The Paros Foundation

What The Paros Foundation does

The Paros Foundation is a California-based 501(c)(3) private foundation founded in 2006 by the Strauch Kulhanjian family that bridges the Armenian diaspora to charitable projects in the Republic of Armenia. It operates as a portfolio of humanitarian programs spanning permanent housing, children's education, healthcare, vocational training, and cultural preservation, with executive leadership from Chairman Roger Strauch and Executive Director Peter Abajian. The foundation runs more than a dozen discrete programs, including the Debi Arach Children's Center in Gyumri (serving 180 children three times weekly at $500 per child per year), the Artsakh Refugee Support Fund (42+ permanent homes delivered to families displaced by the 2023 Artsakh crisis), the Paros Housing, After-School & Vocational Center (housing 27 families plus vocational training), SERVICE Armenia volunteer trips for ages 17-22, SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals for ages 23-45, Med-Aid Armenia medical missions, Nourishing Armenia agricultural education, and the Paros Chamber Choir of individuals with spinal cord injuries.

The foundation has no proprietary technology platform, mobile application, or software product. Its operating infrastructure consists of a US headquarters in Berkeley, California (2217 5th Street) and an Armenia field office in Yerevan staffed by approximately five full-time project management personnel who oversee on-the-ground implementation through a network of local NGO partners. Programs are administered through standard nonprofit tools: a website with project listings and donation portal, social media channels, monthly email newsletters, and the "Pari Louys with Paros" podcast.

The business model is donation philanthropy. All administrative and overhead costs are underwritten separately by the founding family, allowing 100% of donor contributions to flow directly to projects and supported organizations. Donations are tax-deductible (Tax ID 20-5094630), and donors can either select specific projects or contribute to the general fund. Revenue, donor counts, and budget figures are not publicly disclosed. The foundation generates no commercial revenue, charges no fees, and operates without outside institutional investors, parent company, or subsidiaries.

Name

The Paros Foundation

Legal name

The Paros Foundation

Website

https://parosfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Paros Foundation is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that channels Armenian diaspora donations into humanitarian programs in Armenia, including refugee housing, children's education centers, healthcare missions, and volunteer service trips.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Charitable foundation programs
• Volunteer service trips
• Refugee housing support
• Community development projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax-Deductible Donations: Individual and organizational donors contribute to specific projects or the general fund. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID 20-5094630), making donations tax-deductible to donors. All administrative costs are underwritten separately, allowing 100% of donations to go to projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Paros Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that channels donor contributions from the Armenian diaspora to charitable projects in Armenia. Its offerings include volunteer service trips (SERVICE Armenia), medical missions (Med-Aid Armenia), children's centers (Debi Arach), refugee housing support (Artsakh Refugee Support Fund), vocational training, scholarships, agricultural education, and a chamber choir for individuals with disabilities. The foundation underwrites all administrative costs separately so that 100% of donations reach projects directly.

