EXO Foundation

What EXO Foundation does

EXO Foundation is a Cambodia-based non-profit organization that operates a grantmaking and capacity-building platform for responsible tourism and sustainable development across nine Asian countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore. The foundation supports a network of more than 140 grassroots non-profits, social enterprises, and conservation organizations, providing financial grants, training, network access, and marketing support. Its core offerings include the Climate Resilience Fund for nature-based climate solutions, the Reset Tourism Fund (in partnership with UnTours Foundation) for low-carbon transport pilots, and the Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund (in partnership with Agoda and WWF-Singapore) for marine conservation and eco-tourism. Targeted programs include community-led wildlife tourism (WWF Thailand, Kui Buri), vocational hospitality training (Sala Bai, IECD network), reforestation (APE Malaysia, KKI Warsi, Yagasu), mangrove restoration, waste reduction, and child protection (Friends International). The foundation also operates the annual EXO Foundation Sustainability Awards and curates responsible-traveler resources such as organic and training restaurant guides.

The foundation is commercially aligned with EXO Travel, an affiliated tour operator that channels travelers, carbon-offset contributions, and corporate donations into the foundation's programs (for example, routing 500+ clients annually to the Sala Bai training restaurant in Siem Reap). Distribution is direct-partnership-led: the foundation disburses grants and co-funds to vetted local organizations, reaches donors via its website, Facebook, email, and annual reports, and convenes cross-sector funders through named partnership funds. Grant sizes range from USD 5,000 (e.g., Piglets for Cambodians, Datai Pledge) to USD 25,000 (Impact Fund rounds), with an annual USD 15,000 commitment to WWF Thailand. The foundation is governed independently with no parent company, subsidiaries, venture backing, or public listing, and is registered and headquartered at 2nd Floor, 111 Norodom Boulevard, Phnom Penh.

Name

EXO Foundation

Legal name

EXO Foundation

Website

https://exofoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EXO Foundation is a Cambodia-based non-profit that funds and supports more than 140 grassroots organizations across nine Asian countries through grants, partnership funds, and capacity-building programs focused on responsible tourism, climate action, wildlife protection, and community development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Grantmaking Foundation

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Services (Restoration, Wildlife-Safe Operations) (THAAANAH), Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Programs (Water, Biodiversity Credits, PES) (IMAMAJAK), Sustainable & Responsible Incentives (Carbon Management, ESG Reporting) (THAHADAO)

Keywords

• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Sustainable tourism
• Community development
• Environmental conservation
• Carbon offset programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Phnom Penh

HQ country

Cambodia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: EXO Foundation operates as a non-profit organization funded through donations from individuals, corporate partners, and travelers. The foundation receives funding to support grassroots organizations working on sustainable tourism, climate action, wildlife protection, and community benefits across Southeast Asia.
2. Reset Tourism Fund: A partnership fund between EXO Foundation and UnTours Foundation that disburses grants to organizations advancing low-carbon transport solutions and sustainable tourism practices in Southeast Asia.
3. Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund: Partnership with Agoda and WWF-Singapore that commits investment funding to marine conservation and eco-tourism initiatives across Southeast Asia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EXO Foundation is a non-profit organization that channels donations and grant funding to more than 140 grassroots non-profits, social enterprises, and conservation organizations across 9 Southeast Asian countries. Its core offerings include the Climate Resilience Fund, the Reset Tourism Fund, the Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund, an annual Sustainability Awards program, and responsible-travel educational resources for tourism operators and travelers. The foundation links international donors and responsible travelers with local impact-makers working on sustainable tourism, climate action, wildlife protection, waste reduction, child protection, and community benefits.

Product overview

EXO Foundation is a non-profit organization (not a technology product company) that operates as a grant-giving foundation supporting grassroots organizations in Southeast Asia. Its core offerings include the Climate Resilience Fund for climate and conservation projects, the Reset Tourism Fund for low-carbon transport initiatives in tourism, the annual Sustainability Awards program, and a network of educational resources for responsible travel. The foundation connects donors with over 140 partner organizations across 9 countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore) working in areas including wildlife protection, waste reduction, child protection, and community benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Reset Tourism Fund: A partnership between the EXO Foundation and UnTours Foundation that disburses funds to organizations advancing low-carbon transport solutions across tourism supply chains in Southeast Asia.
• Climate Resilience Fund
• EXO Foundation Sustainability Awards

