What Charles Correa Foundation does

The Charles Correa Foundation (CCF) is a Section 80G-registered not-for-profit public charitable trust established in 2011 in Panaji, Goa, dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of the late Indian architect and urbanist Charles Correa (1930–2015). Operated from a small studio in the historic Fontainhas precinct, CCF functions simultaneously as an archive, research centre, advocacy platform, and think tank focused on architecture, urbanism, and human settlements in India. Its core offerings include the biennial Z-axis international conference (since 2015), the annual Nagari short-film competition and festival on urban themes, the DWELL workshop on housing and density, the Charles Correa Archives (drawings, models, photographs, correspondences, writings, and audio-visual material spanning six decades), the Charles Correa Gold Medal for the best undergraduate architectural thesis in India, a fellowship programme (40+ alumni), a Student Ambassador programme (launched 2025), and a Charles Correa Chair academic initiative.

CCF's target audiences are architecture and design professionals, architecture students across Indian colleges, documentary filmmakers engaging with urban issues, and the general public interested in India's built environment. Its revenue model is entirely donation-based: individual patrons join the 'Friends of CCF' programme at a ₹50,000/year minimum in exchange for priority access to forums, publications, and recognition, while institutional and corporate CSR donors — including JSW Foundation, J R D Tata Trust, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, TATA Steel, HDFC Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Aga Khan Foundation, Vasantrao Dempo Foundation, Nandan Nilekani Philanthropies, Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation, Sundaram Finance, Titan Company, Fundação Oriente, Bombay City Policy Research Foundation, and ATE Chandra Foundation — fund specific programmes under India's CSR regime. CCF also generates modest earned revenue from publications, merchandise, and Correa Archives subscriptions. The Foundation is governed by a Board chaired by Shrinivas Vasudev Dempo (Dempo Group) with Nondita Correa Mehrotra as Director and operates with a small core team of approximately seven staff supplemented by rotating fellows.

Name

Charles Correa Foundation

Legal name

Charles Correa Foundation

Website

https://charlescorreafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Charles Correa Foundation is a 2011-established not-for-profit public charitable trust in Panaji, Goa, that preserves the legacy of architect Charles Correa through biennial conferences (Z-axis), an annual urban-film competition (Nagari), housing workshops, and a unique six-decade architectural archive serving Indian architects, students, and filmmakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Foundation Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

Keywords

• Architectural education programs
• Urban research advocacy
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Architecture conferences
• Architectural archives

Headquarters

HQ city

Panaji

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and CSR Contributions: The Foundation operates as a not-for-profit and relies entirely on donations. Individual patrons contribute through the 'Friends of CCF' program with minimum donations of ₹50,000. Corporate entities can make CSR donations to fund specific projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Charles Correa Foundation preserves and advances the architectural legacy of Charles Correa through a digitized professional archive spanning six decades, and operates a portfolio of educational and public engagement programs including the Z-axis biennial conference, the Nagari annual documentary film competition, the DWELL annual workshop on housing, the Charles Correa Gold Medal for undergraduate architecture thesis, a Fellowship Program, a Lecture Series, and publications. The Foundation functions simultaneously as an archive, research center, advocacy platform, and think tank focused on architecture, urbanism, and human settlements in India.

Product overview

The Charles Correa Foundation (CCF) is a not-for-profit public charitable trust established in 2011 in Panaji, Goa, dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of architect Charles Correa (1930-2015). CCF operates as a multi-faceted institution combining archive, research centre, advocacy platform, and think tank focused on education and research in human settlements. The Foundation's core offerings include: the Z-axis biennial conference series; the Nagari annual film competition and festival; the DWELL annual workshop on housing; a comprehensive Charles Correa Archives; the Charles Correa Gold Medal award for architectural thesis; Lecture Series; publications and merchandise; and education programs including fellowship, student ambassador, and chair initiatives. These programs collectively serve to foster dialogue on architecture and urbanism, positioning CCF as a vital voice in reimagining India's urban future.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Z-axis: Biennial conference organized by CCF discussing architecture and urbanism topics
• Nagari
• DWELL
• Charles Correa Gold Medal
• Charles Correa Archives

