The Cares Organization

What The Cares Organization does

The Cares Organization (CARES) is a US-based nonprofit public charity incorporated in Delaware (Tax ID 92-2900377) and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that operates a tech-enabled charitable giving platform structured around three pillars — Causes, Programs, and Sponsored Projects — channeling contributions from a Harvard alumni-affiliated founder and donor network into poverty, hunger, education, health, disaster relief, food security, conservation, and youth development initiatives across 18+ countries. The organization was founded in 2023 by Core Founder Barbara D'Amato (Chairman) and Co-Founder Alexander Ferguson (Vice Chairman) alongside "The 100 Founders," a cohort of global CEOs who committed to a three-year pledge of support.

The platform's underlying architecture combines a fiscal sponsorship framework with a direct-to-consumer donation engine accepting nine payment instruments: credit/debit cards, PayPal, Stripe, Google Pay, ACH, Zelle, Apple Pay, cryptocurrency, donor-advised funds, and appreciated securities. The proprietary fiscal sponsorship framework functions as an aggregator and accelerator combining funding aggregation, tax efficiency, governance, compliance screening (AML, PEP, OFAC), and global media amplification for mission-aligned initiatives. A "Sponsored Projects" layer triangulates impact capital, vetted operators, and the charitable platform into scalable public-private collaborations. Distribution is layered: a self-serve digital donation platform for individuals, donor-advised-fund grant recommendations for high-net-worth donors, official charitable partnerships (notably Gumball 3000 Foundation globally) for corporate/event-based giving, and a chapter network spanning North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Revenue mechanics combine four streams: voluntary donations and charitable contributions (90% deployed to causes, 10% retained for operations, with crowdfunding exceptions of up to 25%), corporate sponsorships granting visibility into a Harvard alumni global CEO network, membership dues for Harvard Alumni, Reciprocal Schools alumni, and Dynasty Donors, and Donor Advised Fund management services enabled by its 509(a)(2) public charity status. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and a separate Governing Board, holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star rating at 100% and a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, and is structured as a nonstock nonprofit without shareholders.

Name

The Cares Organization

Legal name

The Cares Organization, Inc.

Website

https://thecaresorganization.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cares Organization is a US-based 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(2) public charity that operates a tech-enabled donation platform channeling contributions from a Harvard alumni-affiliated global CEO network into Causes, Programs, and Sponsored Projects across 18+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Giving Platform

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI), Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH), Charitable Giving & Philanthropic Trust Advisory (FSAEAKAH)

Keywords

• Charitable giving platform
• Donor advised funds
• Fiscal sponsorship
• Disaster relief programs
• Nonprofit crowdfunding

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization deploys 90% of donations directly to designated charitable causes or for-profit entities with charitable missions. The remaining 10% supports operational needs including global PR campaigns, media outreach, social media, website, content creation, and legal/tax compliance services.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities providing brand visibility and exposure into Harvard Alumni global CEO network for companies seeking CSR engagement, community involvement, and impact positioning
3. Membership Dues: Membership and Founder status for Harvard Alumni, Reciprocal Schools Alumni, Dynasty Donors, and their families with exclusive access to organization events and initiatives
4. Donor Advised Funds (DAF) Management: As a 509(a)(2) public charity sponsoring organization, CARES establishes, manages, and administers Donor Advised Fund accounts allowing donors to make gifts, take immediate charitable deductions, and recommend future grants

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Cares Organization operates a tax-exempt charitable giving platform structured around three pillars: Causes (crowdfunded charitable initiatives across 12 categories), Programs (Youth Development, Cares in a Box, Impact and Ministry), and Fiscally Sponsored Projects. It also functions as a 509(a)(2) sponsoring organization that establishes and administers Donor Advised Fund accounts, accepting donations via multiple payment rails and deploying 90% of contributions to designated charitable causes across 18+ countries.

