COAF launches recurring-giving circle to expand SMART education across Armenia

Children of Armenia Fund has launched The Ararat Circle, a monthly and annual donor community aimed at funding the expansion of its SMART education model across rural Armenia. The group is targeting 100 founding members by year-end as COAF prepares for new SMART campuses in Armavir and Syunik.

Why it matters: - COAF needs predictable funding to staff and expand its SMART education network across Armenia. - The Ararat Circle is designed to turn individual giving into recurring support for instructors, specialists, transportation, and technology. - COAF’s broader goal is a SMART Center in every region of Armenia.

What happened: - The Children of Armenia Fund launched The Ararat Circle on October 7, 2026. - The program is a global community for monthly and annual donors. - COAF set an initial target of 100 Founding Members before the new year. - The organization says more information is available for people who want to join.

The details: - The Youredjian COAF SMART Center in Lori serves 2,000 students ages 6–18 each week. - Those students come from 31 rural communities. - The Lori center offers 19 afterschool programs. - Program areas include robotics, programming, music, languages, and agrotechnology. - The center operates seven days a week and charges beneficiaries no cost. - COAF plans a second SMART Campus in Myasnikyan, Armavir, in 2028. - COAF also plans centers in Goris and Kapan to extend the model into Syunik. - COAF says the SMART model will continue to expand toward national coverage. - Monthly giving levels are $25 for Open Doors, $50 for Build Skills, $100 for Change Futures, and $250 for Strengthen Communities. - Annual giving options match the monthly tiers. - People who join in the inaugural year will be recognized as Founding Members. - Founding Members will receive exclusive updates and a membership pin.

Between the lines: - The launch signals that COAF is shifting from a single-center model to a broader national network. - Recurring donations can help the organization plan staffing and operations with more certainty than one-time gifts. - The naming of the program around Ararat is meant to frame the campaign as a steady, long-term commitment to rural Armenia. - The focus on founding members suggests COAF is trying to build an early base of committed supporters before the next campuses open.

What's next: - COAF will try to reach 100 Founding Members by year-end. - The organization will continue building toward the 2028 opening of the Myasnikyan campus. - Additional expansion into Goris and Kapan remains part of the longer-term rollout. - COAF will keep promoting recurring giving as the main funding mechanism for the SMART expansion.