GRACE Cares

What GRACE Cares does

GRACE Cares, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 and headquartered in Newfane, Vermont. The organization partners with local leaders (referred to as 'local heroes') across 30+ countries to implement small-scale, high-impact community development projects, typically funded at under $10,000 each. Programmatic focus areas span Health & Wellness, Education & Opportunity, Economic Development, Peace & Social Justice, and Cultural Preservation. The organization reports an 86% five-year project sustainability rate and directs 92% of donation dollars directly to projects.

The core operating model is community-led development: GRACE Cares identifies local leaders with innovative ideas, provides targeted fundraising and technical expertise, and amplifies the partner's vision rather than imposing external solutions. Six core partner projects are active, including Project Hearts (Dominican Republic, since 2006), B4 Peace (since 2011), GuateBuena Association (Guatemala, since 2017), Watha Project (Kenya, since 2019), MYEP (Zambia, since 2020), and YOCUPA (Zambia, since 2022). The organization collaborates with implementing partners such as Uzima Community Development Organization in Kenya.

Revenue is generated through individual donations (recurring options available), corporate giving, grant funding, volunteer trip fees, in-kind donations, and special fundraising events such as the Impact Travel Auction. The organization maintains a 1-10 employee footprint and does not have a technology product portfolio. Distribution channels include the gracecares.org website, email newsletters, social media, virtual events, and direct volunteer trip bookings. Since 2002, GRACE Cares reports $1.8M invested in community-led initiatives supporting 150+ local heroes.

Name

GRACE Cares

Legal name

GRACE Cares, Inc

Website

https://gracecares.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GRACE Cares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with 150+ local leaders across 30+ countries, providing targeted fundraising and technical expertise to implement small-scale community development projects in health, education, economic development, peacebuilding, and cultural preservation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Development

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community-led development
• International development grants
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Grassroots community projects
• Volunteer travel programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Newfane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting community-led development projects worldwide.
2. Corporate Giving: Corporate partnerships and giving programs supporting community projects.
3. Grant Funding: Grants from foundations and organizations such as For A Better Tomorrow for specific projects like the Project Hearts Community Health Leadership Project.
4. Volunteer Trips: Revenue from families and small groups traveling to partner communities for hands-on implementation and cross-cultural relationship building.
5. In-Kind Donations: In-kind donations of needed items for community projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GRACE Cares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with local leaders in 30+ countries to implement community-led development projects in health, education, economic development, peace, and cultural preservation. It identifies passionate local leaders, provides targeted fundraising (typically under $10,000 per project), and offers technical expertise to help them turn their vision into reality. The organization is funded primarily through individual donations, corporate giving, and grants, with 92% of donation dollars going directly to projects.

