Stahili Foundation

What Stahili Foundation does

Stahili Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 by Michelle Oliel, Laura Walker, and Hannah Ackerman in The Hague, Netherlands, with field operations in Kenya. The organization was established after its co-founders discovered that the majority of children at a Kenyan orphanage had living parents or family members who could not care for them due to poverty, with the orphanage operating as a for-profit business exploiting children to attract volunteers and donations. Stahili's mission is to empower vulnerable families and communities and to help children living in residential care institutions return to their families.

The organization's core service portfolio spans four program areas: Protection (child safeguarding and anti-trafficking), Development (family and community strengthening), Education (school supplies, uniforms, meals, scholarships), and Human Rights (advocacy and policy work). Direct services in Kenya include family tracing, reunification support, community-based foster care, and post-reunification assistance. Advocacy and awareness work is delivered through a Youth Ambassadors program with more than 30 ambassadors across 16 countries and four continents, plus strategic partnerships with educational institutions such as the International Baccalaureate Organization and the International School of The Hague.

Stahili is entirely donation-funded, accepting contributions through US 501(c)(3), Netherlands bank transfer (Stichting Stahili, IBAN NL89 RABO 0327 7158 63), Kenya MPESA Paybill, and PayPal. The organization reports that more than 95% of donations went directly to support programs in 2016. Revenue streams are diversified across individual donors and small institutional funders with no disclosed major anchor donor. The organization maintains a small team of approximately 10 employees plus a broader volunteer and ambassador network, with no proprietary technology products, AI capabilities, or software platforms in its operating model.

Name

Stahili Foundation

Legal name

Stahili Foundation

Website

https://stahili.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stahili Foundation is a The Hague-based non-profit that reunites children in Kenyan orphanages with their families and combats orphanage trafficking, operating family reunification, education, and human rights programs funded by donations across the Netherlands, US, and Kenya.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare and Family-Based Care Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Child protection services
• Family reunification programs
• Community-based foster care
• Orphanage trafficking prevention
• Youth advocacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a non-profit organization, Stahili Foundation generates revenue entirely through donations from individual donors, institutional funders, and supporters. The organization emphasizes that more than 95% of all donations go directly to support their programmes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stahili Foundation is a non-profit organization that runs child protection, family reunification, education, and human rights programs focused on moving children out of residential care institutions (orphanages) and back into families, primarily in Kenya. Its work includes family tracing, reunification support, community-based foster care, education assistance (uniforms, meals, supplies), and global advocacy against orphanage trafficking and voluntourism. Operations are funded by donations, with over 95% of donations going directly to programme support.

Product overview

Stahili Foundation is a non-profit organization (not a technology company) offering a portfolio of child protection, advocacy, and family reunification services. The organization operates programs in four core areas: Protection, Development, Education, and Human Rights. Their primary service model includes family reunification (helping children leave orphanages and return to families), community-based foster care development, and youth ambassador advocacy programs. They also provide pro bono opportunities through their Human Rights 365 Team. The organization does not offer software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protection Programs
• Development Programs
• Education Programs
• Human Rights Programs
• Family Reunification Services
• Community-Based Foster Care
• Youth Ambassadors Program
• Human Rights 365 Team

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of children in one orphanage had family members who simply could not care for them due to poverty - demonstrating the effectiveness of family reunification approach
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 and major.

• International Baccalaureate Organization (IB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStahili collaborated with IB World Magazine to publish a Learning Story titled 'Responsible engagement: The challenge of helping orphans'. The organization is committed to spreading awareness about responsible volunteering in schools through IB's educational network.
• International School of The Hague (ISH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStahili partnered with ISH educators to develop workshops helping students explore children's rights and responsibilities. Also piloted the Voluntourism Project for year 11 students on responsible volunteering.
• Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers InitiativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStahili partnered with the Dallaire Initiative to launch country reports on children in armed conflict in 12 countries (Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Colombia, South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic, and Mali). Reports serve as companion to the Dallaire Initiative handbook.
• Lori E. Talsky Center for Human Rights of Women and Children at Michigan State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published reports on children in armed conflict with Stahili and the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. Located at Michigan State University College of Law.
• European Youth ParliamentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStahili contributed expertise to the Human Rights Committee at the 84th International Session in Norway, supporting the drafting and offering expertise during debates on child institutionalisation. Resolution was passed with overwhelming majority.
• Stahili Kenya CBOcoreOthersRegistered community-based organization in Kenya operating field programs including family tracing, reunification, education support, and community-based foster care development.
• Kenyan Association for Alternative Family Care of ChildrenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStahili is a member of this alliance of organizations committed to family-based care of children in Kenya.
• Alliance of 250 OrganizationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStahili joined an alliance of 250 organizations calling for improved global monitoring framework for assessing needs of vulnerable children, including those in institutional care.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• War Child: An international NGO focused on the protection and rights of children affected by war, with whom Stahili has co-published country reports on children in armed conflict. Comparable in child rights advocacy and partnership-based programming.
• Lumos: Founded by J.K. Rowling, Lumos is a leading international NGO that works to end the institutionalization of children worldwide by supporting family-based care. Directly comparable to Stahili in mission, family reunification methodology, and global advocacy against orphanages.
• Hope and Homes for Children: An international NGO focused on closing institutions and developing family-based care alternatives for children in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. Directly comparable to Stahili in de-institutionalization approach and child welfare focus.
• Family for Every Child: A global alliance of NGOs working to keep children in safe, loving families. Directly comparable to Stahili in its family-strengthening mission, global reach, and member-based advocacy model for family-based alternative care.
• Better Care Network: An international network of organizations working to improve the lives of children living outside of family care. Directly comparable to Stahili as a peer organization in the family-based care advocacy and policy arena, with whom Stahili has cooperated.
• Retrak: An international NGO focused on street-connected children and family reintegration, with significant operations in Africa. Directly comparable to Stahili in family reunification and child protection work in Kenya and East Africa.

Broad incumbents

• ChildFund International: A large international child-focused NGO with sponsorship programs in Kenya and other developing countries. A broad incumbent with overlapping child welfare, education, and family strengthening programs in the same geographies.
• SOS Children's Villages: One of the largest international NGOs focused on children and young people without parental care, operating in 130+ countries. A broad incumbent with overlapping child welfare and alternative care programs, though historically more institutionally-oriented than Stahili.

Emerging players

• Consortium for Street Children: An international NGO and network focused on the rights of street children globally. Comparable to Stahili's child protection and family-based care mission, particularly in the African contexts where both organizations operate.

Regional players

• African Child Policy Forum: A pan-African advocacy organization promoting children's rights across the continent. Comparable to Stahili in child rights advocacy focus, with complementary regional scope that could create partnership opportunities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stahilifoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stahili Foundation