Bulat Utemuratov Foundation

What Bulat Utemuratov Foundation does

The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation (Болат Өтемұратов Қоры) is a privately funded Kazakh charitable foundation established in 2014 by businessman Bulat Utemuratov and headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It implements systematic philanthropic programs across education, healthcare, social infrastructure, environmental protection, culture, and emergency humanitarian relief, with all services provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The foundation's flagship program is the Asyl Miras (Асыл Мирас) autism center network, which has grown to 13 centers in 12 Kazakhstan cities and supported over 20,000 children with autism spectrum disorder since 2015 using UC Berkeley and Marcus Autism Center methodologies. Beyond autism services, it operates the Balameken housing program for large and low-income families (390 families housed), the Komek Karta disaster-relief partnership with ForteBank and the Kazakhstan Red Crescent (USD 9.2M+ distributed since 2018), large social-infrastructure projects (schools in Kosshy and Esik, Korkyt Ata airport terminal in Kyzylorda, Shabyt creative center in Zhezkazgan, the USD 15M Almaty Botanical Garden reconstruction), cultural preservation programs (Burabike Fest charity cycling, BATYR LAB composer residency, Batyrkhan Shukenov legacy), and an October 2025 Aral Sea ecosystem restoration pilot with UC Berkeley, IFAS, and Korkyt Ata University using drone-distributed E-seed technology. Governance is provided by a supervisory council chaired by Dr. Almaz Sharman with day-to-day operations led by CEO Ainur Karibozova; funding flows entirely from founder Bulat Utemuratov's personal resources and corporate contributions from the Vereny Kapital group, with no commercial revenue model, no investor ownership, and no public listing. The foundation's economic model is large-scale charitable disbursement rather than technology product commercialization — its 'products' are programs, infrastructure assets, and direct services rather than software.

Name

Bulat Utemuratov Foundation

Legal name

Болат Өтемұратов Қоры

Website

https://utemuratovfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation is a privately funded Kazakh charitable foundation established in 2014 that delivers free systematic programs in education, healthcare, social infrastructure, disaster relief, culture, and the environment, serving children with autism, disaster-affected families, large low-income families, students, and communities across 12+ Kazakhstan cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy and Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Philanthropic foundation services
• Autism intervention programs
• Social infrastructure development
• Disaster relief assistance
• Education and healthcare charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Almaty

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation implements systematic philanthropic programs in education, healthcare, social infrastructure, culture, and emergency humanitarian aid in Kazakhstan. It operates a network of 13 autism support centers (Asyl Miras) across 12 cities, builds and donates schools, airports, and community facilities, provides direct cash disaster relief through bank cards, delivers leadership and environmental education in schools, funds housing for vulnerable families, and supports cultural and environmental restoration projects. All programs are provided free of charge to beneficiaries.

Product overview

The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation is a Kazakh charitable foundation established in 2014 that operates a broad portfolio of social welfare, healthcare, education, infrastructure, environmental, and cultural programs rather than a commercial technology product. Its core programs include: the Asyl Miras autism support center network (13 centers across 12 cities supporting over 20,000 children); the Shabyt Children's Creativity Center (a 2,600 sqm facility in Zhezkazgan); infrastructure construction (schools, airports, community centers); the Balameken housing program; the Green School greenhouse initiative; the Jas Leader leadership academy; the Supported Employment Program for autism; the Help Card disaster relief program with ForteBank and the Red Crescent; Burabike Fest charity cycling; the Aral Sea ecosystem restoration; cultural projects supporting Batyrkhan Shukenov's legacy and Zhanyia Aubakirova's music; BATYR LAB music composer residency; and COVID-19 PCR lab donations. The foundation does not offer a commercial SaaS product or technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Asyl Miras (Асыл Мирас): Network of autism support centers providing early intervention, diagnostic services, and behavioral therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders across Kazakhstan.
• Shabyt
• Balamen (Баламекен)
• Jas Leader Akademiiasy
• Green School (Жасыл Мектеп)
• Help Card (Көмек картасы)

