Kucetekela Foundation

What Kucetekela Foundation does

Kucetekela Foundation (KF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006, registered in New York with operational programs based in Lusaka, Zambia. Its core product is a comprehensive secondary-school scholarship program covering tuition, boarding, supplies, uniforms, fees, and extracurricular costs for academically promising but financially disadvantaged Zambian youth. The program is delivered through partner schools including Chalo Trust School and Pestalozzi Education Centre, with the foundation reporting a 98% graduation rate against a sub-10% Zambian national average. Beyond tuition funding, KF layers on mentoring, community service requirements, internships, counseling, university preparation, and Gap Year programming, with selective placements at international institutions such as EARTH University, African Leadership University (ALU), and UWC ISAK Japan.

The foundation's business model is donor-funded: a full sponsorship is priced at $5,700 per student per year, with partial sponsorships also available. Donations are routed such that 100% reaches scholarship recipients, with the board covering all administrative overhead. Supplementary revenue channels include the annual Bike for KF community fundraising event (~$22,000 raised in 2019), Amazon Smile, and ad-hoc giving. Leadership comprises Oliver Barry as President and Masuku S. Mukena as General Manager, with an active Alumni Association structured around entrepreneurship, academic mentorship, fundraising, and technology committees. As of 2018 disclosures, KF supported 39 secondary students, 7 Gap Year students, and 38 alumni; the organization does not appear to have undergone rapid scale-up since.

Name

Kucetekela Foundation

Legal name

Kucetekela Foundation

Website

https://kucetekelafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kucetekela Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that provides comprehensive secondary-school scholarships, mentoring, and university-preparation support to academically promising but financially disadvantaged youth in Zambia, funded primarily through individual sponsorships at $5,700 per student per year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit / Youth Scholarship Programs

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Education scholarships
• Youth development
• Student mentoring
• Community service
• Charitable foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Sponsorships: KF receives donations from individuals who sponsor students at various levels - full sponsorship ($5,700/year) or partial sponsorships at specific amounts ($50-$2,600) for different educational needs like examination fees, lessons, events, books, boarding, and tuition.
2. Annual Fundraising Events: KF holds annual fundraising events such as Bike for KF which raised nearly $22,000 in 2019. These events engage supporters and raise awareness while generating donations.
3. Amazon Smile Program: KF is listed on Amazon Smile, allowing shoppers to designate the organization as their preferred charity, generating small percentages of qualifying purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kucetekela Foundation provides comprehensive scholarships to academically promising but financially disadvantaged Zambian youth to attend private secondary schools, covering tuition, boarding, school supplies, uniforms, exam fees, and extracurricular programs. The foundation supplements this financial support with one-on-one mentoring, community service opportunities, internships, counseling, and university application support to maximize student success. It also maintains an active alumni association supporting graduates post-secondary school.