Products and services

• Z-axis Biennial Conference A biennial international conference organized by CCF that brings together architects, urban planners, and scholars to discuss critical issues in architecture and urbanism. The conference explores themes related to Charles Correa's work and legacy, with sessions featuring presentations and panel discussions. Target audience: architects, urban designers, planners, scholars, and students.
• Nagari Film Competition and Festival An annual short film competition and festival that explores urban issues in Indian cities through documentary filmmaking. Nagari serves as a 'bioscope for the city' with a guided competition format including mentors, resource experts, and jury panels. Provides ₹50,000 grants to selected filmmaking teams. Target audience: filmmakers and documentary teams across India.
• DWELL Workshop An annual intensive workshop aimed at stimulating architects, designers, and students to think about living and housing in contemporary urban landscapes. Features mentorship programs and design charrettes focused on addressing urban density and housing challenges in India and the Global South. Target audience: architects, designers, and architecture students.
• Charles Correa Archives CCF serves as the custodian of Charles Correa's professional archive encompassing over six decades of work. The collection includes architectural drawings, models, photographs, correspondences, writings, and audio-visual material. Much of this material has been digitized for accessibility to researchers and the public. Target audience: researchers, scholars, architects, and the wider public.
• Charles Correa Gold Medal An annual award presented to the most outstanding undergraduate Architectural Thesis from colleges across India. The Gold Medal celebrates emerging talent in architectural education and is presented at an award ceremony. Target audience: undergraduate architecture students from colleges across India.
• Lecture Series An ongoing series of talks and presentations on various topics related to art, architecture, construction techniques, and travel. Many lectures are aligned with contemporary research conducted at the Foundation, held at the CCF studio in Fontainhas, Panaji. Target audience: architects, students, researchers, and the public.
• CCF Fellowship Program A program providing young architects opportunities to engage deeply with Charles Correa's ideas while developing independent perspectives on design and urban practice. Fellows work alongside CCF team members on various initiatives. Target audience: young architects seeking engagement with Correa's legacy and urban practice.
• Charles Correa Student Ambassador Program A student engagement initiative that connects young architecture students with CCF's mission and programs, fostering the next generation of professionals in architecture and urbanism. Target audience: architecture students across India.
• Charles Correa Chair An academic initiative that establishes a named professorship related to Charles Correa's legacy, supporting research and education in architecture and human settlements. Target audience: academic institutions and researchers in architecture.
• Publications and Merchandise Books, monographs, and merchandise related to Charles Correa's work and CCF's programs. Includes publications such as 'A Place in the Shade' by Charles Correa, exploring architectural and urban issues in India. Target audience: architects, researchers, students, and the general public interested in architecture.
• Urban Research and Advocacy Projects CCF acts as a catalyst for architectural, urban design, planning, and community-based discourses aimed at improving human settlements in India. Includes initiatives on waste management, mobility, heritage conservation, and urban documentation. Target audience: urban policy stakeholders, municipal bodies, architects, and the public.
• Heritage and Conservation Advocacy CCF's advocacy and documentation work related to heritage buildings and urban conservation in India, including efforts to save significant structures such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium and Kala Academy. Target audience: heritage conservation stakeholders, policy makers, and the public.
• Charles Correa Gold Medal Storehouse A digital repository showcasing past winners of the Charles Correa Gold Medal award, providing access to outstanding undergraduate architectural thesis work from across India. Target audience: architecture students, researchers, and educators.
• Nagari ReRuns A public retrospective screening series presenting past Nagari competition films, providing continued engagement with urban themes explored in previous editions of the competition. Target audience: filmmakers, students, researchers, and the public.
• CCF Newsletter A regular newsletter keeping subscribers informed about CCF's activities, events, publications, and updates on architecture and urbanism in India. Target audience: Friends of CCF, architects, students, and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 fellowships awarded to young architects since 2011
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCPA in Mumbai served as the venue partner for Z-axis 2024 conference. This is a key venue for performing arts and culture in India.
• Kala AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKala Academy in Panaji, Goa has been the venue for multiple Z-axis conferences (2015, 2016, 2018) and other Foundation events.
• IFBE (Indian Institute of Architects)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFBE Ballard Estate in Mumbai served as venue partner for Charles Correa Gold Medal 2025 Award Ceremony.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aga Khan Trust for Culture: Operating in India and globally, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture runs heritage conservation, architecture awards (Aga Khan Award for Architecture), and cultural programs — directly comparable to CCF's archive, advocacy, and discourse mission. Aga Khan Foundation is already a CCF supporter, underscoring functional overlap.
• India Foundation for the Arts: Bengaluru-based arts and culture grantmaker supporting individual practitioners and projects across India — directly comparable to CCF's Nagari film grants and fellowship funding model in the Indian cultural philanthropy space.
• Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH): INTACH is India's premier heritage conservation non-profit, focused on architectural heritage, conservation advocacy, and public discourse — directly comparable to CCF's heritage, conservation, and 'Save Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium / Kala Academy' advocacy work.
• Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI): Mumbai-based non-profit conducting research, publication, and public discourse on urban design, housing, and the built environment — overlapping with CCF's research and Z-axis/DWELL programming on Indian cities and housing density.

Broad incumbents

• Ford Foundation: Global philanthropic foundation with a substantial urban development, housing, and inequality portfolio including India. Operates in CCF's adjacent space of urban-equity grantmaking at materially greater scale.
• Getty Foundation: Large global philanthropic foundation supporting visual arts, heritage conservation, and architectural scholarship. A broader incumbent in the arts/heritage philanthropy space with significantly larger grantmaking capacity than CCF.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Foundation: Built-environment focused philanthropic arm funding research and education in surveying, real estate, and cities. Adjacent peer for CCF's architecture/urbanism research and education mission at a global, broader scale.

Regional players

• CEPT University: Premier Indian institution for architecture, urbanism, and planning education and research. Operates in the same domain (architecture research/education in India) as CCF's fellowship, chair, and Gold Medal programs, though as an academic institution rather than a foundation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CCFGoa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChe62vNU6qpCTKQ-1hsLWFA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ccfgoa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charles-correa-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Charles Correa Foundation