South Asia Foundation

Name

South Asia Foundation

Legal name

South Asia Foundation

Website

https://southasiafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Foundation / Scholarship Programs

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ), Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE), Higher Education Capacity Building & Scholarships (BPADAKAG)

Keywords

• Fully-funded scholarships
• Regional cooperation education
• SAARC student programs
• UNESCO institutions excellence
• Cross-border cultural development

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Donations: The foundation operates primarily through grants and charitable contributions. SAF was founded with seed funding from Madanjeet Singh. The Madanjeet Singh Foundation (MSF) manages scholarships following the founder's death in 2013. Individual chapters contribute matching funds in cash or kind per governing council resolutions.
2. Scholarship Program Management: SAF provides annual contributions to institutions (e.g., US $200,000 for MISARC) for scholarship-related activities and infrastructure. The foundation's funding model requires matching contributions from host institutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

South Asia Foundation provides fully-funded regional-cooperation scholarships (covering travel, board, lodging, and tuition) for students from all eight SAARC countries to study at twelve UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence hosted at partner universities across the region. Each scholarship cohort includes one student from each SAARC country, with programs in Cultural Heritage Preservation, Human Rights and Common Law, Forestry Studies, Journalism, Green Energy Technology, Development Studies, Visual Arts, and Water Management. The foundation operates through eight autonomous national chapters and is recognized as the SAARC Apex Body with official UNESCO relationship status.

Product overview

The South Asia Foundation (SAF) is a non-profit, secular organization comprising eight autonomous country chapters (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) that promotes regional cooperation through eight UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence. These institutions offer fully-funded Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships across diverse fields: Cultural Heritage Preservation (Kabul), Human Rights and Common Law (Dhaka), Forestry Studies (Bumthang), Journalism (Chennai), Green Energy Technology (Pondicherry), Development Studies (Kathmandu), Visual Arts (Lahore), and Water Management (Moratuwa). The foundation operates as a network of educational institutions providing scholarships to students from SAARC countries, with each institution functioning as a distinct center of excellence under the unified SAF framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence: A network of 12 institutions of excellence across SAARC countries established under the South Asia Foundation to promote regional cooperation through education and research.

