Advocates for Africa's Children

What Advocates for Africa's Children does

Advocates for Africa's Children (AFAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 by Heidi Lum, headquartered in Waitsburg, Washington. The organization supports orphaned and vulnerable children in eSwatini (Swaziland) and Tanzania through six interconnected program areas: clean water infrastructure, nutrition and food security, education, income generation, sanitation, and emotional well-being. AFAC has served more than 4,000 people across its operational footprint, installed six wells, manages nine farming projects covering over 16 hectares, and supports more than 100 children through a child sponsorship program priced at $35/month or $420/year. The organization works alongside local church leaders and community members to implement community-owned development projects, including the Lawrence Academy school in Tanzania.

AFAC generates revenue entirely through charitable donations via multiple channels: an Aplos-powered online donation portal, text-to-give (AFAC50/AFAC10 to 844-954-3877), Amazon Smile passive donations, mail-in checks, and a recurring child sponsorship program. One-time donation tiers range from $25 (chickens) to $30,000 (primary school construction). The organization employs 1-10 staff — effectively a founder, one full-time eSwatini-based staffer (Thulie Ncongwane), and a board of directors split between US and eSwatini members. Marketing and donor acquisition rely on church networks (particularly First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu), testimonial storytelling, and Journeys of Hope volunteer mission trips.

AFAC has no proprietary technology platform. Operations are supported by a standard WordPress website, the third-party Aplos donation system, and text-to-give infrastructure. The organization holds no patents, has no AI or API capabilities, and reports no regulatory actions. Strategic partnerships include Hope for Children in Adversity (core Tanzania partner), Children's Cup, One Heart Africa, African Water Projects, The Lawrence Institute, and Developing World Solar (which supplies solar cookers). As of 2025, AFAC is actively operating with ongoing construction at Lawrence Academy and continued expansion of its Tanzania program portfolio.

Name

Advocates for Africa's Children

Legal name

Advocates for Africa's Children

Website

https://afachildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Advocates for Africa's Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that supports orphaned and vulnerable children in eSwatini and Tanzania through clean water, education, nutrition, and income-generation programs, funded by individual donations and child sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Child sponsorship programs
• Clean water initiatives
• Agricultural development projects
• International humanitarian aid
• Orphan care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Waitsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting orphan care programs in eSwatini and Tanzania. IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit status enables charitable giving. Multiple giving options including one-time and recurring donations.
2. Child Sponsorship Program: Recurring sponsorship at $35/month or $420/year per child, providing school fees, uniforms, supplies, and food. Creates predictable monthly revenue stream from donors.
3. Amazon Smile: Percentage of qualifying Amazon purchases donated via Amazon Smile program (Tax ID: 65-1267550). Passive revenue stream from supporters who shop through the designated link.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Advocates for Africa's Children (AFAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides holistic care for orphaned and vulnerable children in Africa through child sponsorship, clean water access, agricultural programs, education, vocational training, and church infrastructure development. Operating since 2006, the organization maintains programs in eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) and expanded into Tanzania in 2016, addressing poverty and child welfare needs across rural African communities.

