Saigon Children's Charity CIO

What Saigon Children's Charity CIO does

Saigon Children's Charity CIO is a UK-registered international charity (charity number 1157774), founded in 1992 by Paul Cleves, that operates exclusively across Vietnam to remove barriers to education for disadvantaged children and youth. It received its full Vietnamese licence in 1996 and now operates through a project office in Ho Chi Minh City (63/NVVH-VPĐD), with sister organization Saigon Children's Charity USA (EIN 13-3955816) based in San Jose, California. The charity runs four core programmes: the Child Development Scholarship Programme (49,172 scholarships awarded from K-12 through tertiary education), the School Building Programme (239 schools and 605 classrooms constructed since 1993), the Getting Ready For Work Programme (27,006 enrolments in English, IT, vocational, and skills training with a reported 90% graduate employment rate), and the Special Needs Education Programme (12,738 direct beneficiaries with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders). It currently supports more than 3,000 children and young people annually across 7+ Vietnamese provinces.

The business model is donation-driven, with no products or services sold. Revenue is generated through individual donations (one-off, monthly 'Anh Chi Em' programme, child sponsorship, peer-to-peer fundraising via Funraise and JustGiving), corporate CSR partnerships (workplace giving through Benevity and GlobalGiving, co-designed projects with multinationals such as SC Johnson, MiTek, BASF, EnQuest, KPMG, Dragon Capital, and Wink Hotels), and event-based fundraising (Charity Cycle Adventure — over US$830,000 raised across 15+ editions; U-GO Far cross-border cycling with 1:1 matching from U-GO; Saigon Summer Ball; The Inner Spiral art exhibition). Over US$25 million has been allocated to projects across its 33-year history. Distribution is direct: donations are received through online platforms and bank transfer in GBP (HSBC UK) and VND (VIB Bank Vietnam), while programme delivery is managed by in-house staff and partner institutions including Thang Long School (support concluded 01 January 2025). The technology stack is non-proprietary and limited to standard operational and fundraising tools; there is no AI/ML capability, software product, or intellectual property portfolio.

Name

Saigon Children's Charity CIO

Legal name

Saigon Children's Charity CIO

Website

https://saigonchildren.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Saigon Children's Charity CIO is a UK-registered international charity operating in Vietnam since 1992, delivering scholarships, school construction, vocational training, and special needs education to disadvantaged children across 7+ provinces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Education Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK), Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education (BPADAKAB)

Keywords

• Children education programs
• Scholarship funding services
• School building charity
• Special needs education
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ho Chi Minh City

HQ country

Vietnam

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-off and monthly donations from individuals via bank transfer, credit/debit cards through JustGiving and Funraise platforms. Monthly giving programme 'Anh Chi Em' allows donors to give flexible amounts regularly. Donations are allocated to general fund or specific initiatives.
2. Child Sponsorship: Individual sponsors support specific children through scholarship packages. University students receive tuition fee support; school students receive school supplies, uniforms, and 10 kg of rice per month. Sponsors receive quarterly updates and annual reports with photos.
3. Corporate Sponsorship & CSR Partnerships: Corporate partners contribute via workplace giving (Benevity, GlobalGiving), direct corporate donations, cause marketing campaigns, and co-designed long-term projects. Partners include SC Johnson, MiTek, EnQuest, BASF, U-GO, KPMG, Dragon Capital, and Wink Hotels.
4. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Individual fundraisers create campaigns through the Funraise platform, sharing stories on social media. saigonchildren sends 100% of raised funds directly to the field and reports back to fundraisers with impact data.
5. Event-Based Fundraising: Revenue raised through participation events: Charity Cycle Adventure (cycling challenge), U-GO Far (cross-border cycle for girls' education), Saigon Summer Ball (gala dinner), and The Inner Spiral art exhibition. Merchandise sales via the Gift Giving Gallery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Saigon Children's Charity CIO delivers educational support programs for disadvantaged children and youth across Vietnam, including multi-year scholarships (K-12 through university), school construction in underserved areas, vocational and English/IT training for out-of-school youth, and early-intervention special needs education for children with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. The organization funds and operates these programmes directly through a network of full-time social workers, teachers, and a community-based Child Development Support Network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PowHERful: Annual campaign launched in 2023 to empower disadvantaged girls to unlock a brighter future through education, focusing on STEM opportunities for female students.
• Anh Chị Em
• Little Safety Corner
• STEPS Challenge
• H.U.E Art Exhibition
• Saigon Summer Ball
• Đa dạng thần kinh
• Seasonal Cards
• Charity Cycle Adventure (CCA)
• U-GO Far

