ShelterBox Australia

What ShelterBox Australia does

ShelterBox Australia is a registered Australian charity (ABN 21 143 129 220) and an affiliate of UK-based ShelterBox Trust, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Maitland, Australia. The organization provides emergency shelter and essential household items to families displaced by natural disasters and conflict, operating as a fundraising and awareness arm that supports ShelterBox's global humanitarian response operations across 100+ countries. Its core "products" are physical aid items including emergency tents, durable shelter kits, solar lights, mosquito nets, water filters, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, community tool kits, and cash assistance, distributed free of charge to qualifying disaster-affected families through pre-positioned logistics (including a Cebu Province warehouse operated by ShelterBox Operations Philippines) and a network of trained Response Team volunteers and local humanitarian partners (IEDA Relief, ACTED, Islamic Relief Pakistan, Habitat for Humanity, Public Concern).

The underlying technology is logistics and supply chain management for pre-positioned emergency aid rather than software or AI. ShelterBox Australia operates under a community-led go-to-market model, raising funds through individual donations, recurring memberships (Book Club at approximately $10/month), fundraising events (Trek4Shelter, #OffTheGrid Challenge), volunteer-led campaigns, corporate giving partnerships, and legacy gifts (gifts in Wills). Distribution to beneficiaries is executed indirectly via the global ShelterBox network — Response Team deployments and vetted local partners — and all services to disaster-affected families are provided free of charge based on need.

The customer base is dual-sided: beneficiaries are disaster- and conflict-affected families globally (with the Philippines as the most frequently served country at 25+ responses since 2004), while "paying customers" are individual donors, corporate partners, and Rotary clubs across Australia and internationally. The organization is explicitly independent of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation, though Rotary remains its longest-standing strategic partner. ShelterBox Australia employs 11–50 staff and is led by CEO Mike Greenslade; the UK parent ShelterBox Trust also operates a wholly owned trading subsidiary (ShelterBox Trading Limited).

Name

ShelterBox Australia

Legal name

ShelterBox Australia

Website

https://shelterboxaustralia.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ShelterBox Australia is a registered charitable nonprofit and affiliate of UK-based ShelterBox Trust that raises funds and awareness in Australia to support global emergency shelter responses. It distributes free physical aid — tents, shelter kits, solar lights, water filters, and cash assistance — to disaster- and conflict-affected families in 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAAAC

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

SECONDARYBPADADAB

Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Humanitarian Relief & Emergency Response

SECONDARYBPADAHAG

Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Refugee, Migration & Displacement Services

Keywords

• Emergency shelter aid
• Disaster relief services
• Humanitarian assistance
• Humanitarian aid distribution
• Disaster response logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Maitland

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: ShelterBox Australia raises funds through individual donations, fundraising events, corporate partnerships, legacy giving (gifts in Wills), and volunteer-led campaigns. As a registered charity (ABN 21 143 129 220), all funds support emergency shelter provision and humanitarian operations globally.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ShelterBox Australia provides emergency shelter, essential household items, and technical assistance to families who have lost their homes due to disaster or conflict, free of charge. Its portfolio includes emergency tents, durable shelter kits, solar lights, mosquito nets, water filters and carriers, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, community tool kits, and cash assistance, delivered through pre-positioned warehouses, a volunteer Response Team, and partnerships with local humanitarian organizations. As an affiliate of ShelterBox Trust (UK), the Australian entity raises donations, recruits volunteers, and runs community fundraising campaigns (Trek4Shelter, Book Club, corporate giving) to fund global emergency shelter responses.

Product overview

ShelterBox Australia is a humanitarian charity providing emergency shelter and essential aid items to families displaced by disaster and conflict. The organization does not offer a software product but rather distributes physical humanitarian aid including emergency tents, shelter kits, solar lights, mosquito nets, water filters, kitchen sets, and cash assistance. Their aid portfolio also includes Community Tool Kits for construction and hygiene kits for personal care. The organization works through operational partnerships including ShelterBox Operations Philippines (a locally registered NGO established in 2017 to enable fast local response) and collaborates with Rotary International, Islamic Relief Pakistan, and other humanitarian partners to deliver assistance globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Tents Emergency tents provided to families displaced by disaster, serving as immediate shelter in the acute phase of humanitarian crises.
• Shelter Kits Construction material packages containing tarpaulin, wood, nails, and cement for families to rebuild more durable shelters.
• Solar Lights Portable solar-powered lighting devices enabling families to have illumination when power lines are damaged, providing safety and normality.
• Mosquito Nets Protective netting to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, particularly important in flood-affected areas.
• Water Filters and Carriers Water filtration devices and containers allowing families to produce clean, safe drinking water after disasters contaminate local water sources.
• Kitchen Sets Essential cooking and food preparation items distributed to households to enable meal preparation in displacement settings.
• Cash Assistance Monetary support provided alongside physical aid items, empowering families to choose materials and skilled labour for rebuilding according to their specific needs.
• Community Tool Kits Reusable tools including hammers, nail pulls, and brick molds shared between households for constructing and improving shelter structures.
• Hygiene Kits Personal hygiene supplies including soap distributed to maintain health and dignity in displacement situations.
• Durable Shelters More permanent housing structures provided for families displaced for extended periods, including latrines built alongside shelters.
• Donation Program Charitable donation program accepting one-off and recurring donations from individuals via shelterboxaustralia.org.au to fund ShelterBox's global emergency shelter and disaster relief responses.
• Corporate Giving Partnerships Corporate giving, cause marketing, employee engagement, and ethical funding partnerships aligned with corporate social responsibility goals.
• Book Club Membership Monthly Book Club membership at approximately AUD 10/month engaging supporters through shared reading and community, with proceeds supporting ShelterBox's emergency shelter responses.
• Legacy Giving (Gifts in Wills) Legacy giving program enabling supporters to leave a gift in their Will to fund ShelterBox's long-term emergency shelter and disaster relief work.

