Fundația Mereu Aproape

What Fundația Mereu Aproape does

Fundația Mereu Aproape is a Romanian non-profit charitable foundation established in 2005, headquartered in Bucharest, that raises and deploys donations to fund healthcare, education, social inclusion, and disaster-relief programs. Its flagship "Vreau să ajut" campaign (running since 2011) is the longest-running socio-medical campaign in Romania, supporting seriously ill children (0–18 years) with surgeries, transplants, rehabilitation, and specialist care in Romania and abroad; it also runs the education campaign "Lăsați-mă să învăț" (since 2011), the social program "Schimbă o viață," and a crowdfunding platform "Ajut eu." The foundation has built durable infrastructure projects including Casa Mamei (130 sqm parent accommodation at Victor Gomoiu Hospital, 2023), Ambulatoriu de Poveste (800+ sqm renovation at Alessandrescu-Rusescu Institute, 2022), and the first complete post-COVID recovery center at Runcu (62 devices, 2021), alongside humanitarian cardio-pediatric missions with SANADOR that have operated on 81+ children with congenital heart defects since 2023.

The foundation monetizes through donations rather than commercial revenue, operating a multi-channel donation infrastructure: SMS to shortcode 8848 (fixed 2 EUR per message on Vodafone/Orange/DigiMobil), one-time and monthly recurring card payments via Netopia Payments, RON/EUR bank transfers with SWIFT access, PayPal for international donors, 3.5% personal income tax redirection via Form 230, and up to 20% corporate profit tax redirection via sponsorship contracts or D177. Major episodic teledons broadcast on partner Antena 1 have raised 4,046,687 EUR for COVID-19 relief (2020), 1.5 million EUR within 48 hours for the Colectiv tragedy (2015), and 850,000 EUR for 2010 Moldova flood victims, while ongoing campaigns sustain year-round community engagement. The organization operates with a lean team of approximately 10 staff led by President Alessandra Stoicescu and General Director Adriana PAVA, supported by a volunteer program, and publishes annual reports (2023, 2024, 2025).

The foundation's go-to-market is community-led: mass-media TV teledons and mediatized patient cases drive top-of-funnel donor acquisition, the website and social channels drive mid-funnel conversion, and the volunteer program drives post-donation engagement. Beneficiary hospital partners span seven public and private institutions across Romania, and corporate sponsorship partners include EDP Renewables (sole sponsor of Casa Mamei), SIKA Adeplast (post-COVID center), SANADOR (cardio-pediatric missions), and Grin Pink Med (Sibiu hospital equipment). No proprietary technology platforms or AI capabilities are described; the foundation runs on commodity WordPress/Netopia/PayPal infrastructure.

Name

Fundația Mereu Aproape

Legal name

Fundația Mereu Aproape

Website

https://fundatiamereuaproape.ro

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fundația Mereu Aproape is a Romanian non-profit foundation founded in 2005 that raises donations through SMS, card payments, bank transfers, and tax redirection to fund medical treatments for seriously ill children, hospital infrastructure investments, education programs, social inclusion initiatives, and disaster relief across Romania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Charitable fundraising
• Humanitarian aid
• Medical donations
• Social welfare programs
• Community philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bucharest

HQ country

Romania

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations (SMS, Card, Bank Transfer): One-time and recurring donations from individuals via SMS (2 EUR per SMS to 8848), online card payments through Netopia Payments platform, and direct bank transfers in RON or EUR accounts.
2. Tax Redirection (3.5% Personal Income Tax): Individuals redirect 3.5% of their annual income tax to the foundation via Form 230.
3. Corporate Sponsorship (20% Profit Tax Redirection): Companies redirect up to 20% of corporate income tax via direct sponsorship contracts or D177 mechanism, allowing businesses to allocate profit tax to the foundation.
4. Material Donations: In-kind donations of household and hygiene supplies for Casa Mamei shelter at Victor Gomoiu Hospital.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fundația Mereu Aproape is a Romanian non-profit charitable foundation that raises funds through SMS (shortcode 8848), card payments, bank transfers, PayPal, and tax redirection (3.5% individual and 20% corporate). It channels donations into healthcare programs for seriously ill children, hospital equipment investments, education support to prevent school dropout, social inclusion programs, and emergency/disaster relief (floods, pandemic, refugees).

