Charitable Foundation Starenki

What Charitable Foundation Starenki does

Charitable Foundation Starenki is a Kyiv-based Ukrainian non-profit, founded in 2017 (evolving from a 2015 volunteer project), that delivers direct material and social aid to lonely elderly people aged 65+ living on minimal pensions (as low as approximately UAH 2,000). It operates with a lean core staff of 11 paid employees supplemented by a network of 500+ volunteers and 26 local partner organizations, including territorial social service centers and Caritas Ukraine regional branches, reaching 150 settlements across 10+ oblasts (Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, and others).

The foundation's core offerings are four aid-kit categories — Food Packages (long-shelf-life staples), Hygiene Kits, Warm Kits (blankets, thermos, flashlight, introduced during energy blackouts), and household kits — supplemented by "Tea Gatherings" social events that address isolation through intergenerational contact. Distribution is executed via door-to-door volunteer delivery, supplemented by free logistics through the Nova Poshta Humanitarian program (even into front-line zones). Operations are entirely cashless, audited even during wartime, and supported by public monthly financial and descriptive reports.

Revenue is generated exclusively through charitable inflows: individual donations via social media (the majority), corporate donations and in-kind contributions (Digma Group, A1 Logistics, bakeries, logistics firms), and international grants (World Bank Group Community Connections, European Delegation, Visa, World Jewish Relief, BlueCheck Ukraine, Les Petits Frères des Pauvres). Since inception the foundation has raised UAH 70+ million, delivered 80,000+ aid packages, and built a 19,000+ person supporter community. Strategic growth is led by co-founder and CEO Varvara Tertychna, with a hybrid governance model that combines a small professional team, a large volunteer base, and advocacy engagement through HelpAge International and European policy forums.

Name

Charitable Foundation Starenki

Legal name

Charitable Organization Charitable Foundation Starenki

Website

https://starenki.com.ua

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Charitable Foundation Starenki is a Kyiv-based Ukrainian non-profit founded in 2017 that delivers food, hygiene, and warmth aid kits, plus social tea gatherings, to lonely elderly people aged 65+ across 10+ oblasts, funded by individual donations, corporate partners, and international grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Elderly Care Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Elderly care services
• Charitable foundation
• Food aid distribution
• Humanitarian assistance
• Social services nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The majority of funds are raised through social media from individual donors. Donors can make one-time contributions or set up recurring monthly donations (subscriptions). The foundation emphasizes complete cashless operations with all donations received via official bank account.
2. Corporate Donations and Partnerships: Corporate sector engagement includes direct financial contributions, provision of logistics (transportation for deliveries), in-kind donations (food for tea gatherings), and employee volunteer programs. Companies can sponsor food aid packages, warm kits, or provide ongoing monthly support for fund administration.
3. International Grants: Grants from international organizations including the European Delegation, Visa, World Bank Group (Community Connections program), World Jewish Relief, and BlueCheck Ukraine. In 2020, grants were received from the European Delegation and Visa. The foundation actively seeks new grant opportunities for both program delivery and organizational administration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Charitable Foundation Starenki provides free direct aid and social support services to lonely elderly people (65+) in Ukraine. Its core offerings include food packages (long-shelf-life staples), hygiene kits, warmth kits (blankets, thermos, flashlight), household chemical sets, and tea gatherings that foster intergenerational connection. Aid is delivered directly to beneficiaries' homes across 10+ regions of Ukraine through a volunteer network and partnerships with Caritas Ukraine and Territorial Social Service Centers.