Product overview

The Cares Organization is a charitable giving platform structured around three core pillars: Causes (featured and crowdfunded charitable initiatives across 12 categories), Programs (partnered funding opportunities including Youth Development, Cares in a Box, and Impact and Ministry), and Sponsored Projects (fiscally-sponsored initiatives that create maximum donor impact through transformational social enterprises). The platform enables donors to support specific causes, develop programs, or sponsor projects, with funds deployed across North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing tax-deductible donation options and manages charitable funds through its crowdfunding platform with a 90/10 fund allocation model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Causes Featured and crowdfunded charitable causes addressing systemic challenges across 12 categories (Disaster Relief, Work & Income, Conservation & Water Development, Agriculture & Farming, Food & Nutrition, Health & Medicine, Arts & Culture, Youth Sports, Youth Education, Housing, Financial Freedom, and CARES Giving Fund). Targeted at individual donors seeking specific impact areas to support with tax-deductible contributions.
• Programs Partnered charitable programs that unlock larger funding sources and create self-sustaining models through public and private grants, impact capital, corporate giving, and strategic collaborations. Encompasses Youth Development, Cares in a Box, and Impact and Ministry programs. Designed for donors and partners seeking structured, sustained charitable initiatives rather than one-off donations.
• Fiscally Sponsored Projects Fiscally sponsored projects that triangulate impact capital, trusted operators, and the charitable platform into an aligned collaborative framework for scalable results through public-private collaboration. Operate globally across disaster relief, food systems, conservation, youth development, and health sectors, designed for transformational initiatives reaching more children and families.
• Cares in a Box A physical donation program allowing donors to contribute boxed supplies for communities in need. Targeted at individual donors who prefer tangible, item-based giving rather than monetary contributions.
• Youth Development Program Program focused on youth empowerment through education, mentorship, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Targeted at donors and partners seeking to support youth-focused charitable outcomes.
• Impact and Ministry Program Program focused on delivering measurable community impact through ministry-related charitable initiatives. Targeted at donors and faith-aligned partners seeking measurable community impact.
• Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Administration Establishment, management, and administration of Donor Advised Fund accounts allowing donors to make gifts, take immediate charitable deductions, and recommend future grants. Targeted at high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and foundations seeking a tax-efficient giving vehicle with broad grantmaking flexibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of donations directed to charitable causes
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, regional and minor.

• Gumball 3000 FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCARES named Official Charitable Partner of Gumball 3000 Foundation globally. The partnership supports under-represented youth through targeted charitable initiatives while enabling U.S. donors to receive tax relief on contributions. Gumball 3000 is a world-renowned rally attracting celebrities, VIPs, DJs, and 100+ supercars, having raised millions and impacted thousands of disadvantaged youth worldwide. CARES will invite sponsor partners and donors to match investment and expand youth development globally.
• FedExcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFedEx logo appears in collaboration partners section, indicating corporate partnership for logistics or operational support
• Google for NonprofitscoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle for Nonprofits program partner providing technology tools including Google Workspace, Google Ad Grants, and other Google services to support nonprofit operations and visibility
• Rotary InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotary logo displayed in collaboration partners section indicating alignment on humanitarian and community development initiatives
• The Salvation ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Salvation Army logo in collaboration partners section indicating alignment on disaster relief and social services
• COMESA Federation of Women In BusinessregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with COMESA Federation supporting women entrepreneurs and business development across African member states
• NASPAAregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration) partnership supporting public policy education and youth development
• GLOWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLOW partnership supporting girls' education and empowerment initiatives
• One10TenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne10Ten partnership supporting youth in motorsports programs

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• charity: water: charity: water is a digital-native nonprofit funding clean water projects globally, using tech-enabled giving flows and strong brand storytelling. It is a direct peer in online giving, donor engagement, and clean-water programming that overlaps with CARES' Water Development causes.
• GiveDirectly: GiveDirectly delivers cash transfers directly to people in extreme poverty using a tech-enabled, donor-facing platform. Like CARES, it emphasizes data-driven giving, geographic reach in Africa, and measurable outcomes for marginalized communities.
• Kiva: Kiva is a tech-enabled crowdfunding nonprofit enabling individuals to lend money to low-income entrepreneurs and students globally. It mirrors CARES' digital giving platform with global geographic reach and emphasis on measurable impact for underprivileged communities.
• GlobalGiving: GlobalGiving is an online crowdfunding platform connecting donors to vetted, locally-driven nonprofit projects worldwide. Like CARES, it operates a Causes/Projects model with global reach across disaster relief, education, health, and economic development, and is a direct functional peer.
• DonorsChoose: DonorsChoose is an online crowdfunding platform connecting individual donors to public school classroom needs. It shares CARES' direct-to-consumer digital donation model and youth/education programming focus.

Broad incumbents

• Schwab Charitable: Schwab Charitable is a major donor-advised fund sponsor serving HNW households. As a 509(a)(2) DAF sponsor itself, CARES competes in the same fiduciary-giving market segment as Schwab Charitable.
• United Way Worldwide: United Way is a federated giving organization mobilizing donations across local chapters for community impact. CARES' chapter-based global network and aggregated fundraising model mirrors United Way's structure at a smaller scale.
• National Philanthropic Trust: National Philanthropic Trust is one of the largest independent DAF sponsors in the U.S., managing billions in charitable assets. It overlaps directly with CARES' DAF administration service line and HNW donor focus.
• Fidelity Charitable: Fidelity Charitable is the largest U.S. donor-advised fund sponsor with tens of billions in AUM. CARES' 509(a)(2) DAF-sponsoring status puts it in direct competition as a giving vehicle for HNW donors, though Fidelity operates at vastly greater scale.

Emerging players

• GoFundMe Charity: GoFundMe Charity extends the consumer crowdfunding giant into nonprofit fundraising. It competes with CARES' Causes/Programs platform for digital donor dollars, especially among younger and crypto-native givers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thecaresorganization

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Cares Organization