What Hearts & Hope for Uganda does

Hearts & Hope for Uganda is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Andy Wiggins and Todd Larkin after their first mission trip to Uganda earlier that year. The organization develops long-term community partnerships with rural Ugandan villages through education sponsorship, clean water infrastructure, medical intervention, economic development, and small business support, serving at-risk children and families across nine named villages (Butangala, Ishongororo, Kamuli, Kainagoga, Mbulamuti, Nakabango, Nalwire, Butogonha, Kiboyo) in coordination with the Lutheran Church of Uganda, which operates the schools and executes projects in-country. US operations are run from a Saint Peters, Missouri headquarters with a staff of 1-10; the organization is governed by a board that includes the two co-founders plus John Schrader, Ken Bennett, Brian Watkins (SVP at Morgan Stanley), and Amy Malterer.

The core product is a tiered child sponsorship program structured by educational level: Primary at $35/month or $420/year covering grades P1-P7, Secondary at $55/month or $660/year covering grades S1-S6 with boarding for S4-S6, and a higher-tier Vocational and University Sponsorship for 2-4 year post-secondary programs. Supporting programs include the Clean Water Fund (approximately $8,000 per borehole well, $20/month per person served), Medical Fund (procedures, clinic transport, mosquito nets, malaria treatment), Education Fund (scholastic materials and teacher training), Economic Development / Small Business Program (carpentry, retail, catering, piggery, sewing), Donate-a-Goat at $125 per unit, and a Land Donation program to seed future partnerships. The technology stack is standard nonprofit SaaS: Givecloud powers donation and sponsorship checkout, PayPal and SecurityMetrics handle payment processing, Podio manages internal workflows, and Google Analytics tracks site behavior; no proprietary technology is developed.

Revenue is generated through recurring monthly sponsorships, multi-year Founders Club commitments ($5,000-$20,000 per year per member with 3-year minimums to underwrite US overhead), the annual Party with a Purpose gala with tiered corporate sponsorships and silent auctions, mission trip fees of $2,400-$5,200+ per participant, corporate matching gift programs (Energizer, Microsoft, GE, Humana, MasterCard, SAP, Thrivent, Fidelity Charitable, Piper Jaffray, Forest Laboratories), and project-specific one-time donations. Distribution is anchored by five US Lutheran church partners - Messiah Saint Charles MO (flagship, Butogonha), Bridge City Redwood City CA (Nalwire), Immanuel Wentzville MO (Butangala), Immanuel Brookfield WI (Ishongororo), and Trinity Billings MT (Makota) - each tied to a specific Ugandan village and acting as the local fundraising and volunteer hub. Since inception the organization has completed more than 45 mission trips, typically 2-3 per year, and has documented infrastructure builds including schools, borehole wells, girls dormitories, and sports fields.

Name

Hearts & Hope for Uganda

Legal name

Hearts & Hope for Uganda

Website

https://heartsandhope.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hearts & Hope for Uganda is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds education sponsorship, clean water, medical care, and economic development for vulnerable children and families across nine villages in Uganda, supported by US Lutheran church partnerships, monthly sponsorships, and an annual gala.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Nonprofit Community Development

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI), Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Child sponsorship programs
• Community development services
• Humanitarian fundraising events
• Nonprofit mission trips
• International relief programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Peters

