The CareLink Foundation

What The CareLink Foundation does

The CareLink Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, that operates two core programs for underserved populations in the developing world: zero-interest microfinance loans for small business development and free water filtration systems. Its microfinance arm lends between $500 and $5,000 to aspiring entrepreneurs in Honduras — primarily women — for food service, retail, agriculture, and fishing ventures, with loan repayments recycled to fund additional borrowers. Recipients receive business training, financial planning education, and ongoing mentorship through community mastermind groups connected to local churches. The water filtration arm distributes five-gallon bucket-and-filter systems (with hoses and locally welded metal frames) to families and schools in partnership with sister organization Thirsty Child, accompanied by hygiene training; systems are assembled locally in Honduras to create jobs. Program delivery is conducted through an in-country Honduran team led by a Country Director, an ordained spiritual leader who manages relationships with dozens of local pastors, and a social worker, supported by 15 community service staff. The organization was founded by the late Dr. Timothy Wall, M.D., now led by President Jeffrey L. Hartman, and is governed by a six-member US board.

Name

The CareLink Foundation

Legal name

The CareLink Foundation

Website

https://carelinkfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The CareLink Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides zero-interest microfinance loans and free water filtration systems to families and aspiring entrepreneurs in Honduras, with recent expansion into Belize, delivered via a locally embedded team and a network of partner churches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit microfinance and clean water programs

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agricultural & Rural Microfinance (FSAKAGAG), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Microfinance loans
• Clean water solutions
• Poverty alleviation programs
• Water filtration systems
• Small business financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Naperville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors to fund microfinance loans and water filtration projects. Donations are matched by generous donors at year-end.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The CareLink Foundation provides zero-interest microfinance loans (ranging from $500 to $5,000) to individuals in Honduras to start small businesses, paired with business training and community support networks. The foundation also delivers clean water solutions in the form of five-gallon water filter bucket systems with filters, hoses, and welded metal frames, distributed in partnership with sister organization Thirsty Child along with hygiene training.

Product overview

The CareLink Foundation operates two core programs: (1) Microfinance Loans Program providing zero-interest loans for small business development in Honduras, combined with business training and community support networks; and (2) Water Filtration Systems providing clean water solutions in partnership with Thirsty Child. The organization functions as a non-profit and does not operate a technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microfinance Loans Program Zero-interest microfinance loans (ranging from $500 to $5,000) enabling individuals in Honduras to start and operate small businesses. Loans are repaid over time and the capital is recycled to fund new entrepreneurs, combined with business training and ongoing community support.
• Water Filtration Systems Clean water solutions including five-gallon water bucket systems with filters, hoses, and welded/painted metal frames, distributed to families and schools in Honduras along with hygiene training. The units are locally assembled in Honduras, providing jobs for local workers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children can attend school for the first time using business profits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Thirsty ChildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization partnership where Thirsty Child provides free water filters and water sanitation systems. CareLink provides these solutions in partnership with Thirsty Child to families in the developing world.
• Local Churches and Pastors (Honduras)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of local pastors in Honduras who help identify microfinance candidates and provide spiritual support. Local church leaders like Pastor Yovanny work with CareLink's local teams.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Water.org: Global nonprofit working to provide access to safe water and sanitation through WaterCredit (small loans) and direct infrastructure. Comparable in combining microfinance with water access, though at much larger scale.
• charity: water: Nonprofit focused exclusively on providing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Directly comparable as a peer in CareLink's water filtration program through its donor-funded clean water model.
• Grameen Foundation: Anti-poverty nonprofit extending the Grameen microfinance model to help poor families access financial services and digital tools. Comparable in microfinance mission and developing-world focus.
• Kiva: Online crowdfunding microfinance platform enabling individual lenders to fund small entrepreneurs in developing countries. Directly comparable in mission and microfinance lending model, though Kiva operates at much larger scale via digital marketplace.
• FINCA International: Microfinance institution providing small loans and financial services to low-income entrepreneurs across Africa, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Comparable in serving base-of-pyramid entrepreneurs with small-ticket loans.
• Opportunity International: Faith-rooted microfinance institution providing small loans, savings, and training to entrepreneurs in developing countries. Comparable in microfinance mission and Christian-affiliated positioning, with significantly larger global footprint.
• HOPE International: Faith-based Christian microfinance organization providing loans, savings services, and discipleship in developing countries. Most directly comparable peer given shared Christian identity and microfinance-plus-spiritual-support model.

Broad incumbents

• BRAC: One of the largest development NGOs globally, providing microfinance, education, healthcare, and water/sanitation across multiple developing countries. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in CareLink's same problem space at massive scale.
• Compassion International: Large Christian child sponsorship organization operating in developing countries including Honduras. Comparable faith-based identity and developing-world focus, though its primary model is child sponsorship rather than microfinance.

Others

• Thirsty Child: Sister organization to CareLink providing free water filters and sanitation systems to families in developing countries. Internally adjacent partner that supplies CareLink's water filtration program, rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvsQxEDFt_YOKF8A1rKTGuQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/carelinkfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carelink-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The CareLink Foundation