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CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND INC DBA CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND COAF
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 113579187 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q30 · International Affairs · Large ($10M-$50M) · coaf.org
revenue
$14.3M
expenses
$14.5M
net assets
$15.8M
employees
0
volunteers
14
program ratio
96%
mission · from form 990

COAFs goal is to empower the younger generation of Armenians living in the country's impoverished and neglected rural villages.While COAF's work is all-encompassing, the emphasis is on education. The organizations work combines infrastructure projects schools, medical clinics, health posts, community centers, athletic facilities with world class educational, socioeconomic, health care, and community programs. The objective is to enable young Armenians to define and build their own future with guidance provided by COAF.

profile · synthesized from sources

Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) empowers children and families in rural Armenia through a holistic model centered on education, healthcare, economic development, and community services. Its flagship COAF SMART Centers provide project-based learning programs for children and adults, combining infrastructure development with educational and socioeconomic initiatives. The organization focuses on creating sustainable rural transformation by building local capacity and leadership.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Alumni Program
Mentorship and merit-based scholarship program supporting COAF graduates in higher education, including tuition assistance, internships, employability skills training, and community development projects.
COAF SMART Center
Centralized education hubs offering project-based learning programs for children ages 3–18 and adults, with tracks in early education, citizenship development, and STEM skills. Each program concludes with a student-led community project.
CheeseUP
Agribusiness initiative in Lori region that trains rural farmers in dairy production, cheese-making, and cooperative business models, creating jobs and modernizing local agriculture.
Social Enterprises
Mission-driven businesses including hospitality (Oak Hut) and artisan production that generate revenue reinvested into COAF programs while creating local jobs and career pathways.
activities · 11 groups

What they do

  • Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
    • Building professional and employability skills
      Offers internships, volunteering opportunities, mentorship pairings, employability workshops, and technical training in areas such as programming, web design, and project-based learning to prepare youth for professional environments and higher education.
  • Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Delivering integrated educational programs in rural communities
      Provides comprehensive educational programming including English language instruction (via the English Access Program and state-approved textbooks), arts, technology, career orientation, debate, civic education, and extracurricular clubs for children and youth in rural Armenia. Programs are delivered through COAF SMART Centers and village-based initiatives, serving over 685 students in English alone and reaching hundreds more through specialized curricula.
  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Developing educator and professional capacity
      Functions as a learning hub by providing teacher certification programs in partnership with the American University of Armenia (AUA) and building the capacity of local educators and psychosocial professionals through training and resource sharing.
  • Arts Education Access Programs 1 activity
    • Expanding access to cultural and creative education
      Provides programs in music, dance, drawing, handicrafts, sound design, theater, and calligraphy, along with educational field trips to cultural institutions and creative competitions such as the "Modernizing of Armenian Culture" art contest, to foster artistic development and cultural innovation among rural youth.
  • Multi-Institution Scholarship Funding 1 activity
    • Funding scholarships for higher education
      Funds merit-based scholarships covering full or partial tuition for COAF alumni to pursue bachelor's degrees, including full first-year support with continued funding based on academic performance. The Jack and Zarig Youredjian Scholarship Fund has fully funded over 500 scholarships.
  • School Infrastructure Development 1 activity
    • Implementing rural infrastructure projects
      Constructs and renovates schools, medical clinics, health posts, community centers, athletic facilities, and other foundational infrastructure in rural Armenian villages. Projects include the COAF SMART Centers in Lori, Armavir, and planned sites in Syunik, as well as school and clinic renovations in villages such as Shenik and Myasnikyan.
  • Comprehensive Dental Care Services 1 activity
    • Providing pediatric and dental health services
      Delivers comprehensive annual pediatric screenings for children aged 2–6 across multiple rural villages and operates three modern dental clinics in Dsegh, Karakert, and Myasnikyan that provide preventive and restorative care. Also offers speech therapy, psychological support, and early childhood development services through Child Development Corners.
  • School-Based Mental Health and Family Support 1 activity
    • Providing psychosocial and family support services
      Operates Child & Family Centers that deliver advocacy, counseling, case management, individual and group psychological therapy, and speech therapy to children, adolescents, and families affected by poverty, trauma, and domestic violence.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Supporting youth leadership and community engagement
      Offers programs including Student Councils, debate clubs, COAF Talks, and community project design initiatives that develop leadership, critical thinking, public speaking, and problem-solving skills. Supports youth in identifying local challenges and implementing entrepreneurship-based solutions.
  • Agricultural Training and Education Programs 1 activity
    • Training farmers and building agricultural capacity
      Provides training in milk production, hygiene, and cheese-making techniques to rural farmers, enhancing agricultural productivity and economic sustainability in partner communities.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Operating social enterprises to support rural development
      Runs modernized cheese production plants that generate over 67 tons of cheese annually, reinvesting all revenue into education, healthcare, and development programs in rural Armenia while creating local jobs and career pathways.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$14.29M
Contributions & grants$14.06M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$275K2%
Other revenue$-45K
expenses
Total expenses$14.50M
Program expenses96%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$456K
Grants paid out$13.40M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$15.98M
Cash$5.98M
Investments$273K
Liabilities$148K
Net assets$15.83M
Liquid reserves5.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -0.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 15
  • DEBBIE OHANIAN — Director
  • DIRON JEBEJIAN — AUD. CHAIR/PRES
  • DR ALICE SARAYDARIAN — SECRETARY/TREAS
  • GARO H ARMEN PHD — Chairman
  • GREGORY EKIZIAN — Director
  • HASMIK DOMBALAGIAN — Director
  • JACQUELINE VARTANIAN — Director
  • JOHN SARAYDARIAN — Director
  • KHALIL BARRAGE — Director
  • MARY PENDERGAST — Director
  • NATASHA AVANESSIANS — Director
  • PETER BALANKIAN — Director
  • SHAKE NAHAPETIAN — Director
  • VAHE DOMBALAGIAN — Director
  • VAHE NAHAPETIAN — Director
relationships · 21

