Safe Passage

What Safe Passage does

Safe Passage (also known as Camino Seguro) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by Hanley Denning in Guatemala City, serving children and families from Zones 3 and 7 — marginalized neighborhoods surrounding the largest landfill in Central America. The organization operates as the only school in Guatemala implementing the Expeditionary Learning (EL) methodology, originally developed by Harvard Graduate School of Education and Outward Bound, culturally adapted for the local context. Safe Passage runs a fully integrated educational pathway from Early Childhood through university preparation, including the Hanley Denning Experimental Primary School, the Básico middle school, the Colegio program, the Oportunidades high school reinforcement program, and the Próximo Paso career and university transition program. Wraparound services include a 13-person Integrated Health Services team providing psychology, healthcare, social work, and health education, plus the Creamos social entrepreneurship program for mothers and Crianza con Cariño family nurturing services.

The organization serves approximately 600 students annually and reaches 3,000 community members, with outcomes including 100% of 5-year-olds reading at or above grade level and nearly 30 graduates currently enrolled in university — including the first graduate to complete medical school in December 2024. The organization is governed by a US-based board (Maine), holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (EIN: 01-0532835), and reports an annual operating budget of $3 million. Its leadership team is majority Guatemalan, with long-tenured program directors (Pablo Callejas, 13+ years; Patricia Barneond, 8 years) and a recent executive transition to Erin Mooney in 2023.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: individual donations (one-time, monthly, and planned giving), corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants (e.g., the Barrett Foundation's $40,000 grant), student/family sponsorship programs, and Support Team campus visits. Fundraising is supported globally through an Ambassador Program, an online donation platform (safepassage.org), and active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The organization reached its 25th anniversary in 2024 and inaugurated a permanent Middle School building in October 2025, signaling continued operational scale-up.

Name

Safe Passage

Legal name

Safe Passage

Website

https://www.safepassage.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Safe Passage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that provides holistic education, health, and family support programs to children and families living near the largest landfill in Central America, in Guatemala City. Its only school in Guatemala using Expeditionary Learning methodology serves 600 students annually and reaches 3,000 community members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (624110)

akta.pro primary industry

Education in Emergencies (EiE) & Safe Schools (BPADAKAJ)

Keywords

• Nonprofit education programs
• Holistic youth education
• Poverty alleviation services
• Integrated health services
• Community development education

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors from around the world contribute to the organization. The website features donate buttons, monthly giving options, and planned giving/legacy programs.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support through sponsorship programs. The organization mentions corporate partners alongside individual donors and grants.
3. Grants: Foundation and government grants fund specific initiatives. The Barrett Foundation provided a $40,000 two-year grant for warehouse/bodega relocation.
4. Student/Family Sponsorship: Sponsors can support individual students or mothers, receiving updates and connection with their sponsored individual. Includes mother sponsorships that provide Adult Education, health education, and Creamos program access.
5. Support Team Visits: Groups visit campus to learn about the work and community, often becoming major supporters and ambassadors. The organization hosts Support Teams from schools and community groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Safe Passage is a majority Guatemalan-led nonprofit that operates a full-day school and community programs for children and families living in the marginalized neighborhoods surrounding Guatemala City's central landfill. It delivers Expeditionary Learning education from Early Childhood (Escuelita) through college preparation, paired with integrated trauma-informed health services, family support, and career readiness programs designed to break the cycle of poverty in one generation.

Product overview

Safe Passage is a nonprofit educational organization (not a technology company) providing holistic education programs to children and families near the Guatemala City landfill. The core offering is its full-day school implementing Expeditionary Learning methodology from Early Childhood (Escuelita) through high school graduation. Supporting programs include Adult Education, the Oportunidades and Próximo Paso career/university preparation programs, Creamos social entrepreneurship, Integrated Health Services (psychology, healthcare, social work), Ambassadors and Support Teams volunteer programs, and Sponsorship. These interconnected programs form a comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle of poverty through education, wellness, and family support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hanley Denning Experimental Primary School: The primary school using Expeditionary Learning methodology for grades K-6
• Colegio
• Escuelita
• Próximo Paso (Next Step)
• Oportunidades
• Creamos
• Crianza con Cariño

