Design Outreach

What Design Outreach does

Design Outreach is a 501(c)(3) Christian nonprofit founded in 2012 and headquartered in Gahanna, Ohio, that develops and deploys appropriate-technology products for low-income communities in the developing world. Its core technology is the LifePump, a deep-reaching, community-owned hand pump designed to access clean groundwater where conventional shallow-well pumps fail. The product portfolio has expanded to include the LifeTap valve, the MaxLife Centralizer retrofit, the LifeLatrine sanitation unit, the KupolaCare negative-pressure wound-therapy device, and LifePumpLink, a satellite-based remote-monitoring system that transmits performance data from deployed pumps.

The organization operates in more than twelve countries, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, with permanent field offices in Malawi and Zambia where LifePump has achieved national-level government acceptance (Malawi 2019, Zambia 2020/2022). Distribution is supported by a network of trained local community committees responsible for pump ownership and maintenance, and a new South Africa-based manufacturing partnership (2025) is intended to localize production.

Design Outreach's revenue model is donation-based rather than commercial: LifePumps are typically funded through discrete $20,000 capital campaigns from individual donors, churches, and monthly givers, supplemented by larger multi-year fundraising pushes such as the 'Beyond Measure' campaign targeting $15 million by 2026. A separate subsidiary, DO Medical LLC (formed 2023), is intended to commercialize medical-device products such as KupolaCare outside the nonprofit structure, and Design Outreach UK (DOUK, founded 2023) extends fundraising and partnership reach internationally. The organization is staffed by approximately 30 FTE plus an engineering volunteer network drawn from retired alumni of Battelle, Johnson & Johnson, and GE Aviation.

Name

Design Outreach

Legal name

Design Outreach, Inc.

Website

https://doutreach.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Design Outreach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and deploys appropriate-technology products — most notably the LifePump hand pump and related water, sanitation, and medical devices — for low-income communities in more than twelve developing countries, funded primarily through individual donations and capital campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Engineering / WASH Technology

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (54142)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Humanitarian engineering
• WASH water solutions
• Hand pump technology
• Nonprofit sanitation solutions
• Appropriate technology devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Primary revenue source through one-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting DO's mission. Donors can give through the organization's website or by contacting staff directly. Funds support technology development, deployment, and Gospel outreach programs.
2. Monthly Giving Circle: Recurring monthly donation program where supporters commit to regular contributions. Members receive updates on work and progress, invitations to special events, and small appreciation gifts.
3. LifePump Campaigns: Campaign-based fundraising where individuals or groups raise funds for specific LifePump installations. Each campaign has a goal of $20,000 to provide a community with a LifePump, LifePumpLink, and training program.
4. Support-Raised Staff: Staff members raise their own financial support similar to missionaries, with donors contributing to cover their salary and ministry expenses. Position start dates are negotiable and interviews occur until positions are filled.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Design Outreach is a Christian nonprofit that engineers, manufactures, and deploys life-sustaining technologies for marginalized communities in developing countries. Its core product portfolio is the LifePump deep-reaching hand pump and its WASH ecosystem (LifePumpLink remote monitoring, LifeTap valve, MaxLife Centralizer upgrades, LifeLatrine sanitation), with a medical device line under DO Medical LLC (KupolaCare NPWT). Technologies are not commercially sold but funded by donations, grants, and partner support, then deployed by field offices in Malawi, Zambia, and through NGO partners across Africa, Haiti, Guatemala, and beyond.

Product overview

Design Outreach offers a portfolio of life-sustaining technologies focused on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and medical devices for developing countries. The core product is LifePump, a hand pump that provides reliable clean water access at greater depths than standard pumps. Supporting modules include LifePumpLink (satellite-based remote monitoring), LifeTap (self-closing valve), and the MaxLife Centralizer (hand pump upgrade). LifeLatrine addresses sanitation needs. DO Medical, a subsidiary established in 2023, develops KupolaCare, a negative pressure wound therapy device for under-resourced healthcare facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LifePump: Flagship hand pump technology designed to provide reliable clean water access in remote communities, reaching depths of up to 150 meters with minimal maintenance requirements.
• LifePumpLink
• LifeTap
• MaxLife
• LifeLatrine
• KupolaCare