Quantifiable outcome

• ShelterBox has provided shelter to over 2.5 million people across its operational history.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rotary InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Rotary International is ShelterBox's longest-standing strategic partner, having been central to its impact for over two decades. Rotary clubs worldwide provide volunteer support, fundraising, and local networks that enable ShelterBox to reach disaster-affected families. The partnership is described as integral to working at scale and delivering ShelterBox's mission. ShelterBox is officially independent of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation.
• IEDA ReliefcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered with IEDA Relief in Cameroon to support over 100,000 refugees and internally displaced people in Minawao Camp, providing tents, shelter kits, rope, tarpaulins, and essential household items. ShelterBox is the sole provider of tents in Minawao camp.
• ACTEDcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered with ACTED in Nigeria between 2018 and 2022, reaching over 30,000 people affected by Boko Haram conflict with emergency shelter and essential items.
• Public ConcerncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorking with new partner Public Concern in Cameroon to provide emergency shelters, durable shelters, household items (mosquito nets, sleeping mats, soap, kitchen sets), construction materials, and community tool kits to displaced families in Minawao Camp and surrounding areas.
• Islamic Relief PakistancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerShelterBox partnered with Islamic Relief Pakistan to support thousands of people left homeless by severe monsoon flooding. Aid included tents, durable shelters, water filters and carriers, mosquito nets, solar lights, and cash assistance. ShelterBox also delivered training on equipment and tent usage.
• Habitat for HumanitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerShelterBox worked with Habitat for Humanity and Rotary in Honduras after Hurricanes Eta and Iota to support families with emergency shelter and recovery assistance.
• SafecallminorOthersSafecall provides an independent, confidential reporting line for whistleblowing and reporting safeguarding concerns. Calls are handled 24/7 by skilled staff who maintain anonymity. Available via web or freephone (0800 9151571 UK, 1800 14410499 Philippines).
• ShelterBox Operations PhilippinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelterBox Operations Philippines, Inc. is a locally registered NGO established in 2017. It maintains a warehouse in Cebu Province to pre-position aid items for fast, efficient in-country distribution during disasters. This was ShelterBox's first locally registered operational entity, marking a significant milestone in locally led humanitarian response.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Islamic Relief Worldwide: Global humanitarian NGO providing emergency relief, shelter, and recovery assistance. Already a named partner of ShelterBox in Pakistan, with highly overlapping donor base, beneficiary focus, and shelter-plus-NFIs distribution model.
• Direct Relief: Humanitarian aid organization providing medical and emergency supplies, including shelter and disaster relief kits, to communities affected by disasters and conflict. Strong functional overlap in emergency aid distribution and pre-positioned aid model.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Global nonprofit focused on shelter and housing for vulnerable populations, including post-disaster reconstruction. Already a named operational partner of ShelterBox in Honduras, with very similar beneficiary focus and shelter-kit/recovery model.

Broad incumbents

• Oxfam International: Global confederation focused on poverty alleviation, humanitarian response, and disaster recovery. Comparable emergency shelter and WASH programming, with comparable donor base but substantially larger scale and broader development agenda.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Global humanitarian network providing emergency shelter, relief supplies, and disaster response across virtually every country. Directly comparable to ShelterBox Australia's emergency shelter mandate but with vastly larger scale, government funding access, and broader health/refugee programming.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Humanitarian organization responding to the world's worst crises with emergency shelter, health, and recovery support. Comparable beneficiary segments (conflict-affected families) and emergency response model, but IRC is larger and more diversified across sectors.
• CARE International: Global humanitarian organization addressing poverty and emergency relief, including shelter and disaster recovery programs. Comparable donor-driven funding model and disaster response footprint, with broader development mandate.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): International medical-humanitarian organization operating in conflict and disaster zones. Compares on disaster response and conflict-zone deployment, but ShelterBox is shelter-led whereas MSF is health-led.
• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency): UN agency mandated to protect refugees and displaced populations, including through shelter provision. Overlaps with ShelterBox's work in Cameroon, Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen, but UNHCR is far broader in scope and institutional scale.

Others

• Rotary Foundation (Rotary International): ShelterBox's longest-standing strategic partner, providing volunteer networks, fundraising infrastructure, and global reach. While ShelterBox is explicitly independent of Rotary, the two are tightly coupled operationally and Rotary's grant programs often fund disaster relief projects, making it a key ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ShelterBoxAustralia
• Facebookfacebook.com/shelterbox.australia
• Instagraminstagram.com/shelterboxuk
• Xx.com/shelterboxaust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shelterbox-australia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 ShelterBox Australia