Il Sole Onlus
Il Sole Associazione ETS is an Italian non-profit founded in 1997 that runs distance child sponsorship programs and eight thematic social projects in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, and Gaza, funded by individual Italian donors, 5x1000 tax allocations, and institutional grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersSaronno, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Il Sole Onlus does
Il Sole Associazione ETS is an Italian non-profit organization founded in 1997 in Como and now headquartered in Saronno, operating international cooperation and child sponsorship programs across Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Italy, and (since 2026) Gaza. Its core service is the Sostegno a Distanza (Distance Sponsorship) program, which connects individual Italian donors — via monthly subscriptions (€27.50/month for Ethiopian children, €130/year for maternal 1000-days support in India and Ethiopia, €300/year for CASANepal) — to beneficiaries in slums of Addis Abeba and rural Andhra Pradesh. The organization has supported more than 4,000 children cumulatively since inception and runs eight active thematic programs: La Casa dei Fiori (foster home for 25 abuse survivor girls), Crescere Oltre le Sfide (AICS-funded youth vocational training), Progetto Unnati (Dalit women's empowerment), Progetto Shuddh (menstrual hygiene education), PRO.M.ET.EO (migrant minor protection), Future of India Phase 2 (multi-state education), CASANepal (women's shelter via Apeiron ODV partnership), and Gaza Educational Tents (Per Gaza network with CISS).
Revenue is generated through six streams: recurring distance sponsorships (subscription), one-time online/bank transfer/postal donations, Italian 5x1000 tax designation (tax code 95053240131), legacy bequests, project-specific fundraising, and solidarity product sales (Christmas catalog, dinner events at €35/person, theater events at €12/person). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via website, email newsletter (Il Sole News), Facebook organic, in-person events across Italy, and partnerships with institutional funders including AICS (Italian Development Cooperation Agency), Ministero dell'Interno, CAI, Fondazione Prosolidar, and 8xMille Chiesa Valdese. All donations are tax-deductible under D. lgs. 460/97. There is no proprietary technology platform; donor relations and program operations are managed through conventional CRM and accounting systems with approximately 15 named staff across Italian and Ethiopian offices.
The organization transitioned from Onlus to ETS (Ente del Terzo Settore) legal status in February 2025 following Italy's Third Sector reform, holds dual-country NGO recognition (Italy 2005, Ethiopia 2022), and is governed by a board led by founding President Ornella Lavezzoli (since 1997), Vice President Elena Roda, and Treasurer Diego Roncoroni. Key strategic partners include IFSO, AMEN, DAS, C.I.F.A. ETS, Università Bicocca di Milano, and an Italian NGO consortium for Future of India.
Il Sole Onlus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Il Sole Onlus
- Legal name
- Il Sole Associazione ETS
- Website
- https://ilsole.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Il Sole Associazione ETS is an Italian non-profit founded in 1997 that runs distance child sponsorship programs and eight thematic social projects in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, and Gaza, funded by individual Italian donors, 5x1000 tax allocations, and institutional grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Il Sole Onlus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Humanitarian Aid and Charitable Services
- NAICS
- Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)
Keywords
Where Il Sole Onlus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saronno
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Il Sole Onlus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Distance Sponsorship Programs: Monthly/annual donations from individuals sponsoring children, mothers, or women at risk. Provides school materials, healthcare, food, and psychological support to sponsored beneficiaries in Ethiopia and India.
- One-time Donations: Free-form donations made online, by bank transfer, postal order, credit card, or check. Supports specific projects or general operations.
- 5x1000 Tax Donations: Italian tax mechanism allowing taxpayers to direct 0.5% of IRPEF tax to registered non-profits. Voluntary designation on annual tax returns.
- Legacy Bequests: Testamentary bequests and legacies from donors leaving assets to the organization. Subject to Italian inheritance law provisions.
- Project-specific Fundraising: Donations directed to specific projects such as Gaza educational tents, Nepal shelter (CASANepal), or other international programs through network partnerships.
