation-based products and engagement programmes. Its core offerings include a Child Sponsorship Programme enabling direct support to girls and their communities, one-time and regular Donations, Campaigning and Advocacy work on girls' rights issues, Fundraising tools for supporters, and Legacy Giving through wills. These are supported by thematic programme areas covering Education and Opportunity (including the Work in Tech programme), Health and Rights (addressing period poverty and sexual health), Protection from Violence (tackling child marriage and public sexual harassment), and Emergency Response. Engagement vehicles include the Girls' Takeover Initiative, Youth Advisory Panel, and Fierce Voices supporter community. The organization does not operate a technology platform with traditional product architecture but rather provides charitable programmes and advocacy services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Sponsorship Programme A sponsorship programme allowing donors to support a specific girl and her community through monthly donations (£19.50/month), including letter exchange via the online postbox feature. Funds support community programmes rather than being transferred directly to the sponsored child.
• Donations One-time and regular monetary donations to support Plan UK's work advancing children's rights and equality for girls globally, including emergency appeals (DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal, Gaza-Middle East Emergency Appeal, Sudan Emergency Appeal).
• Fundraising Support Various fundraising opportunities and tools for supporters to raise money for Plan UK's programmes and emergency appeals, including community-led fundraising initiatives.
• Legacy Giving Charitable bequests and donations left by supporters in their wills to support girls' futures long-term, helping keep girls in school, build safer communities, and open doors to lifelong opportunities.
• Campaigning and Advocacy Engagement Campaign work that supporters can join focusing on issues such as public sexual harassment law reform, girls' education, and gender equality, including the #CrimeNotCompliment campaign and youth activism initiatives that led to UK legislation.
• Fierce Voices Community A community of supporters who receive updates and amplify girls' voices, with a suggested monthly contribution of approximately £3 and a limited edition tote bag for new joiners.
• Corporate Partnerships Strategic partnerships with corporations such as McLaren Automotive and Admiral Group for CSR initiatives, fundraising, awareness campaigns, and programme delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.8 million girls supported into education through UK aid commitment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

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

• Admiral GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Partnership to strengthen climate resilience initiatives. Financial services organization partnering with Plan International UK on climate-related programmes.
• MowgliminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 December 2023Indian restaurant chain partnership with Plan International UK for cause marketing and awareness raising.
• McLaren AutomotiveflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2021Global charity partnership bringing together McLaren Automotive's commitment to inspire young people in STEM with Plan International's work challenging gender stereotypes to support girls globally. Includes workshops with 100 girls over 12 months, scaling to 1000 globally by 2025 to encourage STEM careers. Features logo placement at McLaren events globally and on digital channels.
• AstraZenecacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2020Long-term partnership launching the Young Health Programme in the UK. Global biopharma company working with Plan International on youth health initiatives.
• Our Streets NowflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots youth-led organization partnering with Plan International UK on the #CrimeNotCompliment campaign to make public sexual harassment a crime. Campaign led to successful passage of Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Bill. Over 65,000 supporters and 500,000 petition signatures mobilized.
• Hillary ClintonflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer US Secretary of State partnered with Plan International UK for Girls' Takeover on International Day of the Girl, providing access to her 5.7 million Instagram followers to champion gender equality.
• Emily Eavis / Glastonbury FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer of Glastonbury Festival participated in Girls' Takeover initiative, hosting Clara (18) as co-organizer for the day to discuss festival safety for women and girls.
• Andy Burnham (Mayor of Manchester)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMayor of Manchester participated in Girls' Takeover, with Olivia (21) taking over his position at the Greater Manchester Green Summit.
• LADbible GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial publishing company where Dunmi (17) took over as CEO Solly Solomou's role for the day as part of Girls' Takeover.
• National GridminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy company where Precious (15) took over President for Electricity Transmission Alice Delahunty's role overseeing The Great Grid Upgrade from a helicopter.
• FordminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAutomotive company where Nataly (19) and Nicole (18) took over from chair Lisa Brankin and lab director Usha Raghavachari, leading sessions on online sales, social media and prototype concepts.
• Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlan International UK is a member of the DEC, participating in joint emergency appeals including Venezuela Earthquake Appeal and coordinating with other agencies on humanitarian response.
• Plan South Sudan and 85 other NGOscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 85+ international and national NGOs working in South Sudan calling on UK Government to maintain aid funding amid famine threat. Includes Plan South Sudan and Plan UK as signatories.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC): UK coalition of aid agencies that runs joint emergency appeals; Plan UK is a member agency. Directly comparable as a fundraising and emergency-response channel, though DEC is an aggregator rather than an operating charity.

Direct peers

• World Vision UK: UK national office of a global child-focused NGO with a nearly identical revenue mix — child sponsorship as the flagship product, plus institutional grants and individual giving. The most direct comparable for Plan UK's £19.50/month sponsorship model.
• UNICEF UK: UK national committee of a global children's organisation, fundraising from UK individuals, corporates, and institutional donors to support child welfare, education, and emergency response programmes worldwide — the same core model as Plan UK.
• Save the Children UK: UK-based international children's charity operating child sponsorship, regular giving, and institutional grant-funded programmes across dozens of countries. Plan UK's Head of Humanitarian previously led teams at Save the Children, evidencing direct functional and model comparability.
• CARE International UK: UK national office of a global humanitarian and women's-empowerment NGO with similar diversified revenue streams (individual, institutional, corporate) and a comparable girls'/women's rights programmatic focus.
• ActionAid UK: UK-based international development charity with explicit focus on women's and girls' rights, child sponsorship, regular giving, and advocacy campaigning — closely mirroring Plan UK's mission positioning and product set.
• Oxfam GB: Large UK international development and humanitarian NGO with regular giving, legacies, institutional grant funding, and high-profile campaigning. Plan UK's Director of Influencing previously worked at Oxfam, indicating tight sector and operating-model overlap.

Broad incumbents

• British Red Cross: Large UK humanitarian charity with a much broader mandate (disaster response, refugee support, first aid). Comparable on fundraising mechanics (regular giving, legacies, corporate partnerships) and emergency-response programming.
• BBC Children in Need: Major UK children's charity grant-funder with a high-visibility annual televised appeal. Competes for the same UK donor mindshare and corporate partnership pool that Plan UK targets.

Regional players

• NSPCC: UK-focused children's protection charity with similar individual-giving, corporate-partnership, and legacy-income mechanics. Plan UK's Director of Influencing previously worked at NSPCC, evidencing shared talent pool and operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/planuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/planuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plan-uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/plan_uk/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Plan UK