Solar under the Sun

What Solar under the Sun does

Solar Under the Sun (SUS) is a U.S.-based nonprofit religious organization founded in 2009 as an ecumenical mission ministry of the Synod of the Sun (PCUSA) and headquartered (by mailing address) in Jacksonville, Arkansas. The organization trains volunteer mission teams and installs off-grid solar power systems in communities experiencing energy poverty, primarily in Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala. Core technology comprises single-family 12V SP-12 systems, multi-panel installations for schools, churches, orphanages, and water purification systems deployed in partnership with Living Waters for the World. SUS operates a Solar School training program (Solar 1 for leadership and partnership development, Solar 2 for system design and installation) held semi-annually at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center near Little Rock, Arkansas, with 191 missioners trained across nine sessions since 2010.

The business model is donation- and grant-driven, with training fees, merchandise sales, and campaign contributions as secondary revenue streams. Solar School registrants pay $485 (room and board) or $375 (commuting) per session, the online store sells branded apparel and equipment kits including a $1,000 24 Volt Disconnect System, and structured campaigns (Solar Trailer, Lightbulb Challenge, 10 Year Celebration) supplement individual and recurring donations. Grants from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Women Birthday Offering, and partner presbyteries are the primary institutional funding sources. Deployment occurs through two field programs — Solar Connect for established church teams and Solar Direct for mentored individual volunteers — supported by in-country operating partners including the Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Juja, Kenya; the Haiti Education Foundation; and the Global Orphan Project.

SUS is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Tom Ulrich with Jim Freeman as Moderator and Melinda Hunt as Executive Director. The organization holds no patents, has no disclosed revenue or fundraising totals, and depends entirely on its Presbyterian and ecumenical network for capital, volunteers, and deployment access. Quantified outcomes include 40+ solar systems in Haiti before COVID-19, 66 homes powered in El Horno, Honduras (part of a 76-home covenant across El Horno, El Sute, and Agua Zarca), and 50+ Solar School graduates deployed to the field. The organization received the 2013 Restoring Creation Award from Presbyterians for Earth Care.

Name

Solar under the Sun

Legal name

Solar Under the Sun

Website

https://solarunderthesun.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Solar Under the Sun is a U.S. nonprofit ministry that trains volunteer mission teams through its Solar School program and installs off-grid solar power systems in energy-poor communities across Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, and other developing countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Solar Mission Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS) (EUAMABAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

Keywords

• Solar mission training
• Off-grid solar installation
• Energy poverty solutions
• Faith-based mission services
• Solar volunteer training

Headquarters

HQ city

Irving

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, monthly recurring donations, and grants from organizations such as Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Presbyterian Women Birthday Offering.
2. Solar School Training Fees: Registration fees for Solar School training programs. Cost is $485 per registrant including room and board, or $375 for commuting registrants.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, caps, and solar equipment components.
4. Campaign Donations: Specific fundraising campaigns such as Solar Trailer, 10 Year Celebration, Lightbulb Challenge, and General Donation campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Solar Under the Sun is a nonprofit Christian ministry that trains church mission teams through its Solar School program (Solar 1 leadership and Solar 2 technical courses) and deploys those teams to install off-grid solar power systems in communities experiencing energy poverty across Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Puerto Rico, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Ukraine. Programs include Solar Connect (for teams with existing projects) and Solar Direct (SUS-led trips for individuals), supplemented by VBS curriculum, the Light Bulb Challenge Bible study, and merchandise/equipment sales.

Product overview

Solar Under the Sun is a Christian ministry organization that provides solar power systems to communities in developing countries experiencing energy poverty. The core offering consists of Solar School training (with two concurrent courses: Solar 1 for leadership/partnership and Solar 2 for technical installation) and the actual installation of solar power systems through two program models: Solar Connect (for established teams) and Solar Direct (SUS-coordinated trips). The organization also offers educational resources including Vacation Bible School Curriculum, the Light Bulb Challenge Bible study, and promotional materials. Merchandise includes solar equipment components (24 Volt Disconnect System) and branded items (Navy Cap, T-Shirts). Projects span Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Puerto Rico, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Ukraine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Solar School: Hands-on, interactive training program that equips team leaders with skills to form meaningful partnerships with communities in the developing world, assess need for solar power, and design and install a solar power system
• Solar Connect
• Solar Direct
• Light Bulb Challenge
• Vacation Bible School Curriculum

