Solidarity Engineering

What Solidarity Engineering does

Solidarity Engineering (legally Solidarity Inc, EIN 85-3924084) is a 501(c)(3) humanitarian engineering nonprofit founded in November 2020 by three women engineers (Erin Hughes, Christa Cook, and Chloe Rastatter) after a This American Life podcast exposed conditions in the Matamoros refugee camp. The organization is headquartered in Reynosa, Mexico, with operational sites in Matamoros and Tapachula, a cross-border collaboration hub in the Rio Grande Valley, and additional programming in Amman, Jordan, and Lviv, Ukraine. Its work is organized around four integrated service lines: WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure; Shelter and Solar power; Play and STEM Education for displaced children; and a Data and Advocacy function built on ArcGIS geospatial tools, Survey123 multilingual surveys, Field Maps real-time tracking, Dashboards, StoryMaps, and drone-based site assessment. Cumulative impact disclosed includes 42+ infrastructure projects, 45+ community partners, 1.1M+ liters of safe drinking water delivered, 14+ safe spaces with functional water systems, a 33,000 square meter shelter designed and supported, and 10,000+ beneficiaries served across Mexico, Jordan, and Ukraine.

The organization serves displaced and refugee communities (families and individuals navigating violence, conflict, persecution, and disaster) plus host communities absorbing displaced populations, with a particular focus on women, adolescents, and children. It relies on a community-led, locally embedded model, partnering with peer NGOs including Global Response Management, Resource Center of Matamoros, Collateral Repair Project, Villa Therese, Phoenix House, and Days for Girls, and supported by corporate product partners such as Xylem Watermark, LifeStraw, Dr. Bronner's, Baby2Baby, Liquid IV, and Soapbox Soaps. Revenue is generated through individual donations (one-time and recurring via the Butterfly Garden program at $12, $20, $60, and $100 monthly tiers processed on Givebutter), corporate and foundation grants, donor-advised funds, workplace giving, and university chapter fundraising, with no commercial product pricing. Marketing and donor development run through content (website, blog, annual reports), an email newsletter (Flodesk), social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), podcast appearances, and an emerging campus chapter program at McMaster University (November 2025) and New Mexico State University (May 2026).

Name

Solidarity Engineering

Legal name

Solidarity Inc

Website

https://www.solidarityengineering.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Solidarity Engineering is a 501(c)(3) humanitarian engineering nonprofit that designs and builds WASH, shelter, solar, STEM education, and geospatial data programs for displaced and refugee communities across Mexico, Jordan, and Ukraine, serving over 10,000 beneficiaries since 2020.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Engineering Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Emergency Services (BPAGAAAE)

Keywords

• Humanitarian engineering
• Water and sanitation
• Refugee support services
• Displacement infrastructure
• Community WASH programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Reynosa

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, with a monthly giving program (Butterfly Garden) providing consistent infrastructure funding. Donations processed through Givebutter platform.
2. Corporate and Foundation Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships, product donations, and foundation grants supporting specific programs and infrastructure projects.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Workplace Giving: Direct engagement with corporations for sponsorships and gift matching, as well as workplace giving programs.
4. Donor-Advised Fund Gifts: Accepts gifts from donor-advised funds for supporters who direct charitable giving through these vehicles.
5. Check Donations: Accepts traditional check donations via mail for supporters who prefer non-digital giving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Solidarity Engineering delivers humanitarian engineering programs for displaced and refugee communities, integrating WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) infrastructure, shelter and solar power construction, safe play spaces and STEM education, and geospatial data and advocacy. The organization directly builds water systems, sanitation facilities, shelters, and solar installations; distributes hygiene and household supplies; and provides education programming in informal camps and partner shelters across Mexico, Jordan, and Ukraine.

