African Children's Fund

What African Children's Fund does

African Children's Fund is a UK-registered charity (Charity No. 1114699) and Company Limited by Guarantee (No. 5708741), founded in 2006 and headquartered in Longworth, Oxfordshire. It supports over 5,000 children annually born into poverty across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, delivering its programmes exclusively through grassroots NGO partners — Watoto Kwanza (Kenya), SAFE Uganda (Kampala), Mfuko Wa Watoto (Tanzania), Mwana Trust (Zimbabwe), and Joy Children's Home (Kenya). Core programmes include Porridge Clubs (school feeding, 110,000+ mugs per term across 13 schools in Thika), Education All Month Every Month (menstrual hygiene support for ~4,000 girls), HAKI legal aid (90 families per year), SAFE Uganda child protection (20 safe places at the Nsimbe Transit Centre), Quentin Junior Academy (a 100-pupil nursery in Dar es Salaam), and Maasai water infrastructure serving seven schools.

The organisation operates a portfolio of unit-priced and subscription-priced giving products (e.g., £9 = 100 porridge meals; £5/month per girl supported; £15 welcome pack for rescued children), accepting donations through JustGiving, Big Give matched funding, direct debit, legacies, and an in-house Clubdraw lottery (£2/week, £25,000 prize). UK fundraising is supplemented by three charity shops in Faringdon, Grove, and Witney selling donated second-hand goods, plus corporate partnerships with West Oxfordshire SMEs via the Juice Networking charity relationship and programmes like Amazon Smile and Give As You Live.

The technology stack is conventional and non-proprietary: Squarespace for web, Mailchimp for email marketing, and standard donation platforms. There are no disclosed APIs, integrations, AI/ML capabilities, patents, or proprietary software systems — programme delivery is human-intensive and mediated entirely through partner NGOs. The organisation is privately held with no parent company, no funding rounds, and no institutional investment; it is funded entirely through grassroots donations, charity retail, lottery income, and Gift Aid on UK taxpayer gifts.

Name

African Children's Fund

Legal name

African Children's Fund Ltd

Website

https://africanchildrensfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

African Children's Fund is a UK-registered charity founded in 2006 that supports over 5,000 children annually in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe through grassroots NGO partners, delivering education, nutrition, child protection, and legal aid programmes funded by individual donations, three UK charity shops, lottery, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Child Welfare Charity Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

Keywords

• Child welfare charity
• Education programmes africa
• School feeding programme
• Charity retail shops
• Menstrual hygiene support

Headquarters

HQ city

Longworth, Oxfordshire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The charity raises funds through one-time and recurring donations from individual supporters in the UK. Donors can make single donations or set up monthly giving through JustGiving platform.
2. Charity Retail: Three charity shops in Oxfordshire (Faringdon, Grove, Witney) sell donated pre-loved items including clothing, books, toys, and homewares. Proceeds directly fund African programmes.
3. Legacies and Bequests: The charity encourages supporters to leave gifts in their wills, described as part of their 'Leave a Legacy' programme.
4. Lottery and Games: Weekly Clubdraw lottery where players can win £25,000 while supporting the charity for £2 per week.
5. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with companies like Juice Networking (charity partner), Webmart (Christmas card sales), and others for fundraising support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

African Children's Fund is a UK-registered charity that raises funds through individual donations, legacy gifts, charity retail shops, a weekly lottery, and corporate partnerships to support grassroots NGO programmes in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. The programmes include Porridge Clubs (school feeding), Education All Month Every Month (menstrual hygiene), child protection services (Nsimbe Transit Centre in Kampala), legal aid, nursery education, and water infrastructure for the Maasai community.

