The Mountain Fund
The Mountain Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that sponsors community-based humanitarian programs in Nepal and Peru, including healthcare (serving 44,000 people), women's empowerment (Her Farm, Project LifeTrek), anti-trafficking education, and volunteer medical treks, funded primarily through individual donations, volunteer fees, and multi-channel digital fundraising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersAlbuquerque, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Mountain Fund does
The Mountain Fund (legal entity: The Global Mountain Fund Inc.) is a U.S. IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by Scott MacLennan and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with operational programs primarily in Nepal and a secondary presence in Peru. The organization sponsors community-based initiatives addressing healthcare, education, economic opportunity, women's empowerment, and human rights in mountain communities. Its core programs include the Rasuwa healthcare network (serving 44,000 people through clinics and Kalika Community Hospital at under $1 per person per year), Her Farm (a women-owned farm providing housing and livelihoods), biannual Medical Treks to remote villages, Project LifeTrek (training women as rafting and trekking guides), Her Farm Films (media training for Nepali women), the Mount Everest Biogas Project, the Trek Med Kit, and the 2025-launched 'Safe, Not Sorry' anti-trafficking program.
The business model is donation-driven: revenue comes from individual donations (minimum $5) via the mountainfund.org website across named projects, Amazon Smile contributions, GlobalGiving vetted-status donations, Patreon support for Her Farm Films, volunteer trek fees ($1,500 per participant for biannual medical treks capped at 12 participants), and minor DVD product sales. The organization distributes fundraising and program content through a website, Facebook (50,000+ followers), YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, email newsletter, and earned media coverage (The Economist, CNN, Washington Post). It maintains a small US operational staff plus Nepal-based program staff and volunteers, with no disclosed venture or institutional funding.
The organization has been recognized with the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal (2010), the UIAA Mountain Protection Award (2019), and consecutive GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Nonprofit awards from 2013-2021. Governance is provided by an 11-person board and management team spanning the US (Washington, Alaska, California, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico), New Zealand, and Kathmandu. The organization is not publicly traded and operates without disclosed revenue, making it a small international development nonprofit by typical scale metrics.
The Mountain Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Mountain Fund
- Legal name
- The Global Mountain Fund Inc.
- Website
- https://mountainfund.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Mountain Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that sponsors community-based humanitarian programs in Nepal and Peru, including healthcare (serving 44,000 people), women's empowerment (Her Farm, Project LifeTrek), anti-trafficking education, and volunteer medical treks, funded primarily through individual donations, volunteer fees, and multi-channel digital fundraising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Mountain Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Humanitarian Aid
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
Keywords
Where The Mountain Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albuquerque
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Mountain Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue stream comes from individual donors contributing to various projects. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID# 20-2570273) and accepts donations through its website, Amazon Smile, and other platforms.
- Volunteer Program Fees: Revenue from volunteer placement fees for programs in Nepal. The Volunteer Trek Fee is $1,500 per person for medical treks, including ground transportation, accommodation, meals, guides, translator, and volunteer certificate.
- Product Sales: Sale of media products including the Kusisqa Waqashayku DVD ($35 for individuals, $75 for institutions) documenting the musical rituals of Q'eros, Peru.
- Amazon Smile Program: The organization receives charitable donations from Amazon shoppers who select The Mountain Fund as their Amazon Smile charity (EIN 20-2570273).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donations to charitable projects |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Medical Trek Nepal volunteer program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Kusisqa Waqashayku DVD |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Mountain Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Mountain Fund is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sponsors community-based humanitarian initiatives in mountain regions of Nepal and Peru, including rural healthcare delivery, women's empowerment, education support, anti-trafficking programs, volunteer medical treks, and a women-owned cooperative farm. Revenue is generated primarily through charitable donations, volunteer trek participation fees, and media product sales to support these programs.
Product overview
The Mountain Fund operates as a nonprofit charitable organization sponsoring community-based initiatives in Nepal and other mountain regions. Rather than a unified commercial product, the organization runs multiple humanitarian programs including: (1) Her Farm Films - a media training initiative producing bilingual content on trafficking prevention; (2) Women's Outdoor Education Nepal (Project LifeTrek) - outdoor skills training for women guides; (3) Trek Med Kit - affordable medical kits with multilingual instructions for mountain travelers; (4) Medical Trek Nepal - volunteer medical expeditions to remote villages; (5) Her Farm - a women-owned agricultural facility; (6) Nepal Youth Network - a social networking platform; and (7) Mount Everest Biogas Project - environmental waste conversion. The organization also operates the Safe, Not Sorry anti-trafficking program and provides earthquake-resistant earthbag housing construction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Her Farm Films: A social impact media initiative dedicated to raising awareness about safe migration, labor rights, and human trafficking prevention through bilingual films, infographics, PSAs, and educational kits.
