CIAI - Centro Italiano Aiuti all'Infanzia

What CIAI - Centro Italiano Aiuti all'Infanzia does

CIAI - Centro Italiano Aiuti all'Infanzia ETS is a Milan-headquartered Italian Third Sector non-profit organization founded in 1968 as the country's first entity dedicated to international adoption. The organization delivers a portfolio of child-protection and family-support services spanning international adoption, foster care (affido), psychological counseling through its wholly-owned subsidiary CIAIPE (Centro Psicologico ed Educativo, 40+ years of operation including online consultations), and domestic educational-poverty interventions delivered via six Presidi Educativi Territoriali in Milan, Bari, and Palermo and its SÈI (Sostegno Educativo in Italia) program.

The organization's technology footprint centers on a digital donation and e-commerce platform (sostienici.ciai.it) hosting solidarity gift products, the tu6prof e-learning platform developed with the STMicroelectronics Foundation for schools, online psychological consultation services via video, and standard social media channels. CIAI operates no proprietary AI/ML systems, no consumer-facing mobile application, and no public API.

CIAI's revenue model is a hybrid non-profit mix dominated by charitable contributions: individual and corporate donations (eligible for 30% tax deduction for individuals up to €30,000 and 10% for businesses under the Third Sector Code Dlgs 117/2017), the 5x1000 IRPEF tax designation program (Tax Code: 80142650151), recurring membership fees (€100/year, deductible per Agenzia delle Entrate Resolution 85/2019), grant funding from entities including Con i Bambini, the Dipartimento per le Politiche di Coesione (Fondo per lo Sviluppo e la Coesione), banking foundations (Unicredit Foundation, FBML), and product revenue from solidarity gifts (bomboniere at €5-6/unit, bonsai, Christmas panettone, eCards). Customer-facing beneficiaries span Italian families seeking adoption, vulnerable children in educational poverty (target population: 3 million children in Italy), families requiring psychological support, social workers/educators seeking training, and corporate CSR partners. Internationally, the organization operates projects across India, Cambodia, Colombia, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nepal through strategic NGO partnerships (AMI, Fondazione AVSI, NOVA, Banabasi Seva Samiti, Gram Vikas, CIFA ONLUS, ICBF, among others).

Name

CIAI - Centro Italiano Aiuti all'Infanzia

Legal name

CIAI – Centro Italiano Aiuti all'Infanzia ETS

Website

https://ciai.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CIAI is a Milan-based Italian non-profit founded in 1968, serving as Italy's first organization dedicated to international adoption and now delivering child-protection services including foster care, psychological counseling via CIAIPE, and educational-poverty programs across Italy and six international countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare and Adoption Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)

Keywords

• International adoption services
• Foster care placement
• Child welfare programs
• Educational poverty intervention
• Psychological counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, corporate donors, and foundations supporting CIAI's projects for children. Includes one-time and recurring donations, 5x1000 tax designation (Tax Code: 80142650151), and legacy bequests.
2. Solidarity Products (Regali e Bomboniere Solidali): Sale of solidarity gifts including bomboniere (solidarity bomboniere from Vietnam, India, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso), bonsai, Christmas panettone, and greeting cards. Products support educational poverty projects.
3. Membership Fees (Quote Associative): Annual association fee of 100€ for members. Deductible as adoption-related expense per Agenzia delle Entrate resolution 85/2019.
4. Psychological Services (CIAIPE): Psychological counseling and psychotherapy services, including online sessions, for families and individuals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CIAI is an Italian nonprofit (ETS) that delivers child protection services spanning international adoption, foster care placement, and post-adoption family support. It also runs educational poverty interventions through the Presidi Educativi Territoriali and SÈI programs, plus a dedicated psychological and educational center (CIAIPE) offering counseling, psychotherapy, and online sessions for children and families.

Product overview

CIAI - Centro Italiano Aiuti all'Infanzia is a charitable organization (ETS - Ente del Terzo Settore) founded in 1968 as Italy's first entity dedicated to international adoption. The organization offers a portfolio of solidarity products and social services including: solidarity gifts (bomboniere solidali, bonsai solidali, eCards for donations), membership subscriptions, and donation platforms. Its core services encompass international adoption, foster care, the CIAIPE psychological/educational center, and the Italy Program. Educational programs include Territorial Educational Preschools (Presidi Educativi Territoriali) in Milan, Bari, and Palermo, training courses (CIAI per te), and the SÈI (Educational Support in Italy) program. The organization also enables support through 5×1000 tax designation and manages international development projects in countries including India, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa d'Avorio, and Sierra Leone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIAIPE: Centro Psicologico ed Educativo CIAI - Psychological and educational center offering psychological counseling, psychotherapy, and educational support services for children and families.
• SÈI - Sostegno Educativo in Italia
• Presidi Educativi Territoriali
• ALLA PARI - Crescere in una società aperta e inclusiva

Products and services

• Adozione Internazionale International adoption services that help children find a suitable family, supporting couples and individuals through legal, psychological, and post-adoption processes.
• Affido

