Unseen

What Unseen does

Unseen is a Fargo, North Dakota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded around 2010 that operates as a capacity-building intermediary for vetted anti-trafficking and root-cause organizations. Its core function is to produce custom donor-focused marketing communications on behalf of partner NGOs at no cost, including websites, videos, slide decks, brochures, story cards, social media templates, logos, and impact reports, with approximately 100-153 products delivered annually. The underlying production model combines a 12-person in-house program and production team in Fargo and Wheaton with a vetted Creative Network of part-time freelance writers, designers, filmmakers, and Canva content creators managed via unseenpartners.org.

The organization's revenue model is donation-based, not transactional. Funding streams include individual private donations (one-time and recurring via website, donor-advised funds, checks, stock, cryptocurrency, and estate planning), recurring corporate sponsorships through the newly launched Unseen Guardians program, and an endowment fund managed by FM Area Foundation with Bell Bank handling asset allocation (roughly 60% equity, 33% fixed income, 5% real estate, 0-2% cash) that distributes 4.25% annually to operations. All services are provided free to partners selected through an application and vetting process. As of 2024, Unseen served 33 active partners across 25 countries (cumulative ~100 partners across 64 countries over 15 years), reported $8.16M in attributed partner revenue against $976,372 in program expense (a 736% donor ROI), and held a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025). Governance is provided by a 9-member board chaired by Austin Morris, with CEO and co-founder Than Baardson leading day-to-day operations.

Name

Unseen

Legal name

Unseen

Website

https://weareunseen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Unseen is a Fargo, ND-based nonprofit founded around 2010 that provides vetted anti-trafficking NGOs worldwide with free custom marketing materials, fundraising strategy, and brand development, currently serving 33 partners across 25 countries through a 12-person team and creative freelancer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Private Donations: Primary funding source from private individuals. Donors can give through website donations, donor-advised funds (DAF), check, stock, cryptocurrency, will/estate planning, or money transfer.
2. Corporate Sponsorship - Unseen Guardians: Recurring financial support from businesses and corporations engaging as key allies through Unseen Guardians program, funding prevention initiatives, survivor services, education, and community outreach.
3. Endowment Fund: Endowment donations through FM Area Foundation providing predictable revenue stream. Minimum $5,000 for endowment gifts. ND taxpayers can claim 40% state tax credit on endowment donations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Unseen is a capacity-building nonprofit that fights human trafficking and its root causes by providing custom donor-focused marketing communication materials at no cost to vetted anti-trafficking partner organizations. It delivers 100+ marketing products annually including websites, videos, slide decks, brochures, logos, story cards, and social media templates to help partners fundraise and scale.

