COVENANT MERCIES
Covenant Mercies is a Christian nonprofit that supports approximately 1,600 orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Liberia through $44/month sponsorships channeled via local church partners, plus an integrated education vertical including primary, secondary, and higher-education scholarship programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersGlen Mills, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What COVENANT MERCIES does
Covenant Mercies is a US-based Christian nonprofit founded in 2002 and headquartered in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, that serves orphaned and vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa through a child sponsorship model. The core offering is a $44-per-month recurring sponsorship that pairs a US donor with a named child in Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, or Liberia, channeling funds through local church partners for food, medical care, education, and family preservation. The organization operates four program countries with 24 indigenous staff (as of 2018) and is led by Executive Director Doug Hayes; it is accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Beyond direct sponsorship funding, Covenant Mercies has built an integrated education vertical: Lighthouse Christian School in Zambia (operating since 2005), Hope Community Primary School in Uganda (opened 2020), the developing Alpha & Omega Secondary School in Uganda, and the Wilbroad Chanda Center for Education (launched 2022). The Mapalo Scholarship Fund extends support into higher education, creating a multi-stage pipeline from primary sponsorship through university. As of 2021, the organization sponsored approximately 1,600 children, up from roughly 1,100+ in 2015.
The revenue model combines recurring individual sponsorships with one-time donations, RunFAR fundraising events, merchandise sales, and employer matching-gift programs. There is no technology platform product or paid software offering; the business is service-delivery driven through in-country church and school partnerships. No financial statements are publicly disclosed in the available input, but ECFA accreditation provides third-party validation of financial accountability standards.
COVENANT MERCIES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- COVENANT MERCIES
- Legal name
- Covenant Mercies
- Website
- https://covenantmercies.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Covenant Mercies is a Christian nonprofit that supports approximately 1,600 orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Liberia through $44/month sponsorships channeled via local church partners, plus an integrated education vertical including primary, secondary, and higher-education scholarship programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
COVENANT MERCIES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Child Sponsorship and Orphan Care Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG), Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where COVENANT MERCIES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glen Mills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
COVENANT MERCIES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Child Sponsorship Program: Monthly recurring sponsorship at $44/month per child. Sponsors provide ongoing support covering school fees, supplies, nutritious meals, and medical care for orphaned children in the program.
- One-Time Donations: Tax-deductible gifts can be made as single donations or monthly recurring gifts to support the general mission, specific programs, or capital projects like school buildings.
- Merchandise Sales: Online store sells branded merchandise including t-shirts, books, music CDs, and accessories. Products include True Africa photography book ($75), Hope of Africa CD ($10), embroidered items, and apparel.
- Mapalo Scholarship Fund: Donations directed to higher education scholarships for program graduates. In 2019, donors raised $63,528 through the Mapalo Match Challenge. Employer matching gift programs contributed over $70,000 in corporate donations in 2020.
- RunFAR Challenge Events: Annual fundraising event where church teams participate in runs/walks. 2020 virtual event raised $29,000 from 143 participants across 7 states.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Single Child Sponsorship - $44/month |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise items at various price points |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
COVENANT MERCIES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Covenant Mercies operates a child sponsorship program that connects individual donors with orphaned children in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing monthly financial support that covers school fees, supplies, nutritious meals, medical care, and spiritual development through partnerships with indigenous local churches. The organization also operates and partners in Christian schools, medical clinics, and a higher education scholarship fund to deliver holistic care to sponsored children.
Product overview
Covenant Mercies operates as a Christian ministry offering a portfolio of programs centered on orphan sponsorship in sub-Saharan Africa. The core offering is the Orphan Sponsorship Program, which provides orphaned children with education, healthcare, meals, and spiritual development through partnerships with indigenous local churches. Supporting this core program are educational institutions including Lighthouse Christian School (Zambia), Hope Community Primary School (Uganda), and Alpha & Omega Secondary School (Uganda). The Mapalo Scholarship Fund enables program graduates to pursue higher education. Additional programs include the RunFAR Challenge (annual fundraising event), The Source (church partnership program), medical clinic services, Community Learning Centers, and an e-commerce store selling branded merchandise. Fundraising initiatives include Portraits of Hope photography exhibitions and the True Africa photo book.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Orphan Sponsorship Program Core program enabling individual donors to sponsor orphaned children in Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Liberia at $44/month, covering school fees, supplies, nutritious meals, medical care, and spiritual development delivered through partnerships with indigenous local churches. Nearly 1,600 children sponsored as of 2021.
- Mapalo Scholarship Fund Higher education scholarship program enabling Orphan Sponsorship Program graduates to pursue university and vocational education, with 15 scholars having graduated as of recent reporting and 22 students currently pursuing higher education as of 2021.
- Lighthouse Christian School Quality Christian primary school in Ndola, Zambia serving orphaned children in shanty settlements, with current enrollment exceeding 300 students and a new Wilbroad Chanda Center for Education (library, computer lab, science lab, multipurpose hall) opened in 2022.
- Hope Community Primary School Primary school in Kiburara, Uganda providing Christ-centered education for sponsored children with continuity of care through secondary school. New library opened August 2024.
- Alpha & Omega Secondary School Secondary boarding school in Kiburara, Uganda currently operating on a 2+ acre site, being developed on a new 6-acre plot to provide continuity of care from Hope Community Primary School through graduation.
- RunFAR Challenge Annual fundraising 5K run/walk event (Run For African Relief) where church teams register, compete, and raise funds to support Covenant Mercies programs. 2020 virtual event drew 143 participants across 7 states and raised $29,000; 2021 had 8 church teams from 5 states raising $24,000.
