What GiveLight Foundation does

GiveLight Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by Dian Alyan following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 40 of her family members in Aceh, Indonesia. Headquartered in San Jose, California, the organization operates residential orphan-care homes and educational sponsorship programs across 13 countries — Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Morocco, and others — supporting more than 2,000 orphaned children with housing, food, clothing, medical care, private tutoring, and university scholarships through college graduation. The foundation is not a technology company; its core 'product' is the operation of physical homes staffed by local caregivers, teachers, cooks, and tutors, supplemented by after-school enrichment through GiveLight Clubs (Cooking, Quran, Art, Sports, Public Speaking, Crochet).

GiveLight's revenue model is donor-funded. Income streams include individual one-time donations, child sponsorships priced at $30/month for meals, $50 for clothes/tuition, and $1,000/year for full support, plus corporate matching gifts, Zakat contributions, endowment funds, stock donations, education funds, and special occasion dedications. Per-home operating costs disclosed range from $24,000/year (Indonesia, 40 children) to $49,000/year (Cambodia, 70 children), with the Bangladesh home at approximately $40,000/year for 50 girls. The organization maintains a small staff of 11-50 employees and a global volunteer chapter network spanning Jakarta, Toronto, Orlando, Seattle, Southern California, and Detroit, with university partnerships at Harvard, Columbia, UCLA, and Simon Fraser serving as volunteer pipelines.

The foundation leverages a multi-channel donor acquisition and engagement strategy combining annual signature events (Global Walk, Gala, Global Bistro), organic social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn), university presentations, and grassroots community chapters. Strategic partnerships with local NGOs — Rumah Zakat (209 orphans in Indonesia), TCF (500 Karachi scholarships), Noor Project (100+ Lahore orphans), ABPO (Morocco), ECHO (Bangladesh), and AAM Marleen Foundation (Sri Lanka) — extend reach without requiring fully owned-and-operated infrastructure in each country. The Morocco home notably received an official congratulatory letter from King Mohammed VI and a government agreement to subsidize utilities and salaries.

Name

GiveLight Foundation

Legal name

GiveLight Foundation

Website

https://givelight.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GiveLight Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that operates residential orphan-care homes and educational sponsorship programs across 13 countries, supporting 2,000+ orphaned children from childhood through college graduation through donor-funded operations and volunteer chapter networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orphan Care Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Orphan care services
• Humanitarian aid
• Child sponsorship programs
• Nonprofit charity services
• Residential child care

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Clara, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: GiveLight Foundation generates revenue through individual donations, corporate matching gifts, and child sponsorships. Donors can sponsor children at various levels ($30/month for meals, $50 for clothes/tuition, $1,000/year for full support) or make one-time donations. The organization also receives support through endowment funds, Zakat contributions, education funds, and stock donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GiveLight Foundation operates residential orphan care homes across 13 countries, providing long-term housing, education, healthcare, nutrition, and emotional support for orphaned children from childhood through college graduation. The organization funds these programs through individual donations, child sponsorships, corporate matching gifts, Zakat contributions, and endowment funds. Local care teams including 'mothers' (caregivers), teachers, cooks, and mentors staff each home.

Product overview

GiveLight Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization, not a technology company. It offers a portfolio of orphan care services including residential homes across 13 countries, education sponsorship programs, and enrichment activities through GiveLight Clubs. The organization does not develop or sell software products, platforms, or technology solutions. All programs are charitable in nature, focused on providing loving homes, quality education, and support for orphaned children affected by natural disasters, poverty, and conflict.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orphan Care Homes Program Residential homes for orphaned children in multiple countries including Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Morocco, and Pakistan, providing long-term care, housing, nutrition, healthcare, and family-like environments for over 2,000 children.
• Education Sponsorship Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 children graduated from college from first Indonesia home, with 4 getting married and giving back to the community
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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, major and potential.

• Rumah ZakatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Starting January 2024, GiveLight partnered with Rumah Zakat to expand support to 209 orphans across Indonesia. This collaboration includes mentoring sessions and a scholarship assistance program to enhance educational opportunities for these children. Nursamawi, an older GiveLight graduate, now serves as lead for GiveLight Jakarta chapter and works with Rumah Zakat as liaison between GL US and the organization.
• ABPOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018ABPO is the local partner organization for Morocco home operations. The Moroccan government also signed an agreement to provide free water and electricity and help with employee salaries at the home.
• AAM Marleen FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2010GiveLight built a sanctuary for 60-75 children in Sri Lanka in partnership with AAM Marleen Foundation. The complex includes a free medical clinic, a vocational training center, a community services hall, and a mosque. The Marleen Foundation representative Shahram Marleen donated land in memory of his father.
• ECHO (Education and Charitable Humanitarian Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008ECHO is an NGO consisting of dedicated volunteer members of the Bangla Community based in Silicon Valley. They serve as the local partner for the Bangladesh home, helping with construction and ongoing operations. The organization also helps sponsor meals for Dar-Us-Sunnah Orphanage.
• TCF (The Citizens Foundation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGiveLight provides scholarship support to 500 children throughout Karachi via partnership with TCF (The Citizens Foundation), expanding reach beyond their own homes to support orphans in the broader community.
• Noor ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Noor Project supports over 100 orphans in Lahore, Pakistan, providing educational scholarships and care.
• Edhi CenterpotentialStrategic or Co-development PartnerGiveLight founder Dian Alyan met with Faisal Edhi from the Edhi Center in Karachi to explore potential collaboration. The Edhi Center is one of the largest NGOs in the subcontinent with an established orphan program.
• Noordeen Home (Cambodia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambodia home (Noordeen Home) operated by local team Zul and Mariya Weasna who donated land and oversee operations. The home is supported by volunteers and donors.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edhi Foundation: Largest NGO in Pakistan running orphan care, shelter, and humanitarian services. GiveLight has actively explored collaboration with the Edhi Center (per founder Dian Alyan meeting with Faisal Edhi), indicating direct operational overlap.
• Compassion International: Faith-based child sponsorship organization serving children in poverty worldwide, including orphans. Closely aligned model: monthly sponsorship, education support, and long-term care through local church partnerships.
• Islamic Relief USA: Faith-based humanitarian organization running orphan sponsorship programs (including Qurbani and Zakat-allocated programs). Directly comparable in serving Muslim orphans and accepting Zakat, with similar operational footprint in GiveLight's geographies.
• SOS Children's Villages USA: US affiliate of SOS Children's Villages, focusing on fundraising and advocacy for orphan care globally. Comparable donor-engagement and branding model.
• SOS Children's Villages: Global nonprofit operating residential villages for orphaned and abandoned children across 130+ countries. Highly comparable long-term residential care model for orphans with educational and family-style support.
• Penny Appeal: UK/US-based Muslim nonprofit running orphan sponsorship, homes, and education programs. Similar faith-aligned, low-overhead model with comparable scale and geographic focus.
• Human Appeal: Faith-based humanitarian organization with orphan sponsorship and education programs across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Similar model emphasizing Zakat-eligible orphan support.

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: One of the largest international child welfare nonprofits, running sponsorship, education, and community development programs in 100+ countries. Broader scope and far larger scale but overlapping child-welfare mission.
• Save the Children: Large international NGO operating child welfare, education, and emergency response programs globally. Overlaps in serving orphans and vulnerable children with education and care programs.
• UNICEF USA: UN children's fund operating globally on child welfare, education, nutrition, and protection. Far larger scope and budget; overlaps on orphan advocacy and child survival programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GiveLightOrg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GiveLightFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/GiveLightFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/give-light-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/givelightfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GiveLight Foundation