Bhutan Youth Development Fund

What Bhutan Youth Development Fund does

Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF) is a non-governmental organization established under a 1998 Royal Decree of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and recognized as a Public Benefit Organization in Bhutan. Headquartered in Thimphu with operations across all 20 Dzongkhags, YDF delivers a portfolio of youth-focused programs spanning education (Nazhoen Pelri School, My Gakidh Village School, Queen Mother Scholarships, Golden Youth Award), skills development (Y-VIA volunteer network with 9,000+ members, UPSHIFT in 35 schools, SHIFT campaign accelerator, Walk the Talk), health and wellbeing (Bhutan Institute of Wellbeing for substance use disorder rehabilitation, Pranic Healing, Sponsor a Monk), climate action (Nurture A Tree, Waste Paper Recycling Unit, GreenPapers), and entrepreneurship (Innovate Bhutan with iSprint/iStart/iConsult/iCreate/iVenture).

YDF's business model is a hybrid of philanthropic funding and earned-income social enterprise revenue. Funding streams include the Nu. 250/month "250 for Youth" giving program (Nu. 28.15 million cumulative since 2011), sponsored programs (Sponsor a Monk at Nu. 500/month per monk, project-specific donors), and international donation infrastructure via Bhutan Foundation (USA, 501(c)(3)) and Myriad Australia. Commercial-revenue generation is concentrated in wholly-owned social enterprises: WPRU converts waste paper into egg trays (4.3 million+ units, 360+ metric tonnes recycled), the Green Weaving Centre employs 108+ artisans across six districts producing eco-textiles bearing the Royal Government Seal of Quality, and GreenPapers (launching 2025) targets pulp egg tray scale-up.

The organization is governed by a Management Board and audited by the Royal Audit Authority of Bhutan, with Her Majesty Ashi Tseyring Pem Wangchuck serving as President and Her Royal Highness Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck as Vice President. Day-to-day operations are led by Executive Director Pem Sedon Thinley and Secretary General Dorji Ohm, with functional directors across Finance & Fundraising, Programmes & Skills Development, and the operating subsidiaries. Core technical architecture is operational rather than technological — service delivery is conducted through direct school operations, in-person community programs, and social enterprise production sites distributed across Thimphu, Punakha, Gelephu, Bjemina, Wangdue Phodrang, and Toebisa.

Name

Bhutan Youth Development Fund

Legal name

Bhutan Youth Development Fund

Website

https://bhutanyouth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bhutan Youth Development Fund is a Royal-Decree-established nonprofit headquartered in Thimphu, Bhutan, delivering education, skills development, health and wellbeing, climate action, and entrepreneurship programs to Bhutanese youth across all 20 Dzongkhags, funded through donations, sponsored programs, and wholly-owned social enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH), Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (MNCH) Programs (BPADAIAC)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Education scholarships
• Social enterprise incubation
• Substance rehabilitation services
• Community volunteer networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Thimphu

HQ country

Bhutan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 250 for Youth Monthly Giving Program: Monthly giving initiative encouraging individuals to contribute Nu. 250 per month to support scholarships and the Golden Youth Award. Has raised Nu. 28.15 million to date.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Accepts donations through Bhutan Foundation (USA - tax-exempt 501(c)(3)), direct bank transfers in Bhutan, and Australian contributions via Myriad Australia/ANZ Bank.
3. Social Enterprise Revenue: Social enterprises including Waste Paper Recycling Unit (WPRU), Green Weaving Centre, Innovate Bhutan programs, and GreenPapers (launching 2025) generate revenue through product sales and reinvest profits into youth programs.
4. Sponsored Programs: Programs supported by specific sponsors including Sponsor a Monk (Nu. 500/month per monk), Queen Mother Tseyring Pem Wangchuck Scholarships, and various project-specific donors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF) is a non-governmental public benefit organization that delivers youth development programs across Bhutan. It operates schools (Nazhoen Pelri School, My Gakidh Village School), provides scholarships (Queen Mother Tseyring Pem Wangchuck Scholarship), runs a rehabilitation center (Bhutan Institute of Well Being), incubates social enterprises (Innovate Bhutan, Green Weaving Centre, Waste Paper Recycling Unit), and manages volunteer and skills-development programs (Y-VIA, UPSHIFT, Walk the Talk).