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Student Sponsorship: Monthly recurring donations from sponsors supporting at-risk children in Uganda. Sponsors commit to minimum 1-year with automatic annual renewal. Provides tuition, uniforms, supplies, and for secondary students, boarding and meals.
2. Founders Club: Annual donations at tiered levels (Bronze $5,000, Silver $10,000, Gold $15,000, Platinum $20,000) with 3-year commitments. These donations cover US operating expenses, ensuring all project donations go directly to Uganda programs.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual Party with a Purpose gala featuring ticket sales, table sponsorships, corporate sponsorships at various levels (Presenting, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Heart, Hope), and silent auctions. Proceeds fund infrastructure projects.
4. Corporate Matching: Corporate employers match employee donations to Hearts & Hope. Currently receiving matching funds from Energizer, Forest Laboratories, General Electric, Humana, MasterCard, Microsoft, Piper Jaffray, SAP, Thrivent, and Fidelity Charitable.
5. Mission Trip Fees: Participants pay for mission trip expenses ($1,200-$1,500 in-country costs including hotel, meals, transportation; $1,200-$2,200 airfare) plus optional safari add-ons ($1,000-$1,500).
6. Project-Specific Donations: One-time donations to specific causes including clean water funds, medical fund, education fund, land purchases, livestock (goat donations at $125), small business support, and school construction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hearts & Hope for Uganda is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers community development programs in rural Uganda through long-term partnerships with the Lutheran Church of Uganda. Its core offering is child education sponsorship across three tiers (Primary P1-P7, Secondary S1-S6, and Vocational/University programs), supported by donor-funded infrastructure projects including Clean Water borehole wells, a Medical Fund for emergency care, an Education Fund for school construction and supplies, and an Economic Development/Small Business Program. Engagement is delivered via Mission Trips to Uganda, the Founders' Club annual giving society, and the annual Party with a Purpose gala.

Product overview

Hearts & Hope for Uganda operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on child sponsorship and community development. The core product is the student sponsorship program, structured across three educational tiers: Primary Level (P1-P7), Secondary Level (S1-S6), and Vocational/University Higher Education. These sponsorship programs provide tuition, supplies, uniforms, meals, and medical care to at-risk children in Uganda. Supporting programs include the Clean Water Fund (borehole wells), Medical Fund (emergency interventions), Education Fund (scholarships and school infrastructure), and Economic Development/Small Business Program (carpentry, retail, catering, piggery, sewing). Additional offerings include Mission Trips, the Founders' Club annual giving program, Party with a Purpose annual gala, Sponsorship Packets for donor-student communication, and Fundraising Pages for supporter-led crowdfunding. The organization is powered by Givecloud for donation processing and uses Podio internally for operations management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Level Sponsorship Recurring child sponsorship covering students in Primary 1 through Primary 7, including tuition, exam fees, and scholastic supplies such as textbooks, notebooks, and pencils to ensure uninterrupted education for at-risk Ugandan children.
• Secondary Level Sponsorship High school sponsorship for grades S1 through S6, providing tuition, exam fees, daily school lunches, uniforms, shoes, and boarding fees for S4-S6 students.
• Vocational & University Sponsorship Higher education sponsorship covering vocational school (2-3 year programs) and university degree programs (3-4 years), including tuition, equipment, materials, and boarding or living expenses for sponsored students.
• Clean Water Fund Program funding installation of borehole wells and ongoing clean water access for rural Ugandan communities, with $20/month providing clean water to one person for a year and approximately $8,000 funding a village borehole well.
• Medical Fund Fund providing emergency medical interventions, preventive care, minor treatments, and acute medical services for sponsored children and community members, including transportation to clinics, doctor visits, procedures, and medications.
• Education Fund Fund providing scholarships, covering school fees, uniforms, supplies, improving school facilities through infrastructure projects and learning resources, and empowering teachers through training and development opportunities.
• Economic Development / Small Business Program Program investing in small business opportunities including carpentry shops, retail stores, catering businesses, piggery, sewing supplies, and land purchases for rural village development in Uganda.
• Donate a Goat Livestock donation program delivering goats to families in rural Uganda for $125, providing income through meat, milk, and value-added products like cheese and butter, and including one year of veterinary care and training for the recipient.
• Land Donation Program purchasing land in rural villages identified as future partnership candidates, serving as the first step in community development for Hearts & Hope expansion.
• Mission Trips Staff-led trips to Uganda offered typically in February and June, giving sponsors and supporters the opportunity to meet their sponsored children, distribute sponsorship packets, participate in community projects, and experience Ugandan culture. In-country costs run $1,200-$1,500 with airfare $1,200-$2,200 and optional safaris $1,000-$1,500.
• Founders' Club Annual giving society with Platinum ($20,000), Gold ($15,000), Silver ($10,000), and Bronze ($5,000) levels, each requiring a 3-year commitment; funds cover US operational expenses to ensure 100% of project donations reach Uganda programs.
• Party with a Purpose Annual fundraising gala held at Ameristar St. Charles featuring ticket sales, table sponsorships, corporate sponsorships, and silent auctions; proceeds fund clean water wells, school construction, medical care, and student sponsorship initiatives.
• Fundraising Pages Online crowdfunding platform allowing supporters to create personal fundraising pages for mission trips, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, memorials, and special projects, with donations routed to Hearts & Hope.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clean water well ($8,000) serves hundreds of families in a village
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

