DKT International
 | |
| Founded | 1989 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Phil Harvey |
| Focus | Family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention |
| Location | |
Area served | Africa, Asia, Latin America |
| Method | Social marketing of family planning and HIV/AIDS products and services |
Revenue | US$119,951,360[1] |
| Slogan | Changing Lives Through Social Marketing |
| Website | dktinternational.org |
DKT International (DKT) is a charitable non-profit organization that promotes family planning and HIV prevention through social marketing. The Washington, D.C.-based DKT was founded in 1989 by Phil Harvey and operates in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Much of its revenue comes from its sales of low-cost contraceptives. In 2013, DKT sold over 548 million condoms, 71 million cycles of oral contraceptives, 17 million injectable contraceptives and 1.7 million intrauterine devices (IUDs). This is equivalent to 23.6 million couple years of protection (CYPs), making DKT one of the largest private providers of contraceptives in the developing world. The average cost per CYP was less than US$2.00.[2] DKT's marketing strategies have included advertising, creating location-specific brands, working with local social networks and militaries, and targeting high-risk groups.[3][4][5][6][7] DKT also works with health workers and clinics that provide family planning products, information, and services.[3] Charity Navigator has given DKT a four-star financial rating, with 98.1% of its budget going towards programs and 1.8% towards administration and fund raising in 2011.[1]
History
Phil Harvey first became interested in family planning in 1968 while working on emergency food relief for CARE International in India.[8] In 1970, Phil Harvey and his UNC professor Tim Black founded the business Adam & Eve in order to finance their charitable activities and founded the non-profit health organization Population Services International that same year.[8][9][10] DKT International, named for D.K. Tyagi, an early pioneer of family planning in India, was founded in 1989.[11] DKT has grown quickly over the years. For example, its revenue from selling contraceptives increased from US$4.5 million in 1996 to $75 million in 2010, and its CYPs increased from 5.7 million in 2002 to more than 25 million in 2012.[12]
In 2006, DKT International refused to take the U.S. government's anti-prostitution pledge, feeling the pledge would interfere with its HIV/AIDS services worldwide. DKT challenged the pledge as a violation of First Amendment rights, with the support of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ruled in favor of DKT in the District Court for the District of Columbia on May 18, 2006, but the Court of Appeals reversed the decision on February 27, 2007.[13][14] A different organization successfully challenged the pledge before the U.S. Supreme Court in Agency for International Development v. Alliance for Open Society International, Inc.[15]
Organization
On Dec. 31, 2013, Phil Harvey stepped down as president after 24 years, and Christopher Purdy took over as the new president. Its board includes Tim Black, Robert Ciszewski, Christopher Purdy, Julie Stewart and Harvey, who also serves as chair of the board.[16] In 2011, 68% of DKT's revenue was from contraceptive sales, 14% from grants and contracts, 14% from contributions (including goods and services) and 4% from investments and royalties. 41.6% of costs were related to sales, 56.5% to other program expenses, 1.5% to administration, and 0.3% to fund raising.[17] Revenue from contraceptive sales first exceeded donor support in 2005.[12]
Donors
As of 2014, DKT International's donors include: the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Government of India, Open Road Alliance, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of Defense (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.[18]
Programs
As of 2014, DKT International has 23 programs in 19 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.[19]