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 Presidi Educativi Territoriali active in Milano, Bari, and Palermo serving vulnerable children
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• AMI - Amici Missioni IndianecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian partner with long experience in India and international adoption. Contributes to formation on special needs children through expert pediatrician, co-finances activities, and participates in strategic coordination for India projects (Bal Marg, Rakshan).
• Fondazione AVSIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization with extensive experience in international cooperation. Supports India projects with expert trainer in disability and inclusion, contributing to preparation of future adoptive parents and participating in project coordination.
• NOVA - Nuovi Orizzonti per Vivere l'AdozionecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive in child protection projects, providing specialized expertise in disability and adoption. Contributes to adoptive parent training and participates in project governance.
• Banabasi Seva SamiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresent for decades in Kandhamal district, India, as the reference partner for child protection. Coordinates activities with families, communities, and local institutions including parenting support programs, training, and vulnerable case management.
• Gram VikascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmong major Indian NGOs working for years in rural areas with participatory approach. Leads educational, health, and economic empowerment activities, promoting opportunities for youth and families in involved villages.
• AainacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization specialized in disability and inclusion. Handles awareness, training, and support for adoption of children with special needs, promoting more inclusive and aware communities.
• CIFA ONLUScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization (capofila) for Cambodia project 'Our Bright Journey', partnering with CIAI, Lo Scoiattolo, and local organizations Kumnit Kumar and TPO.
• Krousar Khnom OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Cambodia project for child protection and family support.
• Lo ScoiattolocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian partner in Cambodia project 'Our Bright Journey' alongside CIAI and CIFA.
• Fondazione AVSIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization (capofila) for HOME Phase 3 project in Sierra Leone and Costa d'Avorio. CIAI participates as partner in this child protection initiative.
• AMI - Amici Missioni IndianecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in HOME Phase 3 project for child protection in Sierra Leone and Costa d'Avorio.
• Cinemovel FoundationsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in #tu6scuola project, providing 'Schermi in classe' cinema education program selected as best practice by National Cinema Plan (MIUR and MiBACT).
• Faber CitysupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative partner in #tu6scuola project contributing to educational content development.
• ed-WorksupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational technology partner in #tu6scuola project.
• Fondazione Hallgarten Franchetti-Centro studi Villa MontescasupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in #tu6scuola project providing pedagogical expertise and training content.
• STMicroelectronics FoundationsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnical development partner for tu6prof e-learning platform. STMicroelectronics Foundation, emanation of STMicroelectronics, has always developed and supported interventions on digital divide in disadvantaged areas.
• ICBF - Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar FamiliarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian government child welfare authority partnering with CIAI on child protection projects in Colombia.
• La MalocasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Colombia 'Una mano per la vita' project.
• NovasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Colombia project alongside CIAI, AVSI, and others.
• Fondazione MonserratesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Colombia project for child welfare.
• SjamosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Colombia project.
• Istituto La CasasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Colombia project.
• AfnsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Colombia project.
• SraisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Colombia project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Telefono Azzurro: Italian NGO focused on child and adolescent rights, child protection helpline, and prevention of violence and abuse; comparable to CIAI on child safeguarding mission and Italian donor constituency, with a different service delivery model (helpline vs. direct services).
• ActionAid Italia: Italian branch of ActionAid International focused on poverty, women's rights, and education in developing countries; overlap is strongest on international child-and-family focused projects, donor base, and co-development funding competition.
• SOS Villaggi dei Bambini Italia: Italian branch of SOS Children's Villages, the global federation focused on family-based alternative care for children without parental care; directly comparable with CIAI's foster care (Affido) and child-welfare mission and competes for similar Italian public and private funders.
• Fondazione AVSI: Italian international development NGO active in education, child welfare, and humanitarian projects worldwide; CIAI's co-developer on India projects and lead (capofila) partner on HOME Phase 3 in Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire, making scope, geography, and funding model directly comparable.
• AMI - Amici Missioni Indiane: Italian faith-inspired NGO with a long-standing presence in India and experience in international adoption; CIAI's identified partner on India and HOME Phase 3 projects and highly comparable in size, funding sources, and operational geography.
• Amici dei Bambini: Italian NGO primarily dedicated to international adoption and child rights in Italy; overlaps almost one-to-one with CIAI's flagship Adozione Internazionale and Affido services and competes for the same adoptive-family segment in Italy.
• Fondazione AVSI - NGO Operating Partner (Cesvi): Italian international cooperation NGO delivering education, child protection, and humanitarian programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America; comparable in size, donor mix (5x1000, grants, individual giving), and project portfolio structure with CIAI's international operations.
• Terre des Hommes Italia: Italian branch of the Terre des Hommes federation supporting child protection, educational inclusion, and child rights across multiple countries; addresses overlapping beneficiary populations and competes for similar donor pools and corporate CSR budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children Italia: Large established Italian children's rights NGO with a broader thematic scope (poverty, education, migration, emergency response) and significantly larger scale; partially overlaps CIAI's educational poverty and child welfare work but extends well beyond it.
• UNICEF Italia: Italian committee of UNICEF, operating at much larger scale globally across child rights, education, and emergency response; the dominant Italian beneficiary of 5x1000 in the children's space and therefore a direct competitor for the same tax-designated donor pool as CIAI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ciaiets
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciaiets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciai-centro-italiano-aiuti-all-infanzia
• Instagraminstagram.com/ciai_ets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CIAI - Centro Italiano Aiuti all'Infanzia