Friends of Chimbote

What Friends of Chimbote does

Friends of Chimbote is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in West Fargo, North Dakota, operating a faith-based humanitarian mission serving impoverished communities in the barrios of Chimbote, Peru. Founded in 1980 (per the company's own timeline, though firmographic data lists 1990), the organization began with a single soup kitchen and has evolved into an integrated portfolio of programs including education (school supplies, scholarships from early childhood through university, a Community Learning Center built in 2021 in Cambio Puente), vocational training certified by Peru's Ministry of Education in bakery, carpentry, seamstress, and culinary arts, micro-lending and business development (2,500+ recipients since 2000 at an average loan size of $400), social programs (housing support, soup kitchens serving 100,000+ meals over the past two years, water distribution, family advocacy), and an annual container shipment program operated from a Shakopee, MN warehouse. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is built on a partnership model with ACAF (Asociacion Civil Apoyo Familiar), a Peruvian NGO formed in 2005 that employs 80+ local staff and serves 46,000+ beneficiaries, alongside sister parishes, the Diocese of Fargo, the Municipality of Chimbote, and various US-based service clubs.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable giving — individual donations (online and mail-in), corporate matching gifts (Verizon, Microsoft), stock and securities donations (via Wells Fargo Advisors and Vanguard), planned giving and bequests, Required Minimum Distributions from retirement accounts, and mission trip participation fees. The organization reports that 83% of donations flow directly to mission programs over the last three years and holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating with a 100% perfect score for Accountability, Stability, and Transparency. Distribution to donors runs through a Squarespace-hosted website, recurring newsletters, downloadable fundraising toolkits, sister-parish and congregation networks, Rotary and Knights of Columbus chapters, and an annual 40-foot container program. Mission trips to Chimbote function as both an engagement channel for prospective donors and a small direct-revenue line. The US staff consists of approximately 6 individuals (Executive Director, Development Director, Development & Communications Specialist, Mission Visit Director, Accountant, Treasurer), with an additional board of directors drawn from across the United States; total reach including ACAF field staff is in the 51-100 employee range.

Name

Friends of Chimbote

Legal name

Friends of Chimbote

Website

https://friendsofchimbote.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Friends of Chimbote is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers education, vocational training, micro-lending, food programs, and family services to impoverished communities in Chimbote, Peru, through partner ACAF and a network of US sister parishes and service clubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Food Services (624210), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Microfinance & Community P2P Lending (FSAKAHAD)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Community development programs
• Microfinance lending
• Vocational training services
• Faith-based charity

Headquarters

HQ city

West Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The primary revenue stream comes from individual donors who make online or mail-in contributions. Friends of Chimbote is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, making donations tax-deductible.
2. Corporate Matching Gifts: Many employers including Verizon and Microsoft offer matching gift programs that allow employees to maximize their charitable contributions.
3. Stock and Securities Donations: Donors can gift stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and other appreciated securities directly to Friends of Chimbote through brokerage accounts at Wells Fargo or Vanguard, reducing capital gains and taxes.
4. Planned Giving: Donors can name Friends of Chimbote in wills, bequests, estates, trusts, or other planned gifts.
5. Required Minimum Distributions: Donors can gift Required Minimum Distributions from retirement accounts directly to Friends of Chimbote, reducing Adjusted Gross Income and taxes.
6. Mission Trip Fees: Revenue from individuals and groups who pay to participate in mission experience trips to Chimbote, Peru.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Friends of Chimbote is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers humanitarian aid and long-term community development programs to impoverished residents of Chimbote, Peru. Through its partner organization ACAF, it operates education programs, vocational training, micro-lending, social services (housing, food distribution, healthcare access), and short-term mission trip experiences for individuals and groups. Programs are funded via tax-deductible donations, sponsorships, and annual container shipments of donated goods.

Product overview

Friends of Chimbote is a faith-based non-profit organization operating as a single unified charitable mission rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of programs including education (scholarships, school supplies, learning center), vocational training (bakery, carpentry, seamstress, culinary), micro-lending with business development, social programs (housing, soup kitchens, water distribution), and mission trip experiences. These programs work together holistically to transform lives and lift families out of poverty in Chimbote, Peru.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Programs Educational programs for children and youth in Chimbote, Peru, providing access to schooling and learning resources to break the cycle of poverty. Delivered through partner ACAF.
• Vocational Programs Vocational training programs for adults in Chimbote, Peru, equipping participants with marketable job skills to enable sustainable employment and self-sufficiency. Delivered through partner ACAF.
• Micro-Lending & Business Development

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 28,000 people benefiting from mission programs focused on education as a means to transform lives
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 key, minor and core.

