acts

What acts does

ACTS (Africa Community Transformation Services, Inc.) is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in Roscommon, Michigan, that delivers education, nutrition, and community development programs to children and families in rural Ethiopian villages. The organization operates in three villages — Koshe, Woja, and Hadha — providing Christ-centered schooling for approximately 244 enrolled children (as of November 2025), daily hot meals, annual school uniforms, clean water via solar-pumped wells, solar power installations, handwashing stations, school kitchens, and community gardens. ACTS's revenue is generated primarily through a child sponsorship subscription model at $30 per month with a three-year commitment, supplemented by general one-time and recurring donations, sales of founder Bill Cornell's book "Tell The Whole World That I Am Real" ($15 per copy via Amazon and the ACTS website), and passive Amazon Smile contributions (0.5% of qualifying purchases under EIN 35-2390703). The organization claims that more than 95% of every donated dollar goes directly to program services.

The organization is led by founders Karen Cornell (CEO) and Bill Cornell (Board Member), with in-country director Woudineh (Woudy) managing Ethiopia operations and a small team of local teachers and a pastor-school administrator (Tesfaye) on the ground; US-side operations rely on volunteers including an administrative assistant (Erika) and accounting volunteers (Zack Curtis with oversight from his father Chris Curtis). ACTS Ethiopia achieved recognized NGO status in 2013 and relocated its office from Adama to Addis Ababa in 2024 due to security concerns from kidnapping gangs. The organization's distribution model is direct program delivery to beneficiaries in Ethiopia, while donor acquisition relies on church partnerships (notably Trinity Community Church of Clovis), the actskids.org website with PayPal, email newsletters, Facebook, YouTube mission videos, and local PR coverage.

Operationally, ACTS's strategic focus has been on building durable infrastructure: the Koshe school opened in 2012 with 256 students, the Woja school was subsequently built, a community water well was drilled at Woja in 2016, the Woja solar project was completed in 2024, and expansion is underway at Hadha where 58 children currently attend a makeshift school with over 100 more registered. The organization is exploring a co-development partnership with RISE NGO to construct a permanent $107,000 school in Hadha and has publicly stated intent to expand into a fourth community (Olgocho). Recognition includes a 2025 Top Ten compliance ranking from the Central Ethiopian Regional Agency and a local government recognition certificate for the Woja solar project.

Name

acts

Legal name

Africa Community Transformation Services, Inc.

Website

https://actskids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ACTS (Africa Community Transformation Services) is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that delivers Christ-centered education, daily meals, clean water, and solar power to approximately 244 children across three rural Ethiopian villages, funded primarily through $30/month child sponsorships, donations, and book sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit / Faith-Based Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Educational Support Services (611710), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA), Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG)

Keywords

• Child sponsorship programs
• Nonprofit education services
• Rural community development
• Faith-based humanitarian aid
• Charitable donations

Headquarters

HQ city

Roscommon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Child Sponsorship Program: Monthly recurring donations of $30 per month per child for 3-year commitments. Provides education, meals, uniforms, and spiritual development for sponsored children.
2. General Donations: One-time and recurring donations supporting various initiatives including school construction, water wells, solar projects, and general operations.
3. Book Sales: Sale of 'Tell The Whole World That I Am Real' book at $15.00. All proceeds support Little Elsa's continued education and ACTS ministry work.
4. Amazon Smile: ACTS receives 0.5% of qualifying purchases made through Amazon Smile when users designate Africa Community Transformation Services as their charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACTS operates a child sponsorship and community development program in rural Ethiopia. Its core offering is a $30/month child sponsorship that funds Christ-centered education, daily hot meals, and school uniforms for children ages 4-7 in villages (Koshe, Woja, Hadha). The organization also sells a published book ("Tell The Whole World That I Am Real" at $15) whose proceeds support sponsored child Elsa's education and ACTS ministry, and runs community infrastructure projects (schools, water wells, solar power, kitchens, gardens).

