Helps International (HINT)

What Helps International (HINT) does

HELPS International is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Addison, Texas, with field operations anchored in Guatemala City. The organization runs four integrated programs targeting poverty in rural Guatemala: Agriculture (farmer training and microloans in partnership with Disagro and Mosaic), Community Development (ONIL cook stove and water filter installations), Education (the William M. Botnan Experimental School in Santa Avelina and the Cotzal Ixil Bookmaking Project), and Health Care (volunteer medical teams delivering surgery and preventive care). Its proprietary technology centers on the ONIL product line — a fuel-efficient cook stove that reduces firewood consumption by approximately 70% and lasts 20+ years, and a ceramic water purifier with activated carbon and colloidal silver filtration that achieves 99.99% removal of pathogenic bacteria (E. coli, Klebsiella, Cholera, Shigella, Salmonella, Giardia). ONIL products are locally manufactured at scale in Guatemala to ensure consistent quality.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) individual and corporate donations accepted via the website, PayPal, and AmazonSmile; (2) volunteer service trip fees of $1,500–$2,500 per participant covering 7–11 day in-country trips; and (3) tiered sponsorships including student scholarships ($500–$1,000/year) and village sponsorships ($10,000–$25,000+) for community-wide stove and filter projects. The organization reports cumulative program impact of 300,000+ ONIL stoves installed, 165,000+ water filters distributed, 23,900+ smallholder farmers trained since 2006, 309,249+ patients evaluated with 26,482 surgeries performed, and an estimated $102 million in community-level economic impact. The organization is founder-led by Steve Miller (also CEO of Dillon Gage), who has never drawn a salary from HELPS, and is governed by a board composed largely of Central American and U.S. business executives.

Name

Helps International (HINT)

Legal name

HELPS International, Inc.

Website

https://helpsintl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HELPS International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 delivering integrated Agriculture, Community Development (ONIL stoves/water filters), Education, and Health Care programs to rural Guatemalan communities through donations, volunteer service trips, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development and Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid programs
• Clean cookstove distribution
• Rural community development
• Agricultural training services
• Nonprofit healthcare missions

Headquarters

HQ city

Guatemala City

HQ country

Guatemala

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: HELPS International generates revenue primarily through individual and corporate donations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible. Donors can give through the website, PayPal, check, bank transfer, or credit card.
2. Volunteer Trip Fees: Volunteers pay service trip fees ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 depending on factors including airfare arrangements, time of year, trip length, and destination. The fee covers in-country transportation, lodging, most meals, and security.
3. Program Sponsorships: Revenue generated through student sponsorships ($500-$1,000 per year for education scholarships) and village sponsorships ($10,000-$25,000+ for community-wide ONIL stove and water filter projects).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HELPS International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers integrated development programs to rural Guatemalan communities through four pillars: agriculture (farmer training and microloans), community development (ONIL cook stoves and water filters), education (William M. Botnan Experimental School and Cotzal Ixil Bookmaking Project), and health care (volunteer medical teams performing surgery and preventive care). It is sustained by individual and corporate donations, volunteer service trip fees, and program sponsorships.

Product overview

HELPS International offers a portfolio of humanitarian programs focused on poverty alleviation in Guatemala. The core offerings include the ONIL Cook Stove (a fuel-efficient stove reducing firewood use by 70%) and ONIL Water Purifier (ceramic filter with 99.99% bacteria removal), which form the Community Development Program. Additional programs include the Agriculture Program (farmer training and microloans), Health Care Program (volunteer medical teams providing surgery and preventive care), and Education Program (the William M. Botnan Experimental School in Santa Avelina). These integrated programs address food security, health, education, and environmental sustainability through a system of partnership and mutual responsibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ONIL: ONIL cook stoves and water filters - fuel-efficient cooking stoves and water purification systems designed to improve health and reduce deforestation in rural Guatemala.
• William M. Botnan Experimental School

