Aga Khan Foundation
The Aga Khan Foundation is a private international development foundation operating across 14 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, addressing poverty through agriculture, climate resilience, education, health, and civil society programs. AKF USA, its Washington DC-based 501(c)(3) affiliate, mobilizes individual donations, institutional grants, and corporate matching gifts to fund these programs via 25,000+ civil society partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Aga Khan Foundation does
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), founded in 1967 by His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV and now chaired by Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, is a private international development foundation and an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). AKF addresses the root causes of poverty in remote, resource-constrained parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through seven interconnected focus areas: Agriculture & Food Security, Climate Resilience, Civil Society, Early Childhood Development, Education, Health & Nutrition, and Work & Enterprise. The foundation operates directly in 14 program countries (Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Portugal, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda) and partners with more than 25,000 civil society organizations annually.
AKF USA, the US affiliate headquartered in Washington DC, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that functions primarily as a resource-mobilization, grant-management, and partnership-coordination arm. It does not sell products or services; its revenue model rests on individual donations (one-time, recurring via the iHope program, honor/memory, and planned/legacy giving), corporate matching gift programs (operationalized via Double the Donation), social-platform donations (Facebook charitable giving), and institutional grants from governments and foundations (USAID, World Bank, Bezos Family Foundation, Embassy of Denmark). A core digital asset is The Learning Hub, a free multilingual online platform distributing educational resources developed with global partners. AKF USA maintains a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and emphasizes that 100% of individual donations are directed to poverty-alleviation programs.
Technology infrastructure is conventional nonprofit stack (donor CRM, web platforms, email marketing), with no disclosed AI/ML or proprietary data products. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on regional volunteer chairs across US cities to organize Partnership Walks, golf tournaments, and banquets, complemented by digital fundraising channels. AKF USA has a small US staff (~26 listed) led by CEO Muneerah Merchant (appointed October 2024), with senior program, finance, donor services, and communications functions; the broader global foundation draws on significantly larger in-country implementation teams.
Aga Khan Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aga Khan Foundation
- Legal name
- Aga Khan Foundation USA
- Website
- https://akfusa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Aga Khan Foundation is a private international development foundation operating across 14 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, addressing poverty through agriculture, climate resilience, education, health, and civil society programs. AKF USA, its Washington DC-based 501(c)(3) affiliate, mobilizes individual donations, institutional grants, and corporate matching gifts to fund these programs via 25,000+ civil society partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aga Khan Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Nutrition Governance, Policy & Coordination (SUN, National Plans) (BPADAJAL), Nutrition & Population Health Integration (MCH Nutrition, Micronutrients) (BPADAIAF)
Keywords
Where Aga Khan Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Aga Khan Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute directly through the website, with options for one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations (iHope program), and honor/memory gifts. 100% of donations go directly to poverty-alleviation programs.
- Planned and Legacy Giving: Bequests in wills, gifts of life insurance, beneficiary designations for retirement accounts, IRA charitable rollovers, and gifts of appreciated securities. The Deferred Giving Program uses life insurance policies for legacy gifting.
- Institutional Grants: Funding from government agencies (USAID, government of India, etc.), private foundations (Bezos Family Foundation), and multilateral organizations (World Bank) to support specific development programs.
- Corporate Matching Gifts: Corporate employees can have their donations matched by their employer through an employer matching gift program. Additionally, volunteer grants are available for employees who volunteer with AKF.
- Social Media Donations: Donations received through Facebook's charitable giving platform, where AKF USA receives 100% of donations made through its Facebook page.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Aga Khan Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aga Khan Foundation USA mobilizes US-based financial resources, volunteers, and institutional partnerships to support global poverty-alleviation programs delivered through the Aga Khan Foundation network across 14 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Programs are organized across seven interconnected focus areas: Agriculture & Food Security, Climate Resilience, Civil Society, Early Childhood Development, Education, Health & Nutrition, and Work & Enterprise, with 100% of individual donations directed to program activities.
Product overview
The Aga Khan Foundation operates a portfolio of poverty-alleviation programs organized across seven interconnected focus areas: Agriculture & Food Security, Climate Resilience, Civil Society, Early Childhood Development, Education, Health & Nutrition, and Work & Enterprise. The primary named platform offering is The Learning Hub, a free multilingual online educational resource platform. The Foundation also facilitates donations and charitable giving through its website, with a Planned and Legacy Giving program. These offerings work together to enable global development impact through community-driven, locally-led initiatives across Asia and Africa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Learning Hub
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of individual donations go directly to poverty-alleviation programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Aga Khan Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Aga Khan Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Aga Khan Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Embassy of Denmark in IslamabadcorePartnership to support climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, Pakistan. The initiative focuses on sustainable farming, water management, and green business models, emphasizing women, youth, and marginalized groups.
- Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP)coreSERP is the implementing partner for the Telangana Inclusive Livelihood Programme (TGILP), a government program that follows the globally recognized Graduation Approach. The partnership aims to reach 15,000 families including Scheduled Castes, tribal communities, and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
- BRAC InternationalcoreBRAC International partners with AKF and SERP on the Telangana Inclusive Livelihood Programme, bringing expertise in the Graduation Approach methodology for poverty alleviation.
- Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)coreAKF is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, a private development foundation that coordinates development efforts across multiple agencies including health, education, culture, and economic development.
- The Learning Hub PartnersminorGlobal partners who contribute educational resources to the Learning Hub, a free multilingual online platform offering hundreds of resources developed by AKF and its partners.
- Aga Khan University and Hospital (AKUH)minorPrior employment and institutional relationship in Pakistan. AKUH is part of the AKDN network of agencies.
- Government of PakistancoreGovernment partnership in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral for climate-resilient agriculture initiatives, working through local government structures.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aga Khan Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mercy Corps: Large US-headquartered international development and humanitarian relief NGO operating across agriculture, economic development, health, and climate. Highly comparable to AKF USA in funding model (institutional grants + individual giving), program breadth, and US-donor resource mobilization.
- CARE USA: US-based affiliate of a major global development NGO running multi-sector poverty alleviation programs in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Directly comparable to AKF USA in fundraising structure, geographic footprint, and holistic program portfolio.
- Save the Children US: US fundraising and program arm of Save the Children federation, focusing on children, education, health, and food security in developing regions. Comparable in donor base, institutional partners, and cross-country program delivery.
- World Vision US: US affiliate of World Vision International, a large faith-inspired humanitarian and development organization with multi-country programs in agriculture, health, education, and child welfare. Closely comparable operating model and donor base.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): Responds to humanitarian crises and supports long-term recovery in conflict-affected regions — directly overlapping with AKF's presence in Afghanistan, Syria, and other fragile states. Comparable donor mobilization and institutional funding profile.
- BRAC USA: US fundraising arm of BRAC, one of the world's largest development NGOs. Co-implements the Telangana Graduation Approach program with AKF and SERP, making it both a peer and an active partner; closely comparable holistic poverty alleviation focus.
- Islamic Relief USA: US-based faith-inspired humanitarian and development organization operating in similar regions (Pakistan, Afghanistan, East Africa). Comparable fundraising model, donor demographics, and integrated multi-sector programming.
- Heifer International: Poverty alleviation NGO with strong focus on agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods — directly overlapping two of AKF's seven focus areas. Similar donor base and smallholder community delivery model.
- Helen Keller International: International development nonprofit focused on health, nutrition, and vision in underserved regions. Comparable institutional donor mix and integrated nutrition/health program model overlapping AKF's Health & Nutrition focus area.
Broad incumbents
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Largest global philanthropic foundation with deep focus on poverty, health, and agriculture in developing regions. Functions as both a peer in development programming and a potential funding counterpart for AKF; broader scope but overlapping priorities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aga Khan Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceAga Khan Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aga Khan Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Aga Khan Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Aga Khan Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
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Frequently asked questions about Aga Khan Foundation
What does Aga Khan Foundation do?
Aga Khan Foundation USA mobilizes US-based financial resources, volunteers, and institutional partnerships to support global poverty-alleviation programs delivered through the Aga Khan Foundation network across 14 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Programs are organized across seven interconnected focus areas: Agriculture & Food Security, Climate Resilience, Civil Society, Early Childhood Development, Education, Health & Nutrition, and Work & Enterprise, with 100% of individual donations directed to program activities.
Is Aga Khan Foundation a public or private company?
Aga Khan Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Aga Khan Foundation founded?
Aga Khan Foundation was founded in 1967. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aga Khan Foundation based?
Aga Khan Foundation is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aga Khan Foundation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are planned and Legacy Giving, institutional Grants, corporate Matching Gifts and social Media Donations.
Who are Aga Khan Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mercy Corps, CARE USA, Save the Children US, World Vision US, International Rescue Committee (IRC), BRAC USA, Islamic Relief USA, Heifer International and Helen Keller International. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Aga Khan Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aga Khan Foundation.
What industry is Aga Khan Foundation in?
Aga Khan Foundation's product category is International Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of HLAJAKAH, Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.