The Coffee Trust

Name

The Coffee Trust

Legal name

The Coffee Trust

Website

https://thecoffeetrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Community Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Tea, Coffee & Cocoa Farming (Beverage Specialty Crops) (AFAGAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing (AFAFADAD), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Community development programs
• Fair trade coffee
• Agricultural extension
• Microcredit services
• Education scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Fe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and businesses supporting the nonprofit's mission. Monthly giving program available for consistent support.
2. Product Sales: Sale of Chajulense green coffee and honey produced by partner cooperatives. Proceeds support farming communities.
3. Event Fundraising: 1st Cup annual fundraiser where participating coffee shops donate first day's revenue on New Year's Day.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Coffee Trust is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports Indigenous coffee-farming communities in Guatemala through long-term partnership programs in agricultural development, income diversification, women's microcredit, education, and scholarships. It funds these programs primarily through individual donations, roaster-partnership contributions (Every Bean Counts, Penny-a-Pound), and the 1st Cup annual fundraiser, while also facilitating sales of partner-produced green coffee and honey.

Product overview

The Coffee Trust operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community development programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include: the Coffee Program (Asociación Chajulense) supporting indigenous Ixil coffee farmers with agricultural development and plant renovation; the Honey Program (CopiChajulense) providing income diversification through beekeeping; the Women's Savings & Microcredit Program (ACMUV & COMUVI) offering small loans and savings accounts to women entrepreneurs; Vision Guatemala supporting organizational development for women's groups; the Scholarship Program funding higher education; and Education support through Horizontes sin Límites Ixil. Additionally, fundraising programs including Every Bean Counts (roaster contribution initiative) and 1st Cup® (annual New Year's Day fundraiser) enable direct financial support from businesses and individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1st Cup: An annual fundraiser initiative organized by The Coffee Trust to support coffee farmers, their families, and their communities in Guatemala. It takes place on New Year's Day each year.
• Every Bean Counts

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 3,000 women participating in microcredit programs with $147,000 in savings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Visión Guatemala Atitlán (VGA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Indigenous women's group in San Juan la Laguna on Lake Atitlán. The Coffee Trust introduced VGA to ACMUV's microcredit model and helps design and launch their own microcredit program.
• CocoMielcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to bring coffee, honey, and bean-to-bar chocolate into US markets. Half of CocoMiel's net profits go back to producers, and the company is a significant contributor to The Coffee Trust.
• Horizontes Sin Límites (Limitless Horizons Ixil)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Nonprofit providing first-class educational opportunities for youth in San Gaspar Chajul since 2009. Coffee Trust supports construction of secondary school, scholarships, tutoring, and the only children's library in the region.
• Asociación ChajulenseflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Fair trade, organic coffee producers in San Gaspar Chajul, Guatemala. Primary partner since 2008 for coffee program, education, and economic development projects.
• ACMUV (Asociación Chajulense de Mujeres Unidos por la Vida)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Women's microcredit association organized in 2006 by 20 women. Grew to nearly 2,000 women providing small loans to groups for family businesses. The Coffee Trust began supporting in 2009.
• Coffee ExchangeflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1989Host of the original 1st Cup annual fundraiser since 1989, contributing 100% of first day's business on New Year's Day to The Coffee Trust. Has contributed $7,500-$10,000 annually over most of the last 15 years.
• Coffeelands FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on Penny-a-Pound program where roasters add a penny per pound to green coffee purchases through their importer, with funds designated to The Coffee Trust. Contributions are 100% tax deductible with Coffeelands handling setup and accounting.
• Cooperative CoffeescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in honey project and coffee plant distribution. Collaborated to give new coffee plants to farmers who lost crops in hurricanes.
• COMUVI (Cooperativa de Mujeres)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's microcredit cooperative operating like a bank in Guatemala. Can offer interest-bearing savings accounts and larger loans than ACMUV. Expanded from original association.
• CopiChajulensecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFairtrade organic honey cooperative in Chajulense region. The Coffee Trust supports with training, matching beehive program, and market access for honey exports to US and Europe.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Root Capital: Nonprofit social investment fund that provides capital and financial training to small and growing agricultural businesses, with significant focus on coffee cooperatives in Latin America. Rick Peyser (The Coffee Trust board member) is also a Root Capital board member, indicating close organizational overlap.
• Food4Farmers: Non organization co-founded by Rick Peyser (The Coffee Trust board member) that works with coffee-farming communities to address food insecurity and diversify income. Direct peer in mission and methodology, operating in similar coffee-growing geographies.
• Coffee Kids: Nonprofit organization originally co-founded by Bill Fishbein himself in 1988 (before he founded The Coffee Trust). Coffee Kids supports coffee-farming families through education, economic development, and food security programs in Latin America, making it the most direct historical and operational peer.
• TechnoServe: Nonprofit that works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries, with significant coffee programs in Latin America including Guatemala. Operates similar smallholder coffee farmer support and cooperative development programs.
• Coffeelands Foundation: Direct operational partner of The Coffee Trust through the Penny-a-Pound program. Coffeelands Foundation channels roaster contributions to coffee-origin nonprofits, including The Coffee Trust, making it a partner AND peer with similar coffee-community support model.

Broad incumbents

• Heifer International: Large established nonprofit working globally with smallholder farmers, including coffee producers, on agricultural development and income diversification. Significantly larger scale than The Coffee Trust but operates in overlapping geographies and similar value-chain support functions.
• Fair Trade USA: Major fair trade certification organization that works with coffee cooperatives like Asociación Chajulense (The Coffee Trust's primary partner) to ensure farmer welfare standards. Operates at certification/system level rather than direct community development but serves overlapping value chain.
• Lutheran World Relief: International humanitarian organization where board member Rick Peyser serves as Senior Relationship Manager, Coffee and Cocoa. Operates significant coffee farmer support programs in Latin America with much broader humanitarian mandate than The Coffee Trust.
• CRS (Catholic Relief Services): Large international humanitarian agency running coffee farmer livelihood programs across Latin America. Operates at significantly greater scale and scope than The Coffee Trust but addresses similar smallholder farmer challenges in Guatemala and the broader region.

Emerging players

• Sustainable Harvest: Specialty coffee importer and relationship coffee company that works directly with cooperatives in Latin America on supply chain transparency and farmer relationships. Cooperative Coffees (a The Coffee Trust partner) has overlapping operational philosophy and farmer engagement approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thecoffeetrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecoffeetrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-coffee-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Coffee Trust