Gokongwei Brothers Foundation

What Gokongwei Brothers Foundation does

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Inc. (GBF) is a Philippine private non-profit foundation established in 1992 by industrialist John Gokongwei Jr. and his brothers Henry, Johnson, and James, funded through donated shares of JG Summit Holdings Inc. that make GBF the conglomerate's largest shareholder. The foundation's mission is to advance STEM education in the Philippines through scholarships, educator professional development, technical-vocational training, institutional endowments, and community-based education programs. Over 30 years, GBF reports 3,428 lifetime scholars, 164,000 teachers trained, 1,356 communities served, and an 80,000+ teacher reach with potential impact on 1.5 million learners.

GBF's core programmatic assets include three technology-enabled platforms: GBF Class Builder, a DepEd-aligned instructional materials platform covering 45 school divisions and 5,000+ schools; GBF STEM Collab, an online educator community with 320,000+ members and a webinar series that has issued CPD units to 103,000 teachers; and Khan Academy Philippines, the foundation's localization of Khan Academy (the first international franchisee), piloted in 34 schools with 3,250 students. In parallel, GBF operates a 3,300 sqm GBF Technical Training Center in Calamba City with 12 industry-standard laboratories running TESDA-certified mechatronics programs, plus six scholarship tracks (STEM-College, TeachSTEM, Young Scientist Awards, STEM-Agri, Next Gen, and Iskolar Ni Juan Tech Voc) and resilience/learning-recovery initiatives.

The foundation's go-to-market relies on institutional partnerships with the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), DOST-SEI, major universities (De La Salle, Ateneo, University of Santo Tomas), and the Gokongwei Group of companies, combined with digital channels (Facebook communities, YouTube, TikTok, website). Programs are provided free to beneficiaries; there is no fee-based revenue. Endowment income from JG Summit Holdings equity sustains operations, with corporate partners (URC, Cebu Pacific, Robinsons Land, Robinsons Retail) supporting workplace giving, scholar internships, and disaster response. Recent strategic activity centers on scaling Class Builder, expanding ARAL reading remediation (210,000+ teachers reached in 2025), launching TeachSTEM in 2025, and preparing integration of Khan Academy's Khanmigo AI assistant.

Name

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation

Legal name

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://gokongweibrothersfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation is a Philippine non-profit advancing STEM education through scholarships, educator platforms, and technical-vocational training, serving underprivileged learners, 320,000+ teachers, and partner communities nationwide via DepEd-aligned programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Foundation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Math & STEM Learning Technology (incl. Coding/Robotics Platforms) (EDAJAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAH), STEM & Computer Science Curriculum (EDAGAAAB), STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Scholarship grants
• Teacher training programs
• Technical-vocational training
• Community education initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Mandaluyong

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment and Donations: GBF is funded through donations from the Gokongwei brothers who contributed shares from JG Summit Holdings Inc., making it the biggest shareholder in the conglomerate. The foundation operates as a philanthropic organization providing scholarships and educational programs at no cost to beneficiaries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation advances STEM education in the Philippines through fully subsidized scholarship grants, technical-vocational training, teacher professional development, and community-based learning programs. It delivers these through proprietary digital platforms (GBF Class Builder, GBF STEM Collab, Khan Academy Philippines) and a 3,300 sqm Technical Training Center, serving learners, educators, and partner communities across the country.

Product overview

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation operates as an education-focused foundation with a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on advancing STEM education in the Philippines. The core offerings include GBF Class Builder (a professional development platform for educators with DepEd-aligned instructional materials), GBF STEM Collab Community (an online educator community with webinars and peer learning), and the GBF Technical Training Center (a facility-based technical-vocational training program). These are complemented by multiple scholarship programs (GBF STEM-College, TeachSTEM, STEM-Agri, Next Gen, Young Scientist Awards, and Iskolar Ni Juan Tech Voc) targeting different beneficiary groups from children of employees to farmer dependents and underprivileged youth. Additional programs include Khan Academy Philippines partnership, Juan Community resilience initiatives, Juan Kapatid learning recovery, and Juan Brigada Eskwela school support, along with institutional endowments at partner universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GBF Class Builder: Flagship platform for educators' professional development providing DepEd-aligned instructional materials and coaching on teaching strategies
• GBF STEM Collab
• TeachSTEM
• GBF Young Scientist Awards
• GBF STEM College Scholarship
• Juan Kapatid Learning Recovery Program
• Iskolar Ni Juan Tech Voc Program
• Juan Community for Resilience
• GBF STEM-Agri Scholarship Program
• Khan Academy Philippines
• GBF Next Gen Scholarship

Products and services

• GBF Class Builder
• GBF STEM Collab Community
• GBF Technical Training Center
• GBF STEM-College Scholarship
• GBF TeachSTEM College Scholarship
• GBF STEM-Agri Scholarship Program
• GBF Next Gen Scholarship for Excellence
• GBF Young Scientist Award Scholarship for Excellence
• Iskolar Ni Juan Tech Voc Program
• Juan Kapatid Learning Recovery Program
• Juan Community for Resilience
• Juan Brigada Eskwela
• Khan Academy Philippines

