What Bakul Foundation does

Bakul Foundation is a volunteer-driven nonprofit society registered in Odisha, India, founded in 2006 by Sujit Mahapatra, Satyajit Puhan, and Ayusman Sarangi. The organization operates a free library movement, environmental campaigns, children's book publishing, and public art initiatives across Odisha and increasingly nationally. It runs five public libraries (Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Paralekhamundi, Godibari, Biswanathpur), 15 Model School Libraries in government schools across Bhubaneswar, Ganjam, and Malkangiri, a Flybrary at Bhubaneswar Airport, a mobile library on Janpath, and the BLISS school-based reading intervention in 8–10 schools. Sub-brands include Bakul Books (children's publishing and the Udayanath Award for illustration), My Tree Campaign, Earth Reels (environmental film festival), THE CLIMATE NETWORK podcast, and the Young Climate Leaders Project (YCLAP) with UNICEF.

The technology layer is minimal: a standard website (bakul.org), a publishing platform (books.bakul.org), and social media channels for campaign reach. There is no proprietary software platform, app, or AI system. The organization relies on Google Forms for volunteer sign-ups and offline event management for program execution. The content backbone is a curated, 30,000+ book collection assembled almost entirely through donations, including a 200,000-book donation from Pearson Education in 2009.

Bakul's business model is a hybrid of small individual donations, project-based grants from institutional partners (UNICEF, UNDP/UNV, ONE DROP, Pearson Education), in-kind government support (saplings, technical staff for festivals), and a small gift-plant commercial line sold at events. All core library and program services are free. The organization explicitly operates without institutional funding under a "Volunteer Capitalism" model where 500+ active volunteers and 2,000+ historically engaged individuals drive operations, supported by a Governing Body and a Board of Advisors that includes Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri awardees.

Name

Bakul Foundation

Legal name

Bakul Foundation

Website

https://bakul.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bakul Foundation is a volunteer-driven nonprofit society based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, operating free public libraries, environmental campaigns, children's book publishing, and public art programs for underserved children and communities across Odisha, India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Library and Nonprofit Education Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Community library services
• Volunteer mobilization programs
• Children's book publishing
• Environmental tree planting campaigns
• Nonprofit education initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Bhubaneswar

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Bakul Foundation operates as a registered society/NGO entirely through volunteerism without institutional funding. The organization collects book donations and small contributions from individuals. It receives support from government departments (technical support and saplings) and partnerships with international organizations like UNICEF and UNDP/UNV for specific projects.
2. Gift Plant Sales: Bakul sells attractive packaged gift plants in Bhubaneswar as a revenue-generating activity. These are sold in 2 kinds of attractive packaging (basket or fabric package) to individuals and organizations such as NHRD, SBI, and Odisha Diary at events and award functions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bakul Foundation is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that runs a free public library movement (children's libraries stocked entirely with donated books), publishes children's picture books in Odia through Bakul Books, and runs environmental campaigns (My Tree Campaign, Gift Plants), public art initiatives, and school reading intervention programs (BLISS). It also operates the Flybrary at Bhubaneswar Airport, the Young Climate Leaders Project (YCLAP), and The Climate Network podcast, all delivered through volunteerism without institutional funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bakul Books: The publishing arm of Bakul Foundation that creates picture books for children in Odia and bilingual formats, including the Udayanath Award for Children's Book Illustration.
• Flybrary
• BLISS
• My Tree Campaign
• Earth Reels
• THE CLIMATE NETWORK

