Icthus

What Icthus does

Icthus International is a US-incorporated, 501(c)(3) non-denominational Christian ministry headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin (with a secondary mailing address in Corona, California), founded in 1964 in Guatemala by Don Weisbrod with naming inspiration from missionary John Shackelford. The organization equips local churches in Latin America and US Hispanic congregations to run a structured, age-graded children's ministry — Pecesitos (ages 4–6), Heroes (7–9), Legion/Legionnaires (10–13), Youth (14–17) — supplemented by a parent-education track (Icthus Shalom) and a Guide Training program for volunteer leaders. Programs are distributed through national directors and committees embedded in eight currently active countries (Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, plus US Hispanic churches), with a stated pipeline to launch in eight additional countries (Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Panama, Uruguay, plus further US sites), serving a Board-targeted 9,750 children.

The core technology stack is non-proprietary: a Bloomerang-powered donation website, standard email, and organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube). There is no mobile app, no API, no proprietary software, and no AI/ML component. Distribution is the strategic asset rather than technology — Icthus scales by training volunteer Guides, certifying church-based groups, and relying on local ownership of weekly programming rather than building parallel infrastructure.

The revenue model is purely philanthropic. Recurring monthly sponsorship ("Padrinos") at $15–$90+ per month forms the baseline, layered with one-time donations, a fixed-price $22 emergency-aid unit, planned/legacy gifts routed through Donor Advised Funds and IRAs (Qualified Charitable Distributions), and in-kind gifts including stock, vehicles, and real estate. The organization is ECFA-accredited, has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no external equity investors, and is governed by an independent volunteer Board.

Name

Icthus

Legal name

Icthus International

Website

https://icthuskids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Icthus International is a 501(c)(3) non-denominational Christian ministry that equips churches in Latin America and US Hispanic congregations to run age-graded Christian education programs for children ages 4–17, supported by volunteer Guides and funded entirely through charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Support Services (6117), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Children's ministry programs
• Christian education curriculum
• Church-based youth ministry
• Nonprofit ministry services
• Parent discipleship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kenosha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Monthly Sponsorship (Padrinos): Monthly recurring donations from sponsors (Padrinos) who support Icthus groups of 12-18 children. Sponsors can give $15-90+ monthly depending on the number of groups they wish to support.
2. One-time Donations: One-time gifts from donors supporting the Icthus ministry, with options to designate funds to specific countries, projects, or Icthus leaders.
3. Emergency Aid: Donations specifically designated for families affected by natural disasters in Latin America, offered at $22 per family.
4. Legacy Gifts: Bequests and planned gifts through wills, Donor Advised Funds (DAF) with Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.
5. Gifts in Kind: Non-cash donations including stock, personal property (cars, boats, RVs, jewelry, art, coin & stamp collections), and real estate that may result in tax deductions for donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Icthus International is a non-denominational Christian ministry that equips churches in Latin America and US Hispanic churches to deliver structured, age-appropriate children's and youth ministry programs. Its core offering consists of four age-graded curricula (Pecesitos ages 4-6, Heroes ages 7-9, Legion ages 10-13, and Youth ages 14-17) supported by a parent education track (Icthus Shalom) and a volunteer guide training program. The organization funds this ministry through individual donors, monthly sponsors (Padrinos), emergency aid gifts, legacy gifts, and gifts in kind.

Product overview

Icthus is a ministry program that provides churches with structured Christian education curriculum for children and youth. The organization operates five interconnected programs organized by age group: Pecesitos (ages 4-6), Heroes (ages 7-9), Legion (ages 10-13), and Youth (ages 14-17), plus a supporting program for parents called Icthus Shalom. All programs use biblical themes to teach Christian values and leadership skills. Additionally, Guide Training equips volunteer leaders to facilitate the programs. Icthus serves churches primarily in Latin America with national directors and committees in Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Icthus Pececitos: Program for children ages 4 to 6, based on 12 foundational values related to jewels in the foundations of heaven described in Revelation 21:19.
• Icthus Heroes
• Icthus Legion
• Icthus Youth
• Icthus Shalom for Parents
• Padrinos

Products and services

• Icthus Pecesitos Christian education program for children ages 4 to 6, teaching 12 foundational values based on jewels described in Revelation 21:19. Delivered through local churches.
• Icthus Heroes Christian education program for children ages 7 to 9, based on seven heroes and Old Testament values including the faith of Abraham, Esther, Joseph, Ruth, Noah, Deborah and David. Delivered through local churches.
• Icthus Legion (Legionnaires) The original Icthus program for children ages 10 to 13, based on the Armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-17. Teaches Christian values through the metaphor of spiritual armor and is delivered through local churches.
• Icthus Youth Christian education program for young people ages 14 to 17, based on the seven 'I am' statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Delivered through local churches to develop young leaders.
• Icthus Shalom for Parents Parent education program based on small group discussions and mutual support, covering discipline, marriage, and sexual education, helping parents provide better home environments for their children. Delivered alongside church-based children's programs.
• Guide Training Program Training and leadership development program for volunteer Icthus guides who facilitate the children's and youth curricula. Includes in-person training trips to countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica to start new Icthus groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,750 children, families, and communities being served by Icthus
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ChildFund International: Long-established child sponsorship NGO serving children in Latin America, Africa, and Asia with recurring donor sponsorships comparable to Icthus's Padrinos model and similar beneficiary reporting.
• Compassion International: Faith-based child sponsorship nonprofit operating globally with a similar Padrinos-style monthly sponsor model. William Mitchell, Icthus Board President, works at Compassion International, evidencing direct operational comparability in church-distributed child sponsorship.
• Awana: Church-based children's discipleship curriculum provider with age-segmented programs and volunteer-led clubs; comparable in product (curriculum-for-churches), though U.S.-centric where Icthus is Latin America-focused.
• Latin America ChildCare: Faith-based nonprofit specifically serving children in Latin America through church partnerships; highly comparable mission, geography, and church-distribution model to Icthus.
• Back2Back Ministries: Faith-based ministry serving orphaned and at-risk children in Latin America through local church partnerships; closely mirrors Icthus's church-distribution and discipleship model.

Regional players

• Mission of Hope: Faith-based organization serving children in Haiti and the Dominican Republic through church partnerships; similar Latin America/Caribbean footprint and child-development mission, though Haiti-anchored.

Emerging players

• Kids Hope USA: Church-based one-on-one child mentoring ministry with a church-partnership distribution model; comparable in operating through local churches to reach children, but U.S.-focused.

Others

• ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability): Accrediting body for evangelical nonprofits; Icthus is a member, and ECFA defines the financial stewardship standards and donor-trust framework against which Icthus is benchmarked.

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: Massive faith-rooted child sponsorship and community development organization with deep Latin America presence; operates a much broader portfolio but shares Icthus's child-focused sponsorship and church/faith-partner DNA.
• Samaritan's Purse: Large evangelical humanitarian organization running child-focused and disaster-relief programs in Latin America; comparable faith-based funding base and beneficiary demographic, though operating a much broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@icthuskids284
• Facebookfacebook.com/Icthus.Kids
• Instagraminstagram.com/icthuskids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icthus-international

Compliance2 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 Icthus