Products and services

• Asyl Miras Autism Centers (Асыл Мирас) A network of 13 specialized autism intervention centers in 12 cities across Kazakhstan providing free early diagnosis, behavioral and communication therapy, sensory integration, life-skills development, and family support for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), using methodologies adapted from UC Berkeley and Marcus Autism Center.
• Shabyt Children's and Youth Creativity Center A 2,600 sqm children's creativity center in Zhezkazgan offering free STEM, art, robotics, music, sports, digital arts, and chess programs for up to 600 children daily across multiple shifts.
• Balameken Housing Program (Баламекен) Program providing new duplex homes and apartments free of charge to large and low-income families in Kyzylorda, Aral, Myrzakent, Arys, and Turkestan regions of Kazakhstan, in partnership with regional administrations.
• Green School (Жасыл Мектеп / Zelenaya Shkola) Educational program installing greenhouses in state schools and providing curricula on plant cultivation, ecology, and scientific thinking to develop students' environmental awareness and practical skills.
• Jas Leader Akademiiasy Leadership development program for students in grades 5-11, covering communication, critical thinking, public speaking, negotiation, and time management skills, delivered in state schools in partnership with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education.
• Supported Employment Program for Autism Employment support program for young people with autism spectrum disorder providing individual assessments, vocational training, job profiling, and placement support in telecommunications, retail, services, and logistics sectors.
• Help Card (Көмек картасы / Komek Karta) Humanitarian aid program distributing direct cash assistance via ForteBank branded debit cards (30,000 tenge per family member) to victims of natural and man-made disasters, coordinated with the Kazakhstan Red Crescent Society.
• Burabike Fest Annual charity cycling, music, and sports festival held at Rixos Borovoe resort that raises funds for medical equipment for regional hospitals, perinatal centers, and clinics across Kazakhstan.
• Aral Sea Seabed Ecosystem Restoration Environmental program to restore the dried Aral Sea seabed ecosystem using drone-distributed E-seed planting technology, in partnership with UC Berkeley, IFAS, and Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, with a goal of ecosystem stabilization by 2040.
• Batyrkhan Shukenov Foundation Support Program Cultural preservation program supporting the legacy of Kazakh singer Batyrkhan Shukenov through international music competitions, music residencies for composers (Batyr Lab), scholarships for talented wind-instrument students, sheet music publications, and album reissues.
• ARDI Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation Support Funding and operational support for the ARDI (Association of Parents of Disabled Children) rehabilitation and early intervention center in Almaty, providing intensive occupational therapy and rehabilitation services for children with cerebral palsy.
• BATYR LAB Composer Residency Educational-practical platform for Central Asian composers providing mentorship, masterclasses in contemporary academic and experimental music, music management training, and grants for new compositions.
• Infrastructure Construction Projects Construction and donation of major social infrastructure facilities across Kazakhstan, including a school-gymnasium in Kosshy (KZT 7.5 billion), a new passenger terminal at Korkyt Ata Airport in Kyzylorda (~USD 25 million), and a community cultural-sports center in Kosshy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 children with autism helped through 13 Asyl Miras centers over 10+ years
• +5 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• RAOUL Charity Foundation (Sweden)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026RAOUL Charity Foundation from Sweden is a methodological and training partner for the supported employment program for young people with autism in Kazakhstan. RAOUL provides international standards expertise, adapts Supported Employment methodologies to local conditions, trains coaches and job profiling specialists, provides supervision, and participates in monitoring and quality assurance systems. This is RAOUL's first project in Central Asia.
• Vereny Kapital (Verny Kapital) Group of CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVereny Kapital (Verny Kapital) is the implementing partner for major infrastructure projects including the new school in Kosshy, the Korkyt Ata Airport terminal, and the Shabyt Children's Creative Center in Zhezkazgan. The group executes construction and development work on foundation-funded projects.
• Kazakhstan Red Crescent SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kazakhstan Red Crescent Society partners on the Komek Karta (Help Card) humanitarian disaster relief project, identifying recipients among disaster victims and distributing ForteBank debit cards with cash assistance. Partnership active since 2018.
• ForteBankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForteBank issues Komek Karta debit cards to disaster victims and provides the banking infrastructure for the Komek Karta humanitarian aid program, enabling direct cash transfers to affected families.
• Batyrkhan Shukenov FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established April 10, 2018 to support the preservation and development of Batyrkhan Shukenov's musical legacy. Joint projects include international music competitions, music residencies for composers (Batyr Lab), scholarships for talented wind instrument students, sheet music publications, album reissues, and vinyl record releases.
• Beeline KazakhstansecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeeline Kazakhstan participates in the supported employment pilot program for young people with autism, providing job placement opportunities in the telecommunications sector as part of the multi-sector employment initiative.
• Association of Social InnovatorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Social Innovators participates in the supported employment ecosystem for young people with autism, contributing to job placement and social inclusion efforts.
• UC Berkeley (University of California, Berkeley)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC Berkeley partners on the Aral Sea ecosystem restoration project, contributing scientific expertise and methodologies alongside the foundation, IFAS, and Korkyt Ata University. The foundation also uses UC Berkeley-developed methodologies for autism intervention programs.
• IFAS (International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAS (International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea) — Executive Directorate partners on the Aral Sea seabed ecosystem restoration project, providing regional environmental expertise and coordination for the pilot E-seed drone planting initiative targeting ecosystem stabilization by 2040.
• Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorkyt Ata Kyzylorda University partners on the Aral Sea ecosystem restoration project, contributing academic and local expertise to the pilot E-seed drone planting initiative.
• Botany and Plant Introduction Institute (Almaty)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the reconstruction of the Almaty Main Botanical Garden. The foundation funded the complete reconstruction (USD 15 million) while the institute continues to manage and operate the garden for scientific and public purposes.
• MBARK — Association of Parents of Disabled ChildrensecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBARK (Association of Parents of Disabled Children) partnered with the foundation in March 2018 to open a rehabilitation and early intervention center for children with cerebral palsy, funded with KZT 330 million (USD 833,000).
• Zhania Aubakirova / Aubakirova Music HubsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation supported Zhania Aubakirova's 'Conversations with Music' documentary essay series and the launch of the Aubakirova Music Hub digital platform showcasing Kazakhstan's musical heritage.
• Merkitimdilik Voluntary Society / Dom Public FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Merkitimdilik Voluntary Society (DOB) led by Aruzhan Sain runs the 'Let's Defeat Autism' program and produced the inclusive 'Shuydlak Shybyrn' (The Buzzing Fly) musical, performed by children with autism in Astana.
• ARTiSHOCK TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARTiSHOCK Theater produced the immersive 'New People' documentary performance at the Asyl Miras autism center in Almaty, with journalists and bloggers as audience members experiencing the center's daily operations.
• Rixos Borovoe HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRixos Borovoe is the annual co-organizer of the Burabike Fest charity cycling and music festival, hosting the event at its resort in the Shchuchinsk-Burabay resort area since 2013.
• Narxoz University (Almaty)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNarxoz University co-organized the IV International Conference 'Autism. World of Opportunities' with the foundation, providing the venue and academic support for the event attended by 560+ participants.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Samruk-Kazyna Trust Fund: Kazakhstan's largest sovereign wealth-backed charitable vehicle, funding national social, education, and healthcare programs at a scale comparable to Bulat Utemuratov Foundation; both are the primary private/public hybrid grantmakers operating in Kazakhstan.
• Vehbi Koç Foundation: One of Turkey's largest private foundations with extensive education, healthcare, and cultural-heritage programs (including museum, hospital, and school construction) funded by founder wealth; comparable to Bulat Utemuratov Foundation in operating as a multi-decade, multi-vertical social infrastructure operator.
• Aga Khan Foundation: Operates one of the most extensive international nonprofit networks across Central Asia, with deep presence in education, healthcare, rural development, and cultural restoration; comparable to Bulat Utemuratov Foundation in delivering measurable social infrastructure across the same region.
• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation: US-based family-origin foundation running education, environment, community, and Flint-area programs with sustained multi-decade endowment-style giving; representative benchmark for a mature, multi-vertical private foundation with deep regional commitment.
• Open Society Foundations: Globally diversified grantmaker with significant CIS/Central Asia operations, including education, disability, and inclusive-economy programs; comparable as an institutional funder of systemic reform in the region.

