Aga Khan Foundation

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.

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

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

• International development programs
• Poverty alleviation services
• Community development support
• Humanitarian aid programs
• Educational resource platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Embassy of Denmark in IslamabadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2025Partnership 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERP 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 InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRAC 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKF 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 PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrior employment and institutional relationship in Pakistan. AKUH is part of the AKDN network of agencies.
• Government of PakistancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment 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

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/agakhanfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aga-khan-foundation-usa
• Instagraminstagram.com/akf_usa
• Xx.com/akf_global

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Aga Khan Foundation