What StoveTeam International does

StoveTeam International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, that designs, produces, and distributes fuel-efficient masonry cookstoves to underserved households in Central America. The organization operates field offices in Guatemala (Retalhuleu), Nicaragua (Estelí), and El Salvador (Sonsonate), employing 11-50 staff across the U.S. and country offices, including a core team of nine trained stovebuilders in Guatemala plus three in Totonicapán. Since inception, StoveTeam has produced more than 85,000 stoves and reached over 600,000 people with cleaner cooking technology.

The organization's flagship product, the Justa Cookstove, is a fuel-efficient masonry stove with an integrated chimney that has been independently tested at Tier 5 on the WHO ISO indoor air pollution scale — the highest possible rating. The design delivers an 86% reduction in household smoke and a 50% reduction in wood fuel consumption, with each installed unit estimated to prevent up to 12 tons of CO2 emissions over its lifetime. The Justa is locally manufactured by trained artisans, with quality and installation standards codified through the Maestros Comaleros Academy. An adjacent product line, the Ecocina, extends the portfolio beyond the core Justa. A dedicated Monitoring & Evaluation function tracks usage, health outcomes, and carbon impact across the installed base.

StoveTeam operates a hybrid revenue model typical of impact-focused international development nonprofits. Each stove carries an all-in cost of approximately $250, of which recipient families contribute $40-50 via a sliding-scale contribution model; the balance is funded through diversified channels including individual donations, foundation grants (notably Davis Projects for Peace beginning 2026), corporate sponsorships from the North American hearth industry (HPBA and HPBA-Canada as Charity of Choice), Rotary Club partnerships, planned giving, and ancillary earned revenue such as cookbook sales. Local implementation is delivered through partnerships with in-country NGOs including Avanza, ESNA, El Porvenir, EcoLogic, and AHDESA. Recent programmatic expansion targets 500 additional families in Nuevo Palmar, Guatemala.

Name

StoveTeam International

Legal name

StoveTeam International

Website

https://stoveteam.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

StoveTeam International is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that designs, manufactures, and distributes the Tier 5-rated Justa masonry cookstove to underserved rural households across Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Cookstove Distribution and Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)

SIC

Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Kitchen Ventilation (Hoods/Make-Up Air/Grease Duct) (IMADANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biomass Combustion & Boiler Island Technology (Grates, Fluidized Bed, Burners) (EUAAAGAG)

Keywords

• Clean cookstoves
• Nonprofit humanitarian aid
• Indoor air pollution
• Renewable cooking solutions
• Central America development

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland, OR

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors making one-time or recurring donations. Major gift program ($500+ annual donors in 'The Fire' circle), monthly 'Ember' membership at $26/month, and general donations. Stoves funded at $250 each.
2. Grants and Foundation Funding: Funding from foundations including ARIA Foundation, The Scharpf Fund, The Roundhouse Foundation, ClimateHound, Gangarosa International Health Foundation, and others. Davis Projects for Peace grants support specific projects.
3. Cookbook Sales: Award-winning cookbook 'SMOKE: The Flavor of Guatemala' available for $100 donation. Generates awareness while supporting operations.
4. Corporate and Industry Sponsorships: Hearth industry sponsors through 1,000 Stove Challenge. Firekeeper ($5,000+), Blazers ($1,000+), Kindlers ($500+), Firestarters ($250+) tiers. Associated Energy Systems, The Foundry, ICC Chimney as major sponsors.
5. Legacy Giving and Planned Gifts: Bequests, Charitable IRA Rollovers, retirement account beneficiary designations, and other planned giving vehicles through Legacy Society program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

StoveTeam International partners with communities in Central America to deliver and sustain clean cookstove solutions that improve health, protect the environment, and ignite lasting change. The organization designs, manufactures, and installs fuel-efficient Justa cookstoves through direct field teams and factory partners across Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Each $250 cookstove benefits a family of 5-8 people, reduces indoor smoke by 86%, cuts wood usage by 50%, and saves up to 12 tons of CO2 annually.

