GHANA MAKE A DIFFERENCE INC

What GHANA MAKE A DIFFERENCE INC does

Ghana Make A Difference Inc (GMAD) is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 that delivers humanitarian services in Ghana. Its core programs are a children's shelter for children rescued from forced labor trafficking, abandonment, or with special needs; medical missions (dental, eye, and surgical care, plus a year-round clinic and a new surgical center opened in October 2024); and education through the GMAD Academy of Learning (a technology-centered, self-paced curriculum), the scholarship fund, and the People's Classroom construction project targeting July 2026 completion.

GMAD operates on a "100% giving" model in which all donations flow to Ghana programs, with overhead covered by a separate fund sourced from volunteer program fees and designated donor contributions. Revenue streams include one-time donations, the Navigator monthly giving program (averaging $17/month, accounting for roughly half of shelter outcomes), medical mission volunteer fees ($2,200 per volunteer for the April 9–19, 2027 mission, inclusive of lodging, food, and ground transport), the 100 Women surgical care campaign ($485 per woman), merchandise sales ($12.50–$75), and stock donations via a Schwab account. The organization is led by Executive Director Austin Johnson, evaluated biannually by A Child's Hope Foundation (scoring 9.3/10), audited independently by SQUIRE in the US and a local accountant in Ghana, and partners with International Justice Mission, Ghana Health Service, LDS Charities, Caritas Ghana, and others.

Name

GHANA MAKE A DIFFERENCE INC

Legal name

Ghana Make a Difference, Inc.

Website

https://ghanamakeadifference.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ghana Make A Difference Inc is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that operates a children's shelter, medical missions (dental, eye, surgical), and educational programs in Ghana for vulnerable children and women.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Community Housing Services (62422), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Humanitarian aid
• Medical mission trips
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Star

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations - One-time and Monthly: The primary revenue stream comes from individual donations. GMAD operates a 100% giving model where all donations go directly to Ghana programs. Overhead costs are covered by a separate fund of volunteer fees and designated donor contributions. Navigator program collects monthly recurring donations averaging $17/month.
2. Medical Mission Volunteer Fees: Volunteers pay program fees ($2,200 for April medical mission) which cover lodging, food, transportation, and activities in Ghana. A portion of these fees covers organizational overhead costs.
3. Merchandise Sales: The organization sells branded merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, caps, patches, journals) through its online store at prices ranging from $12.50 to $75. Profits support the cause.
4. Stock Donations: GMAD accepts stock donations through a Schwab account, providing an additional giving option for donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ghana Make A Difference operates a children's shelter in Ghana for children rescued from slavery, abandonment, or those with special needs, while providing annual medical missions (dental, eye, and surgical care) and educational programs through the GMAD Academy of Learning. The organization funds these humanitarian services through individual donations, a Navigator monthly giving program, volunteer mission program fees, and branded merchandise sales, with a stated 100% giving model directing donations directly to Ghana operations.

Product overview

Ghana Make A Difference (GMAD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in Ghana with three core program areas: Children's Shelter (for children rescued from slavery, abandonment, or with special needs), Medical Missions (dental, eye, and surgical care), and Education. The Education program includes the GMAD Academy of Learning with a tech-centered curriculum, and the People's Classroom construction project to expand school capacity by 150%. GMAD also runs fundraising campaigns including 100 Women (surgical care for women), the Scholarship Fund (for older children's education), and a Navigator monthly giving program. The organization maintains a 100% giving model where all donations go directly to Ghana operations, with overhead covered by specific donors and volunteer fees. GMAD also operates an online merchandise store selling branded apparel and accessories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GMAD Academy of Learning: An educational facility serving children at the shelter and local children with unique circumstances, using a tech-centered, learn-at-your-own-pace curriculum.
• Navigator Program
• 100 Women Initiative

