Partnerships For Change
Partnerships For Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that channels philanthropic capital into health, education, and environmental programs across 37+ countries, partnering with major foundations, the Vatican, Oxford University, and UNEP to deliver humanitarian services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Partnerships For Change does
Partnerships For Change (PFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 and headquartered in the Presidio of San Francisco, California, though incorporated in Nevada. The organization operates as a humanitarian grantmaker and project implementer, channeling philanthropic capital from high-net-worth individuals, private foundations, and government agencies into health, education, and environmental programs in underserved communities across more than 37 countries. Over a 35-year operating history, PFC has deployed more than $40 million in financial support to partner-led initiatives, with a published fund allocation of roughly 10% to overhead, 5-10% to financial accounting and reporting, and 80-85% to direct project implementation. The organization maintains programmatic relationships with marquee funders including Pivotal Ventures (Melinda French Gates), the Barbra Streisand Foundation, Marc and Lynne Benioff, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
PFC's service offering combines grantmaking, fiscal sponsorship for emerging nonprofits, and program co-development with academic and institutional partners. Notable collaborators include the Vatican and Oxford University on co-published works, Johns Hopkins University on global health programs, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), for which PFC has held accreditation since 2020. The organization has developed proprietary instruments such as the Better Earth Note — a sustainability-linked financial instrument — and produces documentary content to support fundraising and awareness. Its revenue model is donation-dependent, with diversified inflows from individual major donors, foundation grants, corporate philanthropy, and a one-time $3 million U.S. Department of Labor grant awarded in 2003. Recent operational expansion includes the opening of country offices in Varanasi, India and Liberia, alongside new programmatic verticals in precision cancer care (via partnership with SageMedic) and mental health mobile health delivery (via partnership with TrustCircle).
The business model is structured for impact scale rather than commercial returns: PFC captures low overhead, leverages donor-advised partnerships to reduce operational friction, and uses its UNEP-accredited status to access multilateral funding channels unavailable to unaccredited NGOs. Customer segments, in nonprofit terms, divide into two groups: institutional funders (foundations, governments, multilateral bodies) who provide capital, and beneficiary populations (patients, students, communities) who receive services through locally embedded implementing partners. Concentration risk is elevated because a small number of named major donors represent a disproportionate share of fundraising capacity, though the broad 37-country footprint and diversified grant portfolio partially mitigate geographic and programmatic concentration.
Partnerships For Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Partnerships For Change
- Legal name
- Partnerships For Change
- Website
- https://partnershipsforchange.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Partnerships For Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that channels philanthropic capital into health, education, and environmental programs across 37+ countries, partnering with major foundations, the Vatican, Oxford University, and UNEP to deliver humanitarian services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Partnerships For Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD), Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM), Education Partnerships for Equity, Inclusion & Gender (EDADALAF), Humanitarian Health Coordination & Emergency Response Partnerships (HLAJAOAI)
Keywords
Where Partnerships For Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Partnerships For Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Private Donations: PFC receives financial support from individual donors including major philanthropists like Melinda Gates, Pivotal Ventures, The Barbra Streisand Foundation, Marc and Lynne Benioff, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
- Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations supporting humanitarian and social impact projects globally.
- Fiscal Sponsorship Fees: PFC provides fiscal sponsorship services for scalable social enterprises meeting issue-based criteria, charging competitive administrative fees.
- Speaking Honoraria: Royalties from books written by board members and speaking engagements generate less than 5% of budget.
- Product Sales: Sales from products including the Better Earth Note generate some revenue for the organization.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Partnerships For Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Partnerships For Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides fiscal sponsorship services to aligned charitable projects, implements direct humanitarian action programs (education, healthcare, emergency aid, climate action) for underserved communities globally, and sponsors/produces social impact documentaries and feature films. Major program areas include economic empowerment for disadvantaged girls and women in India and Nepal, cancer care partnerships (SageMedic SAGE Oncotest), mental health support (TrustCircle), refugee aid, and the Sustainable Forays Four As framework.
Product overview
Partnerships For Change is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a portfolio of humanitarian services including fiscal sponsorship for aligned charitable projects, direct action humanitarian programs in education (particularly for disadvantaged women and girls), health (cancer care partnerships, mental health resources), climate action, and documentary/film production and sponsorship. The organization distributes over $40 million in financial support to exceptional projects globally. Key offerings include fiscal sponsorship services, documentary production and sponsorship (Miss Representation, Great Green Wall, Women Are Sacred), healthcare partnerships (SageMedic's SAGE Oncotest, TrustCircle mental health platform), and the Four A's Sustainable Forays framework for social transformation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fiscal Sponsorship Services Provides fiscal sponsorship and networking for financial and knowledge support for charitable projects aligned with PFC's mission. Includes organizational and financial development, talent procurement, design, packaging, and distribution services, charged with competitive administrative fees.
- Humanitarian Projects and Direct Action Programs Direct humanitarian action projects including education initiatives for disadvantaged young girls and women in India and Nepal, healthcare programs, emergency aid to refugees, and climate action initiatives delivered through trusted local partners.
- Documentary and Film Sponsorship Sponsors and produces documentaries and feature films addressing social issues including violence against women, environmental issues, Native American rights, and cancer care. Includes films such as Miss Representation, Great Green Wall, Boyhood Shadows, and Women Are Sacred.
- Partnership for Advanced Cancer Treatment (PACT) Partnership with SageMedic supporting transformational advances in cancer care through the SAGE Oncotest precision medicine platform, moving toward personalized cancer care.
