Operation Orphan
Operation Orphan is a UK-registered charity founded in 2010 that supports orphans and vulnerable children worldwide through long-term international projects, UK family referrals, and disaster crisis response. It operates programs including Keep a Child, Forget-Me-Notts, and Crisis Response Team, with 100% of donations reaching projects via Danbro Accounting underwriting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersAttenborough, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Operation Orphan does
Operation Orphan is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1136170, founded 2010) headquartered in Attenborough, Nottingham, with a registered US 501(c)3 entity in Florida. Its mission is to keep orphans and vulnerable children worldwide safe, warm, healthy, and learning. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: Keep a Child (long-term international projects with local partners), Forget-Me-Notts (UK-based family referral scheme delivering beds and essentials), Crisis Response Team (emergency deployments following disasters that orphan children), Hope Alive Tour (340-mile UK awareness relay on modern child slavery), Keep a Child Warm (coats and blankets), Keep a Child Learning (education support), Rubbish Science (STEM education), and Global Expeditions and Challenges (supporter travel and adventure fundraising).
The operating model is funded primarily through individual donations, corporate partnerships, community fundraising events (Christmas markets, anniversary balls, school-based activities), and an online merchandise shop. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Waste Nott Want Nott Ltd, collects and recycles mattresses, sofas, and appliances with 100% of profits routed to the charity. Since its founding, Danbro Accounting has underwritten 100% of the charity's administrative costs (approximately 30% of budget), enabling a distinctive 100% donation guarantee. Distribution of aid is executed through direct project delivery in geographies including Uganda, Zimbabwe, Moldova, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Jordan, India, and Turkey, alongside domestic UK family referrals. The Media Collective provides pro-bono website and marketing services, and additional corporate partners include Xylem Watermark, Ikano Bank, Silver X Group, Monarch Education Furniture, and MJP Media Events.
Operation Orphan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Operation Orphan
- Legal name
- Operation Orphan
- Website
- https://operation-orphan.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Operation Orphan is a UK-registered charity founded in 2010 that supports orphans and vulnerable children worldwide through long-term international projects, UK family referrals, and disaster crisis response. It operates programs including Keep a Child, Forget-Me-Notts, and Crisis Response Team, with 100% of donations reaching projects via Danbro Accounting underwriting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Operation Orphan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Aid and Child Welfare Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (624110), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)
Keywords
Where Operation Orphan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Attenborough, Nottingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Operation Orphan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Direct monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations. Text-to-donate service (ORPN22 £3 TO 70070). Monthly giving programs through Keep a Child scheme.
- Waste Nott Want Nott: Subsidiary social enterprise that collects and recycles mattresses, sofas, and appliances. 100% of profits support vulnerable children.
- Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling alternative gifts and Operation Orphan merchandise.
- Global Expeditions: Fee-based international expedition programs for supporters.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Give One Campaign |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Operation Orphan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Operation Orphan is a registered charity that delivers direct aid and long-term support to orphans and vulnerable children in the UK and internationally. Its core offerings include the Keep a Child long-term international projects program, the UK-based Forget-Me-Notts family referral scheme, the Crisis Response Team for disaster-affected children, the Hope Alive Tour awareness relay, and the Waste Nott Want Nott social-enterprise waste-recycling service whose profits fund the charity. Donations are the primary funding mechanism, with 100% of donated money guaranteed to reach projects because Danbro Accounting underwrites all administrative costs.
Product overview
Operation Orphan operates as a charity organization with a portfolio of interconnected programs designed to keep orphans and vulnerable children safe, warm, healthy, and learning. The core programs include: Keep a Child (long-term international projects), Forget-Me-Notts (UK-based family support referrals), Crisis Response Team (emergency disaster response), and Hope Alive Tour (awareness raising). The organization also runs complementary initiatives including Keep a Child Warm (clothing/blankets), Keep a Child Learning (education), Global Expeditions (volunteer travel), and Global Challenges (adventure fundraising). Additionally, Waste Nott Want Nott is a social enterprise that collects and recycles mattresses and furniture, with all profits supporting the charity's work. Third Sec provides travel risk management services. The organization guarantees 100% of donations go directly to projects through its corporate partnership with Danbro Accounting who underwrite all administrative costs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Keep a Child: Long-term global projects run with local partners.