Products and services

• Children's Shelter Shelter for children rescued from slavery, abandonment, or those with special needs, providing care while social workers work to reintegrate them into biological families or place them in adoptive families. Located at GMAD's home base in Ghana and staffed by local Ghanaian social workers, nannies, and facility workers.
• Medical Missions Four annual medical missions per year providing dental, eye, and surgical care to hundreds of people in Ghana, hosted and organized by GMAD in partnership with Ghana Health Service. Includes a year-round operational medical clinic and April and October volunteer mission trips.
• GMAD Academy of Learning Technology-centered, learn-at-your-own-pace educational programs for children who have never attended school, focusing on computer and English literacy alongside other essential skills, serving children at the GMAD shelter and local children with unique circumstances.
• The People's Classroom A new school being built to replace the existing converted chicken coop school, featuring a tech-centered curriculum, a dedicated special needs classroom, a library and tech room, and sewing and vocational training facilities. Sponsorship goal of $25,000 fully covers construction of one classroom; $30,000 also covers teachers' salaries for two years.
• 100 Women Campaign Ongoing fundraising campaign providing essential surgical care to women in Ghana at $485 per woman, focused on helping mothers, grandmothers, teachers, and community members who lack access to or ability to afford surgical procedures.
• Scholarship Fund Fund supporting GMAD teens on scholarships and older children with trade school and higher educational pursuits, enabling self-reliance through continued education for shelter residents and program alumni.
• Navigator Monthly Giving Program Monthly recurring donor program where contributors provide ongoing financial support to GMAD's operations in Ghana, with an average monthly donation of $17 (minimum $10/month) and an exclusive Navigator t-shirt for participants.
• GMAD Merchandise Store Online store selling branded GMAD merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, caps, beanies, sweatshirts, quarter zip pullovers, patches, and journals at prices ranging from $12.50 to $75, with profits supporting the GMAD cause.
• Medical Mission Volunteer Program Volunteer mission program where participants pay a $2,200 program fee to join medical missions in Ghana, with fees covering lodging, food, airport transfers, activities, and partial support for organizational overhead.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.3 out of 10 rating from A Child's Hope Foundation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Justice Mission (IJM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with IJM, an organization dedicated to ending slavery worldwide. GMAD works with IJM to rescue children from trafficking situations.
• A Child's Hope FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit that supports and vets Children's Shelters throughout the world. GMAD operations in Ghana are evaluated every 6 months by A Child's Hope Foundation, receiving a score of 9.3 out of 10.
• Ghana Health ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMAD medical missions are hosted and organized in partnership with Ghana Health Service. Medical volunteers work within Winneba Trauma Hospital.
• GRAFT FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting GMAD's work in Ghana.
• LDS CharitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, providing support for charitable causes including GMAD's children's shelter and medical programs.
• Caritas GhanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic development organization working in Ghana, partnered with GMAD to support vulnerable children and families.
• Acacia ShademinorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting GMAD's mission in Ghana.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Compassion International: Large-scale child sponsorship and education NGO operating in Ghana; comparable in beneficiary profile (vulnerable children) and recurring donor model, but at a much larger scale.
• World Vision: Global humanitarian organization with extensive child welfare, education, and health programming in Ghana; serves a similar beneficiary base but as a much broader portfolio.
• Samaritan's Purse: Christian humanitarian organization running medical missions and child welfare programs internationally, comparable to GMAD's medical mission and faith-affiliated volunteer model.
• LDS Charities: Humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supporting charitable causes including children's shelters and medical programs; comparable as a funder/partner in similar cause areas.

Direct peers

• International Justice Mission: Global anti-trafficking NGO that refers rescued children to GMAD and operates in Ghana on slavery and child protection, making it a directly comparable partner in the same mission space.
• Mercy Ships: Operates hospital ships delivering free surgical and dental care in West Africa, structurally comparable to GMAD's medical mission and surgical center programs.
• A Child's Hope Foundation: Nonprofit that evaluates and vets children's shelters worldwide, including GMAD's Ghana operations; directly comparable as a child-welfare shelter oversight organization.
• Free the Slaves: Operates anti-slavery programs in Ghana and globally; comparable to GMAD's mission of rescuing children from forced labor trafficking in West Africa.
• Challenging Heights: Ghana-based NGO working against child trafficking and supporting rescued children through education and reintegration, closely mirroring GMAD's shelter and education model.

Regional players

• Caritas Ghana: Ghana-based Catholic development organization partnered with GMAD to support vulnerable children; comparable in mission and geography though broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ghana-make-a-difference-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GHANA MAKE A DIFFERENCE INC