Product overview

Advocates for Africa's Children (AFAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that does not offer a technology product, but rather a portfolio of charitable programs aimed at supporting orphaned and vulnerable children in eSwatini (Swaziland) and Tanzania. Its programs fall into six development areas: clean water, nutrition, income generation, sanitation, education, and emotional well-being. The portfolio includes one-time and recurring monetary donation options for specific items (chickens, food gardens, animal businesses, water wells, school classrooms, and community buildings), a child sponsorship program ($420/year or $35/month), a text-to-give donation feature, Journeys of Hope volunteer travel experiences, and ongoing agricultural programs, clean water projects, school programs, and vocational training. The core program is delivered through direct field operations and partnerships with local communities, not through a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Sponsorship Program A monthly recurring sponsorship program for individual donors to support a specific orphaned or vulnerable child in eSwatini or Tanzania. Sponsorship is $35/month or $420/year and covers the child's basic needs.
• Clean Water Projects Funding for drilling and maintaining water wells in African communities. Each water well costs $7,500 and provides clean drinking water access to rural villages, improving health outcomes for children and families.
• Agricultural Programs Food security initiatives in eSwatini and Tanzania that provide livestock (chickens at $25) and farming resources to families, enabling them to generate income and feed their children.
• Journeys of Hope Volunteer Travel A volunteer travel program that allows donors and supporters to visit AFAC's project sites in Africa, participate in mission work, and witness the impact of their contributions firsthand.
• Education and Vocational Training Educational support and vocational training programs for sponsored children and youth in African communities, aimed at building skills for self-sufficiency and breaking cycles of poverty.
• Church Building Program Funding for the construction of churches in African communities, supporting spiritual development and providing gathering spaces for community members.
• Solar Cooker Distribution Distribution of solar cookers to African families as a sustainable cooking solution, reducing dependence on firewood and improving indoor air quality and health.

Quantifiable outcome

• Provided clean water and food for more than 4,000 people, most of whom are orphaned and vulnerable children
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hope for Children in AdversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 January 2019Strategic partnership to replicate AFAC's achievements in eSwatini (Swaziland) for Tanzania. Working with Makondeko village to bring clean water, build a preschool, and create economic empowerment through agricultural businesses including poultry and vegetable/grain farming.
• The Lawrence InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization featured on AFAC's Partners page. Logo displayed as supporting partner.
• Children's CupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization featured on AFAC's Partners page. Logo displayed as supporting partner.
• One Heart AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization featured on AFAC's Partners page. Logo displayed as supporting partner.
• African Water ProjectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization featured on AFAC's Partners page focused on water projects. Logo displayed as supporting partner.
• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Smile charitable giving program allows shoppers to support AFAC with qualifying purchases. Tax ID 65-1267550 listed on Amazon Smile.
• Developing World SolarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFAC received a second shipment of solar cookers from Developing World Solar. 80 cookers provided to vulnerable families, reducing firewood collection time, smoke inhalation health risks, and environmental degradation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: Major Christian humanitarian organization focused on child welfare, clean water, and community development in sub-Saharan Africa and globally. Overlaps with AFAC's water, education, and economic empowerment programs.
• Compassion International: One of the largest child sponsorship NGOs, operating faith-based programs in dozens of developing countries. Comparable to AFAC in mission (child sponsorship, holistic development) but with vastly greater global scale.
• Save the Children: Global leader in child welfare with extensive sub-Saharan Africa programs in health, education, and child protection. Overlaps with AFAC's mission but operates at vastly greater scale and with institutional funder access.

Direct peers

• Children International: Faith-rooted child sponsorship organization providing education, healthcare, and economic support to impoverished children in developing countries. Closely matches AFAC's sponsorship-based model serving orphans and vulnerable children.
• ChildFund International: Child-focused sponsorship organization working in 20+ countries, with significant sub-Saharan Africa presence. Highly comparable to AFAC's model of pairing child sponsors with community development programs.
• Food for the Hungry: Faith-based Christian relief and development organization focused on community transformation, agriculture, and child welfare in Africa. Directly comparable to AFAC's holistic community development approach.
• Hands at Work in Africa: Faith-based nonprofit working with community-led organizations across multiple sub-Saharan African countries to support orphans and vulnerable children. Highly comparable scope (Africa, orphan care, community empowerment) to AFAC.
• Africa New Life Ministries: Portland-based Christian nonprofit focused on Rwandan and African orphaned children, providing education, healthcare, and economic development. Comparable faith-based, child-sponsorship-driven model with Africa focus.
• Holt International: Child welfare and family services organization with sponsorship, education, and community development programs in Africa. Comparable child-focused humanitarian model with similar donor-driven funding approach.
• SOS Children's Villages: Global organization dedicated to orphaned and abandoned children, providing family-based care, education, and economic empowerment across Africa. Closely aligned with AFAC's orphan-focused mission and field operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/afachildren

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 Advocates for Africa's Children