Products and services

• LifePump Flagship deep-reaching hand pump designed to provide reliable access to clean water in rural communities of developing countries. Capable of reaching depths of up to 150 meters (nearly 500 feet) — roughly 3x deeper than standard hand pumps — and engineered for a 30+ year operational lifespan with minimal maintenance, using rotary motion for ergonomic operation suitable for all ages. Funded by donations and deployed through field offices and NGO partners.
• LifePumpLink Satellite-based remote monitoring system for LifePump installations that delivers real-time data on pump uptime, usage, and performance to field staff globally. Includes a mobile app for electronic site assessment, installation reporting, maps, and alerts, enabling proactive maintenance and minimizing downtime.
• LifeTap Durable, dependable self-closing valve designed for community tap stands. Prevents water waste from leaks or breakage, easy to operate even for children, provides increased flow rate, and resists contamination. Deployed alongside LifePump installations.
• MaxLife Centralizer Low-cost component for upgrading existing Afridev and India Mark II hand pumps. Reduces frequency of breakdowns by an estimated 70-80% and extends maintenance intervals from approximately 6 months to over 2 years. Co-developed with Poldaw Designs and approved by the Malawian government for use across the country.
• LifeLatrine Innovative and affordable latrine solution designed for single-family rural use. Engineered to be emptied and potentially removed and reused, addressing issues of pit latrine collapse and high replacement costs common to rural sanitation programs.
• KupolaCare Wound Therapy Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device developed by DO Medical LLC for under-resourced healthcare facilities. Designed to be durable, simple, easy to repair, sterilizable, and not reliant on electricity — addressing the reality that approximately 80% of donated medical equipment fails in developing-country settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• LifePump provides clean water reliably for 30+ years with minimal maintenance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• South Africa Manufacturing PartnerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025New manufacturing partner in South Africa to create updated LifePump components and enable local production. This partnership helps ensure LifePump remains a reliable source of safe water for remote African communities.
• World VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partnership in the Hundred Pump Project where LifePumps were installed across Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia). World Vision partnership included pilot project with independent review reporting promising results presented at conferences.
• Poldaw DesignscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partnership with Poldaw Designs to create the MaxLife Centralizer. This low-cost component for Afridev and India Mark 2 pump upgrades was co-developed and has demonstrated ability to reduce breakdowns by 70-80% in field testing.
• Exact Machine CorpcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerManufacturing partner led by Rich Arthur (Manufacturing Operations Director and President/Owner). Provides manufacturing expertise, installation and maintenance training with DO partners, and facilities for volunteer events (e.g., cleaning LifePump components).
• Local Pastors and Evangelistic OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ministries across the globe who share DO's values and mission to spread the Gospel. Local pastors and evangelistic organizations collaborate to share the good news of the Gospel and connect people with local churches alongside technology installations.
• Three Creeks Church, The Vineyard Church of Delaware County, The Matthew 712 ProjectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer partnership for special events at Exact Machine Corporation facilities. Volunteers assembled LifeTaps for deployment and cleaned LifePump components (270 rods for 18 communities).

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: Large international NGO with broad child-welfare, WASH, and emergency programs, and an existing DO partner on the Hundred Pump Project across Africa. A broader incumbent with WASH as one of many verticals, but competes for the same donor dollars and increasingly overlapping field geographies.

Direct peers

• Water Wells for Africa: Nonprofit dedicated to drilling and maintaining water wells across sub-Saharan Africa. Directly comparable to DO's LifePump mission with similar geography, donation-funded model, and emphasis on durable rural water infrastructure.
• Water.org: International nonprofit tackling water access and sanitation through microfinance, founded by Gary White and Matt Damon. Comparable focus on durable water solutions in developing countries and similar advocacy-driven approach, though Water.org emphasizes financial solutions rather than direct technology provision.
• Lifewater International: Faith-inspired nonprofit focused on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in rural communities across Africa and Asia. Closely comparable to DO on beneficiary focus, faith-based donor community, and commitment to lasting WASH infrastructure.
• WaterAid: Global nonprofit focused on water, sanitation and hygiene in developing countries, with field programs in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Closely comparable mission to DO's WASH focus and similar donor-supported delivery model, though WaterAid operates at materially larger scale.
• Generosity.org: Faith-driven nonprofit providing clean water access to vulnerable communities globally. Comparable to DO on evangelical Christian donor base, water-focused mission, and field implementation model in developing countries.
• Engineers Without Borders USA: U.S.-based nonprofit that partners with developing communities on engineering-led infrastructure projects. Highly comparable to DO on engineering-as-mission positioning, volunteer-driven model, and focus on appropriate technology for low-resource environments.
• Water For People: U.S.-based WASH nonprofit working in nine countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia with a focus on durable, locally-financed water services. Directly comparable to DO in geographic footprint, donor-supported model, and emphasis on long-lasting infrastructure.
• charity: water: U.S.-based nonprofit funding clean water access projects in developing countries via a donation-driven model with strong brand and donor transparency. Direct overlap with DO on water-access mission, beneficiary base, and donor-supported (non-commercial) deployment model.

Regional players

• WaterAid America: U.S. fundraising affiliate of WaterAid focused on engaging American donors and supporters. Operates in the same WASH space but primarily raises funds from U.S. donors for global WaterAid programs rather than implementing its own field technology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DOutreach

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Design Outreach