Fundación Ecuador Volunteer

What Fundación Ecuador Volunteer does

Fundación Ecuador Volunteer (EVF), also known as the Ecuador Volunteer Foundation, is a non-profit organization legally authorized under Ecuadorian Ministerial Resolution N° 0350, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Quito. The organization designs and delivers volunteer programs across three of Ecuador's distinct ecosystems — the Amazon rainforest (Pastaza Province, near Puyo), the Andean highlands (near Cayambe), and the Galápagos Islands (San Cristóbal) — with dedicated volunteer houses and local coordinator networks in each region. Core programs include Amazon Wildlife Rescue, Galápagos Conservation, general community-development and education programs, and a structured three-phase Teen Camp leadership program for adolescents aged 14–17 (Galápagos, Amazonía, Andes). The organization also operates a wildlife rescue center near Puyo that rehabilitates animals from illegal trafficking, and runs donation programs supporting food security, child development centers, and reforestation.

EVF serves two primary participant segments: international teenagers seeking leadership development, CAS/service hours, and immersive conservation experiences, and adult volunteers (18+) pursuing gap-year, career-break, or experiential travel. A secondary B2B channel serves educational institutions and IB schools seeking accredited group service-learning programs. EVF does not receive public funding; revenue is generated through non-refundable registration fees, unit-priced program fees (Teen Camps priced at $497–$897 per participant, with $245/week extensions), and donations. The organization employs approximately 20 people, coordinates with Kichwa and Shuar indigenous communities, and operates in partnership with the Galápagos National Park Directorate.

The go-to-market is event-driven and digital: applications are accepted through the bilingual website (ecuadorvolunteer.org) on scheduled cohort dates, with marketing conducted via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and a monthly newsletter. International reach is supported by bilingual content (English/Spanish) and international phone numbers. Documented cumulative impact includes 1,437+ families receiving food aid, 1,161+ children benefiting from Child Development Center programs, 1,477+ animals rehabilitated and released, and 18,448+ native trees planted through reforestation efforts.

Name

Fundación Ecuador Volunteer

Legal name

Fundación Ecuador Volunteer

Website

https://ecuadorvolunteer.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fundación Ecuador Volunteer is a Quito-based non-profit foundation, legally authorized under Ministerial Resolution N° 0350, that designs and operates fee-based volunteer programs and teen leadership camps across the Ecuadorian Amazon, Andes, and Galápagos, serving international teens (14–17), adult volunteers, and IB schools while running a wildlife rescue center and donation-supported community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Volunteer & Conservation Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Volunteer programs
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Conservation volunteering
• Community development
• Youth leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

Quito

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Volunteer Program Fees: Participants pay program fees that cover administrative costs, volunteer support, meals, accommodations, and project implementation in communities with limited resources. EVF is a non-governmental non-profit that does not receive public funding, making these fees essential for operations.
2. Registration Fees: A non-refundable registration fee is required to confirm participation in any volunteer program, in addition to program fees.
3. Donations: Donations from the public support specific causes including food for families, school supplies for Child Development Centers, animal rescue and rehabilitation, and reforestation of the Amazon and Galapagos. The donation page outlines quantified impact metrics to encourage contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fundación Ecuador Volunteer operates fee-based volunteer programs in the Amazon (wildlife rescue and rehabilitation), Galápagos (conservation, habitat restoration, endemic species protection), and Andes (community development with indigenous communities), plus structured 6-day Teen Camps for ages 14–17 across all three regions and a donation program supporting food security, child development, wildlife rehabilitation, and reforestation. The organization sells participation slots in scheduled programs and accepts donations to fund community and conservation projects.

Product overview

Fundación Ecuador Volunteer (EVF) offers a portfolio of volunteer programs across three main destinations in Ecuador: the Amazon rainforest, the Galapagos Islands, and the Andes Mountains. The core programs include wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, conservation initiatives, community development, and educational support. The organization also operates a structured Teen Camp program consisting of three regional camps (Andes, Amazonia, and Galapagos) designed for teenagers aged 14-17, each lasting 6 days and focusing on leadership development, hands-on conservation work, and personal growth. Additionally, EVF provides a donation program supporting food security, education, wildlife rehabilitation, and reforestation projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amazon Wildlife Rescue: Volunteer program focused on rescuing animals from illegal trafficking and rehabilitation for release back to their natural habitat in the Amazon rainforest.
• Galapagos Conservation
• Teen Camps
• Andes Teen Camp
• Amazon Teen Camp
• Galapagos Teen Camp