Product overview

Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF) operates as a portfolio of interconnected youth development programs rather than a single unified technology product. The organization runs education initiatives (My Gakidh Village School, Nazhoen Pelri School, Golden Youth Award, Queen Mother Scholarship), skills development programs (Y-VIA, Walk the Talk, SHIFT, UPSHIFT), climate action initiatives (Nurture A Tree, Waste Paper Recycling, GreenPapers), social enterprises (Innovate Bhutan with iSprint/iStart/iConsult/iCreate/iVenture, Green Weaving Centre), and health/wellbeing services (Bhutan Institute of Wellbeing, Pranic Healing, Sponsor a Monk). The programs are coordinated through a secretariat structure and support YDF's mission of providing youth equal access to education, employment, and opportunities to develop their potential.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Innovate Bhutan: Social enterprise focused on fostering social and environmental enterprise innovation, providing education, incubation, and capacity development for youth entrepreneurs.
• Young Volunteers in Action (Y-VIA)
• Bhutan Institute of Well Being
• Green Weaving Centre
• Waste Paper Recycling Unit (WPRU)
• Walk the Talk

Products and services

• Nazhoen Pelri School (NPS) Green curriculum and place-based education school in Thimphu/Gelephu emphasizing 70% outdoor learning and 30% in learning centers approach, connecting students with communities and environment. For Bhutanese youth.
• My Gakidh Village School Place-based education school at Toebisa Gewog, Punakha Dzongkhag that uses local ecology, economy, and culture as a living classroom with hands-on, real-world challenges. For Bhutanese youth.
• Queen Mother Tseyring Pem Wangchuck Scholarship Need-based and merit-based scholarship program covering grade 7 to degree-level studies, including UWC partial scholarships. Over 1,000 beneficiaries since 2002. For Bhutanese students.
• Golden Youth Award YDF flagship program recognizing and rewarding youth who excel across academics, sports, cultural activities, leadership, and social contributions. Annual camp brings 80 outstanding students from all 20 Dzongkhags.
• Bhutan Institute of Wellbeing (BIW) Three-month treatment and rehabilitation programs for substance use disorders grounded in Gross National Happiness principles, using Mindfulness, CBT, Nature-Guided Therapy, and Pranic Healing approaches.
• Sponsor a Monk Monthly sponsorship program providing Nu. 500 per monk covering food, clothing, medical care, and educational materials. Over 2,000 young monks across 10 monasteries in 7 districts have benefited.
• Pranic Healing Science-based energy healing system with Basic, Advanced, Psychotherapy, Crystal Healing, and Arhatic Yoga courses. Introduced to Bhutan in collaboration with Delhi Pranic Healing Foundation.
• Young Volunteers in Action (Y-VIA) Youth volunteer network launched in 2003 that empowers young people to address community needs and drive positive social change through volunteerism. Over 9,000 young volunteers have participated.
• UPSHIFT Youth social innovation program implemented by YDF in partnership with UNICEF Bhutan and Ministry of Education and Skills Development. Introduces entrepreneurial thinking, problem-solving, and creativity into 35+ schools since 2022.
• Walk the Talk Nationwide health awareness initiative launched in 2022 by Her Majesty the Queen Mother, conducted in partnership with WHO and Ministry of Health. Mass walking events promote physical activity, healthy dietary habits, and disease prevention across all 20 Dzongkhags.
• SHIFT (Campaign Accelerator for Youth) Innovative campaign accelerator model designed to equip young people aged 14-25 with tools to identify and address pressing community issues. Developed by Save the Children and introduced to Bhutan through YDF; reached 7,851 children in 2024.
• Innovate Bhutan YDF social enterprise with goal to empower 1,000 young people and incubate 100 impact-focused businesses by 2030. Has trained 443 youth and provided seed funding to 24 social enterprises. Includes programs: iSprint, iStart, iConsult, iCreate, iVenture, Friday Friends.
• Green Weaving Centre Sustainable weaving initiative preserving Bhutanese hand weaving and natural dyeing techniques. More than 108 skilled weavers across six districts create eco-textiles with Royal Government's 'Seal of Quality'.
• Waste Paper Recycling Unit (WPRU) Social enterprise at Bjemina that transforms waste paper into pulp egg trays. Has recycled over 360 metric tonnes of waste paper, produced 4.3 million egg trays, and avoided 142 tonnes of GHG emissions annually.
• Nurture A Tree Climate action project tackling deforestation by planting high carbon-absorbing tree species across Bhutan. Target of planting 1 million+ trees over 10 years through community-driven planting events and youth-led awareness campaigns.
• 250 for Youth Monthly Giving Program Monthly giving initiative encouraging individuals to contribute Nu. 250 per month to support scholarships and the Golden Youth Award. Has raised Nu. 28.15 million to date.

