BLUE Missions

What BLUE Missions does

BLUE Missions is a Florida-incorporated 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Danny Rodriguez, headquartered in Miami with a second operational hub in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The organization's core function is constructing gravity-driven aqueducts, ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines, and point-of-use water filtration systems in rural Dominican communities, leveraging a Dominican engineering and construction staff of more than 55 alongside visiting volunteers. Its technical approach is community-led: each project requires 6-12 months of preparation, including the formation of local Water Committees trained to maintain infrastructure after BLUE's departure.

BLUE Missions generates revenue through a hybrid model combining paid service trips, fundraising-based Community Contribution Fees (CCFs), corporate custom trips, recurring Tank major-donor memberships ($5,000-$25,000+), Water For All brand partnerships (a percentage-of-profits donation program with six named corporate partners), merchandise sales through the BLUE Store, educational programming (REACH, STEAM Learning, thinkBLUE Challenge), and event-based fundraising (BLUE Gala, Sweat for Water). Trip participants—primarily U.S. high school and college students, plus families, corporate groups, and faith-based organizations—pay trip costs covering airfare from Miami, lodging, meals, and in-country logistics, and additionally fundraise a CCF of $500-$750 per project that is directed 100% to field construction. The Be Bold Model segregates public donations to projects while operations are funded via trip facilitation fees and Tank donors. Customers are highly distributed across individual volunteers, K-12 schools, school districts (Miami-Dade, Orange County), universities (University of Florida), and corporate/faith custom-trip clients, with no dominant single-anchor revenue source disclosed.

Name

BLUE Missions

Legal name

BLUE Missions Group Inc.

Website

https://bluemissions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BLUE Missions is a Miami-based nonprofit that builds gravity-fed water systems and sanitation infrastructure in rural Dominican Republic communities, funded through paid volunteer service trips, Community Contribution Fees, corporate partnerships, and major-donor Tank memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Water and Sanitation Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Service Learning, Volunteer & Community Engagement Trips (THAKAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB)

Keywords

• Clean water charity
• Sanitation infrastructure
• Service-learning trips
• WASH nonprofit
• Volunteer travel programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Service Trip Facilitation Fees: Volunteers pay trip costs covering airfare from Miami, food, housing, in-country transportation, travel insurance, BLUE staff, and program expenses. The facilitation of these service trips helps fund operational expenses.
2. Community Contribution Fee (CCF): Mandatory fundraising fee that volunteers must raise to cover project materials and labor. Water project CCF is $750; sanitation/filter CCF is $500. 100% of CCF goes directly to field projects.
3. Merchandise Sales: BLUE Store sells apparel and gear including service trip kits ($175), shirts ($30), water bottles ($25), hats ($15), and other merchandise. Store proceeds fund operations.
4. Tank Donor Memberships: The Tank is a 3-year membership program with three tiers: Platinum ($25,000+), Gold ($10,000+), Silver ($5,000+). Members donate specifically to cover operational expenses, allowing 100% of public donations to fund projects.
5. Corporate Brand Partnerships (Water For All): Business partners donate a percentage of profits to BLUE. Partners receive impact storytelling, Water For All seal, and marketing kit. Current partners include OC Aquatics, Miami Alkaline Water, Continental Fresh, ACB-US, Mr. Tux Styles, Hydrality.
6. Corporate/Group Custom Trips: Custom service trips coordinated for corporate groups, schools, and faith-based organizations at premium pricing with dedicated planning and execution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

BLUE Missions organizes immersive 7-day service trips to the Dominican Republic where volunteers construct gravity-driven aqueducts, VIP latrines, and point-of-use water filters for rural communities. It also runs educational programs (REACH, thinkBLUE, STEAM Learning), custom corporate/school/faith-based trips, summer internships and fellowships, and supports operations through a Tank donor membership program and BLUE Store merchandise sales.