- Mental Health Resources (TrustCircle) Mental health and well-being support services through partnership with TrustCircle, an mHealth platform providing accessible mental health care in India and Africa.
- Better Earth Note Product Sales of the Better Earth Note product generate supplementary revenue for the organization's programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $40 million in financial support provided to exceptional projects
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Partnerships For Change
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Partnerships For Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Partnerships For Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- SageMediccorePartnership for Advanced Cancer Treatment (PACT) with SageMedic to advance access to functional precision medicine using SAGE Oncotest, moving toward personalized cancer care.
- TrustCirclecoreMental health mHealth platform partnership to promote mental health and well-being in India and Africa. TrustCircle selected as a flagship project under PFC.
- C.E.D. SocietycorePartnership to develop women's-focused health clinic in Nepal Upper Dolpo and Girls Institute for Technology (G.I.F.T) in Dehradun, India.
- VaticanflagshipCo-publishing partnership with Vatican on major book; working together on Laudate Deum climate initiatives; coordination on COP24 and climate change advocacy.
- Oxford UniversitycoreInvited by Oxford University to co-publish major book with Vatican.
- Johns Hopkins HospitalcoreAffiliation with Johns Hopkins Hospital for healthcare program development including women's health clinic in Nepal and Emmanuel Health Clinic in Liberia.
- Samarpan MovementcorePartnership for hospice and rehabilitation facility in South Africa, clinic on Sundurban Island of Bali using recycled materials, and clean water projects.
- Make WavesminorPartnership with Make Waves, a thriving award-winning platform.
- United NationsflagshipUNEP accredited since Summer 2020; active participation in UNEA, Global Youth Environment Assembly, and UN consultations on environment and toxic chemicals.
- Great Green Wall Documentary FilmmakerscoreDocumentary partnership with United Nations; directed by Fernando Meirelles (City of God); featuring Inna Modja from Mali.
- Dr. Ingrid Jordt / Bhutan National Heritage FoundationcoreCollaboration with Harvard-trained anthropologist to preserve Bhutan's cultural heritage including parks, schools, buildings and monasteries.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Partnerships For Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Mercy Corps: Large international humanitarian NGO working across conflict and developing regions. Comparable in mission scope (humanitarian aid in fragile states, education, health) though at far greater scale than PFC.
- BRAC: International development organization running programs in education, economic empowerment, and health in multiple countries including those where PFC operates. Comparable through community-driven development targeting underserved populations.
- Skoll Foundation: Social-entrepreneurship foundation supporting large-scale, sustainable solutions through grants and partnerships. Comparable as a high-profile grantmaking/fiscal-host intermediary attracting major donor capital.
- Acumen: Nonprofit using philanthropic capital to address poverty through social enterprise investment. Comparable as a publicly recognized grantmaking/philanthropic intermediary with similar scale and storytelling-driven branding.
- Vatican Foundation (Caritas Internationalis): Global Catholic humanitarian confederation running poverty, health, and climate programs worldwide. PFC's Vatican partnership on Laudate Deum and co-publishing places it in close operational alignment with Caritas's mission footprint.
Direct peers
- charity: water: Public-501(c)(3) raising private donations to fund clean-water and humanitarian projects through local partners. Directly comparable operating model to PFC's trust-based local partner distribution and major-donor fundraising approach.
- Partners in Health: Nonprofit providing healthcare to impoverished communities globally, including community clinic models (similar to PFC's Emmanuel Health Clinic in Liberia). Comparable through on-the-ground health infrastructure partnerships with institutions like Johns Hopkins.
- Direct Relief: US-based humanitarian nonprofit providing aid, medical supplies, and emergency relief through local partners globally. Closely mirrors PFC's partner-distribution model and emphasis on community health programs.
- Global Fund for Women: Public charity foundation distributing grants to women-led organizations globally. Directly comparable as a 501(c)(3) grantmaking intermediary focused on gender equity, education, and economic empowerment—the same core constituencies PFC serves in India and Nepal.
- Jaipur Foot / Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS): Nonprofit providing prosthetic limbs to amputees worldwide (1.25M+ devices via PFC-supported partnership). Direct program-level peer through PFC's grants and project-vetting framework.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Partnerships For Change social profiles
Digital presencePartnerships For Change compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Partnerships For Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Partnerships For Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Partnerships For Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Partnerships For Change M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Partnerships For Change
What does Partnerships For Change do?
Partnerships For Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides fiscal sponsorship services to aligned charitable projects, implements direct humanitarian action programs (education, healthcare, emergency aid, climate action) for underserved communities globally, and sponsors/produces social impact documentaries and feature films. Major program areas include economic empowerment for disadvantaged girls and women in India and Nepal, cancer care partnerships (SageMedic SAGE Oncotest), mental health support (TrustCircle), refugee aid, and the Sustainable Forays Four As framework.
Is Partnerships For Change a public or private company?
Partnerships For Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Partnerships For Change founded?
Partnerships For Change was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Partnerships For Change based?
Partnerships For Change is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Partnerships For Change make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Private Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants, fiscal Sponsorship Fees, speaking Honoraria and product Sales.
Who are Partnerships For Change's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Mercy Corps, BRAC, Skoll Foundation, Acumen and Vatican Foundation (Caritas Internationalis). Direct peers are charity: water, Partners in Health, Direct Relief, Global Fund for Women and Jaipur Foot / Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS).
Does Partnerships For Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Partnerships For Change.
What industry is Partnerships For Change in?
Partnerships For Change's product category is Humanitarian Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries, with a secondary code of HLAJAKAD, International & Local Implementing NGOs. Its NAICS code is 8132 and its SIC code is 8300.