- Project LifeTrek
- Safe, Not Sorry
Products and services
- Be Safe, Not Sorry (Anti-Trafficking Program) Human trafficking prevention program that uses video and social media advertising to educate women in Nepal about recognizing fake job offers and trafficking profiles on social media platforms.
- Her Farm Films Social impact media initiative that produces bilingual films, infographics, PSAs, and educational kits about safe migration, labor rights, and human trafficking prevention, and provides media training to Nepali women through a Kathmandu studio and online courses.
- Women's Outdoor Education Nepal (Project LifeTrek) Outdoor education program that trains women in Nepal to work as rafting and trekking guides, providing equipment and instruction to promote gender equality and economic independence.
- Mount Everest Biogas Project
- Medical Trek Nepal Biannual medical volunteer expedition program that brings doctors, medical students, and general volunteers to remote Nepal villages to conduct healthcare camps and provide medical services in partnership with TREKT Himalaya.
- Her Farm 100% woman-owned and operated farm in Nepal that provides housing, land, and farming opportunities for landless women and children, including survivors of abuse and families from marginalized castes.
- Nepal Youth Network Social networking platform launched by The Mountain Fund for Nepali youth, enabling positive discussions, idea sharing, talent showcasing, group participation, petitions, blogs, events, polls, and contests with Facebook/Twitter integration.
- Trek Med Kit
- Kusisqa Waqashayku DVD
- Rasuwa Healthcare Network (Kalika Community Hospital Sponsorship) Sponsored healthcare program in Nepal's Rasuwa, Dhading, and Nuwakot districts providing a network of clinics plus Kalika Community Hospital with x-ray, ultrasound, ECG, pharmacy, ambulance, eye care, laboratory, dental, and birthing services, reaching 44,000 people.
- Kathmandu Women's Safe House Project Safe housing and food program for women who are victims of abuse in Kathmandu, operated jointly with The Women's Foundation of Kathmandu which provides counseling, job training, and childcare.
Quantifiable outcome
- 44,000 people in the Rasuwa District have access to healthcare through the organization's network of clinics and hospital
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Mountain Fund
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Mountain Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Mountain Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Helping Hands Community HospitalcoreThe Mountain Fund partnered with Helping Hands Community Hospital in Kathmandu to fund and install a medical-grade oxygen plant, enabling the hospital to run at full capacity during the COVID-19 crisis.
- The Mount Everest FoundationcoreLed by Dan Mazur (a Hillary Medal recipient and mountain guide), The Mount Everest Foundation partnered with The Mountain Fund on the Everest Biogas Project to address human waste problems at Mount Everest Base Camp.
- Mike Marsolek (Seattle University)coreMike Marsolek, associate professor at Seattle University, is working jointly with Bed Mani Dahal of Kathmandu University and The Mountain Fund on the Everest Biogas Project to develop solutions for human waste at Mount Everest.
- Bed Mani Dahal (Kathmandu University)coreBed Mani Dahal of Kathmandu University is working jointly with Mike Marsolek of Seattle University and The Mountain Fund on the Everest Biogas Project.
- Engineers Without Borders (Garry Porter)coreGarry Porter from Engineers Without Borders partnered with Dan Mazur of The Mount Everest Foundation to conceptualize and develop the biogas reactor that converts human waste into methane gas and fertilizer.
- Stelly's Secondary School (Canada)minor34 volunteers from Stelly's Secondary School in Canada helped construct the first earthbag home for women at Her Farm in Nepal. The students also fundraised to enable the purchase of land for the farming project.
- Hiker AlertminorThe Mountain Fund partnered with www.hikeralert.com to support search efforts for Aubrey Sacco, who disappeared in Langtang National Park, Nepal. Hiker Alert is an outdoor safety service.
- Nepal Youth NetworkminorA social networking platform launched by The Mountain Fund for Nepalese youth to have positive discussions, share ideas, show talent, join groups, post content, start petitions, and connect with Facebook and Twitter. The platform is feature-rich with group functionality, video/photo posting, petitions, blogs, events, polls, and contests.
- Rocky Vista Medical College (Colorado)minorRocky Vista Medical College from Parker, Colorado conducted medical camps and provided health checkups to children at Orchid Garden Nepal and Koseli School, and held a two-day medical camp in Kumari Village in the Nuwakot District treating over 300 patients.
- TREKT HimalayacoreTREKT Himalaya and The Mountain Fund partnered to provide medical trek volunteer opportunities in Nepal. TREKT provides logistical support including guides, translators, ground transportation, accommodation, and meals for volunteers participating in medical treks to remote villages.
