Tumaini ("Too-My-EE-knee") is a Kiswahili word meaning hope. Tumaini International is a faith-based organization providing basic needs of living to vulnerable children and communities who have been affected by AIDS in Eastern Kenya. Although we are a faith-based organization, we do not exclude service to anyone based on their religion.

Tumaini International, Inc. is incorporated in the State of California under Section 501(c)3. (Tax ID # 91-215-7825). The organization has been registered to operate in Kenya as Tumaini International Organization since 2003 before changing to Tumaini International Trust in 2012.

Tumaini International began in the fall of 2001 by Stanley and Rose Mutunga. At the time, Stanley was Dean of the Graduate School at Hope International University in Fullerton, California. They, along with their three boys, started Tumaini International in response to a growing need in their native country of Kenya of responding to orphaned children due to the AIDS epidemic. At the time, AIDS took nearly 700 people a day. Stanely and Rose began by assisting 15 orphans, and within a few years, they were supporting hundreds of children through Tumaini.

Tumaini International does not rely on any funding from government grants. Tumaini is entirely funded by individuals, churches, businesses, foundations and community groups who want to reduce the suffering caused by the AIDS pandemic in Kenya, East Africa.

A Board of Directors, who meet biannually, govern Tumaini International providing oversight to the President/CEO. Tumaini International is currently working on a plan to decentralize and establish Regional Boards. The first Regional Board has been established in Southern California.

It costs $38 per month or $456 annually.

Sponsorship continues through grade 12 or the equivalent vocational training. The Kenyan school year ends in December, so we ask sponsors to continue support through the following June allowing the student time to transition to life on their own– find a job or go to college. For those students in vocational training, we ask sponsors to continue sponsorship for three months following completion to allow the child time to find employment.

However, if you are unable to continue as a sponsor, we will do our best to find your child another sponsor. Once sponsored, a child is not dropped from the Tumaini program until they complete the program. Early notification helps us to prevent lapses in support for sponsored children.

Yes, letters, cards, and family photos are encouraged! Please mail any correspondence (clearly labeled with your child’s name and ID#) to our U.S. office, P.O. Box 6072, Corona, CA 92878.

As with any internet communication, use caution when communicating, especially internationally. Although most contact is innocent, there are occasions where identities can be stolen. If you are contacted by your child, please advise them to go to the Tumaini office and present their need for evaluation and inform our U.S office of communication.

We as an organization always protect your privacy and never share your contact information with anyone, including your child. We are more than happy to forward communication through our office on your behalf. Tumaini International cannot be responsible and monitor requests/communication made outside of our programs.

Item descriptionCosts and delivery logistics prohibit sending gifts directly to your child. However, you may donate over and above your monthly sponsorship for birthday and Christmas gifts. In efforts to maximize your donation, your gift funds wire to our Kenyan field staff where the actual purchase of said gift is made. These donations should be in check form indicating “birthday” or “Christmas” in the memo line.

Additionally, the purchase of livestock is of great value in supporting your child’s family. Current rates for livestock are $225 for a cow, $65 for a goat, and chickens at $25. Please contact our office if you have any other gift requests.

*Note: If you are traveling to Kenya on a Tumaini Vision Trip, you are welcome to bring a small gift for your sponsored child such as T-shirt, baseball cap, backpack, or candy. Check with your team leader for package size/weight restrictions.

No, Tumaini does not send electronic receipts and year-end statements. If you desire, automatic recurring donations can be set up on this website. This payment method allows you to maintain security and control of the frequency and duration of your donations by managing any changes you desire. If you do online banking, it is possible to set up Tumaini as a payee and manage your donation that way. Please use your child’s name or ID # as the account number.

Yes, you can set up a payment schedule that works best for you–monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Visit your Portal or let us know what you want to do, and we will do our best to accommodate.

At least 81% of your donation goes directly to Tumaini programs and services. That's more than 80 cents of each dollar going directly to serving people in need. With the national average being between 45%-85%, we pride ourselves on being at the high end of funds directly funding programs/services. Tumaini has an open book policy and undergoes voluntary financial review by an outside accounting firm for accountability. All financial records are available in our U.S. office upon request.

Yes, all funding Tumaini International receives can be directed to specific programs per request. If you wish to restrict the use of your donation to a particular purpose, we will honor your request, or if we are unable to, we will immediately inform you and offer suggestions for comparable needs. We have not–and will not–collect money for a particular incident or purpose with the intention of using it for other purposes.

Yes, you can donate online using our secure online donation and set up an automatic recurring donation via the form located under the give tab. Some individuals have also found it helpful to use their personal online banking provider with recurring donations by making Tumaini a payee on their list and using their sponsored child’s name and ID number for the account number.

Tumaini is grateful for individuals and businesses that independently wish to raise funds for our organization. All such fundraising should be for the organization or support projects within our 4-pillars: Child Sponsorship, Education, Healthcare and Socio-Economic Development. There are online programs and resources we can offer for such fundraising.

We regret that we are unable to offer fundraising platforms for individual trip costs. Any funds raised are to be used for Tumaini programs and not contingent upon an individual’s participation.

For more info or specificities, send us an email.

Vision Trips are opportunities for people to travel to Kenya and see first hand what Tumaini is doing in Kenya while participating in bringing hope. Tumaini International views Vision Trips as unique opportunities to witness the particular needs of developing countries and see what is already being done in those areas while discovering your niche for service.

We typically offer 14-day Vision Trips during the months of June, July, & August with various additional off-season opportunities at different times throughout the year. Please send us an email for dates of trips.

Yes, Tumaini International volunteer opportunities exist at our office in Lakewood, California. Volunteers assist with a full range of clerical and office tasks along with staffing special events throughout the year. Limited Internship opportunities exist both locally and abroad.

If you are interested in becoming an intern or volunteer, please contact a staff member to work with you to see how your talents can be of use within our program.

Tumaini International works with voluntary photographers who participate in Vision Trips to Kenya. They have agreed to provide the organization with images to be used for our publications and website only. We ask that you do not reuse or copy our images since they are the property of the photographer or Tumaini.