What Stefanus Alliance International does

Stefanus Alliance International (legal name Stefanusalliansen) is a Norwegian non-profit organization headquartered in Oslo that advocates for freedom of religion or belief (trosfrihet) and supports persecuted Christians and other religious minorities globally. Founded in 1990 (with organizational history extending back to 1967 per firmographic records) and operating with a lean staff of approximately 17 employees, the organization runs programs in 26 countries — including Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, North Korea, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe — exclusively through local partner churches and organizations rather than deploying its own missionaries. Its core products are advocacy and educational services: a quarterly magazine (Magasinet Stefanus), the biennial Stefanus Prize (€10,000, established 2005), appeal-letter and prayer-friend mobilization programs (Appelltjenesten, Bønnevenn), the Søndag for de forfulgte (Sunday for the Persecuted) church resource, multi-language educational booklets (Trosfrihet for alle, translated into 9 languages), documentary films, and co-organized annual torchlight processions with Open Doors Norway. There is no proprietary technology platform; distribution is content-led across web, email, social media, print, and live events.

The organization's revenue model is donor-funded rather than commercial. Ordinary gift income totaled approximately 34.9 million NOK in 2024 (≈USD 3.1–3.2M), up ~5% year-over-year in line with Norwegian inflation; of this, recurring monthly donations (fastgiver) account for roughly one-third. Additional revenue streams include one-time and memorial gifts, testamentary bequests (multi-year average ~2 million NOK with material annual variance), and government grants from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for whom Stefanusalliansen acts as a key partner in human rights and religious freedom work. Tax-deductible giving (skattefradrag) is available to Norwegian donors. The customer base is split between Norwegian supporting congregations and individuals (the primary fundraising audience) and end-beneficiary religious minorities in persecuted regions who receive legal aid, documentation support, and advocacy via partner NGOs such as Human Friends Organization (Pakistan), Article 18 (Iran), Forum 18 (Central Asia), Korea Future, Helping Hands Korea, and CSW.

Name

Stefanus Alliance International

Legal name

Stefanusalliansen

Website

https://stefanus.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stefanus Alliance International is a Norwegian non-profit that advocates for freedom of religion or belief and supports persecuted Christians and other religious minorities in 26 countries through local partner churches, funded by Norwegian donations, bequests, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations (BPAGAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Religious freedom advocacy
• Human rights nonprofit
• Christian persecution support
• Faith-based advocacy
• Religious liberty organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

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 from individuals and congregations: Stefanusalliansen raises funds through regular donations from individuals and congregations in Norway. Monthly recurring donations (fastgiver) represent approximately one-third of ordinary gift revenues.
2. One-time gifts: Single gifts from individual donors, including special occasion gifts and memorial gifts.
3. Testamentary bequests: Bequests left through wills. Multi-year average approximately 2 million NOK, with significant annual variation.
4. Government grants: Stefanusalliansen is described as a key partner for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Utenriksdepartementet) in human rights and religious freedom work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Stefanus Alliance International (Stefanusalliansen) is a Norwegian Christian nonprofit that advocates for religious freedom (trosfrihet) globally and supports persecuted Christians and other religious minorities. The organization mobilizes Norwegian congregations and individual supporters through donations, prayer networks, and advocacy campaigns, and channels resources to local partner churches and organizations in 26 countries. It also produces educational publications, an award program (the Stefanus Prize), church resources, and public events such as the annual Fakkeltog torchlight procession.

Product overview

Stefanusalliansen is a Norwegian Christian advocacy organization focused on religious freedom. The organization operates primarily as a nonprofit advocacy entity rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of advocacy services (appeal letter campaigns, prayer services), educational publications (Stefanus Magazine, booklets on religious freedom in multiple languages), an award program (Stefanus Prize), church resources, and events. There is no unified platform or software product architecture—these are standalone advocacy and educational programs delivered through the organization's website and communication channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stefanusprisen (Stefanus Prize): Award established by the organization in 2005, given every other year to individuals who have distinguished themselves in the fight for religious freedom. The prize consists of 10,000 euros.
• Magasinet Stefanus
• Appellvenn
• Bønnevenn

