What Fundación Marina Orth does
Fundación Marina Orth runs education programs inside Colombian public schools, mainly in and around Medellín and in the Pacific coast town of Nuquí. It brings robotics, English, digital skills, socio-emotional learning and career guidance to children from low-income urban and rural communities, and reports working with more than 8,000 students in 31 public schools.
Its roots go back to the 1960s, when Maureen Orth served as a US Peace Corps volunteer in Medellín (1964–66) and worked with the community of Aguas Frías, where a school named Marina Orth was inaugurated in 1965. In 2005, at the request of Medellín's education secretary, she formally set up the foundation. A signature program, Techlish, combines robotics with English, and student teams have competed internationally: in 2025, students from rural Antioquia won gold and silver at the International Youth Robot Competition in South Korea. The foundation also funds university scholarships, with 35 current recipients.
US donors give through the Marina Orth Foundation, a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) (EIN 27-0115624) whose officers are unpaid. It reported about $235,000 in revenue in 2024, so individual gifts make a visible difference at this scale. Charity Navigator rates the US entity three out of four stars.
Key facts
- Reports serving over 8,000 students in 31 urban and rural public schools in Medellín and the Nuquí region, and more than 17,000 students and teachers over 20 years (fundorth.org 20th-anniversary post)
- Students won gold and silver medals at the 12th International Youth Robot Competition in South Korea (2025), among 2,000+ participants (fundorth.org robotics page; Señal Colombia)
- 35 current university scholarship recipients (fundorth.org, 2025)
- US arm reported $234,548 revenue in FY2024; its officers serve without compensation (ProPublica)
Before you give
- Give via the US 501(c)(3) Marina Orth Foundation (EIN 27-0115624) for a US tax deduction; the operating foundation in Colombia is a separate Colombian entity.
- US mailing address listed on the site: 5185 MacArthur Blvd., #619, Washington, DC 20016.
Common questions
Is Fundación Marina Orth a legitimate charity?
Tax status: US 501(c)(3) (Marina Orth Foundation, Washington, DC) supports the Colombian Fundación Marina Orth — gifts through the US entity are tax-deductible for US taxpayers. It files with the IRS under EIN 27-0115624, and its annual returns are public on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer. Independent ratings — Charity Navigator: 3 of 4 stars. As with any charity, check its latest filings before a large gift.
Are donations to Fundación Marina Orth tax-deductible?
US 501(c)(3) (Marina Orth Foundation, Washington, DC) supports the Colombian Fundación Marina Orth — gifts through the US entity are tax-deductible for US taxpayers. US donors can look for gifts routed through Marina Orth Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 27-0115624.
Where does Fundación Marina Orth work?
Fundación Marina Orth works in Medellín (Antioquia) and Nuquí (Chocó), Colombia. It is based in Medellín, Colombia (US office: Washington, DC).
How do I donate to Fundación Marina Orth?
Use the Donate button on this page — it goes straight to Fundación Marina Orth's own donation page on fundorth.org. randomcharity.com doesn't process payments, doesn't see your card details and takes no cut.
Sources
- fundorth.org/en/
- fundorth.org/en/donate-now/
- fundorth.org/en/acerca-de/
- fundorth.org/en/nuestro-origen/
- fundorth.org/en/robotica/
- fundorth.org/en/nuqui-territorio-al-que-impactamos/
- fundorth.org/en/de-una-escuela-en-la-montana-a-la-excelencia-global-cele
- senalcolombia.tv/fundacion-marina-orth-2-decadas
- projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/270115624
- charitynavigator.org/ein/270115624
Profile researched and last reviewed September 2026. Ratings and figures change — the linked evaluator pages always show the current version.