Product overview

BLUE Missions is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of service-learning experiences centered on providing clean water and sanitation to rural communities in the Dominican Republic. The core offerings include Service Trips (water projects, sanitation projects, and filter projects), Adventure Treks, and Family Edition Expeditions. Supporting these are educational programs under the REACH Program umbrella: thinkBLUE Challenge (PK-12 student competition), BLUE.CLUB (local volunteer club), Building Young Leaders (high school leadership development), STEAM Learning (school partnerships), and the Find Your Drop Tour (school presentations). The organization also offers Summer Internships, the BLUE Summer Fellowship, and Service Trip Chaperone programs for youth leadership development. Custom trip programs serve schools, corporations, and faith-based groups. Ancillary offerings include the BLUE Store (merchandise), The Tank (major donor membership), Water For All corporate partnerships, and the NextGen Purpose Fund (youth scholarships). The Be Bold Model ensures 100% of charitable donations fund projects, with operational costs covered through trip fees, Tank donors, and corporate sponsors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REACH Program: Educational programs for K-12 that help youth understand the worth of water and the urgent need to protect it.
• The Tank
• Water For All
• NextGen Purpose Fund
• BLUE.CLUB
• thinkBLUE Challenge
• Building Young Leaders

Products and services

• Service Trips Seven-day immersive service trips to the Dominican Republic where volunteers construct gravity-driven aqueducts, VIP latrines, and point-of-use water filters in rural communities. Designed for high school students, college students, adults, and families seeking meaningful service experiences.
• Adventure Treks Multi-day hiking expeditions to Pico Duarte (the highest peak in the Caribbean at 10,128 ft) combined with visits to communities benefiting from BLUE water projects. Hikers commit to raising a $750 CCF in addition to trip costs.
• Family Edition Expeditions Family-friendly camping and adventure experiences (e.g., Everglades trips) combining kayaking, guided hikes, yoga, and campfire sessions with educational programming. Open to all ages.
• Summer Internships 4-6 week international internships in the Dominican Republic for college students and recent graduates. Interns lead service trips, manage volunteers, and participate in project execution under staff supervision. $650 program fee with college credit available.
• BLUE Summer Fellowship 12-week leadership fellowship in the Dominican Republic for upperclassmen, recent grads, or young professionals with prior BLUE experience. Fellows lead teams of interns and service trips with a $2,500 stipend upon completion.
• Service Trip Chaperones Seven-day chaperone positions for service trips to the Dominican Republic. Chaperones facilitate volunteer experiences, provide mentorship, and ensure safety. $650 total fee covering airfare, in-country transportation, lodging, most meals, and travel insurance.
• Custom School Trips Customized service trip programs for school groups and universities. BLUE partners with high schools and colleges to provide authentic service-travel experiences aligned with educational goals.
• Custom Corporate Trips Corporate team-building service trips combining service with world-changing impact. Organizations send employees to participate in water or sanitation projects in the Dominican Republic.
• Custom Faith-Based Trips Non-denominational service trips for religious institutions and youth groups. Programs accommodate faith-based groups seeking to build community and serve abroad.
• BLUE Store E-commerce merchandise store selling apparel (t-shirts, sweaters, tank tops, hats), accessories (water bottles), and service trip essentials (kits, mosquito gloves). Proceeds support BLUE operations.
• The Tank Donor Membership Three-year membership donor program with platinum ($25,000+), gold ($10,000+), and silver ($5,000+) tiers. Members fund operational expenses and receive benefits including field visits and recognition.
• Water For All Partnership Corporate brand partnership program where businesses donate a percentage of profits to BLUE Missions. Partners receive impact storytelling, the Water For All seal, and marketing kit access.
• NextGen Purpose Fund Scholarship fund providing youth (particularly those in foster care) with free access to BLUE service-learning experiences. Supports students of all income levels to participate in service trips.
• REACH Program Educational program suite for K-12 students focused on water conservation and environmental stewardship. Includes the thinkBLUE Challenge, BLUE.CLUB, Building Young Leaders, STEAM Learning, and the Find Your Drop Tour.