Products and services

• Safe Passage Educational Programs (Escuelita, Colegio, Hanley Denning Experimental Primary School) Comprehensive full-day education programs from Early Childhood (Escuelita) through high school, including the Hanley Denning Experimental Primary School and Colegio, serving 600 students annually from Guatemala City's most marginalized communities.
• Integrated Health Services Trauma-informed wrap-around wellness services including psychology, healthcare, social work, and health education provided to all students and families through a dedicated 13-person team.
• Próximo Paso (Next Step) Career planning and readiness program guiding Safe Passage graduates through post-graduation transition, including internships, university applications, and job interview preparation.
• Oportunidades Educational reinforcement program providing half-day academic support and skill-building for high school students, including tutoring, English instruction, technology training, and wellness services.
• Creamos Social Entrepreneurship Program Social entrepreneurship program for mothers in the community, providing craft development, economic empowerment, and income-generating opportunities.
• Crianza con Cariño (Family Nurturing) Family nurturing program for newly enrolled families, supporting parent-child relationships, family wellbeing, and healthy child development.
• Adult Education Program Adult literacy and primary education program serving mothers and adult family members of students, addressing Guatemala's 12% adult illiteracy rate and enabling parents to support their children's education.
• Library Services School libraries providing books in Spanish and English to promote literacy, with libraries in both the primary school and the Educational Reinforcement Center (CRE).

Quantifiable outcome

• 600 students served annually with 3,000 community members reached
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TELUScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2019International telecommunications company awarded 5 Safe Passage graduates with HOPE (Helping Our People through Education) scholarships. The 8-10 month program strengthens English and job skills while providing a stipend. Graduates are offered positions within the company at program's end.
• REDES (Coalition of Nonprofits)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective of nonprofits partnering with Safe Passage during COVID-19 to provide clean water to community. Delivered 24 water trucks supporting 50 families each for three days across eight neighborhoods.
• Fresh Leaf Charitable FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Safe Passage and REDES coalition to provide clean water during COVID-19 relief efforts.
• Rotary Clubs (US and Guatemala)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partners who contributed to COVID-19 relief efforts including distribution of food and supply bags.
• United Way of GuatemalaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner contributing to COVID-19 relief distribution efforts.
• Carney, Sandoe & AssociatesminorOthersBoston-based search firm supported the international search process that led to Erin Mooney's appointment as Executive Director in 2023.
• Shared BeatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing annual physicals for students as part of comprehensive health services for mothers in Adult Education program.
• Juan Mini (Tec Campus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer board member who provided Tec Campus venue for 25th anniversary kick-off celebration.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pencils of Promise: Nonprofit that builds schools and increases access to quality education in underserved communities in developing countries, including Guatemala. Operates a similar model of community-based education delivery targeting children in extreme poverty.
• Room to Read: International nonprofit focused on literacy and girls' education in low-income communities across Asia and Africa. Comparable in operating model: nonprofit education delivery with measurable learning outcomes, multi-country presence, and donor-dependent funding.
• buildOn: Nonprofit that builds schools in developing countries and runs youth service programs in underserved U.S. communities. Directly comparable in mission to expand educational access for marginalized populations.
• Common Hope: Nonprofit operating in Guatemala that provides education, housing, healthcare, and family support to children and families in poverty. Closely comparable model of integrated wraparound services for Guatemalan youth.
• Communities In Schools: U.S.-based nonprofit that surrounds students with integrated support services to keep them in school and on a path to graduation. Highly comparable wraparound service model (counseling, health, family engagement) embedded in educational programming.
• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from underserved communities through training, internships, and corporate partnerships. Comparable in career pathway focus (Próximo Paso program) and demonstrated outcomes moving beneficiaries to economic mobility.

Regional players

• Friendship Bridge: Nonprofit working in Guatemala with rural and indigenous communities on microfinance plus education programs. Comparable as a Guatemala-focused nonprofit combining economic empowerment with educational support for women and families.
• Long Way Home: Nonprofit operating in Guatemala that builds sustainable schools using recycled materials and provides education and skills training to local youth. Operates in the same Guatemalan context with comparable environmental and educational mission.

Broad incumbents

• El Sistema: Global music education program serving underserved youth, originating in Venezuela with worldwide affiliates. Comparable as a large-scale methodology-driven intervention delivering transformational education in marginalized communities.
• KIPP Foundation: National network of public charter schools serving students from underserved communities with a college-preparatory mission. Operates a larger-scale version of the educational equity thesis that Safe Passage executes in Guatemala.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SafePassageVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/SafePassage.CaminoSeguro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safe-passage
• Instagraminstagram.com/_safepassage_
• Xx.com/_SafePassage_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Safe Passage