Products and services

• ONIL Cook Stove Fuel-efficient cook stove that reduces firewood consumption by up to 70%, removes smoke from homes, lasts over 20 years with proper maintenance, and can be installed in 40 minutes. Distributed to rural Guatemalan families through the Community Development Program.
• ONIL Water Purifier/Filter Ceramic water filter using activated carbon and colloidal silver that achieves 99.99% efficiency in removing pathogenic bacteria including E.coli, Klebsiella, Cholera, Shigella, Salmonella, and Giardia, with 99.7% turbidity reduction. Distributed to homes and schools in rural Guatemala.
• Agriculture Program Provides intensive training, microloans, and access to agricultural technologies to smallholder farmers in Guatemala, in partnership with agricultural industry leaders Disagro and Mosaic. Generates 3x corn yield boost and $550 average additional family income.
• Health Care Program U.S.-based volunteer medical teams deliver preventive health care, surgery, and community health education to underserved rural Guatemalan populations. Over 335,731 patients served since 1988, with $275 million in direct medical aid provided.
• Education Program / William M. Botnan Experimental School Primary school in Santa Avelina, Guatemala offering education from pre-K to sixth grade, including an early stimulation program and the Hebron homeschooling program. 555+ students have graduated since 1998, currently serving 192 students.
• Community Development Program Installs ONIL cook stoves and water filters in homes and schools across rural Guatemala through volunteer-led service trips, creating safer living environments, reducing deforestation, and improving community health outcomes. 300,000+ stoves and 165,000+ water filters installed.
• Cotzal Ixil Bookmaking Project Produces original books written and illustrated by indigenous community members of Santa Avelina, preserving and promoting the Cotzal Ixil language. 80 books created for emerging readers of all ages.
• Volunteer Service Trips 7-11 day volunteer service trips to Guatemala for community development (ONIL stove/filter installation), health care (medical teams), and education programs. Trip fees range from $1,500 to $2,500 per volunteer depending on airfare, time of year, trip length, and destination.
• Student and Village Sponsorships Recurring sponsorship programs including student scholarships ($500-$1,000/year covering uniforms, supplies, and teacher salaries) and village sponsorships ($10,000-$25,000+ for community-wide ONIL stove and water filter projects).

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DisagrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural industry leader partnering with HELPS to connect smallholder farmers with resources needed to boost and diversify crop production. Part of the agriculture program providing expert training, technologies, and unsubsidized loans to farming families.
• MosaiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural industry leader partnering with HELPS on the agriculture program to help smallholder farmers access resources and technologies for improved crop production.
• Cascade Medical TeamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOregon-based volunteer medical team that has sent hundreds of volunteers to Guatemala on 23+ service trips. Hosted the 200th health care team milestone in 2016.
• Tech Museum of InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Jose, California museum that honored Donald O'Neal and HELPS International as a Health Award Laureate in 2007 for the ONIL cook stove.
• Tri-Win DirectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner whose CEO Scott Fish states that partnership with HELPS has helped shape their culture, resulting in a more successful business with employees working better together.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• WaterAid: International nonprofit focused on clean water access and sanitation in developing countries — directly comparable to HELPS's ONIL water purifier community development work.
• BURN Manufacturing: Clean cookstove manufacturer and distributor operating across Africa and Latin America — directly comparable as a competitor and adjacent operator in the same fuel-efficient stove category as ONIL.
• FINCA International: Microfinance and poverty-alleviation nonprofit focused on rural livelihoods and smallholder economic empowerment in Latin America — directly comparable to HELPS's microloan and farmer-income work in Guatemala.
• Partners in Health: Global health nonprofit delivering medical care in underserved regions via volunteer and partner clinicians — closely comparable to HELPS's Health Care Program model of U.S. volunteer medical teams serving rural Guatemala.
• Mercy Corps: Large international development NGO working across agriculture, health, education, and economic empowerment in developing countries — comparable integrated multi-program structure and rural livelihoods focus.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Nonprofit addressing poverty through housing and community development with volunteer-led build trips — closely comparable to HELPS's volunteer-driven community development model.
• Heifer International: International development nonprofit focused on ending hunger and poverty through agriculture, livestock, and smallholder farmer training — directly comparable to HELPS's Agriculture Program and smallholder-farmer focus.
• Trees for the Future: NGO combatting deforestation and poverty through smallholder farmer training in agroforestry — comparable to HELPS's combined agriculture and ONIL-stove reforestation impact thesis.
• Cross International: Faith-based international development nonprofit running integrated community programs in Central America — comparable in scope, donor base, and Guatemala-region focus.

Emerging players

• Ecozoom: Clean cookstove company serving developing-world households with fuel-efficient biomass and solar cookers — adjacent competitor to ONIL with comparable product category and customer profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HELPS_
• Facebookfacebook.com/110626759851
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helps-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Helps International (HINT)