Product overview

Kucetekela Foundation operates as a unified scholarship and youth development program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering is the KF Scholarship Program, which provides comprehensive support to disadvantaged Zambian students. This central program is supported by the KF Mentors Program (one-on-one guidance), Community Service Program (leadership development), and Work Experience Program (career preparation). The organization also maintains a KF Alumni Association to support graduates post-secondary school. Financial support is offered through Full Sponsorship Packages covering all student costs, and Partial Sponsorship Options allowing donors to fund specific needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KF Scholarship Program Comprehensive scholarship program providing full funding for academically promising but financially disadvantaged Zambian students to attend private secondary schools, including tuition, boarding, school supplies, uniform, test fees, and extracurricular programs.
• KF Mentors Program One-on-one mentorship program pairing KF scholars with mentors who provide guidance across all areas of life, including academic support, personal development, and career exploration.
• Community Service Program Program enabling KF students to engage in community service activities, developing altruistic leadership and giving back to their communities through various outreach initiatives.
• Work Experience Program Gap year internship and work experience program connecting KF alumni with employment opportunities at partner organizations such as Bookworld Zambia, CIDRZ, and other businesses to develop professional skills.
• KF Alumni Association Structured alumni network supporting KF graduates from 2011-2019 with committees for entrepreneurship, academic mentorship, events coordination, fundraising, publicity, and tech projects including an alumni website and e-learning platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% graduation rate for KF scholars compared to less than 10% national secondary school graduation rate in Zambia
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Chalo Trust SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school where KF sponsors students. KF provides comprehensive scholarships covering tuition, boarding, and all associated costs for academically promising students who otherwise could not afford education.
• Pestalozzi Education CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner boarding school where KF scholars receive secondary education. KF covers full tuition, supplies, uniform, fees, and extracurricular activities.
• Our Moon EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for academic tuitions and peer tutoring. Our Moon scholars from Hillcrest and David Kaunda Technical Secondary School tutor KF students during holidays, improving academic performance and exam readiness using Khan Academy and past papers.
• Bookworld ZambiasupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides work experience and internship placements for KF Gap Year students and recent graduates. Students gain retail, customer service, and business experience at one of Zambia's prestigious bookstores.
• Beit Cure HospitalsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides community service opportunities for KF students. Students like Harriet Mwanza completed two-week placements assisting with administrative work and interacting with patients in children's ward.
• Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides work experience placements for KF students in healthcare settings. Students assist nurses, laboratory personnel, and psychosocial counselors while gaining exposure to health sector careers.
• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon's charitable giving program allows shoppers to designate Kucetekela Foundation as their preferred charity, generating small donations from qualifying purchases.
• Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer program provider that accepts KF students. Harriet Mwanza attended the 2018 YYGS Biology seminar at Yale University in the US.
• WiSci Girls STEAM CampsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGirls Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics camp in Malawi under Girlup campaign. KF student Harriet Mwanza attended and later launched a $500 Girls Must Be STEAM project at her school.
• African Leadership University (ALU)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner that provides full scholarships to KF alumni. Harriet Mwanza received Dolika Banda STEM scholarship to study Computer Science at ALU Rwanda.
• EARTH UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university that has accepted multiple KF alumni including Joseph Chonza (Class of 2013) and Armand Yambisa (Class of 2015) on full scholarships.
• UWC ISAK JapansupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited World College where KF alumni Cararise Lubamba attended for her International Baccalaureate Diploma.
• Lechwe Trust Art GalleryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArt gallery in Lusaka that provides cultural education opportunities. KF gap year students visited to learn about Luvale and Lozi cultural traditions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CAMFED: CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education) provides secondary and tertiary scholarships and mentoring support to disadvantaged girls across multiple sub-Saharan African countries, including Zambia. Directly comparable in mission, beneficiary cohort, and holistic support model.
• BuildOn: BuildOn operates education access programs for underserved youth in multiple African countries, combining schooling with community service. Comparable to KF's holistic model pairing education with community engagement in Africa.
• African Leadership Academy: African Leadership Academy identifies high-potential African secondary-school-age students and provides them with scholarship-funded leadership education in South Africa. Directly comparable in targeting promising African youth with scholarship-funded secondary education.
• African Leadership University (ALU): ALU is a university partner that accepts KF alumni on full scholarships (e.g., Harriet Mwanza in Computer Science) and operates its own scholarship model for African students pursuing higher education. Comparable as an African-focused scholarship pathway provider with deep links to KF's downstream placement funnel.

Others

• EARTH University: EARTH University is a Costa Rica-based agricultural university that has accepted multiple KF alumni on full scholarships (Joseph Chonza, Armand Yambisa). Comparable as a downstream university partner and funnel into KF alumni outcomes.
• United World Colleges (UWC): UWC operates a global network of IB schools that accept students on full scholarships, including KF alumna Cararise Lubamba at UWC ISAK Japan. Comparable as a downstream scholarship placement partner for KF alumni.

Emerging players

• African Library Project: African Library Project establishes school libraries and book donations across multiple African countries. Partial overlap with KF's mission of expanding educational access for African youth, but focused on literacy infrastructure rather than direct scholarships.

Broad incumbents

• Room to Read: Room to Read runs large-scale literacy and girls' education programs across Africa and Asia. Comparable in mission to expand educational access for disadvantaged youth, but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth than KF.
• Varkey Foundation: Varkey Foundation is a global education-focused foundation investing in teacher training, leadership, and access programs across Africa and emerging markets. Comparable as a larger, broadly focused education philanthropy operating in Africa.

Regional players

• Questbridge: Questbridge connects high-achieving, low-income US students with full scholarships at top US universities. Directly comparable in scholarship-driven access model for academically promising but financially disadvantaged youth, but operates exclusively in the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/KucetekelaF
• Facebookfacebook.com/kucetekelafoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/kucetekela_foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kucetekela-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kucetekela Foundation