- Solidarity Products: Sale of Christmas catalogs and solidarity gifts (handcrafts, food products) for companies and individuals, with proceeds supporting projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Distance sponsorship for a child in Ethiopia: €27.50/month (€330/year) |
| Subscription | Annual | Mother support in Ethiopia (1000 days program): €130/year (€390 for 3 years) |
| Subscription | Annual | Mother support in India (1000 days program): €130/year (€390 for 3 years) |
| Subscription | Annual | CASANepal support: €300/year |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gaza Educational Tents - Open Day donation: €30 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gaza Educational Tents - Teacher support: €90 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gaza Educational Tents - Full support: €180 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Solidarity dinner event: €35/person |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Theater benefit event: €12/person |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Murder mystery dinner: €35/person |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Il Sole Onlus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Il Sole Associazione ETS is an Italian non-profit organization that runs international cooperation programs including distance sponsorship of children in Ethiopia and India, child protection services (e.g., foster home for abuse survivors), women's empowerment initiatives, vocational training for vulnerable youth, and emergency humanitarian campaigns such as educational tents in Gaza. It funds these programs through individual donations, recurring sponsorships, the Italian 5x1000 tax designation, legacy bequests, solidarity events, and project-specific fundraising, while delivering programs in partnership with local NGOs in beneficiary countries.
Product overview
Il Sole Associazione ETS is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1997, operating international cooperation programs across Ethiopia, India, and Nepal. Its core offerings include distance sponsorship programs enabling donors to support children, combined with thematic social programs addressing education, child protection, women's empowerment, and humanitarian emergencies. The main programs include La Casa dei Fiori (foster home for abuse victims), Crescere Oltre le Sfide (youth vocational training), Progetto Unnati (women's empowerment), Progetto Shuddh (menstrual hygiene education), PRO.MET.EO (migrant minor protection), Future of India (educational support), CASANepal (women's shelter), and the Gaza Educational Tents campaign. The organization also facilitates donations through multiple channels including online platforms, bank transfers, and the 5x1000 tax designation program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sostegno a Distanza (Distance Sponsorship) A recurring sponsorship program that allows individual donors in Italy to financially support specific children in Ethiopia and India, providing education, healthcare, nutrition, and basic necessities. Sponsorships are available for children (€27.50/month), mothers in 1000-day programs (€130/year), and women at risk in Nepal through CASANepal (€300/year).
- La Casa dei Fiori A foster home program in the Yeka district slums of Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, that provides shelter, psychological support, medical care, and rehabilitation for up to 25 girls aged 5-17 who are victims of sexual abuse. Operated in partnership with IFSO.
- Crescere Oltre le Sfide A vocational training and youth empowerment program in Addis Abeba providing professional skills development, employment support, and psychosocial assistance to young people aged 17-28 in conditions of social vulnerability, including a Phoenix WorkLab and a Youth Centre in Lideta.
- Progetto Unnati
Quantifiable outcome
- 422 female students trained in menstrual hygiene education (117% of target)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Il Sole Onlus
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Il Sole Onlus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Il Sole Onlus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- IFSO (Integrated Family Service Organization)coreLocal partner in Ethiopia recognized and operating since 1995 in Addis Abeba for children's rights. Co-manages Casa dei Fiori foster home and child protection programs in Yeka district slums.
- AMEN (Agenzia Missionaria Evangelo per le Nazioni)coreItalian missionary agency with extensive experience in local development programs, particularly in educational and socio-health sectors. Co-implements Crescere Oltre le Sfide project.
- DAS (Deenajana Abhyudaya Sangham)coreLocal Indian organization in Andhra Pradesh. Long-term partner for distance sponsorship programs and community development in rural areas.
- C.I.F.A. ETS (Centro Internazionale per l'Infanzia e la Famiglia)coreItalian organization co-developing PRO.M.ET.EO project for protection of migrant minors in Ethiopia.
- IRES Piemonte (Istituto di Ricerche Economico Sociali del Piemonte)coreResearch institute contributing to PRO.M.ET.EO project research and evaluation components.
- PAD (Positive Action for Development)coreLocal Ethiopian organization involved in PRO.M.ET.EO project implementation.
- Lo Scoiattolo ETScoreItalian organization coordinating Future of India Phase 2 multi-partner project across four Indian states.
- Bambarco ODVminorItalian partner in Future of India Phase 2 consortium.
- SOS Bambino I.A. APSminorItalian partner in Future of India Phase 2 consortium.
- CARE TO ACTION Onlus-ONGminorItalian partner and Care to Action Trust India in Future of India Phase 2.