• Disciples In ServicekeyGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Growth organization contributing resources and supporting mission programs.
• Sowers of HopekeyGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Growth organization contributing resources and supporting mission programs.
• Hayduk (Fishing Company)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal fishing company partner that negotiated discounted prices on fish for the Loaves and Fishes food distribution program. Fish is essential protein that can be salted and preserved without refrigeration.
• Club of Waconia West Carver RotarykeyGTM or Marketing PartnerRotary Club partner contributing resources, engaging participants, and collaborating on projects extending mission impact.
• Prior Lake RotarykeyGTM or Marketing PartnerRotary Club partner contributing resources, engaging participants, and collaborating on projects extending mission impact.
• Knights of Columbus (multiple councils)keyGTM or Marketing PartnerCatholic fraternal organization with multiple councils (#4718, #4951, #6570) supporting mission through resources, volunteers, and collaborative projects.
• Diocese of FargokeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional diocese supporting mission advocacy and financial support, including hosting mission trips and engaging parishes.
• Various Catholic ParisheskeyGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple Catholic parishes including St. Charles Borromeo, St. Joseph, St. Mary, St. Anthony of Padua, and others serving as sister parishes providing financial support, volunteers, and advocacy.
• ACAF (Asociacion Civil Apoyo Familiar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based Peruvian NGO formed in 2005 that delivers programs and services to beneficiaries. ACAF employs 80+ local people and serves 46,000+ people. Governed by local community board members.
• Peruvian Government ProgramskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment programs that work to multiply mission efforts in Chimbote and surrounding communities.
• Various Peruvian NGOskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple local nongovernmental organizations collaborating with the mission to extend impact and services.
• Ministry of Education (Peru)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry partnering with the mission to provide certified vocational training programs in fields where employment opportunities have been identified.
• Municipality of ChimbotekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partnership providing legal advocacy services, making it possible for victims of domestic abuse, housing discrimination, and other issues to get legal advice and representation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Opportunity International: Christian microfinance organization providing small loans, savings, insurance, and training to entrepreneurs in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Closely comparable on the micro-lending + Christian identity dimension, with similar loan-size economics to Friends of Chimbote and overlapping Peruvian/Latin American footprint.
• FINCA International: Microfinance pioneer operating village banking programs to provide small loans and financial services to low-income entrepreneurs in Latin America, Africa, and Eurasia. Directly comparable in the microfinance + Latin America intersection, with similar loan-size economics to Friends of Chimbote's $400 average microloan.
• Food For The Poor: Christian nonprofit providing food, housing, healthcare, education, and micro-enterprise support to impoverished families in Latin America and the Caribbean. Highly comparable mission, faith-based identity, and Latin American focus; operates at much larger scale with broader country exposure than Friends of Chimbote.
• Cross Catholic Outreach: National Catholic nonprofit that channels donor support to Catholic ministries serving the poorest in developing countries, including food, water, education, and micro-enterprise. Closely aligned with Friends of Chimbote's Catholic identity and parish-based fundraising model, though operating as a pass-through intermediary rather than running its own field programs.
• HOPE International: Christian microfinance organization providing small loans, savings services, and biblically-based business training to entrepreneurs living in poverty across the developing world. Directly comparable in the micro-lending + faith-based + poverty alleviation intersection, though operating across multiple countries rather than a single community.

Emerging players

• Kiva: Nonprofit online P2P lending platform enabling individuals to lend as little as $25 to entrepreneurs worldwide, including Peru. Comparable in the micro-lending + international development dimension and in driving small-dollar individual-donor funding to entrepreneurs; differs in tech-mediated crowdfunding delivery versus Friends of Chimbote's parish-based fundraising model.

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: One of the largest Christian humanitarian organizations globally, focused on child welfare, education, health, and economic development in developing countries. Comparable in faith-based identity and integrated program portfolio (education, health, micro-enterprise), but operates at massive scale across dozens of countries versus Friends of Chimbote's single-city focus.
• Compassion International: Christian child sponsorship organization providing holistic child development through education, health, and economic programs in developing countries, including Peru. Comparable in faith-based identity and education/vocational programming, but uses a direct sponsorship model rather than community-wide programming.
• Catholic Relief Services: US Conference of Catholic Bishops' official international humanitarian agency operating faith-based poverty alleviation, education, and social service programs across the developing world. Directly comparable in mission and faith-based identity, but operates at much larger scale with a broader geographic footprint than Friends of Chimbote's Chimbote-only focus.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity International: Nonprofit building affordable housing and providing microfinance for housing in developing countries, including Latin America. Overlaps with Friends of Chimbote's housing-improvement and community-development programs, but is housing-centric whereas Friends of Chimbote's portfolio is broader (education, food, micro-enterprise).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/friendsofchimbote
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acafchimbote

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Friends of Chimbote