Product overview

StoveTeam International offers a portfolio of clean cookstove products and programs centered on the Justa Cookstove, their flagship fuel-efficient masonry stove. Their offerings include the Justa Cookstove (a fixed installation with chimney), the Ecocina (portable rocket stove), the Maestros Comaleros Academy (stovebuilder training program), the SMOKE cookbook (award-winning publication), and the Spanish Unit educational curriculum. The organization also operates donor programs including Emberships (monthly giving), The Fire (premier donor circle), and Legacy Society (planned giving). Products work together to deliver clean cooking solutions while building local economies through job creation for stovebuilders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Justa Cookstove: StoveTeam's primary fuel-efficient cookstove product designed for families in Central America.
• Justa
• Ecocina
• Maestros Comaleros Academy
• The Fire
• Embership

Products and services

• Justa Cookstove A fuel-efficient masonry cookstove with chimney that reduces indoor smoke by 86%, cuts wood usage by 50%, and saves up to 12 tons of CO2 annually. Each unit costs $250 and benefits families of 5-8 people. Tested at Tier 5 on the ISO indoor air pollution scale.
• Ecocina A portable rocket stove designed for flexibility and ease of transport, offering fuel efficiency benefits for families and small businesses. Produced at Avanza factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.
• Maestros Comaleros Academy An intensive three-day training program that teaches stovebuilding skills through classroom theory and hands-on building experience. Produces certified stovebuilders who can educate families and construct stoves to specification, paired with fair-wage employment opportunities.
• SMOKE: The Flavor of Guatemala Cookbook An award-winning cookbook featuring over 70 recipes from local Guatemalan cooks, celebrating the culture and flavor of Guatemala while illustrating the global issue of open-fire cooking. Available with a $100 donation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% smoke reduction
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EcoLogic Development FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in Totonicapán, Guatemala supporting sustainability initiatives including reforestation and water projects. Collaborated to build 300 cookstoves across Totonicapán communities. Provided project coordination, translation support, and leveraged trusted community relationships.
• Rotary Club of RetalhuleucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Host partner club in Guatemala. Facilitates projects, provides technical support and resources, assists with placement throughout Retalhuleu, transportation of materials, labor donations, material donations, housing for stove builders, and storage space.
• El PorvenircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Partner in Nicaragua working with StoveTeam on Justa stove placements. Collaborates on project implementation and community engagement.
• AvanzacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Long-time factory partner in Estelí, Nicaragua operated by Elida and Nelson Olivas. Produces Ecocina and Justa cookstoves. Factory has installed hundreds of fuel-efficient stoves. Expanded to include Justa stove project.
• CommitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Canadian Rotary partner supporting Nicaragua projects. Collaborates on Justa stove placements with El Porvenir and Avanza.
• ESNAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024In-country partner in El Salvador working to expand stove access in communities around Sonsonate and La Libertad. Placed 69 stoves in 2024 and 121 in 2025 through subsidy model.
• District 5100 RotarycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Led by Tamara Kaufman, mobilized networks to raise funds for 70 stoves in Nuevo Palmar, Quetzaltenango. Raised more than $17,500 in two weeks. Multiple clubs across district support stove projects.
• White Salmon-Bingen Rotary ClubcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Led District Grant for Nuevo Palmar project. Raised $17,000+ for stoves. Project Leader Tammy Kaufman participated in field visits.
• Valle de Guatemala Rotary ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in Quiche, Guatemala supporting stove projects in the region.
• AgrosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in Quiche, Guatemala working on stove projects.
• Roberto SacasacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2023Guatemalan photographer who photographed cookbook 'SMOKE: The Flavor of Guatemala'. Captured bounty of Guatemalan agriculture, food, culture, and StoveTeam's work.
• Club Rotario RetalhuleucoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2022Local Guatemalan Rotary club. Facilitated original Retalhuleu project connection. Francisco Quevedo provides technical support and resources. Jose Carlos leads community support efforts.