Quantifiable outcome

• 142 tonnes of annual greenhouse gas emissions avoided
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Murdoch UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Conferred Honorary Doctorate Degree to Her Majesty Queen Mother Tseyring Pem Wangchuck, President of YDF, on February 9, 2025, recognizing contributions to youth development.
• Save the ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Save the Children developed SHIFT (Campaign Accelerator for Youth) and introduced it to Bhutan through YDF. SHIFT equips youth aged 14-25 to develop social campaigns addressing community issues.
• World Health OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022WHO partners with YDF on Walk the Talk - a nationwide health awareness initiative conducting mass walking events to promote physical activity, healthy dietary habits, and disease prevention. Walk the Talk has engaged 4,441 participants across all 20 Dzongkhags.
• Ministry of Health (Bhutan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Ministry of Health partners with YDF on Walk the Talk health awareness initiative, providing government endorsement and coordination support across all 20 Dzongkhags.
• UNICEF BhutancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022UNICEF partners with YDF to implement UPSHIFT - youth social innovation program equipping young people with 21st-century skills. Since 2022, UPSHIFT has been rolled out in 35 schools and one skills center.
• Ministry of Education and Skills Development (Bhutan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Ministry partners with YDF on UPSHIFT program implementation, integrating entrepreneurial thinking and problem-solving into the education system across schools.
• Delhi Pranic Healing Foundation (India)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Mrs. Shakun Goyal of Delhi Pranic Healing Foundation collaborated with Her Majesty to expand Pranic Healing across Bhutan. Higher-level courses conducted by trainers from Delhi Foundation and Institute for Inner Studies in Manila.
• Institute for Inner Studies (Manila, Philippines)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Manila-based institute provides training for higher-level Pranic Healing courses in Bhutan, supporting the expansion of energy healing practices.
• Bhutan FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBhutan Foundation serves as US-based partner receiving donations for YDF. It is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code - Federal ID #13-3376290.
• Myriad AustraliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian entity receiving donations for YDF from contributors within Australia. BSB: 013-400, Account: 476055509 at ANZ Bank.
• Royal Audit Authority of BhutanminorOthersThe Bhutan Youth Development Fund is audited by the Royal Audit Authority of Bhutan. Annual and periodical progress reports help monitor and evaluate activities.
• United World Colleges (UWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWC provides international education opportunities for YDF scholarship recipients. Multiple UWC schools participate including Costa Rica, Dilijan, Mahindra College, Thailand, Li Po Chun Hong Kong, USA, Canada, and Atlantic Wales.
• DrukVanaminorOthersListed as a useful link and resource partner for youth development ecosystem in Bhutan.
• Golden Youth Award NetworkminorOthersFacebook-based network connecting Golden Youth Award alumni and supporters across Bhutan.
• Innovate BhutancoreOthersYDF social enterprise focused on fostering social and environmental enterprise innovation. Partnered with various organizations to support entrepreneurial ecosystem development.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Room to Read: Room to Read operates literacy, girls' education, and school library programs across South Asia and Africa. Comparable to YDF on education focus, scholarship distribution, and place-based learning innovation in low-income countries.
• Ashoka: Ashoka is the global pioneer of social entrepreneurship, supporting impact-focused ventures and youth changemakers. Directly comparable to Innovate Bhutan's iVenture and iCreate programs that incubate youth-led social enterprises.
• BRAC: BRAC is the world's largest development NGO operating education, microfinance, health, and youth entrepreneurship programs across South Asia and Africa. Highly comparable to YDF's integrated model combining schools, social enterprises, and skills training.
• Bhutan Foundation: Bhutan Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) that channels US donations to YDF and runs parallel community development, education, and cultural preservation programs in Bhutan. Closely aligned mission, geography, and donor ecosystem.
• UNICEF Bhutan: UNICEF Bhutan co-implements the UPSHIFT program with YDF and operates in the same youth development, education, and child welfare space within Bhutan. Direct operational overlap with YDF on social innovation and education initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• Aga Khan Foundation: Aga Khan Foundation operates integrated education, health, and rural development programs across South Asia with a focus on underserved communities. Comparable integrated model and South Asian geography to YDF.
• Save the Children: Save the Children developed the SHIFT campaign accelerator that YDF now runs in Bhutan. Global incumbent in child and youth services with comparable programmatic focus on education, health, and youth empowerment.
• UNICEF (Global): UNICEF is a global incumbent in child and youth services, education, and skills development. YDF partners directly with UNICEF Bhutan on UPSHIFT, making it both a partner and broad comparable in the youth development space.

Emerging players

• Teach For All: Teach For All is a global network addressing educational inequity through teacher leadership and place-based education. Comparable to YDF's Nazhoen Pelri and My Gakidh schools on innovative education delivery models.
• Yunus Social Business: Yunus Social Business funds and incubates social enterprises addressing poverty in developing countries. Comparable mission and funding model to Innovate Bhutan's social enterprise incubation and seed funding activities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bhutanydf?si=6qmjvdhCNBlmxzT0
• Facebookfacebook.com/BHUTAN.YDF

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bhutan Youth Development Fund