Hugs for Ghana

What Hugs for Ghana does

Hugs for Ghana is a 501(c)(3) student-led nonprofit founded in 2007 in Mukilteo, Washington. The organization collects cash and in-kind donations and distributes them to children in Ghana and to local communities in Washington State. Its operations are anchored by a volunteer base of more than 100 high-school students, organized initially around Kamiak High School and now spanning eight chapters across the United States and activities in four countries. There is no technology product; the organization's "platform" is its volunteer-driven collection, logistics, and delivery infrastructure.

Its core programs include the Health Initiative (medical supplies delivered to named pediatric wards in Ghana), Project Educate (school supply distributions), 100 Cents Saves A Life, the Sports Drive (sports equipment collection and shipment), Helping U Grow (Washington-based local aid), and Culture Night community events. Documented programmatic impact includes over 1,000 stuffed animals in 2007, 6,000+ school supplies by 2011, and more than $20,000 in sports equipment through the Sports Drive. Beneficiary institutions include Korle-Bu Children's Hospital, Labadi Hospital, Eikwe Hospital, Tikobo No.2 D/A Basic School, Tikobo II Elementary School, and Hobor Elementary School.

The business model is entirely donation-funded. Hugs for Ghana sells no products or services, has no commercial pricing model, and generates no revenue from customers; instead, it relies on individual donations and corporate/nonprofit sponsorships (notably Coca-Cola, the Mukilteo YMCA, and the Mukilteo Boys & Girls Club for the Sports Drive). Leadership is provided by Rachel Bervell (CEO), Joel Bervell (COO), and Michael Bervell (CFO and Executive Director). The financial scale of operations is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Hugs for Ghana

Legal name

Hugs for Ghana

Website

https://hugsforghana.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hugs for Ghana is a student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that collects donations to deliver medical, educational, and sports supplies to children in Ghana and to local Washington communities through more than 100 high-school volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Fundraising Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAKAD

International & Local Implementing NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYHLAJAKAE

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYEDADALAC

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAOAH

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Scholarships, Funding & Financial Aid for International Study

SECONDARYEDAIAGAD

Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

Keywords

• Charitable fundraising
• Humanitarian aid
• Donation programs
• Volunteer programs
• Community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Mukilteo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Hugs for Ghana generates revenue entirely through voluntary donations from individuals and organizations. Accepts cash donations via PayPal, check donations by mail, and item donations based on project themes. The organization is a 501c(3) nonprofit, making all donations tax-deductible.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hugs for Ghana is a student-led nonprofit organization that collects monetary and in-kind donations and channels them into programs delivering school supplies, medical equipment, sports gear, and teddy bears to children in Ghana, West Africa, as well as into local community programs in Washington state. Its operations are funded entirely by voluntary, tax-deductible donations accepted through PayPal, mail, and item drop-offs, with an annual Culture Night fundraiser as its flagship community event.

Product overview

Hugs for Ghana is an entirely student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates multiple charitable programs rather than a traditional technology product. The organization runs two main program branches: Global Projects (Health Initiative, Project Educate School Supplies Drive, 100 Cents Saves A Life, Sports Drive) supporting Ghanaian children through medical supplies, education materials, and sports equipment; and Local Projects under the Helping U Grow (HUG) umbrella, which includes tutoring, retirement home concerts, and Culture Night fundraisers. The original flagship program was the Teddy Bears for Ghana initiative started in 2007.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HUG (Helping U Grow): A local initiative branch of Hugs for Ghana focused on community work such as benefit concerts, peer and youth tutoring, and annual culture nights.
• The Health Initiative
• Project Educate
• 100 Cents Saves A Life