Products and services

• Magasinet Stefanus (Stefanus Magazine) Quarterly magazine published in Norwegian that delivers news, country updates, stories of persecution, and organizational information to Norwegian supporters of the religious freedom cause.
• Stefanusprisen (Stefanus Prize) A biennial international award recognizing individuals who have shown remarkable dedication to the defense of religious freedom, awarded with a 10,000 euro prize.
• Appelltjenesten / Appellvenn (Appeal Service) An advocacy service that enables Norwegian supporters to send appeal letters to authorities on behalf of persecuted individuals, available via SMS and email.
• Forbønnstjenesten / Bønnevenn (Prayer Service) A prayer letter service providing Norwegian supporters with regular prayer requests and updates for persecuted Christians, delivered via email.
• Søndag for de forfulgte (Sunday for the Persecuted) A church resource program providing materials (films, prayers, sermon suggestions, songs, complete service templates) for Norwegian congregations to observe a dedicated Sunday honoring persecuted Christians.
• Trosfrihet for alle (Freedom of Religion for All) An educational booklet series on religious freedom, translated into 9 languages, produced as teaching material for churches, schools, and confirmation programs.
• Kvinner og trosfrihet (Women and Freedom of Religion) An educational booklet addressing the distinct and hidden ways in which women's religious freedom is attacked, compared to men's.
• Fakkeltog (Torchlight Procession) An annual public demonstration co-organized with Open Doors Norway in Norwegian cities, advocating for persecuted Christians and raising public awareness of religious freedom issues.
• Vennskapsbarnehage (Friendship Kindergarten) A program engaging Norwegian kindergartens in supporting the organization's work for religious freedom through educational and engagement activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Resources translated into 9 languages
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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, major and minor.

• Human Friends Organization (HFO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014HFO is Stefanusalliansen's key partner in Pakistan. They provide legal aid to victims of blasphemy laws and forced conversions, including assistance to Asia Bibi and ongoing cases like Asif Pervaiz. HFO also builds churches and provides social support to persecuted Christians.
• Article 18coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that monitors the underground church in Iran and documents persecution of Christians and Baha'is. Publishes annual reports on religious freedom conditions in Iran.
• Forum 18 News ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides truthful, original, detailed, and accurate monitoring and analysis of violations of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion in Central Asia, Russia, South Caucasus, and Belarus.
• Korea FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocuments human rights violations in North Korea through interviews with defectors and refugees, and conducts political advocacy.
• Helping Hands KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides assistance to North Korean refugees who flee into China, helping those who risk severe punishment if returned to North Korea.
• CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Christian human rights organization that Stefanusalliansen describes as a sister organization. Provides advocacy and documentation of religious persecution globally.
• Åpne Dører (Open Doors Norway)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with which Stefanusalliansen co-organizes annual torchlight processions (fakkeltog) for the persecuted church.
• Josefs HusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA refuge facility in Central Asia providing short-term accommodation, spiritual support, and mental and physical recovery for Christians facing persecution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Christian Concern: US-based Christian human rights organization documenting persecution and advocating for religious freedom globally. Direct peer with overlapping FORB-only focus and comparable donor mobilization tactics.
• Voice of the Martyrs: US-based Christian organization serving persecuted Christians worldwide through advocacy, prayer, and partner support. Directly comparable mission with similar partner-driven field model and similar donor mobilization approach.
• Article 18: Specialized organization monitoring the underground church in Iran and documenting persecution of Christians and Baha'is. Named partner of Stefanusalliansen; highly comparable focus on FORB documentation and country-level reporting.
• Aid to the Church in Need: International Catholic pontifical foundation supporting persecuted and suffering Christians through information, prayer, and aid. Comparable mission to support persecuted Christians with similar advocacy and education outputs.
• Forum 18 News Service: Independent news service monitoring freedom of religion violations in Central Asia, Russia, South Caucasus, and Belarus. Named partner of Stefanusalliansen; comparable documentation and analytical mandate in the same priority regions.
• Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW): UK-based international Christian human rights organization specializing in freedom of religion or belief. Stefanusalliansen explicitly describes CSW as a 'sister organization,' indicating highly overlapping mission, methodology, and target geographies.
• Release International: UK- and Canada-based Christian organization advocating for persecuted Christians and supporting persecuted church families. Closely comparable in mission scope, Christian-only framing, and partner-based field model.
• Open Doors (Åpne Dører): Norwegian arm of Open Doors International, a global Christian advocacy and aid organization serving persecuted Christians. Stefanusalliansen explicitly co-organizes torchlight processions with this organization, making them the closest operational peer in the same Norwegian donor market.

Broad incumbents

• Norwegian Helsinki Committee: Norwegian human rights NGO advocating for human rights in Europe and Central Asia. Comparable as a Norway-headquartered advocacy NGO with international geographic focus and Norwegian government ties, but with broader human rights mandate beyond FORB.
• Amnesty International Norway: Norwegian branch of global human rights organization. Operates in the same Norwegian donor and advocacy market with overlapping human rights mandate, but broader scope beyond religious freedom.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/trosfrihet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2ZQz0Sqy_W_2rqjA9pg1hA
• Facebookfacebook.com/stefanusalliansen
• Instagraminstagram.com/stefanusalliansen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stefanusalliansen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Stefanus Alliance International