Product overview

Fundația Mereu Aproape is a Romanian charitable non-profit organization offering a portfolio of social programs and donation services rather than a unified technology product. The core programs include: 'Vreau să ajut' (healthcare campaign for sick children), 'Investiții în sănătate' (hospital equipment and modernization), 'Lăsați-mă să învăț!' (education and school dropout prevention), 'Ajut eu' (crowdfunding platform), 'Schimbă o viață' (social/disability programs), and 'Proiecte Speciale' (disaster/emergency response). Supporting services include SMS donations at 8848, online donation platform (card/PayPal), tax redirection options (3.5% for individuals, 20% for corporations), and Casa Mamei accommodation. The 'Inimi de copii' program provides pediatric cardiac surgeries in partnership with SANADOR hospital. These programs operate independently rather than as an integrated platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vreau să ajut: The longest-running socio-medical campaign in Romania, supporting sick children with medical treatments, operations, and recovery since 2011.
• Lăsați-mă să învăț
• Schimbă o viață
• Români Împreună
• Apa trece, România rămâne
• Satul Speranței
• Inimi de copii
• Ajut eu

Products and services

• Vreau să ajut (I Want to Help) Longest-running socio-medical campaign in Romania, launched in 2011, supporting seriously ill children (0-18 years) with medical consultations, investigations, surgeries, transplants, and recovery treatments in clinics across Romania and abroad.
• Investiții în sănătate (Healthcare Investments) Healthcare investment program providing Romanian public hospitals with specialized medical equipment and modernizing pediatric facilities, supporting neonatal and pediatric care infrastructure.
• Lăsați-mă să învăț (Let Me Learn) Education campaign supporting Romanian education through school construction, supplies distribution, scholarships, and programs to prevent school dropout, including 'Rămân conectat la școală', 'Rămân copil!', and 'Rămân pregătit!' initiatives.
• Ajut eu (I Help) Crowdfunding platform allowing individuals to submit wishes and fundraising campaigns for educational projects, community initiatives, and support for children with special needs, including language labs and workshops.
• Schimbă o viață (Change a Life) Social programs supporting people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and vulnerable families through accessibility projects, beach access initiatives, school inclusion programs, and emergency assistance.
• Proiecte Speciale (Special Projects) Emergency response and disaster relief projects including flood reconstruction, Colectiv tragedy support, COVID-19 pandemic relief (4,046,687 EUR), and refugee support (Satul Speranței, 60 modular houses).
• SMS Donation (shortcode 8848) SMS donation service at shortcode 8848 allowing donors to contribute 2 EUR per message to support children enrolled in the 'Vreau să ajut' campaign. Available on Vodafone, Orange, and DigiMobil networks in Romania.
• Casa Mamei (Mother's House) Free accommodation facility at Dr. Victor Gomoiu Children's Hospital providing housing for parents of children in intensive care; the first state hospital in Romania with its own dedicated accommodation space for parents (130 sqm, 4 bedrooms).
• Online Donation Platform Online donation platform accepting credit/debit card payments (via NETOPIA Payments), PayPal, bank transfers, monthly recurring donations, and corporate sponsorship options for supporting the foundation's campaigns.
• 3.5% Tax Redirection Individual income tax redirection service allowing Romanian taxpayers to direct 3.5% of their annual income tax to the foundation through Form 230 at no cost to the donor.
• 20% Corporate Sponsorship Corporate sponsorship program allowing Romanian companies to redirect up to 20% of annual corporate income tax to the foundation through direct sponsorship contracts or D177 mechanism (ANAF filing by June 25 of the following year).
• Inimi de copii (Children's Hearts) Pediatric cardiac humanitarian missions program launched in 2023 in partnership with SANADOR hospital, supporting children born with congenital heart defects through life-saving surgeries; over 81 children operated as of June 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81 children with congenital heart defects operated through cardio-pediatric missions
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• EDP RenewablesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023EDP Renewables served as the sole sponsor ('sponsor unic') for the Casa Mamei project at Spitalul Clinic de Copii Dr. Victor Gomoiu in 2023. Casa Mamei is the first free parent accommodation space in a Romanian public hospital, with 130 sqm featuring 4 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and bathrooms for parents of children in ICU.
• SIKA AdeplastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Traditional partner of the foundation, SIKA Adeplast co-funded the construction of Romania's first complete post-COVID respiratory recovery center at Runcu, Gorj county. The center is now used for all respiratory conditions, not just post-COVID patients.
• Spitalul SanadorflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSANADOR hospital conducts cardio-pediatric humanitarian missions supported by Fundația Mereu Aproape. Through this partnership, over 81 children with congenital heart defects have been operated as of June 2026. The foundation also supported Eric's open-heart surgery through this collaboration.
• Grin Pink MedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrin Pink Med supported the foundation's equipment donation to the Pediatric Neuropsychomotor Recovery Department at Spitalul Dr. Gheorghe Preda in Sibiu, providing 16 new beds and accessories for hospitalized children.
• Radio ZUcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio ZU organized the 'Orașul Faptelor Bune' (City of Good Deeds) campaign in partnership with Fundația Mereu Aproape. This radio-driven initiative raised over 95,000 EUR to support seriously ill children, including Giulia's treatment.
• Asociația SupereroilorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'Școli cu suflet' (Schools with Heart) pilot project, which promotes inclusive education for children with Special Educational Needs (CES). The foundation and the association jointly implemented this initiative in Romanian schools.
• Antena 1flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAntena 1 founded Fundația Mereu Aproape in 2005 by organizing the first Teledon in Romania for flood victims. The media partnership continued for all major teledon campaigns including Colectiv (2015), COVID-19 (2020), and Ukrainian refugee support (2022).

