Star of Hope International

What Star of Hope International does

Star of Hope International is a nondenominational Christian humanitarian nonprofit (US 501(c)(3)) headquartered in Ellinwood, Kansas, founded in 1966 by Swedish missionary Erik Gunnar Eriksson. The organization provides education, nutrition, healthcare, community development, and faith-based programs to vulnerable children across 10 active project countries: Argentina, Brazil, Ghana, Haiti, Kenya, Latvia, Mexico, Philippines, Romania, and Ukraine. Historical reach extends to 46 countries. Core programs include child sponsorship (monthly recurring donations), school feeding programs serving approximately 7,800 meals per school day across Ghana, Kenya, and Haiti, formal education from preschool through vocational training, healthcare services, Awana Bible-based discipleship, disaster relief, agricultural tool banks, water well projects, and Christmas package distributions.

The business model is donation-based with five primary revenue streams: monthly child sponsorships ($5/month Lunch Buddy tier upward), one-time donations, Christmas packages (operating 30+ years via the Star Shop e-commerce platform), living gifts (livestock with a pay-it-forward ripple model), and project-specific donations for water wells, sewing machines, and school lunches. Distribution occurs through the starofhope.us website, mail, phone, PayPal, and the Star Shop storefront (starofhope.company.site). Field operations are executed through long-standing local partners including BelAPDIiMI in Belarus (since 1995), Velki Association in Latvia (since 1991), and Awana clubs integrated into school curricula. Total reported reach exceeds 30,000 children globally, supported by a 1-10 person US staff and additional international presence in Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

The organization has no proprietary technology stack; technology plays a supporting role through the My Pages sponsor portal for digital engagement, the Bloomerang CRM for donation processing, and standard website/social media channels. Leadership is CEO Mark Presson. Recent operational developments include the termination of 30+ year Rigaud, Haiti operations due to gang violence, expansion of Ukraine refugee response (25,000 helped in 2022), and a music-based fundraising partnership with Swedish artists for Ukraine support.

Name

Star of Hope International

Legal name

Star of Hope International

Website

https://starofhope.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Star of Hope International is a US-based Christian nonprofit providing education, nutrition, healthcare, and community development to vulnerable children across 10 active project countries, reaching over 30,000 children through sponsorship, school feeding, and emergency relief programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Humanitarian Aid & Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL)

Keywords

• Child sponsorship programs
• Humanitarian aid services
• International relief operations
• Nonprofit education services
• Community development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ellinwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Child Sponsorship: Monthly sponsorship program where donors support individual children, funding education, food, healthcare, and school supplies. Sponsors receive updates through 'My Pages' portal with photos, drawings, and messages from sponsored children.
2. One-time Donations: Direct monetary donations for general operations, specific projects, or emergency relief efforts. Donors can give via website, PayPal, or mail.
3. Christmas Packages: Digital Christmas gift packages ordered through Star Shop, with items purchased and distributed locally in project countries. Operating for over 30 years.
4. Living Gifts: Agricultural gifts including goats, chickens, sheep, seeds, and tools sold through Star Shop. Includes 'pay-it-forward' model where recipients give first offspring to others.
5. E-commerce Sales: Star Shop sells specific project items like water wells, school lunches, sewing machines, and farm tools. Partial donations toward larger projects accepted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Star of Hope International is a nondenominational Christian nonprofit (US 501(c)(3)) that funds and operates child-focused humanitarian programs across 10 active project countries. Its core offering is the Child Sponsorship Program, through which monthly donor contributions fund education, school meals, healthcare, school supplies, and spiritual development for individual sponsored children. The organization supplements this with school feeding programs (approximately 7,800 meals per school day across Ghana, Kenya, and Haiti), formal education from preschool through vocational training, healthcare services, Awana Bible-based discipleship, disaster and humanitarian relief, farming tool banks, water well projects, Christmas package distributions, and a "pay-it-forward" living gifts livestock program.

