What Mani Tese does

Mani Tese is an Italian nonprofit association (Associazione Mani Tese ETS), founded in Milan in 1964 and registered in Italy's RUNTS, dedicated to international cooperation, humanitarian aid, and global citizenship education. The organization implements development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, Togo), South Asia (India), and Latin America, while simultaneously running domestic education and advocacy programmes in Italy. Its core programmatic portfolio includes the Kenya Milk Supply Chain Programme (Milk Bora, Maisha Bora, Maziwa) supporting ~1,200+ smallholder farmers; the 'No ta geri Mudança!' inclusion project in Guinea-Bissau for youth, women, and persons with disabilities; LAGRO agro-food vocational training in Burkina Faso; the EU DEAR-funded 'Rebooting the Food System' consortium across 9 EU member states; the SAPIENS A 5P school curriculum and Mani Tese Academy for youth training; and advocacy campaigns including Impresa 2030 (EU corporate due diligence) and I Exist (modern slavery).

The organization's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. Mani Tese raises funds through individual donations processed via PayPal and Stripe on its website, the Italian 5x1000 tax designation (CF 02343800153), legacy bequests, corporate CSR partnerships, solidarity gift e-commerce (Regali Solidali, bomboniere), and the annual 'Molto più di un pacchetto regalo' Christmas campaign in partnership with Feltrinelli bookstores (€303,365.87 raised in 2023). Large-scale programme delivery is funded by institutional grants from the EU (DEAR programme), MAECI-AICS, CEI, Italian regional governments (Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia-Romagna), and Fondazione Cariplo. The organization maintains a 29,300+ volunteer network cultivated over 16 years of campaigns and delivers global citizenship education to Italian schools through Reattiva Impresa Sociale.

Operationally, Mani Tese is a lean organization of 11–50 employees headquartered in Milan, executing a multi-million EUR annual budget through consortium-based international project delivery, high-profile retail-partner fundraising, and a growing domestic education/youth engagement footprint. The organization is not a technology company: it operates no proprietary platform, API, or AI systems, relying instead on standard web infrastructure for donations and content distribution. Its core technology is its 60-year institutional knowledge, established partner network, and registered ETS/5x1000 status — structural assets that underpin continued eligibility for institutional funding and donor trust.

Name

Mani Tese

Legal name

Associazione Mani Tese ETS

Website

https://manitese.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mani Tese is a Milan-based Italian nonprofit (ETS) founded in 1964 that delivers international cooperation projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, alongside domestic global citizenship education and advocacy. It serves beneficiary communities, Italian donors, schools, and institutional funders (EU, MAECI-AICS, Italian regions, Fondazione Cariplo).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB)

Keywords

• International cooperation NGO
• Humanitarian aid services
• Food security programs
• Civic education programs
• Global citizenship advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Private donations and crowdfunding: Mani Tese raises funds from individual donors through its website, direct mail, newsletter campaigns, and fundraising events such as the annual 'Molto più di un pacchetto regalo' campaign (Christmas solidarity gifting in partnership with Feltrinelli bookstores). Online donations are processed via PayPal and Stripe.
2. 5x1000 tax designation: Italian taxpayers can designate 0.5% of their income tax to Mani Tese via the organization's fiscal code (02343800153). This represents a significant recurring revenue stream from individual taxpayers.
3. Legacy bequests and testamentary donations: Mani Tese actively promotes legacy bequests as a long-term fundraising mechanism, with a dedicated page and communications strategy.
4. Corporate and foundation partnerships: Mani Tese receives institutional funding from Italian regions (Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia-Romagna), Fondazione Cariplo, AICS, MAECI, CEI, the EU (DEAR programme), Alliance Bioversity & CIAT, and Alliance for Development funds. Corporate partnerships are sought for CSR and cause-marketing campaigns.
5. Solidarity gifts and cards: Mani Tese sells symbolic solidarity gifts (bomboniere solidali, regali solidali) via its website, including products linked to project outcomes such as dairy supply chain items in Kenya. E-commerce sales of solidarity products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mani Tese is an Italian nonprofit organization (Ente del Terzo Settore, ETS) that implements international cooperation projects, civic education programs, fundraising campaigns, and volunteer initiatives. Its work focuses on food sovereignty, environmental regeneration, climate justice, and global citizenship, delivering programs across communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America while engaging Italian supporters through donations, education, and advocacy.