Product overview

ACTS (Africa Community Transformation Services) is a nonprofit organization offering two primary products: a Child Sponsorship Program providing monthly support ($30/month) for children in rural Ethiopia including education, meals, and uniforms, and the published book 'Tell the Whole World That I Am Real.' The organization also accepts general donations supporting community development projects including schools, clean water wells, kitchens, healthcare, and solar power infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Sponsorship Program Monthly recurring child sponsorship at $30/month (3-year commitment) providing Christ-centered education, daily nutritious meals, annual school uniforms, and spiritual development for children ages 4-7 in rural Ethiopian communities. Prioritizes orphans and those who have lost a parent.
• Tell the Whole World That I Am Real Published book by Bill Cornell recounting the true story of Little Elsa's miraculous encounter with Jesus Christ in Ethiopia. Sold at $15.00 per copy (~$5 profit on ACTS website signed copies; ~$1 profit on Amazon). All proceeds support Little Elsa's continued education and ACTS ministry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 244+ children receiving daily hot meals and education
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered potential, minor and core.

• RISE NGOpotentialStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019ACTS is exploring partnership with RISE NGO to build a proper school for the Hadha area. Woudineh is also involved with this local NGO. Estimated cost of $107,000 for school construction in this remote location.
• Tree EthiopiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree Ethiopia provided seeds to grow trees for food, shade, and boundary protection. Worked with children at the school to set up a tree nursery and educate them about the process.
• Trinity Community Church of CloviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary mission organization partner of ACTS. Features ACTS as focus ministry annually (e.g., February 2019). Church family provides volunteers for mission trips, financial support, and prayer support. Supported ACTS through Vacation Bible School collections for kitchen construction.
• Crosslink PublishingminorOthersPublisher of 'Tell The Whole World That I Am Real' book by Bill Cornell. Book released late summer 2016.
• Amazon SmileminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon Smile program where ACTS receives 0.5% of qualifying purchases when users designate Africa Community Transformation Services as their charity. EIN: 35-2390703.
• Inseno Area Evangelical FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArea fellowship of pastors became aware of ACTS through Bill's book work in Enseno. Has reached out to ACTS requesting training for area pastors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Compassion International: The largest faith-based child sponsorship nonprofit operating globally, with a heavy Africa footprint. Closely comparable to ACTS in mission (child sponsorship, Christian development) but vastly larger in scale and geographic reach.
• World Vision: Major Christian humanitarian organization running child sponsorship programs across Africa. Operates the same sponsor-a-child, school-and-WASH model that ACTS uses, but at global scale.
• ChildFund International: International child-focused NGO running sponsorship, education, and community development programs in multiple African countries. Direct functional overlap with ACTS' child sponsorship and rural village development model.
• Samaritan's Purse: Large evangelical humanitarian organization running child sponsorship (Operation Christmas Child), WASH, and community development programs globally including Ethiopia. Overlaps with ACTS on faith-based community development in rural Africa.

Direct peers

• Food for the Hungry: Faith-based nonprofit focused on child sponsorship, education, and community transformation in impoverished regions including Ethiopia. Highly comparable operating model and mission alignment to ACTS.
• Africa New Life: Portland-based Christian nonprofit operating in Rwanda and Ethiopia with child sponsorship, schools, and clean water programs. Nearly identical model and target geography as ACTS.
• Unbound (formerly CFCA): Faith-inspired sponsorship organization supporting children, youth, and aging individuals in developing countries including Africa. Operates a similar monthly sponsorship model around education and community development.
• Lifesong for Orphans: Christian nonprofit providing child sponsorship, education, and transition-to-independence programs in countries including Ethiopia. Closely comparable in faith-based sponsorship and education model.

Emerging players

• Help One Child: Smaller faith-based child sponsorship organization focused on vulnerable children in developing regions. Similar sponsor-a-child approach and donor-driven model, but with smaller scale than ACTS.
• Beza Church Development: Ethiopia-focused faith-based nonprofit running child sponsorship and community development programs in Addis Ababa and surrounding regions. Closest geographic and cultural peer to ACTS' Ethiopian operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/rj-zyveE9mM
• Facebookfacebook.com/actskids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 acts