World of Change
World of Change is a Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2017, that engages K-12 schools, summer camps, and youth ambassadors to collect spare change — physical coins and Round It Up card-linked micro-donations — and direct 100% of public funds to vetted nonprofit programs in housing, food security, education, health, and children's play, across 11 U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What World of Change does
World of Change is a Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in March 2017 that converts spare change — physical coins collected in classrooms and camps, plus digital micro-donations via card-linked round-ups — into philanthropic funding for vetted nonprofit programs in six focus areas: housing, food security, education, financial literacy, health and wellness, and children's play. The organization sells the youth a role as the change maker, giving participants choice in which causes to support, and engages schools and summer camps as the primary institutional channels via Classroom Change Kits ($100 per classroom sponsorship includes six collection jars, student coin pouches, and matching funds), ChangeFest-style events, and a Youth Ambassador program. The stack is intentionally light: a Squarespace-hosted website for donations and merchandise ($1–$35 SKUs ranging from stickers and pins to bundled tee-and-jar packages), a Round It Up & Change It Forward module delivered through third-party vendor Change Forward with Stripe handling PCI-compliant payment processing, and a separate Match The Change corporate matching program.
The revenue model splits into two distinct pools: 100% of public donations from individuals (cash, coin drives, Round It Up micro-donations, and merchandise purchases) flow directly to nonprofit programs, while operating costs are underwritten by private donors, foundations, and sponsors — a tiered system anchored by founding donors including the Wasserman Foundation ($250,000+), Hancock Lumber ($50,000+), and Bangor Savings Bank ($25,000+). Go-to-market is community-led: schools and camps drive word-of-mouth acquisition, earned local media (WGME, WCSH6, Maine Public Radio, Portland Press Herald) carries top-of-funnel awareness, and youth ambassadors plus testimonial content convert mid-funnel. Reach has scaled to 100+ schools and camps across 11 U.S. states, with international nonprofit partnerships spanning countries in North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
The team is small and led by Founder & Chief Change Maker Matt Hoidal (former SVP at United Way of Greater Portland, former Executive Director of Camp Sunshine) with Michelle Theriault as Champion of Change, Peter Wasserman (Wasserman Foundation) as Board Chair, and a Board of Advisors populated by Maine business and philanthropy figures (Hancock Lumber, Jordan's Furniture, Tom's of Maine alumni). No venture or private equity capital is involved; the organization is governed by its board, board of advisors, and founding donors.
World of Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- World of Change
- Legal name
- World of Change
- Website
- https://worldofchange.world
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- World of Change is a Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2017, that engages K-12 schools, summer camps, and youth ambassadors to collect spare change — physical coins and Round It Up card-linked micro-donations — and direct 100% of public funds to vetted nonprofit programs in housing, food security, education, health, and children's play, across 11 U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
World of Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Philanthropy Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)
Keywords
Where World of Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
World of Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Change Collections: Primary revenue stream from public donations of spare change, cash, checks, and credit cards. 100% of collected change goes directly to nonprofit partner programs while operating costs are covered by separate private donors, foundations, and sponsors.
- Founding Donors and Sponsors: Private donors, foundations, and sponsors fund all operating costs. This enables the 100% promise - that all public donations go directly to programs. Major founding donors include Wasserman Foundation ($250,000+), Hancock Lumber, Brett & Erin Austin, and others.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including stickers, pins, coin pouches, collection jars, and t-shirts. Products priced from $1 to $35, sold through the organization's online shop.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Classroom Change Kit Sponsorship |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise Items |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
World of Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
World of Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that converts spare change into donations for vetted nonprofit programs serving children and families. It engages youth in philanthropy through school- and camp-based coin collection programs (Classroom Change Kits), a digital card-linked round-up program (Round It Up & Change It Forward), corporate matching initiatives, and an annual youth leadership award, directing 100% of public donations to programs in housing, food security, education, financial literacy, health and wellness, and children's play.
Product overview
World of Change is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that converts spare change into social change for children and families. The core offering includes physical coin collection programs (Coin Collection Jars, Coin Pouches, Classroom Change Kits) at schools, camps, and businesses, combined with a digital Round It Up & Change It Forward program for automatic credit/debit card donations. The organization engages youth through its Youth Ambassadors program and recognizes outstanding leadership via the annual E.L.I. Change Maker Award ($2,500 grant). Supporting the mission, World of Change sells branded merchandise including stickers, pins, t-shirts (Kids and Adults Logo Tees), and bundled packages combining merchandise with collection jars. All collected change goes directly to nonprofit programs in six focus areas: housing, food security, education, financial literacy, health and wellness, and children's play.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Classroom Change Kit $100-per-classroom sponsorship package that provides six branded coin collection jars, coin pouches for each student with starting change, and matching funds to double the impact of what students collect. Designed for K-12 schools to engage students in hands-on philanthropy integrated with math and community-service learning.
- Round It Up & Change It Forward Digital program that allows individual donors to securely link a credit or debit card through third-party Change Forward to automatically round up purchases to the nearest dollar. Users set monthly minimum and maximum contribution limits; roundups are tallied until $5 is reached, then the donation is triggered. Donations support World of Change's mission of helping children and families.
- Match The Change Program Corporate matching program enabling businesses and individual donors to match youth-collected change, doubling the impact of school and camp collections. Donors can direct matches to any of the organization's six focus areas (housing, food security, education, financial literacy, health and wellness, children's play) or set up occasion-specific challenges.
- E.L.I. Change Maker Award Annual $2,500 grant awarded to a youth leader (under 19) who exemplifies leadership through World of Change, sponsored by Hands On Tzedakah. The winner designates the grant to a vetted nonprofit of their choosing. Past recipients include Eli Lapkin (2019), Zoe Korff (2020), and Riley Miller (2021).