Product overview

Star of Hope International is a nondenominational Christian humanitarian organization (US 501(C)(3)) that operates as a charitable programs portfolio rather than a technology product company. The organization provides child-focused humanitarian services through multiple interconnected programs including child sponsorship, school feeding (approximately 7,800 meals per school day across Ghana, Kenya, and Haiti), formal education from preschool through vocational training, healthcare services, Bible-based Awana discipleship programs, disaster relief, agricultural tool banks, clean water projects, and seasonal Christmas package distributions. The core offering is the Child Sponsorship Program which funds critical aspects like teacher salaries and school supplies, supplemented by the My Pages digital portal for sponsor engagement. Programs operate across 10 project countries including Argentina, Brazil, Ghana, Haiti, Kenya, Latvia, Mexico, Philippines, Romania, and Ukraine, reaching over 30,000 children globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Sponsorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% transition rate of Grade 8 and Grade 6 students to higher education in Kenya (93 and 120 students respectively)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Simon Ådahl and Peo ThyrenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Swedish musicians who created 'Pray for Ukraine' song to support Star of Hope's Ukrainian refugee work. Simon Ådahl won Swedish Melody Festival with band Edin-Ådahl. Song released February 2023.
• BelAPDIiMI (Belarus)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Local organization founded by mothers of children with disabilities. Star of Hope collaborates to improve children's living conditions through rehabilitation, parent groups, and activities.
• Velki Association (Latvia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Local partner organization in Latvia working since 1991 to support children with disabilities. Collaborates on five special schools providing education, therapy, and family support.
• AwanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal nonprofit ministry providing Bible-based evangelism and discipleship for ages 2-18. Star of Hope has established Awana clubs in Kenya, Ghana, and Haiti. Awana Foundation trainers conduct training sessions for Star of Hope staff and volunteers. Program integrated into school day in project countries.
• Blue Ridge DrillingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner enabling Star of Hope to drill water wells in Haiti. Hand pump units for $5,000 and solar-powered water kiosks for $27,000.
• Edin-ÅdahlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwedish Christian music band whose members collaborated on 'Pray for Ukraine' project to raise funds and awareness for Ukrainian refugees.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Compassion International: Largest faith-based child sponsorship organization globally, operating in 25+ countries with a similar child sponsorship, education, and healthcare model. Direct comparison on sponsorship economics, donor retention, and program scale.
• World Vision International: Major Christian humanitarian organization with child sponsorship, emergency relief, water, and education programs across 100+ countries. Competes for the same faith-aligned donor pool and operates at multibillion-dollar scale.
• ChildFund International: Sponsors vulnerable children globally through similar monthly sponsorship model, with programs in education, health, and economic opportunity across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Most direct mid-sized comparable.
• SOS Children's Villages: Global nonprofit providing family-based care, education, healthcare, and emergency relief for children without parental care in 130+ countries. Closely comparable mission and program portfolio in education and child welfare.
• Holt International: Faith-rooted child welfare and adoption agency supporting children in Mongolia, China, Ethiopia, and other countries with sponsorship, education, and family-strengthening programs. Comparable size and Christian-affiliated donor base.
• Children International: Child sponsorship organization serving children in poverty across Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and Zambia with education, health, and youth programs. Comparable program mix and target geography overlap.
• Plan International: International NGO advancing children's rights and equality for girls in 80+ countries with education, health, and emergency response. Comparable scale but more institutional/government funder mix versus Star of Hope's faith-aligned individual donor base.
• Food for the Hungry: Christ-centered relief and development organization focused on ending poverty through child sponsorship, community development, and disaster relief in roughly 20 countries. Highly comparable faith-based profile and child sponsorship economics.
• Samaritan's Purse: Evangelical Christian humanitarian organization providing disaster relief, medical care, and child sponsorship worldwide. Competes for the same faith-aligned donor pool and runs seasonal programs (e.g., Operation Christmas Child) analogous to Star of Hope's Christmas packages.

Emerging players

• Convoy of Hope: Faith-based humanitarian organization specializing in disaster relief, food distribution, and children's feeding initiatives. Overlapping food/nutrition programs and disaster-response capabilities, with stronger emergency-relief specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/STAROFHOPE_USA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@starofhope
• Facebookfacebook.com/starofhope.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/starofhope_usa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/star-of-hope-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Star of Hope International