FRIENDS OF TENWEK INC

What FRIENDS OF TENWEK INC does

Friends of Tenwek Inc (FOT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Dr. David Hoover and Don Hoover to support AGC Tenwek Hospital, a 365-bed mission hospital in Bomet, Kenya. The organization operates as the sole US-based fundraising and capacity-building vehicle for Tenwek, having raised over $8 million since inception and crossing a $1 million annual disbursement threshold for the first time in 2024. FOT's model rests on three pillars: capacity-building through a Champions network of US medical professionals, financial resource mobilization via individual donations, foundation grants, and planned giving, and spiritual support through prayer networks.

FOT's product surface comprises donation programs (one-time gifts, monthly sustaining gifts, non-cash gifts via the National Christian Foundation, legacy/IRA QCD, and charitable gift annuities) and a portfolio of medical and social programs it funds at Tenwek. The funded programs include the Special Needs Clinic, Prosthetics Program, Rehabilitative Services, Hospice Care, College of Health Sciences residency training (accredited via PAACS and COSECSA), and Threads of Hope, an eight-month vocational sewing apprenticeship for vulnerable women. Medical volunteer recruitment is handled through World Medical Mission (Samaritan's Purse), which provides logistics infrastructure for short-term mission trips.

FOT monetizes entirely through charitable donations rather than commercial revenue, with no pricing model in the traditional sense. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via website donation forms, email newsletters, social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo), and annual Impact Reports. Distribution relies on a Champions network for specialty-specific fundraising and on World Medical Mission for volunteer recruitment. The organization is governed by a 10-person Board of Directors, staffed by approximately 2 full-time employees plus a Field Program Officer, and holds ECFA accreditation.

Name

FRIENDS OF TENWEK INC

Legal name

Friends of Tenwek Inc

Website

https://friendsoftenwek.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends of Tenwek Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that raises funds and coordinates US medical volunteers exclusively for AGC Tenwek Hospital, a 365-bed mission hospital in Bomet, Kenya serving 220,000+ outpatients annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Healthcare Support

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Charitable fundraising
• Nonprofit healthcare support
• Medical mission trips
• Rural hospital sponsorship
• Volunteer coordination services

Headquarters

HQ city

Noblesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, processed through the organization's website via DonorPerfect donation forms. Monthly sustaining gifts are encouraged.
2. Foundation Grants and Partnerships: Multi-year grants from foundations such as the Foxwynd Foundation ($225,000 three-year commitment). FOT has raised over $8 million USD since inception in 2012.
3. Non-Cash and Asset-Based Gifts: Partnership with National Christian Foundation (NCF) to handle donations of stock, mutual funds, restricted securities, and other asset-based giving.
4. Legacy and Planned Giving: Bequests through wills, beneficiary designations on IRAs, insurance policies, and bank accounts. Includes Charitable Gift Annuities through NCF.
5. IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions: Tax-advantaged donations for donors aged 70½ or older, directing Required Minimum Distributions directly to FOT.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Friends of Tenwek is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds, recruits medical volunteers, and provides capacity-building support for Tenwek Hospital, a 365-bed mission hospital in Bomet, Kenya. It offers donation programs (one-time, monthly, non-cash, legacy, IRA, charitable gift annuities), facilitates medical mission trips, and supports medical specialty programs including prosthetics, hospice, rehabilitative services, and the Special Needs Clinic.