Product overview

Unseen is a capacity-building nonprofit that provides integrated marketing materials to anti-trafficking and root cause organizations at no cost. The core offering consists of a portfolio of marketing communication products including Program Cards, Branded Folders, Impact Report Summaries, Donation Cards, Overview Videos, Simple Brochures, Info Cards, and Canva Social Media Templates. These materials help partners expand their supporter base and multiply their work. Unseen delivers 100+ marketing communication products annually, ranging from strategy and writing to design and final execution. Additional offerings include the Strategic Grant Initiative (SGI) for capital injection into partner building projects, and the Unseen Guardians corporate partnership program for business engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Program Card A strategic marketing card that helps partners clarify their program communication and set up storytelling for fundraising campaigns.
• Branded Folder Professional branded folders used for fundraising materials, major donor pipelines, and organizational communications.
• Impact Report Summary A comprehensive summary document that showcases partner impact and serves as a thank-you and stewardship piece for donors.
• Donation Card A donation collection card used at events and campaigns to facilitate giving and collect supporter information.
• Overview Video Professional video content that introduces partners and their mission for use at events and digital platforms.
• Simple Brochure Print and digital brochures providing organizational information and messaging for stakeholder communications.
• Info Card Concise informational cards that help legitimize organizations and create strong first impressions with stakeholders.
• Canva Social Media Templates Editable social media templates for partners to create branded, consistent content across platforms.
• Slide Decks Professional presentation materials for partner fundraising, events, and stakeholder communications.
• Story Cards Narrative-focused cards highlighting survivor and impact stories for emotional donor engagement.
• Logo Refresh Brand identity updates and enhancements to ensure partners have professional, current visual branding.
• Strategic Grant Initiative (SGI) A strategic capital injection program that channels designated donor contributions to award grants to vetted partners for building projects and expansion programs.
• Unseen Guardians A corporate engagement program enabling businesses to support anti-trafficking efforts through recurring financial contributions, supporting prevention initiatives, survivor services, education, and community outreach.
• Creative Network Freelance Services A network of part-time freelance creatives (Canva content creators, graphic designers, film/photography, writers) producing marketing content for anti-trafficking partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 736% ROI on donor investment
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tony's ChocolonelyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChocolate company featured in Unseen's ethical shopping guide. Mission to eradicate modern slavery from the chocolate supply chain.
• Creative Network FreelancerscoreOthersNetwork of vetted freelance creatives (writers, designers, film editors, photographers, Canva content creators) contracted part-time to produce marketing materials for partners. Remote work, contracted as needed per project.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• charity: water: charity: water is a large capacity-building nonprofit in the global water sector known for strong branding, donor storytelling, and 100% model. Comparable to Unseen in operating model (capacity-building for partner implementing orgs) and emphasis on marketing-driven donor acquisition, but in a different cause vertical.
• A21: A21 is a large, established anti-trafficking nonprofit that runs prevention, protection, and prosecution programs globally. Comparable to Unseen in cause area (human trafficking) and partnership-based operating model, but operates its own direct-service programs rather than acting as a capacity-builder for partner NGOs.
• International Justice Mission: IJM is a large international anti-trafficking and modern slavery organization that partners with local justice systems. Comparable in cause area and global partner network across multiple continents, but operates at substantially larger scale and runs direct rescue and legal programs.
• Thorn: Thorn builds technology tools (e.g., Spotlight) to combat child sexual exploitation and trafficking. Comparable as a US-based anti-trafficking nonprofit that builds infrastructure for partner organizations, but specializes in technology products rather than marketing communications capacity.
• Room to Read: Room to Read is a large international capacity-building nonprofit supporting local partner organizations in literacy and girls' education across Asia and Africa. Comparable to Unseen in the capacity-builder-for-local-NGOs operating model and global multi-country partner footprint, but in the education sector and at substantially larger scale.
• Polaris Project: Polaris operates the US National Human Trafficking Hotline and runs data-driven anti-trafficking programs. Comparable as a large, US-headquartered anti-trafficking nonprofit with similar cause focus and donor base, though Polaris is a direct-service operator rather than a capacity-builder for partner NGOs.
• Not For Sale: Not For Sale runs anti-trafficking programs and social enterprises across multiple countries. Comparable in cause focus and global partner footprint, but operates direct-service programs and supply-chain interventions rather than marketing capacity-building.

Emerging players

• Echoing Green: Echoing Green identifies and supports emerging social sector leaders through fellowships and capacity support. Comparable to Unseen as a capacity-builder for mission-driven organizations, but focuses on leadership development rather than marketing communications, and operates with a fellowship model rather than free marketing production.

Direct peers

• Free The Girls: Free The Girls is a US-based anti-trafficking nonprofit providing economic reintegration for sex trafficking survivors in Costa Rica. It is directly comparable as an active Unseen partner organization of similar scale and mission, illustrating the partner archetype Unseen serves.
• The Freedom Story: The Freedom Story is a Thailand-based anti-trafficking nonprofit preventing exploitation through education scholarships. Directly comparable as an active Unseen partner organization operating prevention programs in Southeast Asia, representative of Unseen's typical partner profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_weareunseen
• Facebookfacebook.com/WeAreUnseen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unseen-ministries
• Instagraminstagram.com/_weareunseen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Unseen