Product overview

Charitable Foundation Starenki operates as a charitable organization (not a technology product company) providing a suite of direct aid and social support services for lonely elderly people in Ukraine. The core offerings include: Food Packages (long-shelf-life food assistance), Hygiene Kits, Warm Kits (emergency warmth supplies), and Tea Gatherings (social events for elderly). Additional services include advocacy for elderly rights and volunteer coordination. The organization was founded in 2017 and operates in 10 regions of Ukraine through partnerships with Caritas Ukraine and Territorial Centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Packages (Продуктові набори) Long-shelf-life food assistance packages delivered to lonely elderly people, containing grains, pasta, canned meat/fish, sunflower oil, tea, sugar/honey, and sweets. Provided free of charge to single elderly people aged 65+ with minimal pensions.
• Hygiene Kits (Гігієнічні набори) Hygiene assistance packages provided to elderly beneficiaries upon request, containing items such as pads, diapers, urological pads, and wipes to help elderly maintain dignity.
• Warm Kits (Теплі набори) Emergency warmth assistance kits containing blankets, half-blankets, thermos, and flashlight to help elderly people survive cold without electricity during energy infrastructure attacks and blackouts.
• Tea Gatherings (Чаювання) Social events for elderly people featuring cultural programs, treats, and intergenerational dialogue with volunteers to combat loneliness and isolation. Held in Kyiv, Dnipro, and other operational regions.
• Advocacy for Elderly Rights (Адвокація) Systemic advocacy work to influence societal perceptions of elderly people, promote age-friendly society policies in Ukraine, and reform social policy for dignified aging. Includes participation in HelpAge International workshops, Ukrainian Aid Leadership Conference, and the IX European Congress of Local Self-Government in Poland.

Quantifiable outcome

• UAH 70+ million raised since 2017
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Caritas Ukraine (Карітас України)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMore than 5 years of partnership with regional Caritas Ukraine organizations (Lviv, Boryslav, Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Dnipro, Sumy, and others). Caritas branches identify elderly beneficiaries, distribute aid, and bring volunteers. In 2022, together with Caritas, Starenki expanded to 60 cities, towns, and villages. Caritas Ukraine celebrated its 30th anniversary in July 2024 with Starenki as a guest. This is a flagship partnership enabling coverage of 10+ regions.
• Nova Poshta (Нова Пошта)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Humanitarian Nova Poshta program, Starenki receives free and fast delivery of aid packages to elderly beneficiaries, even to front-line zones. Nova Poshta recognized Starenki with the 'Варті' award in 2024 and invited a beneficiary (Valentyna Ivanivna) to receive the award. Nova Poshta also offered a training course at their Business School for the foundation.
• Tedis Ukraine (ТОВ «Тедіс Україна»)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided assistance with the distribution (transportation) of food packages in Dnipro, enabling logistics support for aid delivery in one of the key operational regions.
• SquadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCompany that supported lonely elderly people in need in the Lviv region with food packages, providing direct material aid to beneficiaries in one of Starenki's operational regions.
• Bakery Zarina (Пирогова «Заріна»)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily-owned business producing Ossetian pies since 2013 in Kyiv. Record holder for supporting tea gatherings, having provided pies for over 10 events for lonely elderly people. The founder joined after seeing an announcement on a blogger's page and considers grandparents the most vulnerable population in Ukraine.
• Pirogi ta Druzi (Пироги та Друзі)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBakery providing treats (pies) for tea gatherings for elderly people in Kyiv and Dnipro. Mentioned in multiple reports as a consistent partner for social events.
• DoubleDecker Cake & CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCafe providing treats for tea gatherings for elderly people in Kyiv and Dnipro. Mentioned in multiple reports as a consistent partner for social events supporting the tea gathering program.
• HelpAge InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarenki is a member of HelpAge International. Foundation head of advocacy Alina Dmyachenko participated in a workshop on reforming social policy for elderly people alongside the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine. HelpAge organized a round table on human rights compliance for older people and persons with disabilities in October 2022. Starenki participated in HelpAge's Voice and Gender seminar in Lviv in December 2023.
• Niciodată Singur (Romania)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRomanian organization working with elderly people and volunteers on aging issues. Co-founder and head of volunteer department Yulia Fituni visited in June 2024 to exchange experiences in working with elderly people and volunteers in the aging sector.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charity-foundation-starenki
• Instagraminstagram.com/starenki.help

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 Charitable Foundation Starenki