Products and services

• Climate Resilience Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900 young people trained through Sala Bai Hotel School, all finding employment within first year of training
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• UnTours FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026Partnership through Reset Tourism Fund that disburses USD 20,000 to organizations like POSITIV GROUP in Thailand and Thien Thanh Travel Services in Vietnam for low-carbon transport solutions including electric boat pilots and hybrid vehicles.
• AgodaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026Partnership through Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund committing USD 25,000 each to Livingseas Asia in Indonesia and Bambike Ecotours in the Philippines for marine conservation and eco-tourism initiatives.
• WWF-SingaporeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026Partnership through Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund supporting marine conservation and sustainable fisheries programs across Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines including mangrove restoration.
• WWF ThailandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing USD 15,000 annually to support community-led wildlife tourism in Kui Buri, Thailand, transforming human-elephant conflict into opportunity through the Kui Buri Wildlife Conservation Tourism Club.
• APE Malaysia (Animal Projects & Environmental Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on reforestation projects in Kinabatangan River area, Borneo, planting approximately 162 trees with 4-year maintenance and monitoring. Partnership includes volunteer tourism and training programs.
• The Datai PledgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJune 2025 donation to support conservation efforts in Langkawi, Malaysia with four pillars: Pure for the future (circular economy), Fish for the future (marine ecosystems), Wildlife for the future (reforestation), Youth for the future (education).
• Sala Bai Hotel SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports free vocational hospitality training school in Siem Reap, Cambodia. EXO Travel brings over 500 clients annually to their restaurant. School has trained over 900 youth with 100% employment rate within first year.
• The Language ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial support for 2025 summer film production training program helping Lao youth rebuild their YouTube channel after hacking incident, providing filmmaking workshops and public library resources.
• Friends InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership with NGO protecting marginalized children and youth. Partners on ChildSafe Network, training restaurants (Friends, Marum), and child protection awareness programs across Southeast Asia.
• IECD (Institut européen de coopération et de développement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with French non-profit on ASSET-H&C network bringing together vocational training centers across Southeast Asia for hospitality and catering training, including support for Mae Sot Hospitality Training Center.
• Green River Project PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Prek Leap National College of Agriculture (PNCA), Sala Bai School, Artisans of Angkor, GAEA waste collection, GIZ, and Plastic Free Cambodia for waste management and plastic pollution awareness campaigns.
• Kokkoya OrganicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise partner in Myanmar providing urban farm experience and waste management education for adolescent girls from Girl Determined NGO.
• KKI WarsiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for forest conservation through carbon credit purchases, working with indigenous tribes on community-based forest management and hutan desa (forest village) status in Sumatra.
• YagasuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMangrove restoration NGO in Sumatra supporting local communities to develop alternative livelihoods to palm oil plantations including mangrove foods and traditional batiks.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Travel Foundation: UK-based non-profit that supports sustainable tourism initiatives globally through partnerships with tourism businesses and destinations. Directly comparable as a grantmaking-style foundation focused on tourism sustainability and community capacity building.
• Sustainable Travel International: Non-profit that works with travelers, tourism businesses, and destinations on sustainability programs, including carbon offsetting and community-based tourism. Strong overlap in mission and program design with EXO Foundation.
• Tourism Cares: Non-profit that connects the travel industry with social and environmental impact projects, including grants and capacity building for destination communities. Direct peer in mobilizing tourism industry funding toward community and conservation outcomes.
• UnTours Foundation: Active partner of EXO Foundation through the Reset Tourism Fund. Operates as a charitable foundation funding low-carbon and sustainable tourism initiatives, making it a natural operational and strategic peer.
• Center for Responsible Travel (CREST): Research and advocacy non-profit focused on responsible tourism policy and practice. Comparable as a mission-aligned institution promoting responsible tourism standards and destination-level sustainability.
• Friends International: Long-term partner of EXO Foundation working across Southeast Asia on child protection, social enterprise, and marginalized youth. Operates comparable grassroots-oriented programs and training restaurants in the same geographies.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC): Standards body of which EXO Foundation is an affiliate. Operates as a sustainability-focused organization in tourism certification and criteria, providing a relevant ecosystem comparator for the foundation's standards work.
• Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF): Industry-anchored fund that channels travel-business contributions into conservation and community projects. Directly comparable in structure: travel-industry-funded grants for conservation and community impact.

Regional players

• Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office: Regional intergovernmental tourism organization for the Greater Mekong Subregion. Operates in the same Southeast Asian geography with overlapping themes of responsible tourism and sustainable destination management.

Broad incumbents

• Winrock International: Large international NGO with active environment, climate, and sustainable tourism programs in Southeast Asia. Broader portfolio but overlapping thematic focus on conservation livelihoods and community enterprise in the region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EXOFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EXO Foundation