Who they work with

  • Aflatoun Partner — Implements the Aflatoun program in partnership with COAF to teach children financial literacy, confidence, and community responsibility.
  • American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Armenia Partner — Supports agricultural initiative at COAF SMART Center.
  • American University of Armenia Partner — Collaborates on teacher certification programs.
  • ArMed Partner — Partnering with COAF on the implementation of the rural healthcare pilot program.
  • COAF SMART Center Partner — Collaborates with COAF’s SMART Centers to integrate social work and educational support for children and families.
  • European Union (EU) Partner — Partnered with COAF to plan two SMART Centers in Syunik region.
  • Feminno NGO Partner — COAF alumnus works at Feminno NGO as a Women and Girls’ Education Program Coordinator, reflecting ongoing engagement in civil society initiatives supported by COAF's programming.
  • Government of Armenia Government — Collaborating with COAF to plan two SMART Centers in Syunik region.
  • Harvard University Partner — COAF supports students who pursue higher education, including at Harvard University.
  • Jack & Zarig Youredjian Scholarship Partner — Provides scholarships for youth from rural communities to access higher education and self-development opportunities
  • Jack and Zarig Youredjian Scholarship Fund Funder — Funds the COAF Alumni Scholarship Program and has fully funded over 500 scholarships.
  • Logos Ministry of Health Partner — Partnering with COAF on the implementation of the rural healthcare pilot program.
  • Lori Marzpetaran Partner — Collaborating with COAF on the rural healthcare pilot program in Dsegh.
  • Ministry of Health Government — Collaborating with COAF on a national pilot program for rural primary care in Dsegh.
  • Parajanov Museum Partner — Cultural institution hosting educational visits and creative inspiration for SMART program students.
  • Ruben Malayan Partner — Artist and calligraphy instructor who conducted a workshop at the SMART Center.
  • SMART Center Partner — Collaborates with the SMART Center to deliver civic engagement and leadership programs, including the EQ Lab and football program.
  • Sophie Manuella Keoshgerian Partner — Contemporary dance instructor who led a workshop at the SMART Center.
  • U.S. Embassy Partner — Collaborates with COAF to bring AI innovation into classrooms for Armenian teachers.
  • Vahe & Lucie Foundation Partner — Collaborates with COAF to organize the "Modernizing of Armenian Culture" art competition.
  • Yerevan Opera and Ballet Theater Partner — Cultural institution visited by SMART program participants as part of educational field trips.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Informed, Experiential Learning Model
    methodology: experiential_civic_engagement
    By grounding program design in local feedback and using project-based, hands-on learning to solve real-world problems, COAF increases relevance and impact because education tied to community needs and practical application builds skills, agency, and civic responsibility.
  • Holistic Youth Development Through Integrated Hubs
    methodology: holistic_youth_development
    By delivering long-term, multidisciplinary programming through centralized regional hubs (SMART Centers), COAF fosters transformative youth outcomes because sustained access to education, mentorship, and civic engagement in one accessible location enables personal, academic, and social growth in rural contexts.
  • Integrated Community Development
    methodology: integrated_community_development
    By combining infrastructure development with coordinated educational, health, and socioeconomic programs, COAF addresses root causes of rural poverty because multidimensional challenges require interconnected solutions that empower communities holistically.
  • Mentorship-Enhanced Capacity Building
    methodology: mentorship-based_support
    By combining training with expert and peer mentorship, COAF develops local talent because guided support from professionals and peers increases skill acquisition, confidence, and network access, particularly in isolated rural environments.
  • Patient-Centered Integrated Rural Healthcare Model
    methodology: integrated_patient-centered_care
    By implementing an integrated, patient-centered care model in rural clinics, COAF improves health outcomes because coordinated services that prioritize early detection and local capacity strengthen trust, access, and continuity of care in underserved areas.