Products and services

• Teddy Bears for Ghana The original 2007 project of Hugs for Ghana, collecting stuffed animals and teddy bears for children in Ghanaian hospitals, orphanages, and villages. Over 1,000 stuffed animals were collected in the inaugural drive.
• Health Initiative A program dedicated to collecting and distributing medical supplies, including thermometers and blood pressure cuffs, to Ghanaian health facilities. Recipients include Korle-Bu Children's Hospital, Labadi Hospital, and Eikwe Hospital.
• Project Educate (School Supplies Drive) School supply drives conducted at Kamiak High School collecting backpacks, pencils, pens, books, and toys for distribution to Ghanaian children in schools such as Tikobo No.2 D/A Basic School, Tikobo II Elementary School, and Hobor Elementary School. Over 6,000 supplies were collected across two drives.
• Sports Drive A sports equipment donation initiative raising over $20,000 worth of sports supplies for Ghanaian children, executed with corporate and community partners including Coca-Cola, Mukilteo YMCA, and Mukilteo Boys and Girls Club.
• Helping U Grow (HUG) A local community initiative branch of Hugs for Ghana focused on tutoring elementary school students, hosting retirement home concerts, conducting food bank volunteer work, and organizing benefit concerts in the Mukilteo, Washington area.
• 100 Cents Saves A Life A free-will donation drive enabling high school students to contribute small monetary amounts to Hugs for Ghana, raising funds for school supplies and medical supplies for Ghanaian children.
• Ghanaian Culture Night Annual fundraiser featuring traditional Ghanaian dancers, drummers, and singers along with a multi-cuisine cultural meal. All proceeds support current Hugs for Ghana projects and shipping costs.
• Retirement Home Concerts Monthly concerts organized by Hugs for Ghana featuring high school musicians performing for residents of local retirement homes in the Mukilteo area.

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pure Real EstateminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2017Silver sponsor of the 7th Annual Culture Night event in March 2017. Provided financial support for the fundraising event featuring Ghanaian cultural performances.
• Underdog Sports LeagueminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2017Silver sponsor of the 7th Annual Culture Night event. Supported the annual fundraising event through sponsorship.
• Harbour Place DentalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2017Bronze sponsor of the 7th Annual Culture Night event.
• Edmonds Family MedicineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2017Bronze sponsor of the 7th Annual Culture Night event.
• Gentle Smile DentistryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2017Bronze sponsor of the 7th Annual Culture Night event.
• Cascade Lock & KeyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2017Bronze sponsor of the 7th Annual Culture Night event.
• Harbour Pointe OrthodonticsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2017Bronze sponsor of the 7th Annual Culture Night event.
• Miako TeriyakiminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2017Bronze sponsor of the 7th Annual Culture Night event.
• Jericho Bridge ChurchminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2017Bronze sponsor of the 7th Annual Culture Night event.
• Coca-ColacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that helped support the sports drive initiative, contributing to raising over $20,000 worth of sports supplies for Ghanaian children.
• Mukilteo YMCAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner that collaborated on the sports drive initiative to collect and distribute sports equipment to Ghanaian children.
• Mukilteo Boys and Girls ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner that participated in the sports drive initiative in collaboration with Hugs for Ghana.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GlobalGiving: Global crowdfunding platform for nonprofits, including many international development organizations. Comparable as a fundraising infrastructure for small NGOs targeting Ghana and other developing regions.
• DoSomething.org: Large youth volunteer nonprofit driving social impact campaigns. Comparable in mobilizing student volunteers for cause-based projects, but with a much broader US focus.
• Direct Relief: Major humanitarian medical aid NGO that ships medical supplies to health facilities globally, including in Ghana. Comparable health-supply distribution arm (Health Initiative), but at vastly larger scale.
• charity: water: Well-established international NGO funding clean water projects in developing countries. Comparable donation-driven nonprofit with event-based fundraising culture, though much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Pencils of Promise: International nonprofit that builds schools and funds education programs in Ghana and other developing countries. Highly comparable to Hugs for Ghana given the shared Ghana presence and education-supply focus.
• Books for Africa: Nonprofit that collects and ships educational supplies to African countries. Closely comparable supply-drive and direct-delivery model, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• WE Charity / ME to WE: Youth-led international development and educational charity operating volunteer-driven programs globally. Comparable mission, youth volunteer base, and fundraising-event model.
• buildOn: Youth-engagement nonprofit that runs student-led service chapters building schools in developing countries. Directly comparable chapter-and-volunteer-driven international development model.

Emerging players

• African Library Project: Volunteer-driven nonprofit that establishes libraries in African schools through book drives. Comparable in the chapter-based, drive-driven, school-supply delivery model targeting African education.
• Shoes That Fit: Smaller grassroots nonprofit that collects and distributes shoes and supplies to children in need. Comparable as a student- and community-driven donation collection model, though focused on domestic US.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUdHUdWDRIfizF946cgQXDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Hugs-for-Ghana/205455046173052?ref=hl
• Instagraminstagram.com/hugsforghana
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hugs-for-ghana

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Hugs for Ghana