The Coffee Trust
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersSanta Fe, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
The Coffee Trust firmographics
Firmographics- 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
The Coffee Trust industry classification
Industry- 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
Where The Coffee Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Fe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Coffee Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and businesses supporting the nonprofit's mission. Monthly giving program available for consistent support.
- Product Sales: Sale of Chajulense green coffee and honey produced by partner cooperatives. Proceeds support farming communities.
- Event Fundraising: 1st Cup annual fundraiser where participating coffee shops donate first day's revenue on New Year's Day.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Cup of Compassion - Any amount |
| Other | Annual | Cup of Kindness - $500-$999 |
| Other | Annual | Cup of Dedication - $1,000-$2,499 |
| Other | Annual | Cup of Distinction - $2,500+ |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Full five-year scholarship - $6,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | One-year scholarship - $1,200 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | One-quarter scholarship - $300 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | One-month scholarship - $100 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Coffee Trust product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use The Coffee Trust
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Coffee Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Coffee Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Visión Guatemala Atitlán (VGA)coreIndigenous 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.
- CocoMielcorePartnership 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)coreNonprofit 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 ChajulenseflagshipFair 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)flagshipWomen'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 ExchangeflagshipHost 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 FoundationcoreCollaboration 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 CoffeescorePartner in honey project and coffee plant distribution. Collaborated to give new coffee plants to farmers who lost crops in hurricanes.
- COMUVI (Cooperativa de Mujeres)flagshipWomen's microcredit cooperative operating like a bank in Guatemala. Can offer interest-bearing savings accounts and larger loans than ACMUV. Expanded from original association.
- CopiChajulensecoreFairtrade 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
The Coffee Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
The Coffee Trust social profiles
Digital presenceThe Coffee Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Coffee Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Coffee Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Coffee Trust 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 The Coffee Trust
What does The Coffee Trust do?
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.
Is The Coffee Trust a public or private company?
The Coffee Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Coffee Trust founded?
The Coffee Trust was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Coffee Trust based?
The Coffee Trust is headquartered in Santa Fe, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Coffee Trust make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are product Sales and event Fundraising.
Who are The Coffee Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Root Capital, Food4Farmers, Coffee Kids, TechnoServe and Coffeelands Foundation. Broad incumbents are Heifer International, Fair Trade USA, Lutheran World Relief and CRS (Catholic Relief Services). Sustainable Harvest is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Coffee Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Coffee Trust.
What industry is The Coffee Trust in?
The Coffee Trust's product category is International Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAGAG, Tea, Coffee & Cocoa Farming (Beverage Specialty Crops), with a secondary code of AFAFADAD, Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8600.