Quantifiable outcome

• 703 million people worldwide lack access to clean water (source statistic)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• OC AquaticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater For All brand partner donating a percentage of profits to BLUE Missions. Part of corporate partnership program allowing businesses to build impact into their operations.
• Miami Alkaline WaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater For All brand partner contributing a portion of profits to support clean water projects. Aligns brand with water mission.
• ACB-USminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater For All brand partner donating a percentage of profits to BLUE Missions. Business using resources to make impact for clean water.
• Mr. Tux StylesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater For All brand partner contributing to clean water mission through profit donation program.
• HydralityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater For All brand partner supporting BLUE's water mission through percentage of profits donation.
• Agua Para La Vida (APLV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization working in Nicaragua for 30 years constructing water and sanitation projects. BLUE partners with APLV but does not currently offer service projects in Nicaragua.
• Nueva LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian organization partnered with BLUE Missions. BLUE does not currently offer service projects in Colombia.
• International Travel Clinic / Dr. Kunjana MavundaminorOthersMedical partner providing travel health consultations and vaccination guidance for volunteers traveling to Dominican Republic.
• American AirlinesminorOthersPreferred airline for international flights from Miami to Dominican Republic. BLUE books group flights through American Airlines which are non-refundable.
• LIFO MissionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPredecessor organization founded by Albert Perez that constructed rural water projects in Dominican Republic since 1985. LIFO encouraged BLUE founders to expand youth engagement and has been instrumental in guiding BLUE Missions from inception.
• American Red CrossminorOthersChaperones and interns required to become First-Aid and CPR certified through American Red Cross by May 1st each year.
• Miami-Dade County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner for STEAM Learning program, providing supplemental water security and environmental science education to local classrooms.
• Orange County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond major school district partner for STEAM Learning educational programs in Florida.
• University of FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPE model used for school-based environmental service projects. Partnership provides academic framework for student service learning.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• WaterAid: International nonprofit focused on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in low-income countries. Operates as a much larger, multi-country NGO in the same WASH category as BLUE Missions' field work, with global institutional funding.
• Habitat for Humanity: Large international nonprofit engaging volunteers to build homes and infrastructure for underserved communities. Overlaps significantly with BLUE's volunteer-construction model, but operates at vastly greater scale across housing rather than water/sanitation.

Direct peers

• Projects Abroad: International volunteer-travel organization running service programs across many countries. Comparable volunteer fee model and demographic mix, with broader destination coverage than BLUE.
• Waves for Water: Nonprofit providing clean water solutions through volunteer-driven filtration distribution in developing countries. Highly comparable volunteer-engagement model and water mission, with similar small-team grassroots operations.
• Global Volunteers: Nonprofit operating paid service trips where volunteers participate in community development projects abroad. Similar model of fee-based volunteer travel delivering infrastructure and education impact.
• charity: water: Nonprofit focused exclusively on funding and delivering clean water projects in developing countries. Highly comparable mission (clean water access) with similar donor-funded infrastructure model, though charity: water operates at much larger scale and without a volunteer-travel component.
• United Planet: Nonprofit organizing volunteer trips and service-learning experiences across multiple countries. Comparable short-term immersive volunteer model with similar pricing and demographic targeting.
• International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ): Largest volunteer-travel company placing participants in service projects worldwide. Comparable volunteer-trip model with broader country coverage and similar fee-based service trip structure.
• BuildOn: Nonprofit engaging youth and adults in service trips to build schools in developing countries. Closely comparable volunteer-travel + infrastructure-construction model targeting similar high school and college demographics.
• WE Charity / ME to WE: Nonprofit combining youth volunteer trips, leadership development, and social enterprise. Closely comparable youth-volunteer service-trip model and educational programming targeting schools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=W18ns5k8X3o
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-missions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 BLUE Missions