Best Buddies México

What Best Buddies México does

Best Buddies México (legal name: Best Buddies de México, A.C.) is a non-profit civil association founded in 2003 by director Tita Edid de Kahan as the Mexican chapter of Best Buddies International, a U.S.-based nonprofit originally founded in 1989. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life of young people with intellectual disabilities in Mexico through three core programs: Amistades (one-to-one friendship matching between "Cuates" participants and student volunteers called "Amigos"), Empleos (competitive employment placement with ongoing workplace support), and Embajadores (leadership and advocacy training). A complementary Voluntarios program and Servicio Social university-credit pathway broaden volunteer participation, while a Mi Cuenta member portal provides basic account management. The organization reports a presence in 17 cities across 15 Mexican states, with cumulative participation of 14,667 individuals since founding and an active program footprint that includes large marquee corporate allies.

The business model is donation- and contribution-funded: all programs are offered free of charge to participants and their families, with revenue sourced from corporate donations, in-kind contributions, and grants, anchored by a long-standing relationship with Fundación Telmex Telcel as the founding and primary financial backer. Go-to-market is hybrid, combining community-led volunteer recruitment through 100+ university partnerships, enterprise field sales targeting companies for the Empleos program, and event-driven awareness through activities such as the annual Friendship Walk, radio programming, and cultural outings. There is no proprietary technology platform, AI infrastructure, or API documented; program delivery relies on human-mediated matching, in-person training, and ongoing accompaniment.

The organization does not charge fees to participants and has no venture or equity funding. Its corporate engagement strategy has assembled a diverse ally roster including McDonald's México, Mastercard México, Sanborns, Sears, Condumex, Howard Johnson Guadalajara, Ediprint, UNOTV, and Hooters México, alongside educational partners such as Tecnológico de Monterrey, UNAM, Anáhuac, Iberoamericana, and Universidad La Salle Bajío. The Empleos program specifically operates in three principal cities — Ciudad de México, León, and Guadalajara — and marked five years of continuous operation in 2019.

Name

Best Buddies México

Legal name

Best Buddies de México, A.C.

Website

https://bestbuddies.org.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Best Buddies México is a non-profit civil association that runs friendship matching, supported employment, and ambassador programs for young people with intellectual disabilities across 17 Mexican cities, funded by donations and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Inclusion Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Support, Buddy Programs & Cooperative Learning Facilitation (EDAKABAI), Community Engagement & Social Integration Programs (Clubs, Events, Volunteering) (EDAIAKAE)

Keywords

• Disability inclusion programs
• Intellectual disability support
• Vocational training services
• Community friendship programs
• Social inclusion services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ciudad de México

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Corporate Contributions: Best Buddies México operates as a non-profit organization (Asociación Civil) funded through donations and corporate partnerships. Companies contribute by hiring participants, providing donations, or offering in-kind support. The organization does not charge participants for program enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Best Buddies México operates a portfolio of community-based social inclusion programs for young people aged 15-35 with intellectual disabilities. Core offerings include one-to-one friendship matching between participants (Cuates) and student volunteers (Amigos), supported employment and job coaching through the Empleos program, and ambassador training that turns participants into public spokespeople. All programs are delivered free of charge to participants and funded through donations and corporate contributions.