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Vision România: Romanian branch of a major international NGO operating child-focused community development, education, and emergency response programs. Comparable scope (health, education, disaster relief) and multi-channel fundraising model, including individual donors and corporate sponsorship.
• Hospice Casa Speranței: Romania's largest hospice/palliative-care charity, providing medical and social support to terminally ill children and adults. Comparable as a health-focused non-profit with hospital partnerships, individual-donor fundraising, and capital-intensive infrastructure projects.
• Hope and Homes for Children România: Romanian non-profit focused on deinstitutionalization of children and family-support services. Comparable target population (vulnerable children), donor base, and program areas (social support, education, healthcare access).
• Caritas România: Romanian Catholic charity federation providing social services, healthcare, and disaster relief. Comparable in multi-program scope (health, education, social) and reliance on individual donations plus institutional funding across Romanian counties.
• Salvați Copiii România: Romanian affiliate of Save the Children, the country's largest children's-rights NGO. Directly comparable as a domestic non-profit focused on child health, education, and emergency support, with similar fundraising channels (SMS, online, corporate partnerships) and donor base in Romania.
• Fundația Vodafone România: Corporate-affiliated foundation funding health, education, and digital-inclusion projects in Romania. Closely comparable model — uses corporate profit-tax redirection (20% mechanism), runs national grant programs, and partners with hospitals and NGOs across the same beneficiary populations.
• Habitat for Humanity România: Romanian branch of Habitat for Humanity, focused on housing reconstruction and support for vulnerable families. Directly comparable to the foundation's 2010 flood-rebuild campaign (75 houses rebuilt) in terms of disaster-reconstruction activity and corporate-sponsor model.
• Asociația MagiCAMP: Romanian charity providing free camps and support programs for children with serious illnesses (cancer, etc.). Comparable in pediatric health focus, individual-donor fundraising via SMS and online channels, and corporate-sponsor engagement.
• Crucea Roșie Română: Romanian Red Cross — national humanitarian organization with disaster response, health, and social programs. Comparable in emergency-response track record (floods, pandemics, refugee crises) and volunteer-driven operational model.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF România: Romanian country office of UNICEF — the global UN children's agency. Comparable target population (children) and program areas (health, education, child protection), but with substantially larger international resources, global brand recognition, and broader mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/funda%C8%9Bia-mereu-aproape

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Fundația Mereu Aproape