- Forget-Me-Notts
- Crisis Response Team
- Keep a Child Warm
- Hope Alive Tour
- Waste Nott Want Nott
- Third Sec
- Rubbish Science
Products and services
- Keep a Child
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000+ children helped through Keep a Child Warm program
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Operation Orphan
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Operation Orphan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Operation Orphan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Danbro AccountingcoreFounded and maintains ongoing strong corporate partnership with Danbro since 2010. Danbro underwrites 100% of administrative costs (approximately 30% of budget), enabling the 100% donation guarantee.
- The Media CollectivecorePro bono website design and marketing services provider. Operates free design and marketing for the entire charity.
- Xylem WatermarkcoreCorporate partner providing generous donations including water harvesting system installation at Place of Safety Uganda and septic tank upgrade. Employees volunteer with Waste Nott Want Nott and collect seasonal gifts for Forget-Me-Notts.
- Ikano BankminorCorporate partner providing support for charity operations and packing days.
- Silver X GroupminorCorporate partner supporting charity operations.
- Monarch Education FurnitureminorCorporate partner providing educational furniture support.
- MJP Media EventsminorCorporate partner providing media and event support.
- Property Face2FaceminorLong-term supporters hosting annual events and raising funds (raised £660 at Christmas event 2025).
- Smellie Savage Computers LtdminorProvided new computer systems for the office following technical issues, enabling continued operations.
- Enterprise (van rental)minorProvided temporary van solution following theft of charity van, supporting Forget-Me-Notts operations.
- Distinct RecruitmentminorCorporate partner whose staff volunteered at packing days.
- Hardstaff BarriersminorCorporate partner whose staff volunteered at packing days.
- WorldlineminorCorporate partner whose staff volunteered at packing days.
- Karen CooksonminorSold her van to Operation Orphan at below-market price to support Forget-Me-Notts referrals after their van was stolen.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Operation Orphan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentPeers
Direct peers
- War Child UK: UK-registered charity focused on children affected by conflict and crisis, with rapid deployment and education programming. Strong overlap with Crisis Response Team and child protection focus.
- Hope and Homes for Children: UK-based charity working to close institutions and place orphaned/separated children into family-based care across Eastern Europe and Africa. Highly comparable child welfare focus.
- SOS Children's Villages: International charity supporting orphans and vulnerable children through long-term family-based care and local partnerships. Closely aligned with Operation Orphan's Keep a Child scheme model.
Broad incumbents
- Save the Children UK: Larger incumbent operating globally on child rights, protection, education and emergency response. Directly comparable mission but vastly broader scale, brand and institutional funding base.
- UNICEF UK: Global child rights and welfare organization with comparable international project footprint in many of the same countries (Uganda, Nepal, Syria, Sierra Leone). A dominant incumbent in the same cause category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Operation Orphan social profiles
Digital presenceOperation Orphan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Operation Orphan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Operation Orphan subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Operation Orphan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Operation Orphan 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 Operation Orphan
What does Operation Orphan do?
Operation Orphan is a registered charity that delivers direct aid and long-term support to orphans and vulnerable children in the UK and internationally. Its core offerings include the Keep a Child long-term international projects program, the UK-based Forget-Me-Notts family referral scheme, the Crisis Response Team for disaster-affected children, the Hope Alive Tour awareness relay, and the Waste Nott Want Nott social-enterprise waste-recycling service whose profits fund the charity. Donations are the primary funding mechanism, with 100% of donated money guaranteed to reach projects because Danbro Accounting underwrites all administrative costs.
Is Operation Orphan a public or private company?
Operation Orphan is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Operation Orphan founded?
Operation Orphan was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Operation Orphan based?
Operation Orphan is headquartered in Attenborough, Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Operation Orphan make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are waste Nott Want Nott, merchandise Sales and global Expeditions.
Who are Operation Orphan's main competitors?
Children in Need (BBC) is listed as a peer. Direct peers are War Child UK, Hope and Homes for Children and SOS Children's Villages. Broad incumbents are Save the Children UK and UNICEF UK.
Does Operation Orphan have an API?
No public API is recorded for Operation Orphan.
What industry is Operation Orphan in?
Operation Orphan's product category is Humanitarian Aid and Child Welfare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights, with a secondary code of BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 624110 and its SIC code is 8300.