Faizal Shabana Foundation

What Faizal Shabana Foundation does

Faizal and Shabana Foundation is a private, family-founded charitable organization established in 2007 and headquartered in Bengaluru, India, with a branch office in Kozhikode, Kerala. The Foundation operates a portfolio of more than 20 distinct social impact programs organized under three verticals: Education, Art/Culture/Heritage, and Integrated Community Development. Its programs serve underserved children, women artisans, farmers, and marginalized communities across six countries (India, UAE, Uganda, Kenya, UK, USA), with cumulative spending of over 80 million AED impacting more than 2.5 million persons since inception.

The Foundation's signature asset is the Nadakkavu Model, a documented school intervention framework that transformed an under-resourced Kerala government school into one ranked 3rd in India by Education World and has been replicated across 966+ schools in Kerala and 1,200+ schools nationally. Core technical capability includes offsite manufacturing and precast modular technology (via knowledge partner KEF Holdings) used to rapidly build school infrastructure, alongside a KEF-MIT R&D Centre producing infrastructure-sector research. Education-specific programs include the Prism Project, Dream School Project (Kashmir), Uganda Hope Project, and SEPT football academies; community development programs include the Chelembra Farmers Project, Krishnagiri Development Project, and TERI Solar Charging Stations; arts programs include ASAP, ABC ArtRoom, Padma Project, and the Women's Craftpreneurs Accelerator.

The Foundation does not operate a commercial revenue model — it is grant-funded primarily by its founding family (Faizal E. Kottikollon and Shabana Faizal) with KEF Holdings as an affiliated knowledge partner, and delivers services at no cost to beneficiaries through direct community engagement, government school partnerships, and NGO collaborations. Go-to-market is program-by-program via in-country implementation teams, government MOUs (e.g., Directorate of School Education Kashmir, District Disabled Welfare Office Krishnagiri), and international cultural partnerships. Beneficiary reach is high (2M+ in education) but monetization is absent; the relevant financial signal is programmatic expenditure, not revenue.

Name

Faizal Shabana Foundation

Legal name

Faizal and Shabana Foundation

Website

https://faizalshabana.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Faizal and Shabana Foundation is a family-founded, private charitable foundation established in 2007 that delivers education, community development, and arts programs across six countries (primarily India), serving underserved children, women artisans, farmers, and marginalized communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Nonprofit foundation services
• Education intervention programs
• Community development initiatives
• Art and culture preservation
• Philanthropic social programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangalore

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Faizal and Shabana Foundation is a private nonprofit charitable foundation that delivers a portfolio of social impact programs across three pillars: Education, Art/Culture/Heritage, and Integrated Community Development. It runs named initiatives including The Prism Project, Dream School Project, Uganda Hope Project, Chelembra Farmers Project, Krishnagiri Development Project, Women's Craftpreneurs Project, and Padma Project, providing free services such as school transformation, teacher training, sustainable agriculture support, artisan empowerment, and cultural preservation across six countries.

