Kinship United

What Kinship United does

Kinship United is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization founded circa 2001 and headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, with a secondary office in Fort Myers, Florida. The organization operates a network of nearly 50 "Kinship Projects" — church-based residential homes — across 10 countries (Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Thailand, and Uganda) that house orphaned children alongside widowed caregivers. Its differentiated operating model pairs widows (who serve as in-home caregivers) with orphans under one roof, providing food, education, medical care, spiritual nurturing, and community outreach while engaging surrounding villages.

The organization runs on a donation-funded model with no disclosed revenue. Its product surface includes (i) the Kinship Kindness Alliance, a recurring monthly giving program tiered from $25 to $1,500 per month; (ii) Whole-Family Sponsorship at $60,000 setup plus $1,500/month (or $500–$1,500/month shared); (iii) one-time donations; and (iv) Donor-Advised Fund grants routed through nine major DAF sponsors. Operationally, Kinship United uses a standard nonprofit technology stack — WordPress CMS, Neon CRM (Z2 Systems) for donor management, GreenRope for email, MobileCause and GiveSmart for online donations, and BluePay for ACH/credit card processing. The organization emphasizes that 100% of donor-designated gifts flow to programs because overhead is underwritten by separate contributors.

Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer via digital storytelling (blog, Email Insider newsletter, Facebook, Instagram) supplemented by community-led engagement through church groups and mission trips. Customer segments split across individual donors, churches/small groups, and foundations, with the individual donor base appearing largest. The organization is independently governed (no parent company, no acquisitions, no funding rounds), led by President and CEO Craig Muller, and holds Charity Navigator Four-Star, ECFA, GuideStar Gold, BBB, CAFO Gold, and Excellence in Giving certifications.

Name

Kinship United

Legal name

Kinship United

Website

https://kinshipunited.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kinship United is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates nearly 50 church-based residential homes across 10 countries, housing orphaned children alongside widowed caregivers. It funds this work through monthly donations, Whole-Family Sponsorships, and donor-advised fund grants from individual, church, and foundation supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Orphan care services
• Humanitarian aid programs
• Charitable donation programs
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Community development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rolling Meadows

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Monthly Donations (Kinship Kindness Alliance): Recurring monthly donations from individuals who commit to supporting orphans and widows every month. 100% of designated gifts go to programs as overhead costs are underwritten by other contributors.
2. One-Time Donations: Single gifts for specific purposes such as orphan rescue, general support, or designated programs. Processed online through website.
3. Whole-Family Sponsorship: Sole sponsorship at $60,000 start-up plus $1,500/month ongoing management cost, or shared sponsorship at $500-$1,500/month. Complete financial, prayer, and nurturing support for a Kinship Family.
4. Donor-Advised Fund Grants: Grants recommended by donors through their DAF accounts at Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, National Christian Foundation, and other DAF sponsors.
5. Mail and ACH Donations: Traditional donation methods via check mail and Automated Clearing House bank transfers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kinship United operates a network of nearly 50 church-based residential Kinship Projects across 10 countries, housing orphaned children together with widowed caregivers who serve as surrogate parents. The organization funds these homes through donation and sponsorship programs, including monthly giving (Kinship Kindness Alliance), one-time gifts, and Whole-Family Sponsorship at the family level. Donor-supported humanitarian programs cover orphan rescue, food and nutrition, clean water, education, medical and dental care, home construction, caregiver support, and emergency response.

