Safaricom Foundation
Safaricom Foundation is a Kenyan non-profit corporate foundation, wholly owned by Safaricom PLC, that disburses CSR-funded grants across Health, Education, and Economic Empowerment in all 47 counties. Its flagship Ndoto Zetu, Pamoja, Usamaria, and Citizens of the Future programmes have reached millions of beneficiaries since 2003.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Safaricom Foundation does
Safaricom Foundation is a private, non-profit corporate foundation established in 2003 and wholly owned by Safaricom PLC, Kenya's largest telecommunications operator. The foundation is headquartered at Safaricom House on Waiyaki Way in Nairobi and operates philanthropic programmes across all 47 Kenyan counties in three focus areas: Health, Education, and Economic Empowerment, with a fourth pillar of Sustainable Philanthropy. Its flagship initiatives include Ndoto Zetu (a community-dream fulfilment programme launched in 2019 that has invested KES 271 million across 1,400+ projects and 1.9 million+ lives), Pamoja (a Safaricom employee community engagement scheme that has impacted 1.2 million+ lives), Usamaria (medical bill support for economically disadvantaged patients in public hospitals, serving 1,000+ patients), and Regional Engagements across all 47 counties. Complementary programmes include Wezesha (youth empowerment via Generation Kenya and Cloud Factory digital skills), Wezesha Elimu (disability-inclusive education with CBM Kenya), the Key to Empowerment microloan product with Hand in Hand Eastern Africa, and the Citizens of the Future scholarship and school-renovation initiative reaching 10,000+ students and 600+ schools.
The foundation does not develop technology products, sell services, or generate commercial revenue. Its core technology stack is conventional web infrastructure (website, online application forms, Twitter presence @SafaricomFDN), with no APIs, SDKs, AI/ML components, or proprietary platforms disclosed. Business mechanics consist of grant disbursements funded by Safaricom PLC's corporate social responsibility budget. In 2024 the foundation allocated KES 210 million across its core programmes and additionally launched a KES 240 million Digital Skills Programme co-funded with the Vodafone Foundation to deliver teacher training at Machakos Teacher Training College. Operational delivery relies on Safaricom's retail network (which accepts Ndoto Zetu applications), a network of implementation partners (AMREF, Catholic Relief Services, Generation Kenya, Cloud Factory, KCDF, Kenya Red Cross, CBM Kenya, Hand in Hand Eastern Africa, SHOFCO, and others), and regional engagement teams in every Kenyan county.
Beneficiary segments are education recipients (students, teachers, schools), health recipients (maternal health, fistula, diabetes, general medical), youth (under-35s, addressing 39% youth unemployment), and vulnerable populations (people with disabilities, women, children, disaster-affected communities). Governance is led by Chairman Joseph Ogutu, with Sanda Ojiambo serving as Head of Corporate Responsibility. Since 2019 the foundation has run six phases of Ndoto Zetu, scaling cumulative investment and beneficiary reach each cycle, and marks its 22nd year of operation in 2025.
Safaricom Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Safaricom Foundation
- Legal name
- Safaricom Foundation
- Website
- https://safaricomfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Safaricom Foundation is a Kenyan non-profit corporate foundation, wholly owned by Safaricom PLC, that disburses CSR-funded grants across Health, Education, and Economic Empowerment in all 47 counties. Its flagship Ndoto Zetu, Pamoja, Usamaria, and Citizens of the Future programmes have reached millions of beneficiaries since 2003.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Safaricom Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Philanthropy and Social Investment
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)
Keywords
Where Safaricom Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nairobi
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Safaricom Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Grant Disbursements: Safaricom Foundation provides grants and funding to community organizations, schools, healthcare facilities, and individual beneficiaries across Kenya's 47 counties. The foundation does not generate commercial revenue but distributes funds from Safaricom's CSR budget.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Safaricom Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Safaricom Foundation is the corporate social responsibility foundation of Safaricom PLC, disbursing grants and social investments to Kenyan communities across Health, Education, Economic Empowerment, and Sustainable Philanthropy focus areas. It operates flagship programs including Ndoto Zetu (community dream funding), Pamoja (employee community engagement), Usamaria (medical bill support), and Wezesha (youth empowerment), reaching all 47 counties in Kenya.
Product overview
Safaricom Foundation operates as a philanthropic organization with multiple community investment programs rather than a unified software product. The core portfolio includes Ndoto Zetu (community dreams fulfillment initiative), Pamoja Scheme (employee community engagement), Usamaria (medical bill support), and Regional Engagements. Additional programs include the Wezesha youth empowerment initiative with Wezesha Digital Jobs and Wezesha Elimu sub-programs, plus a KES 240 million Digital Skills Programme with Vodafone Foundation. The Citizens of the Future initiative supports education through school renovations, teacher empowerment, and scholarships for 10,000+ students. Programs focus on Health, Education, and Economic Empowerment across Kenya's 47 counties.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ndoto Zetu: A philanthropic initiative that enables individual Kenyans to apply for funding to realize community dreams, now in its sixth phase.