Products and services

• Amazon Wildlife Rescue A volunteer program focused on rescuing animals from illegal trafficking and rehabilitating them for release back into their natural habitat in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, targeting international and national adult volunteers.
• Galapagos Conservation A conservation volunteer program in the Galapagos Islands focused on habitat restoration, invasive species control, endemic species protection, and environmental education, targeting international and national adult volunteers.
• Teen Camp Andes A 6-day leadership and community service camp for teenagers aged 14–17 in the Ecuadorian Andes, focusing on indigenous community support, cultural preservation, sustainable agriculture, and personal development, priced at $497 USD per participant.
• Teen Camp Amazonia A 6-day leadership and wildlife rescue camp for teenagers aged 14–17 in the Ecuadorian Amazon, focused on animal rehabilitation, biodiversity conservation, and character development, priced at $697 USD per participant (2026/2027) and $749 USD for 2028.
• Teen Camp Galapagos A 6-day leadership and conservation camp for teenagers aged 14–17 in the Galapagos Islands, focused on endemic species protection, reforestation, beach cleanup, and personal growth, priced at $897 USD per participant.
• Andes General Programs Volunteer programs in the Ecuadorian Andes region including English teaching, child development center support, and sustainable tourism and agriculture initiatives in indigenous communities, targeting adult volunteers.
• Amazon General Programs Volunteer programs in the Ecuadorian Amazon including wildlife rescue and cultural tourism preservation with indigenous Kichwa and Shuar communities, targeting adult volunteers.
• Galapagos General Programs Volunteer programs in the Galapagos Islands including English teaching, habitat restoration, endemic species monitoring, and community conservation work, targeting adult volunteers.
• Donation Program A donation initiative supporting food security for families, educational materials for child development centers, wildlife rehabilitation, and reforestation efforts across Ecuador, targeting individual donors and organizational supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,437+ families have received natural food bags through food aid programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ecuadorian Government (Ministerial Authorization)coreOthersEVF is a legally authorized non-profit organization under Ecuadorian government authorization (Ministerial Resolution Nº 0350), which grants it legitimacy to operate volunteer programs and access to protected conservation areas and community projects.
• Indigenous Communities — Kichwa and ShuarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEVF works directly with Kichwa and Shuar indigenous communities in the Amazon, Andes, and surrounding areas. Volunteers participate in cultural exchange, traditional activities, community service, and sustainable development projects alongside community members.
• Local Coordinators and Community LeaderscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEVF employs trained local coordinators and community guides at each program destination (Amazon, Andes, Galapagos) who provide 24/7 supervision, safety protocols, emergency response, cultural guidance, and day-to-day program management.
• Galápagos National Park DirectoratecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEVF operates conservation programs on San Cristóbal Island in coordination with local conservation authorities. Volunteers participate in habitat restoration, invasive species control, endemic species monitoring, and environmental education within the Galápagos protected area system.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GoEco: GoEco is an eco-volunteer placement platform offering wildlife, conservation, and community programs in Latin America including Ecuador — directly comparable on eco-volunteer positioning and fee structure.
• Rustic Pathways: Rustic Pathways operates structured international service-learning and volunteer programs for high-school-aged teens, including conservation and community development in Latin America — directly comparable to EVF's Teen Camp model targeting ages 14–17 with multi-destination progression.
• IVHQ (International Volunteer HQ): IVHQ is a global volunteer placement platform offering fee-based programs including conservation and community work in Ecuador and Latin America — a direct competitor for fee-paying international volunteers seeking structured placements.
• Projects Abroad: Projects Abroad runs paid international volunteer placements across conservation, wildlife rescue, and community development in Latin America, Africa, and Asia — overlapping with EVF on volunteer program structure, fee-based model, and conservation/wildlife use cases.
• GVI (Global Vision International): GVI operates paid wildlife and conservation volunteer programs worldwide, including in Latin America, with structured placements for teens and adults — overlapping directly with EVF's wildlife rescue and conservation offerings.
• Maximo Nivel: Maximo Nivel runs volunteer and Spanish-study programs in Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala — the most direct regional competitor, sharing geography, fee-based model, and similar community-development and conservation programming.
• Global Volunteers: Global Volunteers runs fee-based service programs worldwide, including in Latin America, with a focus on community development and sustainable impact — comparable to EVF's community-development and volunteer-travel model.

Emerging players

• Raleigh International: Raleigh International runs youth development expeditions including conservation and community projects in Latin America and Costa Rica — comparable as a youth-focused volunteer expedition operator, though primarily youth-development rather than wildlife/conservation.

Broad incumbents

• Earthwatch Institute: Earthwatch is an established environmental NGO that places paying volunteers on conservation research expeditions globally — a broader incumbent with overlapping wildlife/conservation volunteer experiences but a research rather than service-learning orientation.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Ecuador: WWF operates large-scale conservation programs in the Amazon and Galápagos with public-funding and donor support — a broad incumbent with overlapping conservation mission and geographic footprint, though structurally different (donor-funded vs fee-based volunteer model).

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/ecuadorvolunteers
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecuadorvolunteers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecuador-volunteer-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecuadorvolunteer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Fundación Ecuador Volunteer