Product overview

Mani Tese ETS is a non-governmental organization focused on international cooperation and humanitarian aid, operating primarily in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Rather than a unified software product, Mani Tese offers a portfolio of humanitarian programs and campaigns including: educational services (SAPIENS A 5 P, Mani Tese Academy), international cooperation projects (Kenya milk supply chain, Guinea-Bissau inclusion programs, Burkina Faso LAGRO), advocacy campaigns (Impresa 2030, I Exist), fundraising initiatives (Molto più di un Pacchetto Regalo), and volunteer programs (Servizio Civile, Campi di Volontariato). The organization also offers solidarity gift products for donors. Most programs are funded through donations, EU grants, Italian government funding (MAECI, AICS, Ministry of Interior), and regional government partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mani Tese Academy: A training project for young people to explore major challenges of our time and share tools for activism and planetary citizenship. Now in its fourth edition.
• Molto più di un Pacchetto Regalo

Products and services

• Regali Solidali (Solidarity Gifts)
• Servizio Civile Universale (Universal Civil Service)
• Campi di Volontariato (Volunteer Camps)
• SAPIENS A 5P
• Mani Tese Academy
• Molto più di un Pacchetto Regalo (Christmas Solidarity Campaign)

Quantifiable outcome

• 859,000+ beneficiaries reached over 60+ years of operation
• +5 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ministero dell'Agricoltura Kenyano / Kenya Dairy BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMani Tese works with the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture and the Kenya Dairy Board for its milk supply chain programme in Nakuru and Baringo counties. These government bodies contribute through direct staff involvement in trainings, monitoring, and application of national guidelines, improving milk quality standards and ensuring project alignment with national agricultural policy.
• Governo della Contea di NakurucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nakuru County Government partners with Mani Tese on the milk supply chain programme, contributing local administrative support, policy alignment, and coordination for project activities targeting rural communities in Nakuru County, Kenya.
• AIFO (Associazione Italiana Amici di Raoul Follereau)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIFO is a long-standing Italian NGO partner of Mani Tese, collaborating on the 'No ta geri Mudança!' project in Guinea-Bissau. AIFO brings expertise in disability rights and community-based rehabilitation, contributing to the project's focus on vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities.
• AMIC (Amigos da Criança)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMIC is a local partner in Guinea-Bissau working on children's rights and welfare. In the 'No ta geri Mudança!' project, AMIC co-manages activities related to child protection, gender-based violence prevention, and OSC strengthening, and co-facilitates national dialogue tables on violence against women and disability rights.
• FADPD-GB (Federação das Associações da Defesa e Promoção dos Direitos das Pessoas com Deficiência da Guiné Bissau)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFADPD-GB is the national federation for disability rights in Guinea-Bissau, representing the country in sub-regional networks. It is a key partner in 'No ta geri Mudança!' for mapping persons with disabilities, providing vocational training, and advocating for inclusive policies.
• Medicus Mundi ItaliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedicus Mundi Italia is part of the consortium led by Mani Tese for the 'Maisha Bora' project (MAECI-AICS funding). The NGO contributes to improving food security in Molo sub-county through an integrated approach aligned with SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger) and 6 (Clean Water), including agricultural development and nutrition interventions.
• 3E AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner3E Africa is a consortium partner in the 'Maisha Bora' project, contributing expertise in environmental sustainability and community development for food security and nutrition outcomes in Nakuru County, Kenya.
• Fondazione Imagine ESG ETSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFondazione Imagine ESG ETS is a consortium partner in the 'Maisha Bora' project, bringing expertise in ESG principles and sustainable finance to support environmentally and socially sustainable agricultural development in Kenya.
• Università di TorinomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Turin is a consortium partner in the 'Maisha Bora' project, providing academic rigour, research capacity, and technical expertise in agriculture, nutrition, and sustainable development for the project's monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge-building components.
• CreSudmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreSud is a consortium partner in the 'Maisha Bora' project, contributing expertise in development finance, project management, and South-South cooperation for sustainable food security outcomes in Kenya.
• CIR (Christliche Initiative Romero)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIR is the lead coordinating organization of the 'Rebooting the Food System' EU DEAR consortium. Based in Germany, CIR coordinates the multi-country project implementation, Youth Council, multiplier programme, and all consortium activities across 9 EU member states.
• WeWorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeWorld is a consortium partner in the 'Rebooting the Food System' EU DEAR project, contributing to youth engagement, agroecology promotion, and awareness-raising activities across the 9-country European consortium.
• NECOFA (Nakuru Environmental Management, Food Security and Child Labor Awareness)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNECOFA is Mani Tese's principal local partner in Kenya's Nakuru County, co-developing the milk supply chain programme in the Molo River Basin. NECOFA brings deep local knowledge, community networks, and agricultural expertise, and has collaborated with Mani Tese over multiple years on food security and environmental management projects.
• CeSPI (Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCeSPI is a research institute and partner of Mani Tese, having published studies on Burkinabé migrants and return migration. CeSPI's research supports Mani Tese's evidence-based approach to migration and development programming.
• Reattiva Impresa SocialecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReattiva Impresa Sociale is Mani Tese's educational partner for the 'SAPIENS A 5P' civic education curriculum and the Reattiva multimedia library. The partnership delivers interactive educational programmes on sustainability, the SDGs, and global citizenship to schools across Italy. Reattiva is a subsidiary of Mani Tese (as noted in the Privacy Policy).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• COOPI — Cooperazione Internazionale: Milan-based Italian NGO operating in international cooperation and development across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Closely comparable to Mani Tese in mission, geographic focus, and Italian donor base.
• CESVI: Italian international cooperation NGO headquartered in Bergamo, with programmes in food security, environment, and human rights across the Global South. Direct competitor in Italian donor and EU grant markets.
• Emergency: Major Italian humanitarian NGO delivering medical and surgical care in conflict-affected countries. Comparable in scale, Italian donor base, and high-profile fundraising campaigns.
• AMREF Italia: Italian arm of the African Medical and Research Foundation, focused on health and community development in sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable in geographic focus (especially East Africa) and Italian donor base.
• Save the Children Italia: Italian branch of the global children's rights organisation, with comparable advocacy, education, and international cooperation programming. Strong Italian donor base and high brand recognition.
• ActionAid Italia: Italian chapter of the ActionAid International federation, focused on poverty, women's rights, and food sovereignty in the Global South. Direct peer in mission, target beneficiaries, and Italian fundraising market.
• Oxfam Italia: Italian affiliate of Oxfam International, working on inequality, food justice, and humanitarian response. Comparable in advocacy campaigns, EU-level funding access, and donor base in Italy.
• Medici Senza Frontiere Italia: Italian chapter of Doctors Without Borders, focused on humanitarian medical aid in crisis and conflict zones. Comparable in fundraising sophistication, Italian donor base, and international operations.
• WeWorld: Italian NGO (already a consortium partner of Mani Tese in the EU DEAR project) working on human rights, gender equality, and international cooperation. Direct peer in programme scope and donor base.
• Terre des Hommes Italia: Italian NGO focused on children's rights and international child protection, with programmes in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable in geographic focus, EU funding access, and Italian donor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/manitese
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ManiTeseong
• Facebookfacebook.com/ManiTese
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associazione-mani-tese-ong-onlus
• Instagraminstagram.com/mani_tese

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 Mani Tese