Products and services

• Solar School Hands-on, interactive training program equipping church and organization team leaders with skills to form partnerships with developing-world communities, assess solar power needs, and design and install solar power systems. Two concurrent courses (Solar 1 and Solar 2) are taught at semi-annual sessions at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center.
• Solar Power Systems Off-grid solar power systems installed in developing countries, ranging from single-family 12V home systems (SF-12) to multi-panel installations powering schools, churches, orphanages, water purification systems, and community centers. Systems installed in Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Puerto Rico, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Ukraine.
• Solar Connect Program Program for churches or groups that already have a team and project in mind. SUS connects trained teams with Solar Instructors who mentor through planning and installation, or with communities in developing countries that need help.
• Solar Direct Program Program for individuals or small groups who completed Solar School but want installation experience before leading a trip. Participants join SUS-organized teams, travel to the mission field, and work on projects under SUS Team Leader direction.
• Vacation Bible School (VBS) Curriculum Vacation Bible School curriculum for kindergarten through fifth-grade students teaching about solar power's role in sustaining life, including daily Bible study, solar puzzles and experiments, crafts, games, snacks, and mission moments. Priced at $50 including shipping.
• 24 Volt Disconnect System Solar equipment kit including disconnect box, battery cables, quick disconnect switch, charge controller, battery monitor, barn switch, and SUS offering. SKU VDS24, priced at $1,000 including shipping.
• SUS Navy Cap Navy-colored cap with SUS branding (SKU: NAVCAP), priced at $23.00 including shipping.
• SUS 100% Cotton T-Shirt Bright blue t-shirt with yellow lettering, available in sizes XS through 3XL (SKU: CTS), priced at $20.00 including shipping.

Quantifiable outcome

• 117 missioners trained since 2010 with over 50 having been deployed to the field
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Living Waters for the WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership where Living Waters for the World provides water purification systems and Solar Under the Sun powers them with solar installations. Most SUS systems in Haiti and other countries are co-installed with LWW water systems.
• Presbyterians for Earth CareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarding organization that recognized SUS with Restoring Creation Award in 2013 for environmental ministry work.
• Ferncliff Camp and Conference CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrimary venue for Solar School training sessions, located near Little Rock, Arkansas. Provides lodging, meals, and training facilities.
• Haiti Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating partner at multiple Haiti project sites including Cherident and Trouin schools. SUS installs solar systems at HEF school facilities serving students and surrounding communities.
• The Global Orphan ProjectcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOperating partner at multiple Haiti orphanage sites. Provides ongoing operational support for solar installations at orphanages including Cherette, La Hatte, Croix des Bouquets.
• Presbyterian Church (USA) / Synod of the SuncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUS was established as an ecumenical mission ministry of the Synod of the Sun, PCUSA. Church network provides volunteers, funding, and mission opportunities.
• Presbytery of the PinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegular initiating partner sending multiple mission teams to Haiti including 19th install at Gonaives Global Orphan Project site.
• Presbyterian Church, East Africa (PCEA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOperating partner in Kenya, specifically PCEA Juja Township working with SUS Task Force in Juja area near Nairobi.
• First Presbyterian Church of Fort WorthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCompleted largest SUS solar system to date at St. Matthais school in Cherident, Haiti. Team members trained by SUS to perform site surveys and installations.
• Presbytery of Southern KansascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple initiating partner for Haiti projects including Cambry, Darbonne, La Hatte, and other locations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Barefoot College: Barefoot College trains rural grandmothers from developing countries to install and maintain solar systems, sharing SUS's "train-the-trainer" methodology and mission of building local technical capacity.
• Solar Sister: Solar Sister is a nonprofit that recruits and trains women entrepreneurs in Africa to sell solar lanterns and clean energy products, sharing SUS's training-plus-distribution approach to energy poverty in the same African geographies.

Direct peers

• Lifeline Energy / International Lifeline Fund: Lifeline Energy is a nonprofit deploying clean energy products (solar, battery) to underserved communities in sub-Saharan Africa, overlapping with SUS's off-grid solar mission in the same regions.
• SolarAid: SolarAid is a nonprofit focused on energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, deploying small solar systems and training local entrepreneurs — overlapping with SUS's mission in East/West Africa and off-grid single-family home systems.
• GRID Alternatives: GRID Alternatives is a nonprofit that installs solar for low-income communities using volunteer labor, closely paralleling SUS's faith-based volunteer model for energy access deployments.
• Empowered by Light: Empowered by Light is a nonprofit that installs solar systems in off-grid communities worldwide using volunteer-led project teams — closely paralleling SUS's Solar Connect deployment model.
• Engineering Ministries International: EMI is a faith-based nonprofit that mobilizes Christian volunteers to deliver engineering and infrastructure projects in the developing world, directly comparable to SUS's church-led mission-trip deployment model.
• Solar Energy International: Solar Energy International (SEI) is a nonprofit solar training organization offering hands-on PV design and installation courses — directly comparable to SUS's Solar School training program in curriculum structure and target audience.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps (Energy Access Programs): Mercy Corps operates broad humanitarian and economic development programs including energy access initiatives in many of the same developing geographies as SUS, though it is a much larger generalist organization.
• World Vision (Energy Access): World Vision is a large faith-based humanitarian organization with energy access programming in many of the same countries as SUS (Haiti, Honduras, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Kenya).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SolarUnderSun
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwcth9OGBTOPoTtDicUAFlw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SolarUnderTheSun
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solar-under-the-sun

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Solar under the Sun