Product overview

Best Buddies México is a non-profit organization (Asociación Civil) dedicated to improving the quality of life of young people with Intellectual Disabilities through a portfolio of social inclusion programs. The organization operates four interconnected core programs: Programa Amistades (one-to-one friendship matching), Programa Empleos (employment placement and support), Programa Embajadores (leadership and advocacy training), and Voluntarios (volunteer engagement). Additionally, the organization offers Servicio Social for university students to fulfill community service requirements. The programs are offered free of charge to participants and are designed to create inclusive social networks, employment opportunities, and community awareness. The organization has presence in 17 cities across 15 Mexican states and works with over 100 partner schools and companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programa Amistades (Friendship Program) One-to-one friendship linking program that pairs young people with Intellectual Disabilities (Cuates) aged 15-35 with university and high school students (Amigos) matched by gender, age, and personality traits. Pairs meet 2-4 times per month and participate in three annual group outings to museums, parks, stadiums, and social events.
• Programa Empleos (Jobs Program) Employment program that helps people with Intellectual Disabilities obtain and maintain competitive jobs in the community through candidate evaluation, job matching, workplace sensitization training, and ongoing follow-up support. Targets corporate employers and operates in Ciudad de México, León, and Guadalajara.
• Programa Embajadores (Ambassadors Program) Empowerment and advocacy program that trains participants with Intellectual Disabilities to become spokespersons for Best Buddies programs in universities, companies, and institutions, promoting inclusion and awareness.
• Voluntarios (Volunteer Program) Volunteer engagement program for students and citizens aged 15-35 who participate in friendship activities with Cuates, supporting social inclusion and community service. Volunteers commit to a minimum 6-month involvement and are recruited through universities, high schools, and community outreach.
• Servicio Social (University Community Service) University service credit program in which students fulfill their mandatory community service (servicio social) requirements by participating in the Amistades program, linking with Cuates through 3-4 monthly outings during 6, 10, or 12-month periods. Operates through 100+ partner universities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 14,667 total participants impacted since founding in 2003
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CEDAC (Centro de Educación y Desarrollo Auditivo y del Lenguaje)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner that receives Best Buddies participants for activities and events. Hosted Lucha Libre event on February 14, 2019 in Mexico City, welcoming participants with open arms and hearts.
• EdiprintminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner providing employment opportunities for people with intellectual disability through the Empleos program.
• UNOTVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedia partner and corporate ally supporting Best Buddies México programs.
• Museo SoumyaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCultural institution ally providing inclusion opportunities through museum visits and cultural activities.
• SanbornsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant and retail chain partner providing employment opportunities for people with intellectual disability.
• McDonald's MéxicominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFast food chain partner in labor inclusion initiatives, providing employment opportunities for program participants.
• Mastercard MéxicominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinancial services company ally supporting Best Buddies México programs and inclusion initiatives.
• Howard Johnson GuadalajaraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel partner that employed two young people with intellectual disability as part of labor inclusion program.
• Universidad La Salle BajíominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational institution partner collaborating with Ilumina A.C. for labor inclusion program, placing participant Javier in university team.
• Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Santa FeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner collaborating on recreational activities such as bread-making workshops for Cuates program participants.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Inclusion International: Global federation advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities; broader policy and rights lens, but pursues overlapping social inclusion outcomes that depend on member programs like Best Buddies.
• Leonard Cheshire: International nonprofit supporting people with disabilities through education, employment, and inclusion programs globally. Comparable employment-inclusion and youth empowerment pillars though broader in disability scope.
• Special Olympics México: Larger, established disability nonprofit in Mexico focused on intellectual disabilities through sports. Targets the same participant population but via athletic programming rather than one-to-one friendship matching and employment placement.

Direct peers

• Fundación Down México: Mexican nonprofit supporting people with intellectual disabilities (with a Down syndrome focus) and their families through education and employment programs. Comparable participant base and inclusion mission in the same geography.
• Best Buddies International: Global parent organization founded in 1989 in the U.S.; operates the same Amistades/Empleos/Embajadores model internationally. Directly comparable as the franchise originator of Best Buddies México's programs.
• Ilumina A.C. Mexico-based nonprofit focused on labor inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities; already collaborates with Best Buddies México (Universidad La Salle Bajío placement). Comparable mission and overlapping employer network.

Others

• Fundación Telmex Telcel: Primary financial backer of Best Buddies México since 2003; broader Mexican philanthropy across education and inclusion. Strategic ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.
• Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (UNICEF México): UN agency funding inclusion, education, and youth programs in Mexico. Comparable funding ecosystem for disability and youth inclusion nonprofits; potential funder or partner rather than competitor.

Regional players

• Fundación ADO: Mexican corporate foundation supporting social inclusion and employment for vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities. Comparable regional corporate-foundation model targeting similar employer and participant pools.

Emerging players

• ManpowerGroup Foundation (Mexico): Corporate foundation focused on labor inclusion for disadvantaged groups including people with disabilities in Mexico. Comparable corporate-led employment-placement model intersecting with Best Buddies' Empleos program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/best-buddies-m%C3%A9xico-a-c

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 Best Buddies México