Product overview

Faizal and Shabana Foundation is a philanthropic organization operating a portfolio of social impact programs across education, community development, and art/culture sectors. The Foundation does not offer a unified technology product or platform; instead, it operates distinct program initiatives including education intervention projects (The Prism Project, Dream School Project, Uganda Hope Project), sustainable agriculture initiatives (Chelembra Farmers Project, Krishnagiri Development Project), and art/culture programs (Art South Asia Project, Padma Project, ABC ArtRoom Project). These programs function independently as social impact initiatives rather than as modules within an integrated product suite. The Foundation's work is characterized by holistic interventions addressing educational disparities, community empowerment, and cultural preservation across six countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Prism Project Education intervention program designed to improve standards of government schools through planned interventions, including infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, and vocational training, targeted at under-resourced government schools in India.
• Dream School Project – Kashmir Model public school education initiative in Jammu and Kashmir implemented through partnership with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir, focusing on teacher training and holistic student development at GGHSS Kothi Bagh, Srinagar with 55 teachers trained.
• Bangalore School Project – Project Inspire – B Government school transformation initiative aimed at creating a centre of excellence model replicable across Karnataka state within five years, targeting academic enhancement and school development.
• Uganda School Project – Hope Project Education initiative in Uganda developing teaching workforce with curriculum including critical thinking, problem-solving, and vocational training across six schools serving 60+ communities, with 3,800+ students and 220 teachers supported.
• Kenyan Intervention IT infrastructure development project associated with Transcend Academy supporting technology education in Kenya, part of the Hope Project rolled out across Uganda and Kenya.
• Fisheries School Project, Kadalundi Education intervention at Government Fisheries Lower Primary School focusing on academic enhancement, social emotional development, and teacher quality improvement, serving 145 students from fishing communities.
• Malja-Ul Islam Orphanage Support Support for orphanage construction including girls' hostel and facilities, providing education and tuition for 110 residents, which has produced 13 medical doctors and 2 engineers.
• SEPT (Sports Education Promotion Trust) Football talent identification and cultivation program for underprivileged youth, providing training, education, nutrition, and pathways to professional leagues through 52 academies training nearly 2,000 children.
• The Chelembra Farmers Project Sustainable agriculture initiative promoting organic farming through training, resource collaboration, and market partnerships, serving 288 participants and targeting a 50% reduction in anemia prevalence among local women.
• The Krishnagiri Development Project Holistic development project facilitating socio-economic inclusion of marginalized communities through empowerment of micro-institutions, producing a threefold increase in household income and 70% increase in household toilet access for 3,000+ residents.
• The Reach Project, Chelembra Community health initiative reducing prevalence of anaemia among local women through screening, awareness campaigns, and nutritional interventions, targeting a 50% reduction in anemia prevalence.
• Solar Charging Stations (TERI Partnership) Partnership with TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) to install solar charging stations providing efficient and affordable lighting for residents across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka, serving approximately 16,000 people.
• The Nabha Phulkari Project Artisan empowerment initiative reviving the traditional Phulkari craft and teaching financial and business management principles to female artisans in Nabha, Punjab, supporting the Nabha Phulkari Cooperative.
• Women's Craftpreneurs Project Accelerator initiative empowering women entrepreneurs in India's craft sector in partnership with AIACA, positively impacting over 1,000 traditional artisans.
• The ABC ArtRoom Project Art education program establishing art centres in government schools in association with Kochi Biennale, including summer camps and mural projects.
• Art South Asia Project (ASAP) Artist support initiative for South Asian descent artists in partnership with ASAP UK, helping them gain visibility and exposure through video series, curatorial fellowships, and art festivals.
• The LoreKeepers Project Cultural preservation initiative collecting and recording community folklore, with over a thousand pieces of lore digitally archived and 2,500+ individuals participating from seven districts in Kerala.
• Padma Project Interactive sensory art installation using biofeedback technology to visualize heartbeats through light, exhibited at the Pyramids of Giza as part of the Forever Is Now 2024 festival, featuring artist Shilo Shiv Suleman.
• Urdu Project Cultural collaboration with visual artist Taha Ahmad under QissaGoi initiative producing photographic artworks exploring identity, language, and shared histories.
• Art Murmur x Guftgu Project Initiative exploring evolution of art publishing and artist book-making in South Asia through expert-led discussions and commissioned writings.
• KEF – MIT R&D Centre Research and development centre providing aspiring engineers a platform to explore new technologies, conduct cutting-edge research, and develop innovative solutions for the infrastructure sector, producing 100+ research projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100%+ growth in school enrolments and 400%+ improvement in academic results at Nadakkavu school
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KEF HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEF Holdings is the flagship company of the founders and serves as a key knowledge partner, providing expertise in offsite manufacturing and modular technology for school construction. The foundation collaborates with KEF for research and development initiatives including the KEF-MIT R&D Centre.
• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TERI to install Solar Charging Stations providing efficient and affordable lighting for residents across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka, serving approximately 16,000 people.
• SEPT (Sports Excellence Promotion Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEPT is a voluntary organization identifying and cultivating football talent among underprivileged youth. The Foundation provides funding and organizes tournaments, with SEPT operating 52 academies training nearly 2000 children.
• Development Promotion GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Krishnagiri Development Project for holistic community development, facilitating socio-economic inclusion of marginalized communities through micro-institutions.
• PRAXISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization that conducted in-depth research with participation of approximately 1500 families for the Krishnagiri Development Project.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), KrishnagiriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural research center providing training workshops for farmers on pest control, coconut tree climbing, organic farming, animal husbandry and vermicomposting.
• PrathamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation nonprofit whose ASER assessment tool was used to evaluate student arithmetic, English and Malayalam reading skills at GFLPS Kadalundi.
• Art South Asia Project (ASAP), UKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerASAP supports artists of South Asian descent. The Foundation supports ASAP projects including a three-part video series on contemporary Sri Lankan Art and curatorial fellowships.
• Government of India (Forest Rights Act)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership to provide training in Forest Rights Act, enabling ST and marginalized communities to use forestland for agricultural purposes.
• Directorate of School Education KashmircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose partnership for the DREAM School Project at GGHSS Kothi Bagh, Srinagar, implementing educational interventions and training programs for public school education in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Kochi BiennalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation with Kochi Biennale for the ABC ArtRoom Project establishing art centres in local schools and the World Is One Family artwork featuring over 260 artisans.
• AIACA (All India Artisans and Craftworkers' Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting the Women's Craftpreneurs Accelerator, a transformative initiative empowering women entrepreneurs in India's craft sector.
• QissaGoicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural initiative partnering with the Foundation for the Urdu Project and Padma Project at the Pyramids of Giza, supporting contemporary artists.
• Art D'ÉgyptecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizer of the Forever Is Now 2024 contemporary art exhibition at the Pyramids of Giza where Shilo Shiv Suleman's Padma installation was featured.
• Shilo Shiv SulemancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContemporary artist creating the Padma installation using biofeedback technology to visualize heartbeats through light at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pyramids of Giza.
• Nabha Phulkari CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen artisan cooperative in Nabha supported to revitalize the traditional Phulkari craft through business training and sustainable enterprise development.
• Tulah Wellness RetreatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership providing a ready market for farmers' organic produce from the Chelembra Farmers Project.
• Jeevani Organic Vegetable StoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarket partnership supporting local farmers by purchasing their organic produce, contributing to sustainable local economy.
• MIT (Manipal Institute of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&D Centre collaboration providing platform for aspiring engineers to explore new technologies, conduct cutting-edge research and develop innovative solutions for the infrastructure sector.
• Transcend Academy (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for development of IT Labs supporting education initiatives in Kenya, part of the Hope Project rolled out across Uganda and Kenya.
• District Disabled Welfare Office, KrishnagiriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment office providing support for differently-abled ST children to receive ID cards through special medical camps.
• Kerala State Youth FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform where 800+ pieces of tribal community lore were documented and presented through the LoreKeepers Project.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Azim Premji Foundation: India's largest education-focused family philanthropic foundation; runs direct school-institution programs and teacher-training networks nationally. Most directly comparable to F&S Foundation on mission (education transformation), operating model (direct program delivery, not pure grantmaking), and Indian geography.
• Pratham Education Foundation: India's largest education NGO, operating direct instructional programs and government partnerships (e.g., ASER assessments used by F&S Foundation). Highly comparable on direct-delivery education model serving underserved Indian children.
• Room to Read: Global nonprofit operating literacy and gender-in-education programs across South Asia and Africa. Comparable on direct-delivery education model, cross-border operations, government-school partnerships, and emphasis on measurable learning outcomes.
• Magic Bus India Foundation: India-based youth education and livelihoods nonprofit running direct programs for underprivileged adolescents. Comparable on direct-delivery model targeting Indian youth through education plus sports/livelihoods, with cross-border presence.
• Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA): India-based organization empowering women in informal sector through economic and social programs. Comparable on focus on women artisans, market access, and cooperative-based livelihoods in rural India — directly overlaps with F&S's Craftpreneurs and Nabha Phulkari programs.

Broad incumbents

• Tata Trusts: India's largest private philanthropic portfolio, funding education, health, livelihoods, and arts at national scale. Compares as a much larger, established Indian family foundation with overlapping program areas but a primarily grantmaking rather than direct-delivery posture.
• Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF): Large UK-based foundation focused on children's education, health and climate. Comparable as an international grantmaker funding development outcomes in India and Africa, though operates almost exclusively as a funder rather than direct operator.
• Aga Khan Foundation (AKDN): International development foundation operating across education, health, rural development and culture in South Asia and East Africa. Comparable on multi-country footprint, integrated community development orientation, and emphasis on cultural heritage.
• Infosys Foundation: Indian corporate/family philanthropic foundation funding education, health, rural development and arts. Comparable as a parallel Indian family foundation with overlapping beneficiary categories though primarily a grantmaker rather than operator.
• Reliance Foundation: India-based corporate foundation with significant programs in education, rural development, health and arts. Comparable as a large Indian family/corporate philanthropic foundation with overlapping thematic verticals at substantially greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/faizalshabanafoundation
• Xx.com/FandSfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/FandSFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faizal-and-shabana-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Faizal Shabana Foundation