Improving The Lives of Special-Needs Children Living in Orphanages
Maya Crauderueff started Maya’s Hope to help orphaned kids with special needs living in the Philippines and Ukraine.
When Maya Crauderueff’s mother passed away in 2007, she found herself searching for healing opportunities and a deeper sense of purpose. In 2008, Crauderueff traveled to the Philippines and visited several orphanages. What she saw broke her heart, she says – “children with bright eyes and big dreams, living in incredibly difficult conditions. Many had been forgotten, left to navigate life alone.” Crauderueff decided to do something to help these children, many of whom also had special needs. She started small by sending care packages from her home in New York across the world, then sponsoring one child, then another. But as she got more involved, she realized that the need was overwhelming – too much for one person to handle alone. In 2010, she launched Maya’s Hope, a nonprofit organization that helps orphaned children with special needs who are living in poverty by providing funding for loving caregivers, vitamin-rich formula and access to quality medical care.
Here’s our lightly edited Q&A, from The Story Exchange 1,000+ Stories Project.
How is your business different from others in your industry?
Unlike many larger organizations, we focus on individualized care. We know the names, faces, and stories of the children we help. When a child needs surgery, we don’t just send money — we follow up, speak to the doctors, talk to the families, and walk alongside them through every step. Our support is customized, human, and rooted in compassion.
We respond quickly and directly. We’re nimble, grassroots-driven, and lean. That means we can move fast to help a child in crisis — whether it’s getting therapy to a child in Ukraine amid war, or formula to a baby with special needs in the Philippines. There’s no bureaucracy here — just action.
We also focus on children with complex medical needs or disabilities, who are often overlooked or deprioritized by other organizations. Our support goes where the need is greatest, even when it’s hard.
Finally, our donors become part of the journey. We don’t just ask for funds — we share the impact of those donations, we share smiles, and we share the stories. Because at Maya’s Hope, you’re not giving to a cause. You’re helping a child live.
Tell us about your biggest success so far.
We’re still here — nearly 15 years later. In a world that’s faced a global pandemic, a war in Ukraine, and countless other challenges, Maya’s Hope has continued to stand strong. We’ve remained focused on our mission. And the truth is, many nonprofits and small businesses don’t make it past the 10-year mark. But we’ve not only survived, we’ve continued to grow, evolve, and show up for the children who need us most.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Scaling up. Growing our impact while staying true to our personalized, hands-on approach. To scale thoughtfully, we’ve built a strong volunteer team across time zones to manage the growing amount of casework. And, we’ve streamlined our internal systems — moving more of our processes to shared tools like Google Workspace, Notion, and WhatsApp for real-time coordination.
Have you experienced any significant personal situations that have affected your business decisions?
For the first year of my daughter’s life, I had no childcare, so I would bring her to the office with me. It was not easy, but I would not have changed a thing. I was always with my daughter while helping other children.
What is your biggest tip for other startup entrepreneurs?
Set boundaries, whatever they are. Don’t want to work weekends? Don’t work weekends. Don’t want to do Zoom meetings on Fridays? Don’t do them. Whatever it takes, don’t burn yourself out. If you do, your business won’t survive.
How do you find inspiration on your darkest days?
When I lost my mom, that was the darkest day of my life. I just try to focus on the positive – a “glass half-full” mindset. That’s all you can do. You can only control your thoughts and actions. Nothing else.
What is your go-to song to get motivated on tough days?
I don’t listen to music to get motivated. But I do love Lady Gaga.
Who is your most important role model?
My mom. ◼
Instagram: @maya’shopefoundation
Facebook: @Maya’sHope
LinkedIn: Mayas’sHopeFoundation
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