Products and services

• Child Development Scholarship Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 49,172 scholarships awarded; 239 schools built; 27,006 enrolments in skills training; 12,738 direct beneficiaries in special needs education
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MiTekcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Construction technology company sponsoring the PowHERful initiative (since 2023), which empowers disadvantaged girls in STEM. MiTek staff participate as volunteers and advisors in STEM School Tours and training. 20 MiTek employees serve as STEM mentors.
• SC JohnsoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting the Child Development Scholarship Programme in Binh Duong. In 2025-2026, the partnership provided 94 scholarships and experiential activities (metro tour, museum visit) for scholarship students. Also organised dengue fever prevention sessions for 1,219 students in Can Tho.
• EnQuestcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy company funder of two classrooms in the new kindergarten at Ba Chuc border area (An Giang province). Classroom value exceeds 40,000 USD.
• BASFcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChemical company co-funded one classroom and 200 sqm playground at Ba Chuc Kindergarten (An Giang) alongside partners Azelis-MKVN, Nippon Paint, Phuong Nam Panel, SamChem Sphere, Tam Tran, and Viet Duc JSC.
• U-GOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border cycling challenge organiser. Provides 1:1 matching funds for all money raised by participants in U-GO Far cycling events for girls' education in Vietnam. Partnership enables doubling of fundraising impact for female scholarship recipients.
• KPMG VietnamcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for U-GO Far 2025. Additionally, KPMG consultant Xuân Duy (alumnus) conducts CV and interview skills workshops for current scholarship students. KPMG also provides annual financial statement auditing for the charity.
• Dragon Capital VietnamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor for U-GO Far 2025 cross-border cycling challenge.
• Wink HotelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor for U-GO Far 2025 cross-border cycling challenge.
• Baker & McKenzieminorOthersLaw firm providing legal counsel. Yeo Chung (Trinh Yeo Chung Seck) leads M&A, IT/C, and pharmaceutical practices at Baker & McKenzie Vietnam and serves as saigonchildren trustee.
• International School of Phnom Penh (ISF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organiser of the U-GO Far cross-border cycling challenge alongside saigonchildren. Supports girls' education in both Vietnam and Cambodia.
• Hoi Bao Ve Quyen Tre Em TP. Ho Chi Minh (Child Protection Association HCMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organiser of SNEP talkshow on 'Understanding the Behaviours of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder' in April 2026. Partnership leverages professional expertise in child rights and protection.
• Annam GalleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt gallery co-organiser of 'The Inner Spiral' 2025 art exhibition benefiting saigonchildren's scholarship programme. Gallery artists contributed works with a portion of proceeds donated to the charity.
• New World Saigon HotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel venue and co-organiser of 'The Inner Spiral' 2025 art exhibition. Proceeds from artwork sales benefit saigonchildren's scholarship programme.
• Azelis-MKVN, Nippon Paint, Phuong Nam Panel, SamChem Sphere, Tam Tran, Viet Duc JSCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGroup of companies that co-funded one classroom and playground construction at Ba Chuc Kindergarten alongside BASF.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Plan International Vietnam: Large international NGO with established education, child protection, and youth programmes in Vietnam. Comparable in mission and beneficiary focus, but operates as part of a global portfolio with much larger fundraising and programmatic scale.
• Compassion International: Global child sponsorship organisation operating in Vietnam through church-based partnerships. Comparable in sponsorship-driven revenue model and child development focus, but at significantly larger scale.
• ChildFund International: International child-focused NGO operating sponsorship and education programmes across multiple Asian countries including Vietnam. Comparable in child sponsorship and education focus, but at materially larger global scale.
• SOS Children's Villages Vietnam: International NGO operating residential care, family strengthening, and education programmes for children in Vietnam. Comparable in child welfare and education focus, but with broader programme scope and global institutional backing.

Direct peers

• KOTO (Know One, Teach One): Vietnam-based nonprofit providing vocational training and English language education to at-risk and disadvantaged youth. Directly comparable in programme mix (vocational training, English, hospitality) and target beneficiary profile.
• VinaCapital Foundation: Vietnam-focused nonprofit operating education and health programmes for disadvantaged children, including scholarship and school-building initiatives. Closely comparable in country focus, donor base, and CSR partnership model.
• Reach Out Vietnam: Vietnam-based nonprofit delivering education, health, and social support to rural and disadvantaged communities. Comparable in country exclusivity and grassroots programme delivery.
• Live & Give Vietnam: Vietnam-focused NGO providing education and welfare support to disadvantaged children. Comparable in country focus, programme mix, and reliance on individual/corporate donor base.
• Blue Dragon Children's Foundation: Vietnam-based NGO supporting disadvantaged children and youth through education, vocational training, and direct social services. Highly comparable in mission, beneficiary profile, and Vietnam-exclusive geographic focus.
• Children's Hope in Action (CHIA): Vietnam-based nonprofit providing education, shelter, and social services to disadvantaged children. Comparable in mission, beneficiary segment, and grassroots delivery model in Vietnam.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Saigonchildren
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saigonchildren

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Saigon Children's Charity CIO