• AHDESA (Asociación Hondureña para el Desarrollo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner organization in Honduras that developed the Maestros Comaleros method over 20 years. StoveTeam worked with AHDESA during 2021 to adapt the system for Guatemala.
• Trees, Water & PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner organization in Honduras. StoveTeam collaborated with AHDESA and Trees, Water & People to adapt the Maestros Comaleros training system for Guatemala projects.
• HPBA (Hearth, Patio, Barbecue Association)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Adopted StoveTeam as Charity of Choice in 2020. 2022: hearth industry sponsors 1,000 Justa stoves. 2023: Charity of Choice again. Supports 1,000 Stove Challenge initiative.
• HPBA-CanadacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Canadian counterpart to HPBA. Adopted StoveTeam as Charity of Choice. Supports 1,000 Stove Challenge with industry partners.
• The FoundrycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2019Ontario, Canada hearth dealer. Led by Craig Gutowski, championed StoveTeam in hearth industry. Signed up dealers to support program. Donated more than 70 stoves. Share cost of matching donations.
• ICC ChimneycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2019Quebec, Canada partner sharing cost of half-price stove donations through hearth dealer program.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EcoZoom: For-profit clean cookstove company producing portable biomass and solar stoves for distribution in developing markets. Comparable to StoveTeam in clean-cookstove category but differs in commercial distribution model and broader global footprint.
• Practical Action: UK-headquartered international development NGO that runs clean-cooking and energy-access programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable to StoveTeam in NGO-driven household energy mission but operates at much broader geographic and programmatic scale.
• BURN Manufacturing: Kenya-based for-profit clean cookstove manufacturer producing factory-built biomass and gas stoves at industrial scale for East Africa. Comparable to StoveTeam in product category (efficient biomass stoves) but contrasts sharply in delivery model — venture-backed mass manufacturing vs. NGO-trained masonry construction.
• Envirofit International: Larger social enterprise that manufactures and distributes improved cookstoves across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable to StoveTeam in mission (clean household energy) but operates at greater scale with a hybrid for-profit/NGO model and broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• EcoLogic Development Fund: US-based nonprofit that partners with rural Central American communities on sustainable livelihoods, including cookstove programs. Direct peer to StoveTeam: same NGO model, same Guatemala/Central America operating geography, and an active StoveTeam partner (collaborated on 300 cookstoves in Totonicapán).
• AHDESA (Asociación Hondureña para el Desarrollo): Honduran NGO that developed the Maestros Comaleros stovebuilder training method over 20 years and serves as StoveTeam's training-program partner. Closely comparable organization: similar NGO structure, biomass cookstove mission, and a direct knowledge-transfer relationship with StoveTeam.
• ClimateHound: Carbon-offset company that sponsors Ecocina and Justa cookstove production in Nicaragua as part of its portfolio. Direct peer relationship with StoveTeam (active financial/carbon-credit partner) and a useful comparator for the carbon-revenue channel StoveTeam is exploring in other countries.
• Trees, Water & People: US-based nonprofit that builds clean cookstoves and reforests communities in Honduras and Guatemala. Highly comparable to StoveTeam: similar NGO model, biomass cookstove focus, Central American field operations, and StoveTeam's AHDESA partnership shows overlapping geographic and operational territory.

Emerging players

• Solar Cookers International: Nonprofit promoting solar cooking as a household energy alternative in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Comparable to StoveTeam in NGO-led clean-cooking mission but offers a different technology pathway (solar vs. biomass combustion), making it a thematic rather than direct competitor.

Others

• Clean Cooking Alliance: UN-hosted public-private alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves) that convenes governments, NGOs, and companies to expand clean cooking access globally. Adjacent to StoveTeam rather than competitive — it is the sector's umbrella body and a potential funding/convening partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stoveteam-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 StoveTeam International