Product overview

African Children's Fund operates a portfolio of educational and child welfare programs across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, focused on children born into poverty. Core programs include the Porridge Clubs school feeding initiative, Education All Month Every Month menstrual hygiene program, HAKI child legal advocacy, SAFE Uganda child protection services, and Quentin Junior Academy nursery school. The organization also operates UK-based charity shops in Faringdon, Grove, and Witney for retail fundraising, a weekly Clubdraw lottery, and accepts donations through multiple channels including JustGiving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Porridge Clubs School feeding programme providing daily nutritious porridge meals to children in 13 primary schools in and around Thika, Kenya, enabling school attendance and reducing hunger. Over 110,000 mugs of porridge are served each school term and absenteeism has been reduced by over 80%.
• Education All Month, Every Month Menstrual hygiene programme providing sanitary towels, underwear, and discussion forums for schoolgirls in Kenya and Tanzania, enabling girls to attend school throughout their menstrual cycle. Approximately 4,000 girls receive sanitary protection through this and related programmes.
• HAKI Child Advocacy Legal aid programme providing free legal advice to vulnerable children and families in Kenya and Tanzania, helping approximately 90 families per year to gain justice. Also runs community education on children's rights and advocates against child abuse and neglect.
• Water and More for the Maasai Water infrastructure project providing boreholes, pumps, and pipes delivering clean water to seven schools and surrounding communities in Maasai areas of Kenya.
• Quentin Junior Academy Nursery school in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania providing free pre-primary education, daily porridge meals, and a safe learning environment for children of quarry workers. Moved into a purpose-built facility in 2018 with capacity for 100 students.
• School Girl Essentials Programme in Tanzania extending the menstrual hygiene approach to Maasai regions around Arusha, providing sanitary towels, underwear, soap, and reproductive health education forums to schoolgirls.
• SAFE Uganda Child Protection Comprehensive child protection programme in Kampala including the Nsimbe Transit Centre (temporary home for up to 20 rescued children), child protection awareness forums, and a model farm for vocational training.
• Charity Shops Three charity shops located in Faringdon, Grove, and Witney, Oxfordshire selling second-hand clothing, books, toys, and household items to raise funds for African programmes.
• Clubdraw Lottery Weekly lottery programme allowing supporters to enter for £2 per week with a £25,000 prize potential, raising funds for the charity's African programmes.
• Zimbabwe Child Protection (Mwana Trust) Child protection and education support programme in Mutare, Zimbabwe delivered through Mwana Trust, working with children affected by HIV/AIDS and providing child welfare services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 children born into poverty supported annually
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Juice NetworkingcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2023Long-term charity partnership with West Oxfordshire business networking group. Includes annual charity partner designation, charity shop takeover events, and corporate fundraising support. Partnership has continued for at least 6 consecutive years.
• A-Plan InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2023Corporate supporter participating in Juice Networking Charity Shop Takeover event.
• Beyond Your BrandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2023Corporate supporter participating in Juice Networking Charity Shop Takeover event.
• Conways CommercialminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2023Corporate supporter participating in Juice Networking Charity Shop Takeover event.
• Flory BookkeepingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2023Corporate supporter participating in Juice Networking Charity Shop Takeover event.
• Shredding Made SimpleminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2023Corporate supporter participating in Juice Networking Charity Shop Takeover event.
• Stacey & MasonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2023Corporate supporter participating in Juice Networking Charity Shop Takeover event.
• The Flower ShopminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2023Corporate supporter donating raffle prize for Juice Networking Grove shop event.
• The MGroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2023Corporate supporter participating in Juice Networking Charity Shop Takeover event.
• JustGivingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline donation platform processing charitable donations for African Children's Fund. Supports both one-time and recurring donation functionality.
• Big GivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChristmas Challenge campaign platform where donations are matched, effectively doubling supporter contributions during the annual fundraising week.
• WebmartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK company supporting through Christmas card sales and fundraising games where African Children's Fund can win prizes.
• DontSendMeACard.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerE-card platform allowing supporters to donate in lieu of sending traditional Christmas cards.
• Watoto KwanzacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan NGO partner implementing Porridge Clubs, Education All Month Every Month, and child advocacy programmes in Thika since partnership began.
• SAFE UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUgandan NGO partner based in Kampala operating Nsimbe Transit Centre, child protection awareness forums, and model farm vocational training.
• Mfuko Wa WatotocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTanzanian NGO partner implementing School Girl Essentials programme providing sanitary protection to girls in the Maasai region around Arusha.
• Mwana TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZimbabwean partner organisation providing child protection services, education support, and working with children affected by HIV/AIDS in Mutare.
• Joy Children's HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenyan children's home in Kiambu County operating school feeding programmes and supporting vulnerable children.
• Witney Vikings Youth Football ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal youth football club that donated football kits to supporters visiting Kenya.
• Waitrose FaringdonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Matters programme selected African Children's Fund as a recipient for month of October fundraising.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF UK: UK fundraising arm of the UN children's agency, working on child survival, education and protection globally including all four ACF countries of operation. Comparable on mission and East African reach, but vastly larger scale and institutional backing.
• Save the Children UK: UK member of Save the Children International, one of the largest children's rights organisations globally with substantial East Africa programming. Comparable on child welfare mission but with vastly greater scale, brand and corporate partnership access.
• World Vision UK: UK arm of major international child-focused NGO operating child sponsorship, education and child protection programmes across Africa. Comparable mission and beneficiary focus, but at materially larger scale and budget.
• ActionAid UK: UK-registered international development charity working on women's rights, education and poverty alleviation across Africa and Asia. Comparable on UK individual-donor fundraising model and African operational footprint, but with broader poverty-alleviation mandate.

Direct peers

• Compassion UK: UK-registered child sponsorship charity operating in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) and other regions through church-based local partners. Comparable on UK individual donor acquisition, partner-mediated Africa delivery, and child sponsorship revenue model.
• Mary's Meals: UK-registered international charity providing school feeding (porridge) programmes across multiple African countries including Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania. Directly comparable on feeding-model mission, UK donor base, and school-attendance impact metrics.
• Street Child UK: UK charity focused on education and protection of street and out-of-school children in Africa (Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania). Directly comparable on the SAFE Uganda street-children rescue and transit-care model and on UK-to-Africa education funding.
• Plan International UK: UK office of Plan International advancing children's rights and equality for girls across Africa and beyond. Comparable on UK-registered charity status, girls' education focus, and East African operational footprint.
• SOS Children's Villages UK: UK fundraising arm of SOS Children's Villages International providing family-based care for children in East Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda. Comparable on child welfare/child rights focus, UK fundraising structure, and African operational footprint.
• ChildFund UK: UK member of ChildFund Alliance, funding child welfare, education and protection programmes across Africa through local NGO partners. Closely comparable sponsorship-style, partner-mediated Africa delivery model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/africanchildfund
• Facebookfacebook.com/afrikidsfund
• Instagraminstagram.com/africanchildrensfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-children's-fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 African Children's Fund