Products and services

• UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for Afghanistan Cultural Heritage (UMCPACH) Fully-funded scholarship program in Preservation of Cultural Heritage, located in Kabul, Afghanistan. Part of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence serving students from all eight SAARC countries.
• UNESCO Madanjeet Singh South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (UMSAILS) Fully-funded scholarship program in Human Rights and Common Law, located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Part of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence serving students from all eight SAARC countries.
• UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asian Forestry Studies (UMCSAFS) Fully-funded scholarship program in Forestry Studies, located in Bumthang, Bhutan. Part of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence serving students from all eight SAARC countries.
• UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asian Journalism (UMCSAJ) Fully-funded postgraduate diploma program in South Asian Journalism, located at Asian College of Journalism in Chennai, India. Part of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence serving students from all eight SAARC countries.
• UNESCO Madanjeet Singh School of Green Energy Technology (UMSGET) Fully-funded scholarship program in Green Energy Technology, located at Pondicherry University, India. Part of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence serving students from all eight SAARC countries.
• UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre of Development Studies and Regional Cooperation (UMCDSRC) Fully-funded bachelor's degree program in Development Studies and Regional Cooperation, located at National College, Kathmandu University, Nepal. Part of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence serving students from all eight SAARC countries.
• UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Arts (UMISAA) Fully-funded scholarship program in Visual Arts, located at Beaconhouse National University in Lahore, Pakistan. Part of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence serving students from all eight SAARC countries; program managed since 2002.
• UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM) Fully-funded MSc programs in Water Resources Engineering and Management, located at University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Part of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence serving 12 students annually from across SAARC countries.
• Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships Fully-funded scholarships (covering travel, board, lodging, and tuition) awarded to students from all eight SAARC countries, with one student from each country per cohort, supporting study at UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ alumni participated in first-ever SAF Alumni Meet in December 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• National College, Kathmandu UniversitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 11 May 2012Hosts UMCDSRC (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre of Development Studies and Regional Cooperation). SAF contributes US $500,000 over five years for this center. The center offers bachelor's degree in Development Studies and Regional Cooperation with fully paid scholarships for students from all SAARC countries.
• University of Moratuwa, Sri LankacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 14 October 2010MoU established the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM) at the Department of Civil Engineering. The center offers MSc programs in Water Resources Engineering and Management and Water Resources Management, with 12 fully paid scholarships annually for SAARC students.
• Pondicherry UniversitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 20 June 2009Hosts MISARC (Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation) and receives annual SAF contribution of US $200,000 for scholarship activities and infrastructure. MISARC offers Master's programme in South Asian Studies and is developing M.Phil and PhD programmes.
• Beaconhouse National University, LahorecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 16 July 2007Hosts UMISAA (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Arts) at the School of Visual Arts. BNU, chartered by Government of Punjab in 2003, offers art scholarships for SAARC students. SAF contributed to restoration of heritage building for the Centre.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAF has been admitted into official relationship with UNESCO. On October 26, 2010, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova authorized the 12 SAF Institutions of Excellence to use the UNESCO logo. SAF aligns its activities with UNESCO programs, particularly those relating to poverty alleviation, cultural preservation, and education.
• SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAF has been recognized as an Apex Body of SAARC, the regional intergovernmental organization comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• Pondicherry University - Department of Green Energy TechnologycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHosts UMSGET (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh School of Green Energy Technology) established in 2010 as Centre for Green Energy Technology, designated as Centre of Excellence funded by MNRE, India and SAF India Chapter. In 2024, a UNESCO Chair on Renewable and Clean Energy for Sustainable Development was established.
• Asian College of Journalism, ChennaicoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHosts UMCSAJ (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre of South Asian Journalism). ACJ is a premier journalism education institution with 100% placement rate. SAF group scholarships bring students from all SAARC countries.
• ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAF organized visits for alumni from UMSGET, UMCSAWM, and UMCSAFS to ICIMOD's Living Mountain Lab during the 2024 Alumni Meet in Kathmandu.
• SOS-Kinderdorf InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAF partnered with SOS-Kinderdorf International for children's welfare programs. Joint initiatives include SOS-SAF camps for youth from all SAF countries and 750 Madanjeet Singh Scholarships for underprivileged children. SAF contributed funds for Children's Villages in Kashmir and Pakistan earthquake relief.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ford Foundation: Major U.S. private grantmaking foundation funding education, social justice, and economic development globally. Comparable as a large-scale grantmaking foundation but operates on grantmaking rather than direct scholarship delivery.
• Aga Khan Development Network: Broader parent organization spanning health, education, culture, and rural development across multiple developing regions. Comparable as a much larger, multi-pillar foundation operating in overlapping geographies with education as one of several mandates.

Direct peers

• Fulbright Program: U.S. government-funded international educational exchange providing scholarships for students and scholars to study abroad. Comparable as a flagship international scholarship program with cross-country cohort design and strong institutional branding tied to a multilateral mandate.
• Mastercard Foundation: Funds large-scale secondary and tertiary education scholarships across Africa with the "Scholars Program" and partners with universities. Directly comparable as a private foundation sponsoring fully-funded scholarships for students from developing regions with regional cohort models.
• Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: Funds postgraduate scholarships for students from Commonwealth developing countries to study in the UK. Directly comparable as a publicly-backed international scholarship program targeting students from developing regions, with similar fully-funded model and emphasis on leadership development.
• Aga Khan Foundation: Operates Aga Khan Scholarships and runs the Aga Khan University with a focus on education and regional development across South Asia, East Africa, and the Middle East. Highly comparable multi-country regional development foundation with education as a pillar mandate.
• Chevening Scholarships: UK government scholarship program for students from Chevening-eligible countries (including all SAARC nations) to pursue master's degrees in the UK. Comparable cohort-based fully-funded scholarship model with strong regional branding and alumni network across South Asia.

Emerging players

• SOS-Kinderdorf International: International NGO focused on children's welfare, including the joint SOS-SAF camps and 750 Madanjeet Singh Scholarships for underprivileged children. Directly comparable as an actual operational partner of SAF; relevant as an emerging/adjacent player in the same child welfare and education space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-asia-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about South Asia Foundation