Armenian Relief Society, Inc.

What Armenian Relief Society, Inc. does

The Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is a 115-year-old humanitarian nonprofit organization founded in 1910 and headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts. It operates as an independent, nonsectarian philanthropic society serving the humanitarian, social, and educational needs of Armenian and non-Armenian communities across 27 countries. Its primary beneficiaries include displaced Artsakh families, Lebanese-Armenian and Syrian-Armenian populations, students in Armenia/Artsakh/Javakhk, and vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly. The organization is governed by a Central Executive Board elected at international conventions and operates through a network of regional chapters and partner entities, including the Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon (ARCL).

ARS's program portfolio spans emergency relief, healthcare, education, and social services. Key programs include the Mother and Child Health & Birthing Center in Akhuryan (Shirak Province, Armenia), the Solar Artsakh solar water heater initiative (101 homes and 544 residents served by December 2022), the Hearths of Hope housing initiative launched in January 2024 for displaced Artsakh families, the Best Student Program (scholarships to 100 students), the Amanor Yuletide gift program, and the ARS International Cruise fundraising event series. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint consists of a donation website (ars1910.org) with standard payment integrations (Stripe, PayPal, Google Pay) and analytics tools (Google Analytics, Chartbeat).

The organization is funded entirely through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Revenue is generated via online donations with suggested tiers of $25–$250 and recurring gift options, event-based fundraising including benefit concerts (e.g., Stand with Lebanon concert reaching 54,000+ live viewers) and international cruises, planned giving through an endowment fund, and corporate/member contributions. ARS entities collectively invested $12 million USD in education, health, and social services programs over the 2015–2019 four-year term. No standalone annual revenue figure is publicly disclosed. Marketing and outreach are community-led, leveraging social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), email newsletters, and international chapter networks across 27 countries.

Name

Armenian Relief Society, Inc.

Legal name

Armenian Relief Society, Inc.

Website

https://ars1910.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Founded in 1910, the Armenian Relief Society is a nonprofit humanitarian organization serving Armenian communities across 27 countries through healthcare, education, emergency relief, and social services programs, funded entirely through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Emergency Food Security & Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises (BPADAJAI), Cash Assistance & Social Safety Net Delivery for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAH)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid
• Disaster relief
• Community development
• Social services
• Educational programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Watertown, MA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Revenue is generated through direct online donations, event-based fundraising (cruises, benefit concerts), and planned giving programs including endowment funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is an independent, nonsectarian, philanthropic organization founded in 1910 that delivers humanitarian aid, social services, and educational programs to Armenian and non-Armenian communities across 27 countries. Its core activities include emergency relief, healthcare (including a Mother and Child Health & Birthing Center in Armenia), educational scholarships and kindergarten programs, child sponsorships, housing for displaced families (Hearths of Hope), and solar energy initiatives (Solar Artsakh).

Product overview

Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) is a humanitarian organization, not a technology product company. It operates a portfolio of charitable and social programs serving Armenian communities across 27 countries. The organization's offerings include a child sponsorship program, the Mother and Child Health & Birthing Center in Akhuryan, the Solar Artsakh program (providing solar water heaters to Artsakh residents), the Hearths of Hope housing initiative for displaced Artsakh families, education programs including kindergartens and scholarships, youth programs, emergency relief initiatives, and the annual Amanor holiday gift program. Fundraising is conducted via an online donation platform supporting multiple payment methods, and through the ARS International Cruise events. The organization also runs a UN Summer Internship Program placing participants at UN headquarters. Key programs are the Solar Artsakh initiative and the Hearths of Hope housing project for Artsakh refugees. The organization's work spans humanitarian aid, healthcare, education, and social services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hearths of Hope: Housing program providing free housing in Akhourik and nearby villages for displaced families of Artsakh
• Solar Artsakh
• ARS International Cruise
• Stand with Lebanon
• Mother and Child Health & Birthing Center
• Best Student Program
• Amanor Program