Products and services

• Bakul Children's Libraries Free public libraries stocked entirely with donated books, located in Bhubaneswar (main at Satyanagar), Cuttack, Paralekhamundi, and village libraries in Godibari and Biswanathpur. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 2PM to 9PM. All services are provided free of charge to children, families, and community members.
• Flybrary at Bhubaneswar Airport A free public reading library initiative at Bhubaneswar Airport, operated in partnership with the Airports Authority of India, where travelers can pick up, read, and return books. Books are donated by readers to Bakul Foundation. Racks were gifted by Debasis Patnaik of Vibe Furniture.
• BLISS (Bakul Learning Initiative for School Students) A volunteer-led school reading and learning intervention program in 8-10 schools in Bhubaneswar, designed to promote reading skills and develop creativity in children through fun activities.
• My Tree Campaign An environmental initiative promoting the gifting of plants and a cultural relationship with trees, with a mascot 'Dedi Loku' (Tree Man). Includes the 'Tree for Free' initiative at BPCL petrol pumps to make trees conveniently available to the public.
• Gift Plants Attractively packaged gift plants sold in Bhubaneswar as a revenue-generating activity, available in basket or fabric packaging, sold to individuals and organizations for events and award functions.
• Bakul Books (Children's Book Publishing) The publishing arm of Bakul Foundation that creates picture books for pre-school children in Odia and bilingual formats, addressing a significant gap in early-learner educational resources.
• Earth Reels (Travelling Film Festival) A travelling film festival on the environment that reaches apartments, schools, colleges, and corporates to raise environmental awareness.
• Udayanath Award for Children's Book Illustration The only Award for Children's Book Illustration in India, organized by Bakul Foundation to recognize illustrators in the children's book space.
• Young Climate Leaders Project (YCLAP) A 9-month leadership development program for 10 selected young leaders who work on climate action projects, with seed grant funding available, jointly run with UNICEF and Youth 4 Water Plus.
• The Climate Network Podcast A podcast series created in collaboration with STUDIO IO to inspire people to climate action by highlighting the work of heroes of the global climate change movement; available on Spotify.
• Mobile Library (Janpath / Raahgiri and village camps) A mobile library operating on Janpath every Sunday morning in Bhubaneswar as part of Raahgiri, and 6-day camps conducted in 24 villages of Ganjam district to extend book access beyond fixed library locations.
• Model School Libraries Model School Libraries established in 15 government schools across Bhubaneswar, Ganjam, and Malkangiri districts, built as a partnership with the School and Mass Education Department, Govt of Odisha.
• Public Art (Wall of Peace, Wall of Water) Public art and murals painted on public walls, including the 500 ft long Wall of Peace and the Wall of Water, to contribute to the vibrant aesthetics of the city and raise awareness on social issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ books distributed across 5 library locations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• District Administration, PuriminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Bakul sensitized people and stakeholders in Puri on Water/Sanitation issues and Child Protection in context of Nabakalebara celebrations in 2015.
• Humara Bachpan CampaignminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2014Bakul partnered with Humara Bachpan Campaign in organizing International Day of Service in 2014.
• SC and ST Development Department, Govt of OdishacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Bakul provides technical support in conducting workshops at State Level Children's Festival (Sargiful) organized by the Department since inception in 2010.
• UNDP/UNVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Bakul has partnered with UNDP/UNV since 2009 in celebrating International Volunteers Day in Bhubaneswar. Jointly organizes annual IVD celebrations with CYSD and RCDC.
• VSOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008VSO and Bakul jointly organized Volunteer Fair 2008 in Bhubaneswar. Post-fair, Bakul engaged over 30 volunteers actively from 200+ sign-ups.
• UDAI (University of Waterloo, Canada)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2006Indian student group UDAI at University of Waterloo got excited by Bakul's campaign and mobilized 3,000 books for the library movement.
• Airports Authority of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Flybrary at Bhubaneswar Airport. Airports Authority provides space for two shelves (Departure and Arrivals) where travelers can pick up, read, return or take books. Books are donated by readers to Bakul Foundation.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF partners with Bakul in organizing workshops at Sargiful and Sishu Mahotsav, Teacher's Training on Reading Promotion, Social Mobilization for Nabakalebara. Currently partnering in WASH in Schools project in Angul District. Joint initiative on Young Climate Leaders Project (YCLAP).
• Youth 4 Water PluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with UNICEF and Youth 4 Water Plus for the Young Climate Leaders Project (YCLAP). 3rd edition selecting 10 young leaders for 9-month leadership journey on climate action with seed grants.
• School and Mass Education Department, Govt of OdishacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBakul develops Model School Libraries in Government schools as part of partnership. Also conducts workshops at SURAVI children's festival organized by the Department.
• Forest and Environment Department, Govt of OdishaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBakul runs My Tree Campaign with support of saplings from the Department. Provides environmental outreach and tree planting resources.
• BMC (Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBakul partnered with BMC in Raahgiri (car-free day initiative) as well as tree plantation and awareness campaigns on Water.
• ONE DROPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBakul partnered with ONE DROP and Gram Vikas in mobilizing villagers to address Water and Sanitation issues in Ganjam. Bakul designed innovative intervention using Arts for education on WASH.
• Gram VikasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ONE DROP and Bakul in mobilizing villagers on Water and Sanitation issues in Ganjam district.
• CYSD and RCDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with UNV, UNDP, CYSD and RCDC in organizing International Volunteer Day celebrations in Bhubaneswar every year on 5 December.
• BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBPCL hosts Tree for Free initiative at their petrol pumps, making trees conveniently available to the public for Bakul's My Tree Campaign.
• STUDIO IOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBakul started podcast series THE CLIMATE NETWORK in collaboration with STUDIO IO, inspiring people to climate action through stories of climate movement heroes.
• Vibe Furniture (Debasis Patnaik)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebasis Patnaik of Vibe Furniture gifted the racks for the Flybrary at Bhubaneswar Airport, representing citizen initiative.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute): India's leading environmental research and advocacy organization; comparable to Bakul's My Tree Campaign and climate work but at significantly larger scale and policy-research orientation.
• Smile Foundation: Multi-program Indian NGO operating across education, health, and livelihood; comparable in operating multiple programs via partner networks and donor-driven model.
• Habitat for Humanity India: Volunteer-driven international NGO with India operations; comparable in mobilizing volunteer labor at scale for social outcomes, though focused on housing rather than education/environment.

Direct peers

• Pratham: One of India's largest NGOs focused on children's literacy and education; similarly volunteer-driven with government school partnerships, directly comparable to Bakul's BLISS and library movement work.
• Akshara Foundation: India-based NGO working on children's literacy and library programs; shares Bakul's library-and-reading-promotion mission and government school engagement model.
• Room to Read: Global NGO focused on literacy and gender equality in education, with a strong library and children's book publishing program; directly comparable to Bakul's library movement and Bakul Books publishing arm.
• Katha: India-based NGO focused on children's literature, reading promotion, and publishing multilingual books; closely comparable to Bakul Books and Odia-language children's content work.
• VSO India: International volunteer-sending organization with India partnerships and joint volunteer events with Bakul (Volunteer Fair 2008); comparable in volunteer mobilization and UN partnerships.

Emerging players

• StoryWeaver (Pratham Books): Open-source digital platform for multilingual children's stories, including Indian regional languages; directly comparable to Bakul's books.bakul.org publishing initiative and regional-language content strategy.

Others

• GiveIndia: India's largest donation platform connecting donors to NGOs; an enabling ecosystem participant that could either channel donations to Bakul or compete for the same donor attention through better tech-enabled giving experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BakulFoundation
• GitHubgithub.com/bakulfoundation/books.bakul.org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BakulFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/BakulFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/bakul_foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bakul

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bakul Foundation