- Branded Coin Collection Jar Branded physical coin collection jar sold through the World of Change online shop ($10 standalone) and bundled with apparel. Used in classrooms, at events, and by individuals and families to gather spare change for youth philanthropy initiatives.
- Branded Coin Pouch Zip-up branded coin pouch sold through the online shop ($3) and included in Classroom Change Kits for each student. Used to carry and collect spare change individually.
- World of Change Branded Apparel Branded t-shirts featuring the World of Change coin logo, available in kids ($20) and adult ($25) sizes and multiple colors, sold individually or bundled with a coin collection jar ($30 for kids bundle, $35 for adult bundle). Used to promote brand awareness and raise additional funds for programs.
- Branded Stickers and Pins Branded stickers ($1 each, available in Cent Logo and Full Logo designs) and enamel pins ($2 for the Cent Logo Pin) sold through the online shop to support brand awareness and fundraising.
- STATE/WOC Key Chain and Change Pack Co-branded key chain and change pack featuring STATE/WOC branding, sold for $27 through the online shop as a higher-priced branded merchandise item.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 youth engaged across 9 states
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use World of Change
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
World of Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature2 records
World of Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Maine Camp Experience (MCE)coreLongstanding partnership with Maine Camp Experience member camps engaging campers in social action initiatives. Many MCE member camps have participated in World of Change programs, integrating change collection into camper activities and reunion events.
- StripecorePayment processing partner handling all sensitive payment data. Stripe has been audited by an independent PCI Qualified Security Assessor and is certified as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider for secure transaction processing.
- Change ForwardcoreThird-party vendor platform for the Round It Up & Change It Forward program that allows users to securely link credit or debit cards to automatically round up purchases and donate spare change to World of Change.
- L.L.BeanminorHost venue for ChangeFest 2017 event in Freeport, Maine where nearly 2 tons of change was collected, setting a Maine record with over $52,000 in impact investments.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
World of Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DoSomething.org: Large youth-activism nonprofit that engages young people in social impact campaigns, often in school-based settings. Comparable target audience (K-12 and college youth), comparable school-channel distribution model, and comparable micro-action / community-led GTM motion.
- Common Cents (Penny Harvest): Youth-driven philanthropy nonprofit that mobilizes K-12 students to collect pennies and decide how to allocate pooled funds to local nonprofits. Closest comparable model: youth empowerment + micro-donation collection + youth-directed grantmaking to vetted nonprofits.
- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Youth-started pediatric cancer nonprofit that channels kid-led fundraising (including change and small-dollar donations) toward research and family programs. Closely parallels WOC's "kids as fundraisers" thesis, with similar school- and community-channel distribution and a youth empowerment narrative.
- Youth Service America (YSA / Generation On): National youth service and civic engagement nonprofit running youth-led grant and service programs (Global Youth Service Day, Semester of Service). Comparable in mobilizing youth as philanthropic actors and in distributing grants to youth-led or youth-selected causes.
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Pennies for Patients): National health nonprofit operating the Pennies for Patients school-based coin collection program. Directly comparable K-12 change-collection mechanism, classroom-kit distribution, and youth-targeted donation appeal.
Emerging players
- UNICEF Kid Power: UNICEF's youth philanthropy program that pairs school-based activity with charitable giving. Comparable in school-channel youth engagement and in pairing physical fundraising with digital program components.
- Change Heroes: Canadian nonprofit that funds clean-water projects through round-up and recurring micro-donations from individual donors. Comparable digital round-up / micro-donation mechanic and individual-donor GTM motion.
Broad incumbents
- Points of Light (generationOn legacy programs): Major volunteer-service nonprofit that historically housed generationOn youth service programs. Comparable in mobilizing youth as community actors and channeling corporate/foundation capital into grassroots causes.
- National 4-H Council: Large U.S. youth-development nonprofit operating through school and club channels with civic engagement and community-service programming. Comparable distribution (schools/clubs) and comparable life-skills / leadership development positioning for K-12 youth.
Others
- Khan Academy (nonprofit education angle): Large education nonprofit. Listed as adjacent/ecosystem peer because WOC integrates math and financial literacy into its classroom kits, placing it at the intersection of youth philanthropy and K-12 education programming.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
World of Change social profiles
Digital presenceWorld of Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
World of Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
World of Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
World of Change M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about World of Change
What does World of Change do?
World of Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that converts spare change into donations for vetted nonprofit programs serving children and families. It engages youth in philanthropy through school- and camp-based coin collection programs (Classroom Change Kits), a digital card-linked round-up program (Round It Up & Change It Forward), corporate matching initiatives, and an annual youth leadership award, directing 100% of public donations to programs in housing, food security, education, financial literacy, health and wellness, and children's play.
Is World of Change a public or private company?
World of Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was World of Change founded?
World of Change was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is World of Change based?
World of Change is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does World of Change make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Change Collections are the primary driver. The others are founding Donors and Sponsors and merchandise Sales.
Who are World of Change's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DoSomething.org, Common Cents (Penny Harvest), Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Youth Service America (YSA / Generation On) and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Pennies for Patients). Emerging players are UNICEF Kid Power and Change Heroes. Broad incumbents are Points of Light (generationOn legacy programs) and National 4-H Council. Khan Academy (nonprofit education angle) is listed as an others.
Does World of Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for World of Change.
What industry is World of Change in?
World of Change's product category is Youth Philanthropy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAB, K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAAAFAN, Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills). Its NAICS code is 8132 and its SIC code is 8300.