Products and services

• ARS Sponsorships A sponsorship program allowing donors to sponsor a child, providing ongoing financial support for the child's education, health, and welfare needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Provided solar water heaters to 101 homes serving 544 residents in Artsakh
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Armenian Blue Cross of GreeceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 September 2022Met cruise participants at port in Athens and organized tour of Athens including lunch in the city center during the 7th International Cruise.
• Code 3 AngelscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2020Non-profit organization that partnered with ARS to organize humanitarian flights to Lebanon. Code 3 Angels provided its main office to gather items and prepare relief bundles for delivery to Beirut following the August 4, 2020 explosion.
• Armenia Fund USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2020Partnered with ARS to organize humanitarian flights to Lebanon following the Beirut explosion, providing additional humanitarian aid capacity.
• Cedars ReliefminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2020Los Angeles-based Lebanese American organization that helped secure and deliver medical supplies to Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut.
• American Lebanese Medical AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2020Los Angeles-based organization partnered with ARS to deliver medical supplies to Beirut following the August 2020 explosion.
• Middle Eastern Pharmacy Association (Mepha)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2020Partnered with ARS to deliver medical supplies to Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut.
• Yerkir Media TVminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 August 2020Television partner that cooperated in broadcasting the Stand with Lebanon benefit concert, reaching over 54,000 viewers live.
• GAMK (Overseeing Unpredictable Conditions)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Body formed following the August 4th Beirut explosion to assist Armenians affected, with ARCL participating in coordination efforts.
• Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2020Joint efforts for medical supply shipments to Artsakh during COVID-19 pandemic. ARF Central Committee of Canada funded shipment of 75 infrared thermometers in August 2020.
• Chevy Chase Surgical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2020Partnered with ARS to send one ton of medical supplies to Armenia and Artsakh during COVID-19 crisis.
• Ani and Narod Family FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2020Partnered with ARS to send medical supplies to Armenia and Artsakh during COVID-19 crisis.
• Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon (ARCL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2019The primary operational partner in Lebanon, coordinating humanitarian assistance programs including hot meal distribution, medical aid, and community support for Lebanese-Armenians. ARCL operates the Araxi Boulghourdjian socio-medical center.
• All Hands and HeartsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2015Organization that received $2,700 donation from ARS for ongoing earthquake relief efforts in Nepal, contributing towards rebuilding schools.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA): U.S.-based Armenian humanitarian and missionary organization operating schools, orphanages, and relief programs across the Armenian world. Highly comparable in diaspora-driven humanitarian model and geographic footprint.
• Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU): Global Armenian non-profit also founded over a century ago (1906), headquartered in New York, running education, humanitarian, and cultural programs across the Armenian world. Closest one-to-one peer to ARS in mission, scope, and diaspora-centric operating model.
• Armenian Red Cross Society: National Red Cross/Red Crescent society in Armenia providing humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and health services. Overlapping mandate and beneficiary base with ARS in Armenia, with formal IFRC affiliation.
• Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society: Armenian diaspora organization running schools, cultural programs, and humanitarian initiatives globally. Comparable in diaspora-based chapter network and education/community focus.
• Hayastan All-Armenian Fund (Armenia Fund): Pan-Armenian fundraising organization focused on infrastructure and humanitarian projects in Armenia and Artsakh. Directly competes with ARS for Armenian-diaspora donations targeting the same beneficiary geographies.

Broad incumbents

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): The pre-eminent international humanitarian organization with operations across all conflict zones including Artsakh/Lebanon. ARS's emergency relief work directly intersects with ICRC's mandate in the same geographies.
• UNICEF: UN agency for children's welfare, overlapping with ARS's child-focused programming (Amanor Yuletide gifts for children, Best Student Program, Mother and Child Health & Birthing Center).
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): International medical humanitarian organization providing emergency healthcare in conflict zones. Comparable to ARS in providing medical relief in Lebanon, Syria, and Armenia, though at vastly greater scale.
• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency): UN agency for refugees and displaced populations. ARS's displaced Artsakh families support, Lebanon humanitarian assistance, and Syrian Armenian relief directly mirror UNHCR's core mandate.

Emerging players

• Direct Relief: U.S.-based humanitarian aid organization specializing in medical supply delivery to underserved regions, similar to ARS's COVID-19 medical supply shipments to Armenia and Artsakh ministries of health.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ars1910
• Facebookfacebook.com/ars1910
• Instagraminstagram.com/ars_1910
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/armenian-relief-society-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Armenian Relief Society, Inc.