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

• Lutheran Church of Uganda (LCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary in-country partner responsible for running schools, implementing community development projects, and providing spiritual leadership. LCU identifies rural villages in need and works with Hearts & Hope to develop self-sustaining Christian communities.
• Messiah Church and SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaint Charles, MO congregation where Hearts & Hope was founded in 2011. Longest-standing partner, originally partnered with Nakabango village since 2005. Committed to sponsoring children at Butogonha school (sponsored 80+ children).
• Bridge City ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedwood City, CA church partnered with Nalwire village. Provides sponsors and mission trip participants for the community.
• Immanuel Wentzville Church and SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWentzville, MO congregation partnered with Butangala village. Partnership formed 2013-2014 with clean water well and sponsorship program initiation.
• Immanuel Lutheran Church and School (Brookfield)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrookfield, WI church partnered with Ishongororo village. Sponsorship program launched in 2017. Major projects include clean water well (2016), school construction (2016-2017), girl's dormitory and sports field.
• Trinity Lutheran (Billings)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBillings, MT church partnered with Makota village. Provides sponsors and support for the community.
• GivecloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationDonation processing and e-commerce platform powering the Hearts & Hope website, online donations, sponsorship signups, event registration, and store. Provides secure payment processing.
• PodiocoreTechnology or IntegrationWeb-based platform for creating no-code solutions and automated workflows. Hearts & Hope uses Podio to manage operations and workflows.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Compassion International: The largest faith-based child sponsorship NGO, operating a near-identical model of monthly recurring child sponsorship in Uganda and other developing countries. Highly comparable product offering, donor base (US Christian individuals), and revenue model, but at vastly greater scale and brand recognition.
• World Vision: One of the largest Christian humanitarian organizations globally, running child sponsorship, clean water, education, and economic development programs — directly overlapping Hearts & Hope's portfolio of programs and serving overlapping communities in Uganda and East Africa.
• Samaritan's Purse: Large evangelical Christian relief organization running child sponsorship (Operation Christmas Child), clean water, medical, and education programs internationally — overlaps Hearts & Hope on faith-based donor pool, Uganda presence, and multi-program portfolio.

Direct peers

• ChildFund International: Faith-rooted child sponsorship organization with active Uganda programming, monthly recurring sponsorship tiers, and community development projects (schools, water, economic development). Closely mirrors Hearts & Hope's product and donor model.
• Food for the Hungry: Christian nonprofit focused on community development including child sponsorship, clean water, education, and economic empowerment in Uganda. Similar church-based fundraising and integrated village-level programming model.
• Africa Christian Ministries: Smaller faith-based nonprofit focused on Uganda community development, with similar emphasis on church partnerships, child welfare, and village-level infrastructure (schools, clean water, economic programs). Directly comparable by mission and scale.
• Bright Hope: Christian nonprofit partnering with local churches in Uganda and other African countries for community development, including child sponsorship, clean water, and economic empowerment. Closely aligned with Hearts & Hope's church-to-church partnership model.
• Sowers International: Faith-based nonprofit operating child sponsorship and community development in Uganda through church partnerships — near-identical structure of US church adopting a village, recurring sponsorship, and mission trip engagement.
• International Childcare Ministries: Christian child sponsorship organization with active Uganda programs, structured monthly sponsorship, and church-based fundraising. Highly comparable in scale, model, and target donor.

Emerging players

• Lutheran World Relief: Faith-based (Lutheran) international development organization running community development, clean water, and education programs in East Africa including Uganda. Comparable by Lutheran denominational affiliation, donor base, and geographic focus, though with broader programmatic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/heartsandhope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heartsandhope

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Hearts & Hope for Uganda