- Apeiron ODVcoreItalian organization managing CASANepal shelter in Kathmandu. Il Sole collects donations on their behalf through distance sponsorship programs for women victims of violence.
- CISS (Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud)coreItalian NGO managing educational tents in Gaza. Il Sole participates in Per Gaza network to support these operations.
- ForumSADcoreNational coordination of Italian distance sponsorship associations. Organized Per Gaza campaign network for Palestinian children support.
- Fondazione Albero della VitaminorItalian foundation partner in CLIC (Clima e Cittadinanza) project for climate education in Italian schools.
- Università Bicocca di MilanominorAcademic partner since 2006 for psychologist training in Fiori che Rinascono project and research on project outcomes.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Il Sole Onlus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Compassion International: World's largest child sponsorship NGO; directly comparable business model to Il Sole's distance sponsorship program (Sostegno a Distanza), serving children in similar low-income contexts across multiple countries including Ethiopia and India.
- Fondazione AVSI: Large Italian international cooperation NGO implementing education, child protection, and women's empowerment projects in Ethiopia and globally; comparable operating model and donor base to Il Sole.
- Plan International: International NGO focused on children's rights, child sponsorship, and girls' education; closely comparable to Il Sole's Casa dei Fiori, Progetto Unnati, and Progetto Shuddh initiatives.
- CESVI Fondazione Onlus: Bergamo-based Italian NGO active in Ethiopia, India, and emergency contexts with a similar mix of international cooperation, child welfare, and recurring individual donor support.
- World Vision: Major international child sponsorship organization operating child-focused community development and emergency response in Ethiopia, India, and Gaza-like contexts, with the same recurring-donor sponsorship model.
- ChildFund International: Direct peer operating child sponsorship and development programs for vulnerable children, including Ethiopia and India, sharing Il Sole's child-protection and education focus.
- SOS Children's Villages Italia: Italian affiliate of SOS Children's Villages running direct child-care and long-term support for vulnerable children, comparable in child-protection focus to Il Sole's Casa dei Fiori.
- Fondazione L'Albero della Vita: Italian NGO already partnered with Il Sole on CLIC climate-education project; operates similar child-welfare and education programs in Ethiopia and South Asia under Italian non-profit structures.
- CELIM Bergamo Onlus: Italian NGO operating community development and educational projects in Ethiopia with a comparable small-NGO, Italian-donor-base model to Il Sole.
Broad incumbents
- Save the Children Italia: Italian affiliate of Save the Children, addressing child rights, education, and emergency response; overlaps with Il Sole on child sponsorship and education programs but operates at significantly larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Il Sole Onlus social profiles
Digital presenceIl Sole Onlus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Il Sole Onlus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Il Sole Onlus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Il Sole Onlus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Il Sole Onlus
What does Il Sole Onlus do?
Il Sole Associazione ETS is an Italian non-profit organization that runs international cooperation programs including distance sponsorship of children in Ethiopia and India, child protection services (e.g., foster home for abuse survivors), women's empowerment initiatives, vocational training for vulnerable youth, and emergency humanitarian campaigns such as educational tents in Gaza. It funds these programs through individual donations, recurring sponsorships, the Italian 5x1000 tax designation, legacy bequests, solidarity events, and project-specific fundraising, while delivering programs in partnership with local NGOs in beneficiary countries.
Is Il Sole Onlus a public or private company?
Il Sole Onlus is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Il Sole Onlus founded?
Il Sole Onlus was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Il Sole Onlus based?
Il Sole Onlus is headquartered in Saronno, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Il Sole Onlus make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Distance Sponsorship Programs are the primary driver. The others are one-time Donations, 5x1000 Tax Donations, legacy Bequests, project-specific Fundraising and solidarity Products.
Who are Il Sole Onlus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Compassion International, Fondazione AVSI, Plan International, CESVI Fondazione Onlus, World Vision, ChildFund International, SOS Children's Villages Italia, Fondazione L'Albero della Vita and CELIM Bergamo Onlus. Save the Children Italia is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Il Sole Onlus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Il Sole Onlus.
What industry is Il Sole Onlus in?
Il Sole Onlus's product category is International Humanitarian Aid and Charitable Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAKAD, International & Local Implementing NGOs, with a secondary code of BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights. Its NAICS code is 624 and its SIC code is 8300.