What Empower does

EMpower — The Emerging Markets Foundation is a US-incorporated nonprofit foundation headquartered in New York that connects the resources of global Emerging Markets professionals with grassroots organisations working on behalf of marginalised young people (ages 10–24) in developing countries. Founded in 2000 and operating in 15 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, EMpower runs three interconnected programme areas — Economic Well-Being (workforce readiness, financial literacy, entrepreneurship), Safe, Healthy Lives (mental health, violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health), and Inclusive Learning (education quality, teacher training, digital literacy) — through its signature up-to-10-year partnership model with vetted local NGOs. The organisation works through field offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Delhi, and Johannesburg, and maintains additional registered entities in the US (EIN 03-0529005) and the UK (Charity Commission 1118916).

The underlying offering is service-based rather than technology-based: there is no software product, platform, or API, and the proprietary feature set consists of EMpower's grantmaking and capacity-building methodology, including co-designed programme design, organisational strengthening support, and cross-partner convening. Distribution is exclusively direct: field staff identify, vet, and support local partners through a strategic prospecting approach, and EMpower does not accept unsolicited proposals. A distinct Girls and Gender Strategy focuses on adolescent girls and young women through ecosystem-level engagement (family, community, institutions) with emphasis on male allyship.

The business model is philanthropic donation-funded, with no commercial pricing. Revenue is sourced from individual donations (42%), corporate contributions (26%), and private foundation grants (32%). A Board of Directors and Leadership Council underwrite all Management, General and Fundraising expenses, enabling 100% of individual donations to flow to grantee partners. Cumulative grantmaking since inception totals $61.4M across 1,730 grants, reaching 1.1M youth directly and 4M lives overall. The organisation is governed by an independent Board whose Co-Chair is the COO of Global Markets at Nomura, and was rated 4-Stars by Charity Navigator in 2025.

Name

Empower

Legal name

EMpower — The Emerging Markets Foundation

Website

https://empowerweb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EMpower — The Emerging Markets Foundation is a New York-headquartered nonprofit that partners with grassroots NGOs across 15 emerging-market countries on long-term (up to 10-year) grants and capacity-building programmes in education, livelihoods, health, and gender equality for marginalised young people.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Grantmaking & Philanthropic Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA), Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programs
• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Nonprofit foundation services
• Emerging markets development
• Capacity building grants

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors provide 42% of EMpower's revenue. The Board Directors and Leadership Council underwrite all Management, General and Fundraising expenses, enabling 100% of individual donations to directly benefit grantee partners.
2. Corporate Contributions: Corporate partners provide 26% of revenue. EMpower works with companies seeking to support youth empowerment in emerging markets through strategic philanthropy.
3. Private Foundation Grants: Private foundations provide 32% of revenue. EMpower partners with institutional foundations to expand opportunities for marginalised young people.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EMpower is a global philanthropic foundation that partners with local organisations in emerging market countries through sustained, up to 10-year partnerships. It provides multi-year grants, technical assistance, and capacity-building support across three interconnected program pillars—Economic Well-Being, Safe & Healthy Lives, and Inclusive Learning—for marginalised young people ages 10–24, with a strategic priority on adolescent girls and young women.

Product overview

EMpower — The Emerging Markets Foundation operates as a philanthropic organization offering a portfolio of youth empowerment programs rather than a technology product. The core offerings include three interconnected program areas: Economic Well-Being Programs (workforce development, financial literacy, entrepreneurship training), Safe, Healthy Lives Programs (mental health, violence prevention, reproductive health), and Inclusive Learning Programs (education support, teacher training, digital literacy). These are delivered through a distinctive 10-Year Long-Term Partnership model with local organizations in emerging market countries. The organization also produces knowledge products including the Global Mental Health Survey Report and other publications. There is no software product, platform, or API-based offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic Well-Being Programs Programs enabling young people to build assets and develop technical, practical, and social skills for economic empowerment, including workforce counselling, mentoring, entrepreneurship training, employability training, job placement, financial literacy, and non-traditional income-generation opportunities for young women. Delivered to local NGO partners serving marginalised youth in emerging markets.
• Safe, Healthy Lives Programs Programs focusing on mental health support, safety of girls and marginalised youth from violence, and access to integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health information and services. Delivered through local NGO partners serving young people in emerging markets.
• Inclusive Learning Programs Programs providing quality learning experiences that celebrate diversity, eliminate obstacles, and equip young people with practical skills, including academic support, teacher training, and transferable skills such as digital literacy and international languages. Delivered through local NGO partners in emerging markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.1 million youth directly impacted and 4 million lives touched since 2000
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Local Grantee Partner OrganisationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMpower partners with local community-based organisations in emerging market countries for up to 10 years. Partnerships include financial support (grants), technical assistance for organisational growth, and knowledge-based support through convening and networking. Over 100 organisations across 15 countries including Vikalp Sansthan, Antarang Foundation, The Women's Foundation Hong Kong, and EMPUJAR Argentina.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nike Foundation: Foundation focused on empowering adolescent girls in developing countries through local partners. Direct peer in grantmaking model, girls-first strategy, and emerging-market geography; previously collaborated with EMpower via the Grassroots Girls Initiative.
• Echoing Green: Global nonprofit that identifies and invests in social-impact leaders and the organizations they build. Operates a comparable philanthropic grantmaking + capacity-building model targeting under-resourced geographies, though focused on leadership fellowships rather than direct programmatic grants.
• International Youth Foundation (IYF): Global nonprofit that funds and builds capacity for youth-serving organizations worldwide. Closely comparable to EMpower in mission, multi-country grantmaking model, and focus on employability and leadership for marginalized youth.
• Global Fund for Children: Nonprofit foundation that partners with grassroots organizations serving vulnerable children and youth globally. Closely comparable local-partner grantmaking model and child/youth focus, with similar multi-year capacity-building partnerships in emerging markets.

Broad incumbents

• Aga Khan Foundation: International development foundation funding local organizations across Asia and Africa in education, health, and economic inclusion. Comparable geographic footprint and long-tenure partner model, but broader sectoral mandate and larger institutional scale.
• NoVo Foundation: Global grantmaking foundation supporting initiatives for girls, women, and social justice through partnerships and capacity building. Compares to EMpower's girls-and-youth grantmaking model and multi-region footprint, though with a larger endowment and broader sector focus.
• Mastercard Foundation: One of the largest international grantmaking foundations with a mandate on youth employment and education in Africa. Operates a comparable donor-funded, multi-country grantmaking model but at materially larger scale and with broader programmatic scope.
• Ford Foundation: Major global grantmaking institution funding social-justice and international development causes. Overlaps with EMpower on international development and youth-adjacent themes; much larger scale and broader programmatic reach.

Regional players

• The Asia Foundation: International development organization working primarily across Asia through local partner support and grantmaking. Comparable long-tenure, partner-capacity-building model but concentrated in Asia-Pacific rather than truly global.

Others

• Population Services International (PSI): Global health nonprofit operating in emerging markets with field offices and partner networks across many of the same countries as EMpower. Comparable geographic footprint and youth-adjacent programs (SRH, mental health) but programmatically focused on health rather than general youth empowerment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPNO8fhz0lE5vJcIHVz73aA/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/empowerweb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empowerweb
• Instagraminstagram.com/empower_foundation
• Xx.com/empowerweb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Empower