Change for Children

What Change for Children does

Change for Children Association is a Canadian registered charity (Charitable Registration #11884 9496 RR0001) headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, founded in 1976 by Hank and Tillie Zyp. The organization delivers community-led international development programs across six priority areas — Education, Water, Food Sovereignty, Gender Equality, Indigenous Peoples, and Climate Change — serving rural, Indigenous, and marginalized communities in Latin America, East Africa, and South Asia. Its operations have spanned 29 countries over its history, affecting over 21 million people through legacy projects, with active country presence in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Uganda, and India.

The technology layer centers on the RACHEL (Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education & Learning) offline digital learning server, which delivers pre-loaded educational content via Raspberry Pi to classrooms without internet connectivity. This is paired with solar power systems enabling digital classrooms in boat-access-only communities, Chromebooks for students, and Tulip household water filtration units that remove 99.99% of bacteria and protozoa. Other program assets include mechanical rice threshers, 2,500-litre Rotoplast rainwater tanks, school sanitation and kitchen infrastructure, beekeeping cooperatives, amaranth production programs, and a wheelchair-inclusive education program in Uganda. All implementation is delivered through local partner organizations such as FOIRN/NADZOERI (Brazil), Fundacion Renace (Bolivia), Mundo Posible (Guatemala), and Embrace International Foundation (Uganda).

The revenue model is donation-funded rather than transactional. Income streams include individual one-time and monthly recurring donations, corporate contributions, government grants (primarily Global Affairs Canada), legacy bequests, stock donations, matching programs, and event-based fundraising anchored by the annual Development Dinner / Gratitude Gala ($120 single ticket, $880 table of 8, $1,100 table of 10). Administrative costs are capped at not more than 15% of donations, with an additional 10% allocated to Canadian education programs. The go-to-market motion is event- and story-driven, leveraging teacher and volunteer brigades, partner referrals, and direct digital content rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Change for Children

Legal name

Change for Children Association

Website

https://changeforchildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Change for Children is a Canadian registered charity founded in 1976 that delivers community-led international development programs — including water access, education technology, and food sovereignty — for marginalized communities across Latin America, East Africa, and South Asia, funded through donations and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Global Health & School Health Partnerships (WASH, Nutrition, SRH) (EDADALAH), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• International development
• Community-led development
• Clean water access
• Off-grid education technology
• Food sovereignty programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Change for Children operates as a registered charity (Canada Charitable Registration #11884 9496 RR0001) funded primarily through individual donations, corporate contributions, and government grants. Revenue comes from one-time donations, monthly recurring donations, event fundraising (Development Dinner), legacy bequests, stock donations, and matching programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Change for Children is a registered Canadian charity that delivers community-led international development programs across Latin America, Africa, and South Asia, organized around six priorities: Education, Water, Food Sovereignty, Gender Equality, Indigenous Peoples, and Climate Change. Programs include off-grid digital learning (RACHEL servers with solar power), school WASH and kitchen infrastructure, household water filtration and rainwater harvesting, inclusive education and disability support, and agricultural livelihoods (amaranth, beekeeping, weaving, rice threshing). The organization does not sell products commercially; it channels donations and grants to locally-led partner organizations that implement projects with beneficiary communities.