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,428 lifetime scholars, 164,000 teachers trained, 1,356 communities served
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Khan Academy PhilippinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023GBF invested to localize Khan Academy content for Filipino students, becoming Khan Academy's first international franchisee. Khan Academy Philippines aligns content with DepEd curriculum through Filipino team. Pilot launched in August 2023 in 34 schools (30 public, 4 private) across 9 cities with 71 teachers and 3,250 students. Plans include AI-powered teaching assistant Khanmigo and teacher certification courses.
• Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017GBF partners with DOST-SEI for the Young Scientist Awards program, selecting awardees from finalists of the annual 'imake.wemake: create.innovate.collaborate' competition. Partnership aims to promote science culture among Filipino youth and encourage STEM careers. GBF Young Scientist Awardees receive scholarship grants and opportunities to enhance STEM expertise with GBF's academic and business partners. Partnership has completed 7 cycles.
• Department of Education (DepEd)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBF partners with DepEd for the National Science and Technology Fair (NSTF) to sponsor and award scholarship grants to selected finalists. Partnership also includes National Educators Academy of the Philippines for ARAL Series teacher training, MATATAG curriculum support, and school adoption programs. GBF was recognized as a 'DepEd Hero' for this collaboration.
• De La Salle UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBF endowed the Gokongwei College of Engineering (renamed in 2011) and the John Gokongwei Jr. Innovation Center at Laguna Campus. DLSU recognizes Chemical, Electronics, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering as CHED Centers of Excellence and Computer Engineering as Center of Development.
• Ateneo de Manila UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBF endowed the John Gokongwei School of Management (renamed 2002) and the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD, launched 2021). JGSOM became first CHED Center of Excellence in business administration and entrepreneurship (2007) and AACSB International accredited (2021).
• University of Santo TomascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBF partnered with UST and Metro Manila Schools Division Offices (Quezon City, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Pasig) to implement GBF TeachSTEM Certificate Program for public school teachers. Program supports 100 teachers with professional upskilling in STEM instruction for educators teaching outside their college specialization.
• National Museum of the PhilippinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to establish the Elizabeth Y. Gokongwei Ethnographic Stoneware Resource Center on 5th floor of National Museum of Anthropology. Provides universal access to approximately 1,000 stoneware and earthenware ceramics from National Ethnographic Collection for students, educators, and researchers.
• Shang Properties, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Juan Community programs and education initiatives. Shang Properties collaborated with GBF and Kerry Group Foundation Philippines to donate 74 televisions to Schools Division Office of Surigao del Norte for technology-enabled learning.
• Kerry Group Foundation PhilippinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in education initiatives, collaborating with GBF and Shang Properties on classroom equipment donations including 74 televisions for Surigao del Norte schools.
• Universal Robina CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary corporate partner providing internship and employment opportunities for GBF scholars. URC divisions (Sugar and Renewables, Branded Consumer Foods Group) partner with GBF for STEM-Agri scholarships for children of farmer partners. URC plants serve as OJT sites for Iskolar Ni Juan program.
• Cebu Pacific Air, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGokongwei Group airline partner contributing to Juan Community disaster response programs including COVID-19 relief efforts and Typhoon Odette response through employee volunteering and donations.
• Robinsons Land CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGokongwei Group real estate subsidiary partner in Juan Community programs, participating in school adoptions, donations, and employee volunteering activities for adopted schools.
• Schneider ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner collaborating on technical education initiatives and training programs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Khan Academy: Khan Academy is the global nonprofit that partnered with GBF to launch Khan Academy Philippines as its first international franchisee. They share ed-tech platform DNA, free-to-learner model, and STEM curriculum focus, with GBF acting as the Philippine localization and distribution arm.

Regional players

• Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP): PBSP is one of the largest Philippine business-led NGOs focused on education and livelihood. Both GBF and PBSP operate as private-sector-funded organizations running education programs targeting underprivileged learners and partnering with DepEd for nationwide reach.
• Metrobank Foundation: Metrobank Foundation is the corporate foundation of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., one of the Philippines' largest banks. Both organizations run education-focused programs targeting Filipino scholars and educators, with similar DepEd partnership strategies and scholarship portfolio structures.
• Ayala Foundation: Ayala Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Ayala Group, another major Philippine conglomerate. Both are conglomerate-affiliated foundations running education, scholarship, and community programs in the Philippines, competing for talent pipelines, DepEd partnerships, and visibility within the same donor ecosystem.
• Philippine Business for Education (PBEd): PBEd is a Philippine advocacy and education coalition led by major business groups. Both organizations operate as business-led education reform voices in the Philippines, frequently engaging DepEd on policy and teacher development initiatives.
• SM Foundation: SM Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the SM Group, a competing Philippine conglomerate. Both foundations run large-scale scholarship programs, school building initiatives, and teacher training in partnership with DepEd across the Philippines, operating in parallel donor/employer ecosystems.
• Synergeia Foundation: Synergeia is a Philippine education-focused foundation working on school governance, teacher quality, and learner outcomes nationwide. Both organizations target teacher capability and DepEd school partnerships as core levers for systemic STEM/education improvement in the Philippines.

Broad incumbents

• Asia Foundation: Asia Foundation is a large international development nonprofit with extensive education programming across Asia. It operates at a broader geographic scale than GBF but shares the philanthropic, donor-funded, partnership-with-governments model for advancing education outcomes.
• UNICEF Philippines: UNICEF Philippines runs large-scale education, child protection, and learning recovery programs in partnership with DepEd. Both organizations operate national education initiatives with teacher training, learning recovery, and learner support components targeting similar beneficiary populations.

Emerging players

• Teach for the Philippines: Teach for the Philippines is a non-profit that places teacher-leaders in high-need public schools, with a focus on leadership development and instructional quality. Both GBF TeachSTEM and TFP address the same teacher pipeline gap in Philippine public education through different but complementary models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GokongweiBrothersFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/gokongweibrothersfoundation
• TikToktiktok.com/@gbf.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gokongweibrothersfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Gokongwei Brothers Foundation