Direct peers

• Sabancı Foundation: Turkish family-controlled foundation running multi-vertical social programs (education, healthcare, culture, disaster relief) with similar sustained grantmaking capacity and sister-city infrastructure projects; closest analog in the region in terms of program breadth and founder-driven capital.

Regional players

• Foundation of the First President of Kazakhstan – El-Yurt Umidi: Established Kazakhstani foundation with a national scope in education and talent development; serves a similar constituency and operates in the same regulatory environment as Bulat Utemuratov Foundation.
• Rakhimbekov Public Foundation (Birgemiz): Kazakhstani public foundation coordinating voluntary contributions and corporate donations for social causes during national emergencies; comparable as a domestic Kazakh grantmaking counterpart with similar disaster-response and community-aid programming as Komek Karta.

Emerging players

• Mott Foundation / Eurasian Development Bank Social Projects: Eurasian Development Bank's social investment arm funds health, education, and infrastructure programs across Central Asia, overlapping with Bulat Utemuratov Foundation's education and infrastructure portfolio in the same geographies.
• Suleyman Demirel Foundation (Turkey / Central Asia): Family-origin Turkish foundation with Central Asian university and student scholarship programs (TURKSOY-aligned); comparable in mission scope (education scholarships, cultural heritage) and cross-border regional presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UtemuratovFund
• Facebookfacebook.com/bulatutemuratovfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bulat Utemuratov Foundation