Every Child Ministries Inc

What Every Child Ministries Inc does

Every Child Ministries Inc (ECM) is a private, non-denominational Christian nonprofit organization founded in 1985 by John and Lorella Rouster and headquartered in Hebron, Indiana. The organization delivers child sponsorship, family empowerment, education, residential care, and community development programs to vulnerable children and families in Ghana, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with field offices in Accra, Gulu, Kampala, Tororo, Lwengo, Napak, and Kinshasa.

ECM operates three core sponsorship programs: Family Empowerment Sponsorship (multi-year support for entire families), Educational and Disabilities Sponsorship (orphans and children with disabilities or albinism through secondary school), and Next Step Sponsorship (university and vocational scholarships for transitioning youth). Supporting programs include Haven of Hope Children's Home and Haven of Hope Academy in Ghana, the African Leadership Training Center in Congo (graduating 6–12 teacher trainers annually since 1992), Saturday Bible Clubs, Deaf Ministry, and a Trokosi liberation initiative. ECM's revenue model is built on recurring monthly sponsorships at a $42/month standard tier with upsell options to $84 or $126, supplemented by one-time gifts, planned giving through the Rouster Legacy Circle, marketplace sales, and partnership fundraising. Go-to-market relies on direct-to-consumer sponsorship via website, email newsletters, vision trips, church partnerships through the Community Connection program, and events including the African Experience and Shoe Drive fundraisers.

Name

Every Child Ministries Inc

Legal name

Every Child Ministries Inc

Website

https://ecmafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Every Child Ministries Inc is a US-based Christian nonprofit that delivers child sponsorship, family empowerment, education, and residential care programs to vulnerable children and families in Ghana, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Child Sponsorship and Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Child sponsorship programs
• Humanitarian aid services
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Community development programs
• Educational sponsorship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hebron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Child Sponsorship: Recurring monthly or annual donations from individual sponsors supporting specific children. Sponsorship covers education, medical needs, meals, and spiritual development. Commitments typically last until children complete secondary school or reach age 20.
2. Family Empowerment Sponsorship: Multi-year sponsorship program supporting entire families rather than individual children, providing guidance, training, and resources to enable family self-sufficiency.
3. Next Step Scholarship Fund: University and vocational scholarships for sponsored children transitioning to independence after completing secondary school.
4. One-time Gifts and Donations: Direct donations for specific purposes including Hope Fund (where needed most), shoe drives, special projects, and event support.
5. Planned Giving / Legacy Circle: Bequests, charitable trusts, gift annuities, and endowment fund contributions through the John and Lorella Rouster Legacy Circle for long-term financial sustainability.
6. Marketplace Sales: Online marketplace selling African crafts, gift catalog items, and merchandise with proceeds supporting ministry programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Every Child Ministries provides recurring child sponsorship and community development programs for vulnerable children and families in Ghana, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its core offerings include Family Empowerment Sponsorship (supporting entire families toward self-sufficiency), Educational and Disabilities Sponsorship (for orphans and children with disabilities), and Next Step Sponsorship (university and vocational scholarships for transitioning youth), supplemented by residential care at Haven of Hope Children's Home, the Haven of Hope Academy (K-8), Saturday Bible Clubs, and the African Leadership Training Center.

Product overview

Every Child Ministries Inc operates a portfolio of interconnected child sponsorship and community development programs across Ghana, Uganda, and Congo. The core programs include Family Empowerment Sponsorship (supporting entire families), Educational and Disabilities Sponsorship (for orphans and disabled children), and Next Step Sponsorship (university and vocational scholarships for older youth). Supporting programs include Haven of Hope Children's Home (residential care in Ghana), Haven of Hope Academy (K-8 Christian school), Saturday Bible Clubs (spiritual development), African Leadership Training Center (teacher training in Congo), and Deaf Ministry. The organization also offers volunteer opportunities including Vision Trips, Short Term Mission Trips, Internships, and a Shoe Drive fundraiser. Additional services include a Marketplace/Gift Catalog for donations, Virtual Prayer Events, Rouster Legacy Circle (planned giving), DAF Direct, and Round Up donation features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Empowerment Sponsorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,500+ Sunday schools established across Congo, Ghana, and Uganda
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Christian Leadership AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECM Leadership and staff have benefited from alliance with CLA since 2015 through training, workshops, classes, and major conferences enabling staff credentialing and leadership growth.
• ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECM has been an ECFA member since 1987, demonstrating commitment to financial accountability by submitting to rigorous scrutiny and high operational standards including annual full audits.
• Global Leadership NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership empowers ECM leaders and staff to stay focused in all areas of service through leadership training, resources, and events for non-profit and ministry sectors.
• Region LeadersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Northwest Indiana and Chicago Southland region organization identifying, connecting, equipping, and inspiring leaders for community transformation.
• Candid (Guidestar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECM participates in Candid's transparency initiative, providing financial information and organizational goals to earn Platinum Seal of Transparency.
• Harvest HostsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRV'ers can overnight at ECM's Hebron, Indiana office, purchasing from marketplace or donating - a unique way to engage travelers with ECM's mission.
• Ligonier MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides sound biblical theological online course material for African pastors in communities where ECM works.
• Missio NexusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with largest association of globally-focused organizations and churches in USA and Canada representing over 20,000 global workers and 300 organizations.
• Moody Bible InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECM has had on-campus exhibit presence at Moody for many years and recently represented at Moody Missions Conference annually.
• Mission IncreaseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership equips ECM to multiply Kingdom impact through organizational capacity building based on Ephesians 4:11-16.
• STEERminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offers farmers a practical way to contribute to missions by raising animals or crops for missions, stirring missions interest among agriculturalists.
• International Needs GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for trokosi shrine liberation efforts, cooperating in liberation of three shrines in the Agave area in January 2003.
• Fetish Slaves Liberation MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGhanaian human rights organization partnership for liberation of children and women from ritual servitude in idol shrines.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ChildFund International: International child-focused NGO using sponsorship and community development models across Africa, with similar donor-engagement patterns.
• International Needs: Christian child-focused NGO already partnering with ECM on Trokosi liberation in Ghana; uses child sponsorship and community development models in overlapping geographies.
• Compassion International: The largest Christian child sponsorship organization, operating in dozens of countries including multiple African nations with the same child-sponsorship, education, and holistic care model ECM uses.
• World Vision: Global Christian humanitarian organization with child sponsorship, community development, and Africa-based programs — directly comparable to ECM's sponsorship-plus-community-development approach.
• Food for the Hungry: Faith-based child sponsorship and community development organization active in multiple African countries with comparable holistic child-and-family programming.
• Africa Inland Mission: Long-established evangelical mission agency working across East and Central Africa (including Uganda, DRC, Kenya), with comparable faith-based ministry footprint and indigenous leadership development.
• SOS Children's Villages: Global nonprofit operating residential children's villages and family-strengthening programs, comparable to ECM's Haven of Hope Children's Home and Family Empowerment model.
• Holt International: Child welfare organization with sponsorship, disabilities ministry, and family services across multiple African countries — comparable to ECM's disabilities and educational sponsorship programs.

Broad incumbents

• Samaritan's Purse: Large evangelical humanitarian organization with broad programs (disaster relief, child advocacy, Operation Christmas Child) that overlaps with ECM's evangelical donor base and African ministry footprint.

Others

• Missio Nexus: Association of 300+ globally-focused mission organizations and 20,000+ workers — an ecosystem peer and ECM partner that provides training, resources, and convening across the same constituency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/every-child-ministries-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Every Child Ministries Inc