AO Foundation International Inc
Sustainable Living and Education for All Children Orphaned by Natural Disaster and Conflict
Mission
AO Foundation International is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. We serve as a global portal for philanthropy highlighting several well established and efficient charities, such as the GlobalGiving.org initiatives. We as music artists visit children in their own cultures, feature them singing in our world music projects, and fund their needs. Our primary focus is to help provide sustainable support for children, orphaned by natural disaster and conflict. The vision for AOFI began with the world music group AO MUSIC and their excursions to record children in remote villages around the globe. With AOFI we hope to establish a new and effective way for the music arts to wage hope and promise for impoverished children in a time of great change and global transformation.
Ruling year
2012
Founder/Manager
Richard Gannaway
Main address
PO BOX 8606
ASHEVILLE, NC 28814 USA
EIN
45-5149519
NTEE code
Cultural, Ethnic Awareness (A23)
Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (O12)
Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (A12)
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
In 2020-2026 we hope to: - Raise enough funding to deliver inspiration and relief to children in Tibet, India, Siberia, Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Georgia, Switzerland, Uganda We also hope to address our need to always have ample funding in place for these and several other programs. This will require sufficient cash reserves to hire a veteran non-profit CEO, who can administrate and manage all of our funding campaigns/grants at a more effective level.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Children of Yushu
Providing inspiration and a water pump house for school children of Yushu, China (prefecture of Tibet) who suffered in China's 2008 earthquake. These kids still have many essential needs for their school. and we hope to go back soon.
Children's Hospice Association of Scotland
We sent funding to CHAS in 2017, endorsed by Scotish singer Julie Fowlis, who appeared as a guest artist on AO Music's 2017 album release "Asha". We want to continue sending support to CHAS every year.
Barretstown (Ireland)
We sent funding to Barretstown in honor of the children from Connemara, Ireland who sang on AO Music's 2013 album release "Hokulea". Barretstown is a not for profit camp for children with cancer and other serious illnesses located at Barretstown Castle, Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, in Ireland. We would like to continue sending support to these children every year.
Children in Abakan
We went to Abakan (Siberia) to record a choir of children in Sept of 2018. These children performed on the upcoming 2021 AO Music album release, and will be receiving financial aid from album proceeds as well as direct funding from AO Foundation.
Children in Bangalore
We recorded a group of children in Bangalore, India in 2019, arranged by our astute colleague, Bollywood film composer Sandeep Chowta. These children will receive financial aid via proceeds from AO Music's 2021 album release as well as direct funding from AO Foundation.
Children in Tbilisi
In 2009, AO Music visited an orphanage in Tbilisi (Republic of Georgia), and sent those children financial aid via proceeds from AO Music's 2011 release "...and Love Rages On!". We very much want to get back to those kids throuh AO Foundation, and involve them in another project.
Sole Hope
We donate to this organization who started grass roots here in Asheville by hosting shoe-making picnics (new shoes recycled from used tires), and continue to save lives in Uganda by removing "jiggers" from the bare feet of impoverished kids. AO Music recorded children in Johannesburg, South Africa, featured their voices on AO Music's 2011 album release "...and Love Rages On!", and donated to SoleHope in 2012 and 2013 in their honor, and we'd like to go record them on a future AO Music project, and surprise them with a bigger chunk of change from AO Foundation!
HaveServe
In 2011 AO Music sent financial aid to the victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti via HaveServe (under the GlobalGiving umbrella). Through AO Foundation we would like to follow that up by going back to Haiti to record and inspire those children, with a new music project.
Inner-city Children in New Orleans
We are in the process of establishing a program that reaches out to inner-city schools in post Katrina New Orleans, record a choir of children, feature them on an upcoming AO Music project, and fund their needs with the proceeds.