- Kalika Community HospitalcoreThe Mountain Fund sponsors one full-time doctor and a full-time nurse at Kalika Community Hospital in the Rasuwa District. The hospital has grown from a village clinic to a full district hospital with x-ray, laboratory, ECG, 15-bed in-patient capacity, pharmacy, ambulance, eye care, dental services, and birthing center.
- The Women's Foundation of KathmanducorePartnership for the Kathmandu Women's Safe House Project. The Mountain Fund provides housing and food while The Women's Foundation provides counseling, job training, and childcare for women who are victims of abuse.
- Orchid Garden Nepal (OGN)coreFounded by Bina Basnet, Orchid Garden Nepal is a daycare and school for children of single mothers in Kathmandu. The Mountain Fund and other foreign donors support OGN, which has grown from 15 children in a rented room to an impressive school with three classroom buildings, edible garden, and brick-paved playground. Approximately 80% of students are admitted free of charge.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Mountain Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Himalayan Trust: Founded by Sir Edmund Hillary, The Himalayan Trust works on community development, healthcare, and education in the mountain regions of Nepal — the same Nepal mountain-community focus as The Mountain Fund and a direct lineage connection through the Hillary Medal ecosystem.
- Maiti Nepal: Nepal-based NGO focused on rescuing and rehabilitating women victims of trafficking, abuse, and exploitation — directly comparable to The Mountain Fund's Safe, Not Sorry anti-trafficking initiative and Her Farm women's shelter work.
- dZi Foundation: US-based nonprofit working on community-driven development in rural Nepal, including healthcare access, education, and economic opportunity — directly comparable mission and geography to The Mountain Fund's work in Rasuwa and surrounding districts.
- One Heart World-Wide: Operates maternal and child health programs in rural Nepal, including training of local health workers — closely comparable to The Mountain Fund's healthcare delivery model in remote Nepali mountain districts and its medical-trek volunteer model.
- Nepal Youth Foundation: US-based nonprofit serving Nepali children and families through education, health, and anti-trafficking programs — comparable cause portfolio (especially the anti-trafficking and education pillars) and donor base to The Mountain Fund.
- Possible Health (formerly Nyaya Health): Runs a district-level healthcare network in rural Nepal delivering low-cost, high-quality care to underserved populations — directly comparable healthcare delivery and cost-efficiency thesis to The Mountain Fund's Kalika Community Hospital model.
- 3 Sisters Adventure Treks: Nepal-based women-led trekking company that empowers women through outdoor guide training and employment — directly comparable women's outdoor education and economic empowerment mission to The Mountain Fund's Project LifeTrek.
- Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC): Nepal-based organization managing waste and environmental protection in the Mount Everest / Khumbu region — directly comparable to The Mountain Fund's Mount Everest Biogas Project on environmental stewardship of high-altitude Nepal.
Broad incumbents
- Direct Relief: Large humanitarian aid organization delivering medical material assistance worldwide including Nepal — comparable humanitarian healthcare mission but operates at materially larger scale and broader scope than The Mountain Fund.
- Partners in Health: Large global health nonprofit delivering healthcare to the poorest in multiple countries including Nepal — comparable healthcare delivery mission but at vastly larger scale and broader geographic footprint than The Mountain Fund.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Mountain Fund social profiles
Digital presenceThe Mountain Fund compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance14 records
The Mountain Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Mountain Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The Mountain Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Mountain Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Mountain Fund
What does The Mountain Fund do?
The Mountain Fund is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sponsors community-based humanitarian initiatives in mountain regions of Nepal and Peru, including rural healthcare delivery, women's empowerment, education support, anti-trafficking programs, volunteer medical treks, and a women-owned cooperative farm. Revenue is generated primarily through charitable donations, volunteer trek participation fees, and media product sales to support these programs.
Is The Mountain Fund a public or private company?
The Mountain Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Mountain Fund founded?
The Mountain Fund was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Mountain Fund based?
The Mountain Fund is headquartered in Albuquerque, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Mountain Fund make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are volunteer Program Fees, product Sales and amazon Smile Program.
Who are The Mountain Fund's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Himalayan Trust, Maiti Nepal, dZi Foundation, One Heart World-Wide, Nepal Youth Foundation, Possible Health (formerly Nyaya Health), 3 Sisters Adventure Treks and Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC). Broad incumbents are Direct Relief and Partners in Health.
Does The Mountain Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Mountain Fund.
What industry is The Mountain Fund in?
The Mountain Fund's product category is International Humanitarian Aid. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAH, International Grantmaking & Development Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.