Product overview

Kinship United is a humanitarian charitable organization that operates a network of nearly 50 Kinship Projects (Kinship Homes) across 10 countries. The core offering is the Kinship model, which combines church facilities with family homes where orphans and widows live together. Widows serve as caregivers for orphaned children, providing mutual healing and support. The organization offers several giving programs: Whole-Family Sponsorship for comprehensive support of a Kinship Family; the Kinship Kindness Alliance for monthly recurring donations; and one-time gifts to specific families or humanitarian efforts. Humanitarian programs include orphan rescue and care, food and nutrition, clean water solutions, education, medical and dental health, home construction, caregiver support, emergency response, child trafficking prevention, women's issues, and community outreach initiatives. The organization operates country-specific programs in Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Thailand, and Uganda.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kinship Projects (Kinship Homes) Network of nearly 50 church-based family homes across 10 countries (Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Thailand, and Uganda) where orphans and widows live together under one roof. Each home is led by a local pastor and family, with widows serving as caregivers for orphaned children, providing housing, meals, education, medical care, and spiritual nurturing.
• Whole-Family Sponsorship Sponsorship program offering complete financial, prayer, and nurturing support for a Kinship Family of orphaned children and widowed caregivers. Available as sole sponsorship at $60,000 start-up plus $1,500/month ongoing management cost, or shared sponsorship at $500-$1,500/month with multiple sponsors sharing care.
• Kinship Kindness Alliance Monthly recurring giving program where donors commit to supporting orphans and widows every month with gifts ranging from $25/month (feed a child) to $40/month (schooling for 3 children), $100/month (clothing for 48 children per year), and $1,500/month (full Kinship Home support). 100% of designated gifts go directly to programs.
• Orphan Rescue and Care Emergency rescue and ongoing care for orphaned children, providing food, shelter, education, medical and dental care, clothing, and family reunification services through Kinship Projects worldwide.
• Widow Support Programs Programs providing widows with safe haven, meaningful caregiver roles as surrogate mothers, clothing, glasses, kitchen necessities, medical care, and a family environment within Kinship Projects worldwide.
• Humanitarian Efforts Bundle of humanitarian service areas including orphan rescue, where most needed support, food programs, clean water solutions, education, medical and dental health, home construction, caregiver support, emergency response, child trafficking prevention, women's issues, emergency medical care, sustainable agriculture, mosquito control, bakery outreach, evangelism, Bibles, music therapy, and transportation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 50 Kinship Projects caring for thousands of orphans and widows across 10 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GoDaddyminorOthersWebsite hosting provider. Provides server infrastructure for kinshipunited.org website.
• Neon CRM (Z2 Systems)coreTechnology or IntegrationFundraising software managing donor relationships, donation tracking, and supporter communications.
• MobileCausecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline donation platform processing credit card gifts and providing fundraising tools.
• GreenRopecoreTechnology or IntegrationEmail marketing platform powering the Email Insider newsletter and supporter communications.
• BluePaycoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment gateway processing ACH and credit card donations with PCI compliance.
• FacebookminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media platform for organic content and Facebook pixel tracking for remarketing.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides Google Analytics, Google Ads, Tag Manager, and YouTube for marketing, analytics, and video content.
• Fidelity CharitablecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor DAF sponsor enabling donors to recommend grants to Kinship United through their donor-advised funds.
• Schwab CharitablecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor DAF sponsor enabling donors to recommend grants to Kinship United.
• Vanguard Charitable Endowment ProgramcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDAF sponsor through which donors can grant to Kinship United.
• National Christian Charitable Foundation Inc. (NCF)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChristian-focused DAF sponsor aligned with faith-based giving.
• BNY MellonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDAF sponsor through which donors can recommend grants to Kinship United.
• National Philanthropic Trust (NPT)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDAF sponsor enabling grants to nonprofit organizations including Kinship United.
• Morgan Stanley GIFTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMorgan Stanley's donor-advised fund program for charitable giving.
• Renaissance Charitable FoundationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDAF sponsor through which donors can grant to Kinship United.
• Raymond James CharitableminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDAF sponsor enabling Raymond James clients to donate to Kinship United.
• Indigenous Pastors NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal church pastors in each country who lead Kinship Projects, form the operational backbone of the organization. These pastors and their families live in the Kinship homes and provide spiritual and practical leadership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• International Justice Mission: Faith-based anti-trafficking and child protection organization. Adjacent peer with overlapping faith-based humanitarian mission and child protection focus, though specifically focused on human trafficking and modern slavery rather than residential orphan care.

Direct peers

• Compassion International: Faith-based child sponsorship and welfare organization operating in roughly 25 countries. Directly comparable to Kinship United on faith-based child welfare, donor sponsorship model, and global field operations.
• Show Hope: Faith-based nonprofit providing adoption aid grants and care for orphans worldwide. Direct peer on mission-driven orphan care and faith-aligned donor base.
• Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based child and family services organization offering foster care, adoption, and refugee services. Comparable in faith-based mission, child welfare focus, and family reunification/residential care models.
• Food for the Hungry: Christian humanitarian organization working in approximately 20 countries on child sponsorship, community development, and disaster response. Comparable on faith-based child welfare, international field operations, and donor-sponsorship model.
• Children's HopeChest: Faith-based orphan care organization pairing US churches with international care communities. Direct peer on church-led international sponsorship model and community-village engagement approach.
• Lifesong for Orphans: Christian orphan care ministry supporting adoption, foster care, and care for orphans in residential and family settings. Closely comparable in target beneficiary, faith-based model, and sponsorship programs.
• Holt International: Christian child welfare organization focused on adoption, foster care, and family strengthening in multiple countries. Direct peer on faith-based orphan care model and international family services.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Relief Services: Large institutional Catholic humanitarian agency operating in 100+ countries. Overlaps with Kinship United on faith-based humanitarian assistance, child welfare, and international field operations but at substantially greater scale.
• World Vision: Large established Christian humanitarian organization with child sponsorship, disaster relief, and community development programs in 100+ countries. Overlaps with Kinship United on faith-based child welfare and global humanitarian programs but is orders of magnitude larger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KinshipUnited
• Instagraminstagram.com/kinshipunited
• Xx.com/KinshipUnited
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kinship-united

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Kinship United