Children living on Native American Reservations
We are in the process of establishing a program that reaches out to children on Navaho and Cherokee reservations schools in California, Arizona, North Carolina and Oklahoma, record their choral groups, feature them on an upcoming AO Music project, and fund their needs with album proceeds and donations to this foundation.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Near-term
2020-fund our 2nd visit and donations to children in Yushu, China (Tibet)-$11,000
2020-fund our 2nd visit to children Galway, Ireland and fund Barretstown (children with cancer)-$10,000
2020-fund The Children's Hospice Association of Scotland-$3,000
2020-fund SoleHope-relief for children in Uganda-$3,000
Mid-term
2021-fund our 2nd visit and donations to children in Abakan, Siberia-$11,000
2021-fund our 2nd visit and donations to children in Bangalore, India in 2019-$11,000
2021-fund our 2nd visit and donations to children in Tiblisi, Republic of Georgia - $10,000
2022-Inspire enough annual donation to headhunt and hire a full-time, veteran, non-profit CEO, who will oversee all global campaigns to visit children in remote parts of the globe, and all fund-raising for annual donations to all programs ($70,000)
Long-term
2023-2026 - grow the organization under the direction of a full-time, veteran non-profit CEO; more amply funding the basic living/educational needs of children on each continent
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We are steadily building global awareness for the world music group "AO Music", which is the platform for visiting, recording, inspiring and donating to children world-wide. We are reaching out to people and organizations who have funded our programs in then past. We are always networking to gain greater exposure in philanthropic circles for what it is we do, and how important it is to follow through with these campaigns to inspire and aid the communities we reach out to around the globe. Once we have enough cash reserves, we will headhunt a veteran non-profit CEO, to ensure stronger fund-raising and philanthropic outreach campaigns...
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
AO Music has been at the forefront of the global world music scene since 2000, and have won several awards. We recently won the 2017 "Best World Music Album" award from the ZMR international community of radio broadcasters. This year (2020) we will release our sixth album, which will feature children's voices from Abakan and Bangalore as our centerpiece for the album's message of global awareness. In 2017 AO Music's independent record label Arcturian Gate signed a five-year partnership agreement with Toronto-based Abbeywood Records for the international release and promotion of AO Music's album projects... This partnership has greatly expanded the group's range of territories for broadcast and distribution... This partnership will enhance our outreach for attracting potential donors.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2019 we visited and recorded children in Bangalore, India... They will be featured on AO Music's 2020 album release, and receive charity proceeds which in their name, which will be donated to a local cause for needy children in Bangalore through AO Foundation...
In 2019 we visited and recorded children in Siberia (Abakan)... They will be featured on AO Music's 2020 album release, and receive charity proceeds which in their name, which will be donated to a local cause for needy children in Bangalore through AO Foundation...
In 2018 we raised enough funding to build a water pump house for the children of Yushu, China (prefecture of Tibet). These children are featured singing on our 2017 album release "Asha", which won the 2017 "Best World Music Album" award from the ZMR international community of radio broadcasters.
In 2017 AOFI donated to CHAS (Children's Hospice Association of Scotland) in honor of Julie Fowlis, who was a feature vocalist on AO Music's 2017 release "Asha"...
In 2013 we funded children in Tibilisi (Republic of Georgia) who were orphaned by conflict in late 2008...
In 2012 we visted and recorded children in Nepal, who were featured on AO Music's 2013 album release "Hokulea".
In 2012 we sent funding to Barretstown in Ireland to aid children with cancer, in honor of the Children's Choir of Connemara, whom were also featured on "Hokulea".
In 2010 we recorded a choir of children in Johannesburg, South Africa, who were featured in AO Music's 2011 album release "...and Love Rages On!", and funded SoleHope (giving relief to impoverished children in Uganda) in their honor.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
AO Foundation International Inc
Board of directorsas of 10/30/2021
Richard Gannaway
AO Music
Term: 2012 -
Richard Gannaway
AO Music
Miriam Stockley
AO Music
Maya Christobel
Maya Christobel
Galen Wood
Point Alliance
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/20/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Thanks for signing up!
An email has been sent to the address you provided. Click on the link in that email to get more GuideStar Nonprofit Profile data today!
(Don't see an email in your inbox? Click here to resend it.)
GuideStar Pro Reports
Report successfully added to your cart!
Want more data?
A GuideStar Pro report containing the following information is available for this organization:
Download it now for $125.
Need the ability to download nonprofit data and more advanced search options?Consider a Pro Search subscription.