Product overview

Friends of Tenwek is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports Tenwek Hospital in rural Kenya through a portfolio of donation programs and medical specialty support initiatives. The organization's core offerings include one-time and recurring donation mechanisms (sustaining gifts, non-cash gifts via the National Christian Foundation, legacy giving, IRA charitable distributions, and charitable gift annuities), plus capacity-building programs supporting medical departments including the Special Needs Clinic, Prosthetics Program, Rehabilitative Services, Hospice Care, and Threads of Hope vocational training for women. The organization facilitates medical mission trips through World Medical Mission and runs capital campaigns such as the bed replacement initiative. The recent Foxwynd Fellowship Program partnership provides $225,000 over three years for infrastructure improvements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• One-Time Donations
• Sustaining Gifts (Monthly Giving)
• Non-Cash Gifts
• Legacy Giving
• IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution
• Charitable Gift Annuity
• Medical Mission Trips
• Threads of Hope Vocational Training
• Special Needs Clinic
• Faith Fund for Special Needs
• Prosthetics Program
• Rehabilitative Services
• Hospice Care
• Bed Fundraising Campaign
• Foxwynd Fellowship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 220,000+ outpatients and 20,000+ inpatients served annually
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Christian Foundation (NCF)coreOthersFOT partners with NCF to handle all donations of stock, mutual funds, restricted securities, and other asset-based giving. NCF also administers Charitable Gift Annuities for FOT donors.
• World Medical Mission / Samaritan's PursecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld Medical Mission, a division of Samaritan's Purse, facilitates short-term medical mission trips for healthcare professionals to Tenwek Hospital. WMM handles volunteer alignment, pre-trip orientation, travel logistics, visas, housing, and on-site transport. FOT Champions help connect volunteers with specific department needs.
• Africa Healthcare NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrica Healthcare Network manages the small dialysis unit at Tenwek Hospital, which was recently opened and is expected to expand significantly in the future.
• Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTenwek Hospital partners with PAACS (a commission of CMDA) for academic oversight and support of its residency programs in General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, OB/GYN, and Cardiothoracic Surgery. FOT supports these programs through fundraising and Champions.
• College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOSECSA is a regional surgical credentialing body that provides accreditation for Tenwek Hospital's residency programs. As of 2020, Tenwek's General Surgery program had graduated 15 board-certified surgeons through COSECSA.
• Bethesda Africa Gospel ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThreads of Hope vocational training center operates in partnership with Bethesda Africa Gospel Church, which helps identify, recruit, train, and disciple students for the program.
• Africa Gospel ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Africa Gospel Church (AGC) is the governing and guiding body of Tenwek Hospital. The hospital's name was officially expanded to 'AGC Tenwek Hospital' in 2023 to reflect this partnership. AGC oversees the hospital's Christ-centered mission.
• Samaritan's PursecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSamaritan's Purse, led by CEO Franklin Graham, operates World Medical Mission which recruits and places healthcare volunteers at Tenwek Hospital. Samaritan's Purse also provides Bibles for patients who accept Christ at Tenwek. Franklin Graham has publicly endorsed Tenwek as 'one of the greatest evangelistic outreaches I know of anywhere in the world today.'

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MedSend: Faith-based nonprofit that supports US healthcare professionals serving as missionaries in underserved regions, including through loan repayment and residency support. Highly comparable to FOT's Champions model and physician pipeline support.
• CURE International: Faith-based nonprofit operating a global network of pediatric surgical hospitals in developing countries, including across Africa. Highly comparable to FOT's hospital-focused model with Christian mission integration and reliance on medical professional volunteers.
• World Medical Mission: A division of Samaritan's Purse that FOT partners with for volunteer medical professional recruitment. Direct peer as it channels US Christian healthcare professionals to mission hospitals like Tenwek.
• Mercy Ships: Faith-based nonprofit operating hospital ships serving sub-Saharan Africa, providing surgical care and training to local healthcare workers. Comparable in faith-based mission, hospital-focused service delivery, and capacity-building model in Africa.
• African Mission Healthcare Foundation: US-based nonprofit that supports the operations of multiple mission hospitals across Africa. Direct peer to FOT given its parallel model of raising US donor funds to support African mission hospitals and their physician training programs.

Broad incumbents

• Partners In Health: Large global health nonprofit that operates hospitals and trains healthcare workers in resource-poor settings, including multiple African countries. Comparable in supporting a hospital system serving extreme poverty and physician training model, though not faith-based.
• MAP International: Faith-based global health nonprofit delivering medicines and supporting health programs in developing countries. Comparable in faith-based donor base and African health programming, though more focused on medicine distribution than hospital operations.
• Samaritan's Purse: Large faith-based humanitarian organization that operates World Medical Mission (FOT's own partner) and Franklin Graham's broader international relief portfolio. Comparable in mission, faith-based donor base, and medical volunteer deployment at Tenwek.
• Catholic Medical Mission Board: Faith-based nonprofit providing healthcare and medical supplies to underserved communities globally, including long-term programs in Africa. Comparable in faith-driven healthcare mission and donor-supported model.
• Operation Smile: Faith-affiliated global nonprofit providing free surgeries (cleft lip/palate) in developing countries, with significant operations in Africa. Comparable in volunteer medical professional model and faith-driven mission at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/showcase/5261987
• Facebookfacebook.com/FriendsOfTenwek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-tenwek-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 FRIENDS OF TENWEK INC