Product overview

GRACE Cares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on community-led development, not a technology company with a traditional product portfolio. The organization functions as a fundraising and grantmaking entity that partners with local leaders to implement small-scale, high-impact community projects. Rather than selling products or services, GRACE Cares accepts donations and grants to fund partner projects. The organization supports approximately 150+ local heroes across 30+ countries through targeted fundraising (typically under $10,000) and technical expertise. Focus areas include Health & Wellness, Education & Opportunity, Economic Development, Peace & Social Justice, and Cultural Preservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Volunteer Trips Travel-based volunteer experience for families and small groups to visit partner communities in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Zambia, and Kenya, engaging in hands-on project implementation and cross-cultural relationship building.
• Internship Program Flexible internship placements for students and professionals, available on-site and remote, with focus areas in public health, international development, studio arts, project management, and communications.
• Impact Travel Auction Special fundraising auction featuring luxury travel experiences (such as Tuscany and Cape May trips) to raise funds for community-led development projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ countries reached with community-led development programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YOCUPA (Youth Cultural Promotion Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Founded in 1996, YOCUPA uses theatre and performing arts to address sexual and gender-based violence in Zambian communities. Established 7ASIDE-ASHAGs (Anti-Sexual Harassment Groups) and achieved recommendation for Zambia's first national CSAM hotline. Premiered 'House of War; House of Glass' reaching 5,000+ people. Partners since 2022.
• Munali Youth Empowerment Program (MYEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Led by Blessed Ngoma, MYEP provides early learning resources, books, reading workshops, and health programs in Lusaka Province, Zambia. Knowledge in Motion initiative impacted 150+ children. Opened MYEP Community Resource Center in 2024. Partners since 2020.
• Watha ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnering with Kenya's indigenous Watha community, the Watha Project improves healthcare, education, and water access in the Galana Region. Working with GRACE Cares and Uzima Community Development Organization (UCDO), three boreholes have been constructed providing safe drinking water. Partners since 2019.
• GuateBuena AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Led by Wilfred Sotz, GuateBuena Association promotes Utz K'aslemal ('the good life') in Guatemalan communities. Their Community Finance program has over 400 members across 21 solidarity groups who saved more than $50,000 and generated $10,000 in interest in 2021. Partners since 2017.
• B4 PeacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Led by Namaya, B4 Peace promotes unity in historically stressed or war-torn areas through art projects. Has conducted programs in Algeria, Chile, Palestine, and Vietnam. Currently focused on establishing a Youth Theater program in Zambia with YOCUPA. Partners since 2011.
• Project Hearts (Proyecto Corazones)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Led by Marissa Doiron in Baitoa, Dominican Republic, Project Hearts focuses on education, women's equality, community health, youth leadership, and water access. Became an official NGO in 2011 and serves an estimated 15,000 people. Partners since 2006.
• Uzima Community Development Organization (UCDO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan partner organization working with GRACE Cares and the Watha community on water access projects in the Galana Region of Kilifi County.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a large global humanitarian and development NGO operating across many of the same geographies and focus areas (health, economic development, peace). Comparable to GRACE Cares as a much larger incumbent in the same community-development and humanitarian aid space.
• Partners In Health: Partners In Health delivers community-based health care in resource-poor settings globally with strong focus on local capacity building. Comparable to GRACE Cares in its health-and-wellness focus area and locally-led, community-driven program model.
• Heifer International: Heifer International is an established international development nonprofit focused on ending hunger and poverty through sustainable community agriculture. Comparable to GRACE Cares as a larger, broader-incumbent operating in similar community-led economic development and partner-grantmaking space.
• WaterAid: WaterAid is an established international nonprofit focused on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries. Comparable to GRACE Cares in its water-access programming (e.g., the Watha Project boreholes) and community-led implementation model.
• Ashoka: Ashoka is a global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs and community innovators. Comparable to GRACE Cares in its mission of amplifying local leaders with innovative ideas and providing support (funding plus expertise) to scale community change.
• Direct Relief: Direct Relief provides humanitarian medical aid and supports community health programs worldwide. Comparable to GRACE Cares in its health and wellness focus area, donor-driven funding model, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

Direct peers

• GlobalGiving: GlobalGiving is a nonprofit crowdfunding platform connecting individual donors with grassroots community development projects worldwide. Directly comparable to GRACE Cares in model: small-grant, locally-led project funding with tax-deductible donations and global geographic reach.
• charity: water: charity: water funds clean water access projects in developing countries with strong donor transparency and program efficiency standards. Comparable to GRACE Cares in its community-development focus, emphasis on local partner implementation, and direct-donation fundraising model.
• Kiva: Kiva enables crowd-funded microloans to entrepreneurs and community projects in low-income countries. Comparable to GRACE Cares in its focus on community-led economic empowerment, small-dollar donor participation, and global portfolio of locally-implemented initiatives.

Emerging players

• Acumen: Acumen invests patient capital in early-stage social enterprises serving low-income communities. Comparable to GRACE Cares in its focus on community-driven economic development and locally-rooted solutions to poverty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gracecaresvt
• Facebookfacebook.com/gracecaresvt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grace-cares

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 GRACE Cares