- Medical Clinic Services On-site medical clinics providing healthcare including in-patient/out-patient care, health education, HIV and malaria treatment, nutritional assessments, and 3,600+ patient visits recorded at the Western Uganda clinic.
- Community Learning Centers Educational centers in Uganda that operated during COVID-19 school closures to provide continued learning support for sponsored children.
- True Africa Book Photography book by David Sacks showcasing sponsored children in Sub-Saharan Africa, sold for $75 through the online store to support the ministry.
- Hope of Africa Music Music album by The Macedonians recorded in rural Uganda, featuring traditional thumb piano (akogo) and vocal harmonies; available as CD ($10) or digital download ($5) via the online store.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of Grade 7 Lighthouse students passed national exams to qualify for secondary school (2015, 2018)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use COVENANT MERCIES
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
COVENANT MERCIES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
COVENANT MERCIES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Christ Community ChurchcoreLocal partner church in Ndola, Zambia. Founded by Wilbroad and Zicky Chanda. Wilbroad was founding pastor and co-founded Lighthouse Christian School with his wife Zicky in 2005. The church serves as the spiritual center for Covenant Mercies' partnership with Lighthouse Christian School.
- Lighthouse Christian SchoolcoreQuality Christian school in Ndola, Zambia founded 2005. Initial class of 6 kindergarten students grew to over 300 sponsored students. Covenant Mercies began sponsoring children to attend in 2006. New Wilbroad Chanda Center for Education opened 2022 with library, computer lab, science lab, and multipurpose hall.
- Hope Community Primary SchoolcorePrimary school in Kiburara, Uganda. Ground broken March 4, 2019; opened February 3, 2020 with 80 students. 87 students enrolled in 2020. New library opened August 2024. Provides continuity of care for sponsored children.
- Alpha & Omega Secondary SchoolcoreExisting secondary school in Kiburara, Uganda with current campus on 2+ acres. Site plan developed for 6-acre plot with migration planned for 2028. Phase One construction ($500,000) includes six buildings. Covenant Mercies developing to provide continuity from Hope Community Primary School.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
COVENANT MERCIES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Compassion International: The largest faith-based child sponsorship organization globally, operating in nearly 25 developing countries with a similar monthly-sponsorship model centered on holistic child development including education, healthcare, and spiritual formation.
- Children International: Child sponsorship nonprofit supporting youth in poverty in Asia, Africa, and the Americas via education, health, and livelihood programs — directly overlapping with Covenant Mercies' child-sponsorship delivery model.
- World Vision: Major Christian humanitarian organization running child sponsorship programs across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, with comparable community-development and education programming targeted at vulnerable children.
- Food for the Hungry: Christian relief and development organization running child sponsorship and community development programs in Sub-Saharan Africa with comparable holistic, church-partnered delivery.
- Holt International: Faith-rooted child welfare organization providing family-based care, sponsorship, and education services for orphaned and vulnerable children in multiple developing countries.
- Lifesong for Orphans: Faith-based nonprofit focused specifically on orphan care and adoption support, operating education and sponsorship programs in several of the same Sub-Saharan African countries as Covenant Mercies.
- ChildFund International: International child-focused development organization using sponsorship to fund education, healthcare, and nutrition in more than 20 countries, including several overlapping with Covenant Mercies' geographies.
Broad incumbents
- Buckner International: Faith-based family services organization running international orphan care, education, and sponsorship programs with comparable church-driven ministry model.
- Samaritan's Purse: Large evangelical humanitarian organization with broader disaster relief and children's programs; overlaps with Covenant Mercies through faith-based child welfare and education in Africa.
Emerging players
- Agape International Missions: Smaller faith-based organization providing child sponsorship, education, and rescue programs primarily in Uganda and Southeast Asia, comparable in scale and delivery approach to Covenant Mercies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
COVENANT MERCIES social profiles
Digital presenceCOVENANT MERCIES compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
COVENANT MERCIES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
COVENANT MERCIES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
COVENANT MERCIES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
COVENANT MERCIES 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 COVENANT MERCIES
What does COVENANT MERCIES do?
Covenant Mercies operates a child sponsorship program that connects individual donors with orphaned children in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing monthly financial support that covers school fees, supplies, nutritious meals, medical care, and spiritual development through partnerships with indigenous local churches. The organization also operates and partners in Christian schools, medical clinics, and a higher education scholarship fund to deliver holistic care to sponsored children.
Is COVENANT MERCIES a public or private company?
COVENANT MERCIES is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was COVENANT MERCIES founded?
COVENANT MERCIES was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is COVENANT MERCIES based?
COVENANT MERCIES is headquartered in Glen Mills, United States, in the North America region.
How does COVENANT MERCIES make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Child Sponsorship Program is the primary driver. The others are one-Time Donations, merchandise Sales, mapalo Scholarship Fund and runFAR Challenge Events.
Who are COVENANT MERCIES's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Compassion International, Children International, World Vision, Food for the Hungry, Holt International, Lifesong for Orphans and ChildFund International. Broad incumbents are Buckner International and Samaritan's Purse. Agape International Missions is listed as an emerging player.
Does COVENANT MERCIES have an API?
No public API is recorded for COVENANT MERCIES.
What industry is COVENANT MERCIES in?
COVENANT MERCIES's product category is Child Sponsorship and Orphan Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights, with a secondary code of BPADAGAG, Child Rights & Protection. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.