Product overview

Solidarity Engineering is a humanitarian engineering nonprofit offering a suite of integrated programs centered on infrastructure for displaced and vulnerable communities. Its core portfolio comprises four interconnected service lines: WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene), which provides water systems, sanitation facilities, and hygiene supplies; Shelter & Solar, which builds shelter, drainage, and solar power infrastructure; Play & STEM Education, which creates safe play spaces and learning opportunities for children; and Data & Advocacy, which uses geospatial tools to document and advocate for communities. Cross-cutting these programs is the Butterfly Garden monthly giving community that funds sustained infrastructure delivery, and Campus Chapters that extend the organization's reach through university partnerships. The organization operates in Mexico (Reynosa, Matamoros, Tapachula), Jordan, and Ukraine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Solidarity Engineering's foundational program providing safe water access, sanitation infrastructure (portable toilets, permanent bathroom blocks, showers, laundry facilities, handwashing stations), and personal/household hygiene supplies to displaced communities. Includes source water assessment, emergency water provision, water treatment, storage tanks, water towers, distribution systems, and water quality testing.
• Shelter & Solar Shelter construction and support, drainage and flood mitigation, shade and communal structures, solar power and energy access installations, and emergency/basic supplies (blankets, warm clothing, tarps, flashlights, solar lanterns) to protect displaced families from extreme weather and safety risks.
• Play & STEM Education Creates safe play spaces (community playgrounds, play parks, neighborhood installations) and provides hands-on STEM learning activities, educational/comfort supplies (books, school supplies, toys, stuffed animals), and workshops for children affected by displacement.
• Data & Advocacy Uses geospatial technology (ArcGIS Online, Survey123, Field Maps, Dashboards, StoryMaps), drones, filming, and ethical storytelling to map crisis zones, track infrastructure, monitor distributions, and advocate for displaced populations.
• Butterfly Garden (Monthly Giving Program) The Butterfly Garden is a monthly giving community that funds ongoing infrastructure — water, bathrooms, lighting, and safe spaces — for families navigating displacement. Monthly tiers at $12, $20, $60, and $100 support different levels of impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42+ infrastructure projects completed since 2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New Mexico State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Second campus chapter ratified May 2026 under faculty advisor Dr. Bertha Bermudez Tapia. Students preparing to participate in health equity research in Colonias of New Mexico and Texas pending grant approval.
• Global Response Management (GRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundational operational partner at the US-Mexico border. GRM connected the three co-founders (Erin Hughes, Christa Cook, and Chloe Rastatter) with on-the-ground humanitarian work in Matamoros in 2020, enabling the organization's establishment.
• Resource Center of Matamoros (RCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO partner in Matamoros, Mexico, working alongside Solidarity Engineering to provide humanitarian aid to asylum-seeking populations in the informal refugee camp.
• Collateral Repair ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJordan-based partner working with Solidarity Engineering to build lasting protection for refugee women, including tackling period poverty through reusable menstrual pad workshops.
• Auntie Sewing SquadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported reusable menstrual pad workshops in Jordan, providing technical expertise and resources for women to create sustainable menstrual health solutions.
• Villa TheresecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Jordan featured in women's health programming, including fireside chats on menstrual health and border realities.
• Phoenix HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner shelter for displaced families outside Lviv, Ukraine, where Lina Kozik leads Solidarity Engineering's programming including education, women's health, and WASH distributions.
• Air Link FlightminorOthersLogistics partner supporting transportation of supplies and personnel for humanitarian operations.
• Footprint ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating on humanitarian engineering projects.
• Doctors Without BordersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian medical organization working in similar crisis response contexts.
• Angry Tias and AbuelasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBorder-based humanitarian organization serving migrant populations.
• GDIRCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in humanitarian response.
• Haitian Bridge AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy and support organization for Haitian migrants and asylum seekers.
• Xylem WatermarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing water technology expertise and support for WASH programs.
• Days for GirlsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing menstrual health products and education for girls and women globally.
• IRUSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian organization partner.
• Baby2BabyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct partner supplying essential items for children including diapers, wipes, and baby supplies.
• Liquid IVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct partner providing hydration products for distributions.
• Dr. Bronner'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct partner supplying soap and personal care products for hygiene distributions.
• RigamajigminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational toy company supporting safe play spaces and STEM education programs.
• Future MakersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting educational and creative programming for children.
• Soapbox SoapsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct partner providing soap and hygiene supplies for distributions.
• LifeStrawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater filtration product partner supporting safe water access programs.
• TonyMolyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct partner contributing personal care items for distributions.
• McMaster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst campus chapter launched November 2025, with graduate students from Master of Global Health program supporting outreach, partnership development, and student engagement. Chapter hosted first event assembling 50 hygiene kits.
• University of ColoradominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner supporting practicum students and research collaboration.
• Harvard UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner supporting academic engagement and research.
• Columbia UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner supporting academic collaboration.
• Drexel UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeace Engineering program partner providing student placements and technical expertise.
• SIT (School of International Training)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate practicum program partner sending students for humanitarian assistance and crisis management placements.
• University of Pennsylvania Fels InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner supporting academic engagement.
• Villanova UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner supporting academic programs and student involvement.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Engineers Without Borders USA: Engineering-focused humanitarian nonprofit that partners with communities to deliver infrastructure including WASH, sanitation, and energy projects internationally. Highly comparable in mission, engineering-led delivery model, and community-driven approach to infrastructure for vulnerable populations.
• Global Response Management: Direct operational partner of Solidarity Engineering at the US-Mexico border, providing medical and humanitarian crisis response. Comparable in field-based humanitarian service delivery and shared footprint in Matamoros.
• WaterAid: Global nonprofit focused exclusively on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for vulnerable communities. Direct peer in WASH specialization, though operating at significantly larger global scale.
• charity: water: Nonprofit funding clean and safe water projects for people in developing nations. Comparable in WASH focus area, donor-driven funding model, and digital-first storytelling approach to engage recurring givers.
• Footprint Project: Humanitarian engineering nonprofit that partners with organizations to provide renewable energy and disaster response infrastructure. Direct peer in applying engineering solutions to humanitarian contexts and listed as a Solidarity Engineering partner.
• Resource Center of Matamoros: Local NGO partner in Matamoros, Mexico, working alongside Solidarity Engineering to provide humanitarian aid to asylum-seeking populations. Closely aligned operational counterpart serving the same border population.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee: Large established humanitarian organization providing emergency relief, refugee resettlement, and WASH programming globally. Comparable mission serving displaced populations but operates at vastly larger institutional scale.
• Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières: International humanitarian medical organization operating in crisis and conflict zones including Ukraine and Mexico. Comparable emergency response presence in Solidarity Engineering's geographies, though focused on medical care.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian organization working in conflict zones, displacement settings, and WASH programming across multiple continents. Comparable in operating geographies (Jordan, Ukraine) and WASH program delivery.
• Direct Relief: Humanitarian aid organization providing medical and emergency supplies globally. Comparable in serving vulnerable populations through partnerships and field distribution networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9Gt8FN6XbmYjGTTw4m6ndQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/solidarityengineering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solidarity-engineering
• Instagraminstagram.com/solidarityengineering

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Solidarity Engineering