Product overview

Change for Children is a non-profit charitable organization (registered #11884 9496 RR0001) focused on international development, not a commercial product company. Their work consists of development programs and community initiatives organized around six priority areas: Education, Water, Food Sovereignty, Gender Equality, Indigenous Peoples, and Climate Change. Their portfolio includes educational technology initiatives (RACHEL offline learning servers, solar-powered digital classrooms), infrastructure projects (school kitchens, sanitation facilities, water systems), and livelihood programs (beekeeping cooperatives, amaranth production, weaving co-ops). These initiatives are implemented through long-term partnerships with local communities and organizations across Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RACHEL (Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education & Learning) Offline digital learning server (using Raspberry Pi technology) that delivers pre-loaded educational content directly into classrooms, libraries, or other learning environments without requiring internet connectivity. Intended for rural and Indigenous schools that lack reliable internet, with content accessible on smartphones and laptops.
• Solar Power & Digital Learning Technology Program that installs solar power systems to run RACHEL offline servers and Chromebooks in digital classrooms in remote communities reachable only by boat. Includes community-led installation, bilingual training materials, and sustainability planning.
• Intercultural Bilingual Education Multi-year initiative working with Garifuna and Indigenous communities to reduce education disparities and promote mother-tongue learning through distance-based teacher training, technology resources, and community-developed language materials. Funded with government support and intended to reach hundreds of students and teachers in target communities.
• School Kitchens Construction and rehabilitation of school kitchen facilities equipped with efficient stoves, storage, utensils, and water access, paired with training in food preparation, hygiene, and nutrition for community members.
• School Sanitation Improvements Repair and rebuild of latrines, rainwater capture systems, wash stations, and hygiene education programs for rural schools, benefiting approximately 850 students across five schools.
• Household Water Filters Distribution of Tulip filtration units capable of removing 99.99% of bacteria, protozoa, turbidity, and odour, providing families with a safe, low-cost method for treating water for drinking and cooking.
• Rainwater Storage Provision of 2,500-litre Rotoplast household rainwater storage tanks, including installation support and training in safe storage and water conservation for water-scarce communities (e.g., 98 families reached across 8 communities in 2025).
• Amaranth Production Climate-resilient grain cultivation project supporting 150 Indigenous women farmers with seeds, tools, training in sustainable practices, and market access for nutrient-rich amaranth products, benefitting 900+ family members.
• Beekeeping Cooperative Initiative Multi-country initiative supporting beekeeping cooperatives for climate-resilient livelihoods, environmental stewardship, and community-led development, including exploration of value-added bee products.
• Weaving Co-op Support Renovation of artisan facilities and provision of industrial sewing machines, foot looms, and online presence development for the San Juan Artisans' Association to increase tourism and sales for Indigenous women.
• Mechanical Rice Threshers Distribution of small-scale mechanical rice threshing machines to women's groups to reduce labour time, improve food security, and increase household income in rice-producing communities.
• Empowering Children with Disabilities Construction of wheelchair-accessible pit latrines, locally manufactured mobility aids, and family economic empowerment through micro-business training for children with disabilities in Western Uganda, in partnership with Embrace International Foundation.
• Better Nutrition, Better Learning Equipment and training for six Moseten Indigenous women's federations in the Alto Beni region of Bolivia to improve sustainable agriculture, food processing, and business skills, with products sold to school breakfast programs.
• The Treehouse Project Eco-tourism project including a volunteer hostel, community garden, and medicinal plant nursery in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest, developed with Scona High School students.
• Exploring Community-Led Development in the Brazilian Amazon Partnership exploration with Indigenous-led organizations FOIRN and NADZOERI supporting education, clean energy, water access, and sustainable livelihoods across 80+ Baniwa and Koripako communities in the Brazilian Amazon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 140,000 people gained clean water access through Nicaragua Water Project
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• St. Angela SchoolminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2011First School Champion to fund an entire community water well in 2011, demonstrating youth engagement in development.
• FOIRN and NADZOERIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous-led organizations in Brazil representing Baniwa and Koripako communities. NADZOERI supports 80+ communities across education, territorial governance, clean energy, water access, and sustainable livelihoods.
• Fundacion RenacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBolivian-based social and environmental NGO with 6-year history working with Indigenous and rural campesino communities on sustainable agriculture projects in the Alto Beni region.
• Embrace International FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Uganda focusing on improving inclusive education and strengthening economic resilience of families caring for children with disabilities.
• Mundo PosiblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-country partner in Guatemala leading education technology initiatives, classroom construction, and community development projects including solar installations and digital classrooms.
• Costa Rica Humanitarian FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for dental and vision brigades serving Nicaraguan immigrants who have settled in Costa Rica, providing emergent healthcare services.
• Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for teacher brigade programs sending Alberta educators to support professional development in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
• University of British ColumbiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent team at UBC mentored through interdisciplinary humanitarian engineering course, exploring off-grid education challenges in Guatemala.
• Alberta Council for Global CooperationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFCA played a lead role in creation of ACGC in 1995, which was officially launched in 1997. ACGC is a coalition of organizations working in global cooperation.
• United Nations Sustainable Development GoalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChange for Children aligns its work with and contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Right To Play: Canadian-headquartered international nonprofit using sport and play for child development in disadvantaged communities, with similar brigades/educator engagement model. Highly comparable peer in scale and geographic footprint.
• WaterAid Canada: Focused international NGO working on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in developing countries; directly comparable to Change for Children's Nicaragua Water Project and household filtration work.
• Plan International Canada: Canadian arm of Plan International focused on children's rights, gender equality, and education in developing countries — directly overlapping with Change for Children's education, gender, and community-development priorities.
• Cuso International: Ottawa-based international development organization sending volunteers and supporting partner-led projects in education, gender equality, and economic inclusion — closely comparable to Change for Children's volunteer brigade model.

Broad incumbents

• World Vision Canada: Large Canadian international development NGO operating WASH, education, food security, and child sponsorship programs globally. Operates in the same thematic areas but at substantially greater scale.
• Oxfam Canada: Canadian branch of Oxfam focused on poverty, gender, and inequality internationally. Similar thematic emphasis on women, food security, and Indigenous rights with a much larger institutional base.
• UNICEF Canada: National committee supporting UNICEF's global child welfare, education, WASH, and nutrition programs. Overlapping mandate on child-centered development in low- and middle-income countries.
• Aga Khan Foundation Canada: Canadian arm of the Aga Khan Development Network supporting education, health, and rural development in Asia and Africa. Comparable in rural development focus and multi-thematic portfolio.
• CARE Canada: Canadian international development organization focused on poverty, gender equality, food security, and WASH — directly comparable thematic portfolio with a larger institutional footprint.

Emerging players

• Engineers Without Borders Canada: Canadian nonprofit leveraging technology, engineering, and youth engagement for international development — overlaps with Change for Children's RACHEL offline learning and university partnership approach (e.g., UBC).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/change-for-children-association

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 Change for Children