- Pamoja
- Usamaria
Products and services
- Ndoto Zetu A community philanthropy initiative where individual Kenyans can apply to have their community dreams fulfilled through social investments. Submissions accepted via website and Safaricom Retail Shops, with KES 271 million invested in over 1,400 projects since 2019.
- Pamoja Scheme
- Usamaria A medical support initiative that helps patients from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by offsetting their medical bills in public hospitals, with KES 30 million set aside in 2024.
- Regional Engagements Provides Safaricom's regional operations teams across the country opportunities to engage with communities they serve through impactful projects, with KES 30 million allocated in 2024.
- Wezesha Programme A youth empowerment program partnering with Generation Kenya and Cloud Factory to support youth access to job opportunities and digital skills training.
- Digital Skills Programme KES 240 million program launched in partnership with Vodafone Foundation to enhance teacher training in Kenya, specifically supporting ICT labs at Teacher Training Colleges.
- Citizens of the Future Initiative focused on renovating schools, empowering teachers, digitizing education and supporting Kenyan students through scholarships, mentorship, and career guidance. Provides over 10,000 students with scholarships.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1.9 million lives directly improved through Ndoto Zetu since 2019
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Safaricom Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Safaricom Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Safaricom Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Vodafone FoundationcorePartnership with Vodafone Foundation to launch the KES 240 million Digital Skills Programme to enhance teacher training in Kenya. Announced October 23, 2024.
- Catholic Relief ServicescorePartnership to launch TVET Programme in Isiolo County, supporting technical and vocational education and training.
- AMREF (Africa Medical and Research Foundation)corePartnership to launch Afya Uzazi Salama program in Narok County, focusing on maternal and child health.
- SamsungminorPartnership to support Accelerated Learning Program in Bungoma County with technology and devices.
- Hand In Hand Eastern AfricacorePartnership to create 5,000 small scale enterprises through the Key to Empowerment microloan product. Safaricom Foundation contributed KES 10 million (70% revolving fund, 30% training).
- Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF)corePartnership for Ustawi Programme supporting communities in arid and semi-arid areas (Mwingi, Yatta, Isiolo, Garissa, Kajiado, Mbeere, Samburu, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera) with greenhouse farming, drip irrigation, and water conservation.
- CBM KenyacorePartnership for Wezesha Elimu programme empowering children with disability to access education through assistive devices and corrective surgery. KES 15 million contributed for Phase 3 in Nyeri.
- Generation KenyacorePartnership to support youth access to job opportunities through Wezesha Programme. Since 2015, graduated 9,000+ youth through 56 training locations across 18 counties with 88% placement rate.
- Cloud FactorycorePartnership for Wezesha Digital Jobs programme with Cloud Factory Academy offering 2,200 fully paid digital skills training scholarships.
- Kenya Red Cross SocietycorePartnership for flood response in Baringo, Tana River, Isiolo and Lamu counties. KES 11 million grant for non-food items to displaced families.
- Northern Rangelands TrustminorPartnership for Trading Women's Training and Enterprise Project and Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy anti-poaching programme in northern Kenya.
- Junior Achievement KenyaminorPartnership for Biz Up Fund supporting youth start-ups in Mombasa through Inspire, Involve, Invest pilot project.
- Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO)minorPartnership for COVID-19 water projects in Nairobi's informal settlements (Korogocho, Kibera, Mathare, Kawangware). KES 5.7 million investment.
- Deaf Outreach ProgrammeminorPartnership to provide digital literacy skills for hearing impaired members in Embu through Ndoto Zetu.
- Diabetes Management & Information Centre (DMI)minorPartnership to provide free diabetes youth training and medical camps across multiple counties.
- Operation Ear Drop KenyaminorPartnership to support hearing impaired individuals through surgical interventions and equipment.
- Kianda FoundationminorPartnership for Tewa Training Centre Outreach Project in Kilifi County, empowering women with skills to combat poverty. KES 2 million contribution.
- Enablis Entrepreneurial NetworkminorPartnership for Business Launchpad Competition supporting entrepreneurs with startup grants. KES 3 million in 2011, KES 4 million in 2012.
- YMCAminorPartnership for refurbishment of public basketball court in Naivasha (KSh 1 million) providing youth with positive outlet and peace-building forum.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Safaricom Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Safaricom Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceSafaricom Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Safaricom Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Safaricom Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Safaricom Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Safaricom Foundation
What does Safaricom Foundation do?
Safaricom Foundation is the corporate social responsibility foundation of Safaricom PLC, disbursing grants and social investments to Kenyan communities across Health, Education, Economic Empowerment, and Sustainable Philanthropy focus areas. It operates flagship programs including Ndoto Zetu (community dream funding), Pamoja (employee community engagement), Usamaria (medical bill support), and Wezesha (youth empowerment), reaching all 47 counties in Kenya.
Is Safaricom Foundation a public or private company?
Safaricom Foundation is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Safaricom Foundation founded?
Safaricom Foundation was founded in 2003.
Where is Safaricom Foundation based?
Safaricom Foundation is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Safaricom Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation Grant Disbursements.
Does Safaricom Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Safaricom Foundation.
What industry is Safaricom Foundation in?
Safaricom Foundation's product category is Corporate Philanthropy and Social Investment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAC, Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking, with a secondary code of BPAGAAAH, Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.