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ZIMKIDS ORPHAN FOUNDATION

Putnam Valley, NY · EIN 800930138 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE Q33 · International Affairs · Small ($100K-$1M) · zimkids.com
revenue
$194K
expenses
$157K
net assets
$377K
employees
mission · from form 990

To promote the health and well-being of AIDS orphans in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe by providing medical, educational, nutritional, vocational assistance and psychosocial support.

profile · synthesized from sources

Operational nonprofit supporting orphans in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, particularly in the Pumula North neighborhood. Provides education, vocational training, medical care, psychosocial support, and daily meals. Founded in 2005, the organization emphasizes dignity through work, leadership development among youth, and community-led programming.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Academic Tutoring and Preschool
Peer-led tutoring for primary and secondary students using on-site library resources; self-sustaining preschool program for young children
Chicken and Garden Projects
Urban agriculture initiatives producing food for daily meals and income generation, including broilers, layers, and greenhouse-grown vegetables
Council of Elders
Youth leadership program where beneficiaries aged 14–18 plan and run daily recreational and educational activities, mentor younger children, and develop leadership skills
Medical and Psychosocial Support
Free on-site medical care, funding for medications and hospital visits, and counseling services provided by trained staff and social workers
Vocational Training Program
Training in welding, carpentry, construction, electrical installation, solar installation, tiling, sewing, computer skills, and entrepreneurship; some trainees provide services to the public through Zimkids Enterprises
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Residential Care for At-Risk Youth 2 activities
    • Comprehensive support for AIDS orphans in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
      Provides medical, educational, nutritional, vocational, psychosocial, and recreational support to over 300 orphans in Pumula North and surrounding areas near Bulawayo, including child-headed households and those affected by exploitation or displacement. Services include daily meals, school fee funding, tutoring, life skills training, counseling, and access to a clinic, library, and sports facilities.
    • Operation of a multi-functional community center for orphans
      Operates the Adrian Suskin Center in Bulawayo, established in 2012, which includes an educational resource center, clinic, library, computer and sewing training centers, preschool, welding area, garden with drip irrigation, poultry area, playground, obstacle course, and sports fields to serve the needs of orphans and the wider community.
  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Academic and life skills support services
      Provides academic tutoring for primary and Ordinary level students, life skills training for teenagers, counseling sessions, and home visits to support emotional well-being and ensure access to mainstream education.
  • Child Care and Early Childhood Policy Advocacy 1 activity
    • Advocacy for orphans' rights and welfare
      Liaises with school heads, community leaders, and the Department of Social Development to advocate for the rights and welfare of orphan beneficiaries.
  • Agricultural Training and Education Programs 1 activity
    • Agricultural and poultry production for food security and income generation
      Operates a greenhouse with drip irrigation to grow vegetables and a chicken project raising broilers and layers, providing food for orphans and generating income to support operational expenses while teaching youth entrepreneurship, teamwork, and responsibility.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Arts, creativity, and recreational programming for orphans
      Organizes creativity competitions, develops original games, and runs arts programs where children create handmade dolls and wire toys. Hosts exhibitions, awards prizes such as movie tickets and backpacks, and provides enriching experiences including airplane rides and camping trips.
  • Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
    • Funding operations of Zimkids Orphan Trust
      Funds the operations and programs of the Zimkids Orphan Trust through donations and grants, directing proceeds from enterprise activities and donor contributions to support essential needs such as food, education, medical care, and vocational training.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Peer leadership and youth empowerment programs
      Trains and empowers adolescents aged 11–18 to lead programs, mentor younger children, and develop skills in planning, management, teamwork, and responsibility through peer tutoring, leadership roles, and structured activities including games and construction projects.
  • Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Training 1 activity
    • Vocational and construction skills training for youth
      Provides training in welding, painting, electrical installation, solar installation, tiling, carpentry, and construction to adolescents and youth since 2012, including advanced courses and on-the-job experience building the organization’s own facilities. Trainees also gain experience through custom fabrication and construction services offered to the public.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$194K
Contributions & grants$194K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$56
expenses
Total expenses$157K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$157K
balance sheet
Total assets$377K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$377K
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue +1.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 2
  • Juliana Tazzia — Director
  • Nigel Mevana — Director
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Adrian Suskin Funder — Major donor whose generosity enabled the construction of Zimkids' permanent home, later named in his honor.
  • Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund Funder — Receives grants from the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund.
  • COLFOS Contractors Partner — Refers clients to former trainees Foster Dingani and Collen XXX, owners of COLFOS Contractors, for solar installation services.
  • City of Bulawayo Government — Provided a long-term lease for land to build Zimkids' permanent facility.
  • Department of Social Development Partner — Liaises with the Department to advocate for the rights and welfare of beneficiaries.
  • Independent Pilots Association (UPS) Funder — Receives grants from the Independent Pilots Association (UPS).
  • Microsoft Youth Spark Funder — Receives grants from Microsoft Youth Spark.
  • National Gallery (Zimbabwe) Partner — Hosted an exhibition of toys created by orphans participating in the Zimkids competition.
  • Nike Funder — Receives grants from Nike.
  • Otelai Fund for Alexandria Funder — Receives grants from the Otelai Fund for Alexandria.
  • P&G Alumni Foundation Funder — Receives grants from the P&G Alumni Foundation.
  • PayPal Partner — Processes credit card donations through a secure site operated by PayPal.
  • Shea Family Foundation Funder — Receives grants from the Shea Family Foundation.
  • Sithabisiwe Ngwenya Partner — Community member and mentor who leads home visits, tutoring, mentorship, and the chicken project for Zimkids.
  • U.S. Embassy Funder — Provided a grant to purchase a greenhouse with drip irrigation for growing vegetables.
  • UPS Pilots' Union Partner — Contributed to the building fund for the Zimkids center.
  • Zimkids Orphan Foundation Network — U.S. 501(c)(3) entity through which Zimkids receives tax-deductible contributions.
  • Zimkids Orphan Trust Partner — Sponsored by Zimkids Orphan Foundation to support orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.
strategies · 3

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.

  • Dignity Through Work and Self-Reliance
    methodology: dignity-through-work
    By engaging youth in skilled labor, vocational training, and income-generating activities, the organization promotes dignity and reduces dependency on charity because meaningful work builds self-worth, practical capacity, and financial sustainability for both individuals and the organization.
  • Holistic Support Model
    methodology: holistic_support_model
    By integrating medical, educational, nutritional, vocational, and psychosocial interventions, ZIMKIDS addresses the interconnected challenges faced by AIDS orphans because comprehensive care produces more stable, resilient, and empowered individuals than fragmented services.
  • Youth-Led Leadership and Governance
    methodology: peer-led leadership
    By placing older youth and alumni in leadership, mentorship, and governance roles—including program delivery, peer tutoring, and organizational oversight—the organization fosters responsibility, continuity, and intergenerational support because lived experience combined with structured roles builds agency and sustainable community ownership.