Product overview

The Paros Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a portfolio of charitable and humanitarian programs rather than a unified technology product. Its offerings include SERVICE Armenia (volunteer service trips), Med-Aid Armenia (healthcare programs), Debi Arach Children's Center (education and enrichment), Paros Housing and Vocational Center (housing and job training), Nourishing Armenia (agricultural education), Artsakh Refugee Support (housing assistance), scholarships, and the Paros Chamber Choir. The organization directs 100% of donor contributions to projects with no administrative fees. All programs support Armenian communities through housing, education, healthcare, and economic development initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SERVICE Armenia A volunteer service trip program for youth ages 17-22 that runs approximately three weeks and combines hands-on humanitarian projects, educational excursions, and cultural experiences throughout Armenia. Participants engage with foundation-supported programs and partner NGOs while contributing labor and supplies.
• SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals A 10-day volunteer and cultural immersion program designed for young professionals ages 23-45 who want to connect with people, make meaningful impact, and create lifelong memories through service projects and cultural exploration in Armenia.
• Med-Aid Armenia A medical aid program providing healthcare support and supplies to vulnerable communities in Armenia, including dental care (e.g., Apelian Dental Clinic at Prkutyun Center), medical equipment for facilities such as Nor Hachen Clinic, and training for healthcare professionals. Led by Dr. Krikor Deramerian.
• Debi Arach Children's Center A children's center in Gyumri serving 180 children three times per week at no cost to families, providing academic support, computer and robotics classes, nutrition education, daily hot meals, psychological counseling, medical and dental check-ups, and enrichment programs. Annual budget is approximately $500 per child per year.
• Paros Housing, After-School & Vocational Center A multi-purpose building in Gyumri providing permanent housing for 27 families, a second Debi Arach Children's Center location, and the Assarian Vocational Training Center for career development and job training.
• Nourishing Armenia An agricultural education program teaching children at Debi Arach Children's Center about growing food, nutrition, and sustainable practices through hands-on greenhouse and orchard experiences.
• Artsakh Refugee Support Fund A housing and support initiative providing permanent homes, furniture, and appliances for refugee families displaced from Artsakh, having delivered 42+ permanent homes to date.
• Scholarship for a Sustainable Future An education scholarship program supporting individual students from orphanages and at-risk backgrounds to pursue their education and build sustainable futures.
• Paros Chamber Choir A chamber choir ensemble consisting primarily of individuals with spinal cord injuries, promoting musical excellence while raising awareness for people with disabilities in Armenia. Housed at UNISON NGO-Supporting People with Special Needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• $500 per child per year at Debi Arach Children's Center
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• UNISON NGO-Supporting People with Special NeedsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2007One of six original partner organizations. Supports people with disabilities in Armenia; home to the Paros Chamber Choir.
• Manana Youth CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2007One of six original partner organizations. Film studio classes and creative programs for youth.
• Vanadzor Museum of Fine ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2007Cultural organization supported through concerts and events organized by Paros Foundation.
• Focus on Children NowmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time partner organization supporting children's projects including Meds Masrik Kindergarten expansion. Provides funding and resources for educational initiatives in Armenia.
• Armenian Tree ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in economic development initiatives in Gyumri and border communities, supporting environmental and agricultural programs.
• Dr. George ApelianmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides ongoing support for the Apelian Dental Clinic at Prkutyun Center, delivering free dental care to disabled children and low-income families since 2005.
• Dr. Krikor DeramerianmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeader of Med-Aid Armenia program, spearheading initiatives to improve healthcare system in Armenia including new medical equipment for Nor Hachen Clinic.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU): The largest Armenian diaspora non-profit globally, running educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs across more than 30 countries. Comparable to Paros as a diaspora-anchored foundation supporting Armenian communities, but at materially larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Direct Relief: Major humanitarian medical aid organization with global operations delivering pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Functionally comparable to Paros's Med-Aid Armenia program in providing medical assistance to vulnerable populations, though at vastly larger scale.
• Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation: One of the largest European foundations, with Armenian heritage and significant grantmaking programs in Armenia and the diaspora. Comparable to Paros as a grantmaking foundation with Armenian identity, but at vastly larger scale and broader geographic mandate.
• Hayastan All-Armenian Fund: Tel-Armenian Fund established in 1992 to support infrastructure and humanitarian projects in Armenia and Artsakh. Direct functional peer to Paros Foundation's housing and community development programs, with overlapping fundraising footprint and beneficiary base.

Regional players

• My Step Charitable Foundation: Armenian-affiliated foundation supporting health, education, and cultural programs. Existing peer donor of Paros (funded Apelian Dental Clinic renovation), making it a natural bidirectional partner/peer in the Armenian charitable ecosystem.
• Armenian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA): US-based Armenian humanitarian non-profit supporting education, social services, and refugee relief in Armenia. Comparable mission and diaspora-anchored funding model, though focused primarily on women's and family welfare programs.

Others

• Paros Chamber Choir / UNISON NGO: One of Paros Foundation's original partner organizations in Armenia, supporting people with disabilities. Representative of the local NGO partner network through which Paros delivers programs on the ground in Armenia.
• Focus on Children Now: Long-time partner organization of Paros Foundation supporting children's education projects in Armenia. Represents the ecosystem of small Armenian charities that Paros collaborates with and supports through grants.

Direct peers

• Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA): Faith-based Armenian non-profit running humanitarian aid, education, and refugee programs in Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria. Closely comparable to Paros in terms of Christian-Armenian donor base, US headquarters, and Armenia-focused program delivery.
• Armenian Relief Society (ARS): Non-profit serving Armenian communities worldwide through humanitarian, educational, and social service programs since 1910. Directly comparable mission (Armenian diaspora charitable projects) and program mix (children, elderly, refugee support) to Paros Foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ParosFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheParosFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheParosFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/parosfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/musicalarmenia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Paros Foundation