Sustera Foundation

What Sustera Foundation does

Sustera Foundation is an Indian nonprofit organization founded in 2017, headquartered in Kerala, that cultivates climate resilience through community-driven programs targeting youth leaders, coastal populations, and the wider Indian public. Its portfolio spans a flagship Climate Leadership Program (CLP), a regional Bengaluru chapter, Project Sustheeram (a coastal sustainability and eco-tourism pilot at Vettukad, Trivandrum), the India EVolve Innovation Challenge focused on electric mobility, weekly beach cleanups at Vettucadu, and online educational courses such as "Climate Awareness Education" and "Building a CV and Portfolio for Green Jobs." The foundation also runs awareness campaigns including an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign and the "Rapid Restore" experiential cleanup initiative.

Operational delivery relies on a small in-house team coordinated with a network of 12+ civil society collaborators — including ATREE, CERC, CVoices, ASAR, TErra, TISS, and government partners — and on direct community engagement via workshops, festivals, and volunteer mobilization. Documented impact metrics include 1,050 kg of plastic waste collected during seven weeks of Vettucadu beach cleanups, 500+ volunteers engaged, 7,000+ people reached during the Feast of Christ the King festival, and 700+ college volunteers participating in the same period.

The foundation is grant-funded and offers programs to participants at no cost; no commercial revenue, donor-disclosed financials, or pricing structure is published. Marketing and outreach are conducted through organic social channels (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube) and a content blog covering green entrepreneurship and eco-restoration themes. Leadership is anchored by co-founder Deepa Ananthapadmanabhan; no broader management team details are publicly disclosed.

Name

Sustera Foundation

Legal name

Sustera Foundation

Website

https://sustera.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sustera Foundation is a Kerala-based Indian nonprofit founded in 2017 that runs the Climate Leadership Program, Project Sustheeram coastal cleanups, and the India EVolve Innovation Challenge to build climate resilience among youth and coastal communities across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Resilience and Environmental Education

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO), Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Climate resilience programs
• Environmental education courses
• Community climate action
• Coastal conservation initiatives
• Youth climate leadership

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sustera Foundation runs climate resilience and environmental education programs for youth and community members across India. Its portfolio includes online courses on climate awareness and green careers, the Climate Leadership Program (CLP), coastal engagement under Project Sustheeram, the India EVolve Innovation Challenge for sustainable mobility, and recurring activities such as weekly beach cleanups and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) awareness campaigns in Kerala.

Product overview

Sustera Foundation operates as a non-profit climate action organization offering educational programs, community engagement initiatives, and advocacy campaigns focused on climate resilience. The portfolio includes educational courses (Building a CV and Portfolio for Green Jobs, Climate Awareness Education), coastal community engagement through Project Sustheeram (sustainable shores), climate leadership programs, and innovation challenges like India EVolve. These offerings are coordinated through partnerships with civil society organizations and focus on youth empowerment, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable entrepreneurship awareness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Climate Leadership Program (CLP): A program focused on developing climate leadership among youth and community members in India.
• Project Sustheeram
• India EVolve Innovation Challenge

Products and services

• Project Sustheeram Coastal sustainability project raising awareness about coastal vulnerability from natural and anthropogenic activities, with pilot engagement in Vettukad, Trivandrum aimed at developing the area into a sustainable eco-tourism destination.
• Building a CV and Portfolio for Green Jobs Online course that equips learners with skills and knowledge to pursue careers in the green sector, including how to showcase a passion for sustainability in a CV and portfolio.
• Climate Awareness Education Comprehensive online course providing an understanding of climate change challenges and approaches to creating a sustainable future.
• Climate Leadership Program (CLP) Flagship climate leadership program engaging community and youth leaders in climate action initiatives, with CLP Bengaluru running as a regional chapter.
• CLPX Circular Economy Initiative focused on promoting circular economy principles and practices for sustainable development.
• India EVolve Innovation Challenge Innovation challenge inviting applicants to develop solutions for electric vehicle adoption and sustainable mobility in India.
• Weekly Beach Cleanups Regular community cleanup activities conducted at Vettucadu beach that collect plastic waste and engage volunteers in coastal ecosystem protection.
• Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign Educational outreach program aimed at informing communities about climate change, the need for climate action, and behavioral changes related to proper waste management.
• Rapid Restore Experiential learning initiative combining immediate cleanup of small areas with conversations about environmental responsibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1050 kg of plastic waste collected from beach cleanups
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and moderate.

• CERCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating on environmental initiatives and climate programs
• ATREEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental research and conservation organization partner
• CVoicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for climate voice and advocacy initiatives
• ASARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization on environmental programs
• TErraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partner
• TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partner for research and educational programs on climate and sustainability
• KSMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for environmental initiatives
• EQUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in sustainability sector
• PCLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for environmental programs
• RDFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for development initiatives
• MALminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in environmental sector
• TBYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for sustainability initiatives
• GOVmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for environmental programs and policy initiatives

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Fridays For Future India: Youth-led climate movement active in India focused on climate strikes, awareness, and policy advocacy. Strongly comparable to Sustera's youth empowerment and community climate leadership focus.
• India Climate Collaborative: Indian philanthropic collaborative focused on accelerating climate action by pooling funding and capacity for climate-focused NGOs. Comparable mission and a potential funder/ecosystem peer for Sustera.
• 350.org: Global grassroots climate movement with active India presence focused on climate action mobilization and youth engagement. Comparable youth/community-led climate advocacy model.

Broad incumbents

• Centre for Science and Environment (CSE): India-based public interest research and advocacy organization working on environment, climate, and sustainable development with strong policy influence and educational programming.
• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute): Established national research and policy institute focused on sustainable development, climate change, and clean energy. Operates at much larger scale with research, policy advisory, and education arms across India.
• WWF India: Large conservation-focused NGO with active community engagement, education, and species/habitat programs across India. Overlaps with Sustera on environmental awareness and conservation outreach.
• WRI India (World Resources Institute): India arm of global WRI working on climate, energy, food, forests, water, and cities. Comparable in climate resilience mission but operates with significantly larger budgets and global research infrastructure.
• Greenpeace India: Advocacy-driven environmental organization working on climate, forests, and pollution in India. Comparable in mission but competes for visibility, volunteers, and donor attention in the same space.

Direct peers

• ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment): India-based nonprofit working on biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, and environmental education with active programs across South Asia. Listed as a Sustera partner and the most directly comparable peer in scale and mission.
• CERC (Consumer Education and Research Centre): India-based nonprofit working on consumer rights and sustainability education. Listed as a Sustera partner organization with comparable nonprofit, education-driven structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NgoSustera
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SUSTERAfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/sustera.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustera-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/sustera_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sustera Foundation