Diksha Foundation

What Diksha Foundation does

Diksha Foundation is a Patna, Bihar-based non-profit founded in 2010 that designs and delivers holistic education and youth-development programs for marginalized communities. Its flagship asset is the KHEL (Knowledge Hub for Education and Learning) model, operated through a growing network of physical centers in Patna, Bihta, Sarairanjan, and Nalanda, with a reported headcount of approximately 45 staff and direct reach to roughly 10,000 beneficiaries. The organization has progressively diversified beyond formal education into adjacent verticals, including inclusive education for children with disabilities (Project ALIVE), civic engagement (Jagrik Project), financial inclusion and micro-savings (Poonji Project), self-learning (Access Program), and sustainable urbanization with UNFPA.

The core delivery stack is pedagogical rather than technological: KHEL centers combine structured curriculum, experiential learning tools (Raspberry Pi-based hardware, Google Classroom, KHAN Academy content) with high-touch human mentorship and community engagement. The model does not rest on proprietary AI or software IP; differentiation comes from program design, field presence in underserved districts of Bihar, and a coalition-building approach that includes the Bihar Youth Collective and partnerships with the University of Cambridge, Commutiny, Patna Municipal Corporation, and other civic actors.

Diksha is funded through a mix of individual donations, institutional and government grants, and foreign contributions under FCRA. Governance and compliance have been formalized through Gold Accreditation from CPA Services (2019) and advisory engagement with domain authorities including Prof. Anil Gupta (IIM Ahmedabad). The business model is that of an impact non-profit: there are no priced customers or commercial SKUs, and "revenue" is functionally restricted/unrestricted grant inflow tied to program outcomes and donor cycles.

Name

Diksha Foundation

Legal name

Diksha Foundation

Website

https://dikshafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Diksha Foundation is a Patna-based non-profit operating KHEL education hubs across Bihar to deliver holistic learning, inclusive education, livelihoods, and civic engagement programs to marginalized children, youth, and women.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Youth Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD), Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Holistic education programs
• Supplementary education services
• Civic education initiatives
• Women's livelihood programs
• Inclusive education projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Patna

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Diksha Foundation generates revenue through donations from individuals and organizations. Indian residents can transfer funds to Axis Bank account, and foreign contributions are accepted via SBI FCRA account. Online donations are processed through PayU, Give.do, Milaap, and every.org platforms.
2. Government and Institutional Grants: The organization receives funding from government bodies and international organizations, including the US State Department for the English Access Microscholarship Program and UNFPA for urban development projects.
3. FCRA Registered Foreign Donations: As a registered non-profit under FCRA Act, Government of India, Diksha is authorized to receive foreign donations for supporting educational activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Diksha Foundation delivers free holistic education and community development programs to children, youth, and women from socially and economically marginalized communities in Bihar, India. Its flagship KHEL (Knowledge Hub for Education and Learning) program provides after-school supplementary education with low teacher-student ratios, complemented by life skills, civic education, English-language access, scholarship, microfinance, and inclusive education programs offered through direct centers, school partnerships, and community outreach.

Product overview

Diksha Foundation offers a portfolio of education and community development programs. The core offering is the KHEL (Knowledge Hub for Education and Learning) program, a flagship after-school supplementary education initiative providing holistic education to underprivileged children. The English Access Microscholarship Program, funded by the US State Department, provides English and personality development classes to disadvantaged youth. Supporting programs include the Poonji Project for microfinance and women's SHGs, The Tilak Raj Gauri Memorial Scholarship for higher education support, and civic education initiatives like The Jagrik Project. Additional programs address inclusive education (Project ALIVE), urban development (Sustainable and Inclusive Urbanization in Patna), adolescent empowerment (Empowering Futures), and youth ecosystem building (The Bihar Youth Collective). The organization also runs multiple KHEL learning centers across Bihar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KHEL (Knowledge Hub for Education and Learning): Diksha's flagship after-school supplementary education program providing holistic education to children and youth from socially and economically disadvantaged communities. Over 10,000 children and youth have benefited from this program across multiple learning centers.
• Tilak Raj Gauri Memorial Scholarship
• Poonji Project
• Project ALIVE

Products and services

• KHEL (Knowledge Hub for Education and Learning) Diksha's flagship after-school supplementary education program offering holistic education to children and youth from socially and economically disadvantaged communities. Features alternative education approaches, experiential learning methods, and a child-friendly environment with low teacher-student ratios.
• English Access Microscholarship Program (Access Program) A two-year global flagship project funded by the US State Department providing after-school English and personality development classes to socio-economically disadvantaged youth aged 13-22 years, focusing on 21st century skills and global citizenship.
• Empowering Futures A capabilities-based adolescent girls project focused on empowering young women from underserved communities through education and skill development.
• Project ALIVE (2019-2020) An inclusive education project that created inclusive schools where each child is treated with dignity and respect, adopting the Index for Inclusion toolkit developed by Prof Tony Booth and Prof Mel Ainscow.
• Knowledge Hub for Education & Learning - Sarairanjan KHEL center in Sarairanjan, Samastipur district providing supplementary education to children and youth, with a focus on subjects including Hindi, Mathematics, English, Science, and STEAM education.
• Poonji Project A microfinance and livelihood program providing grants to financially marginalized women, creating self-help groups (SHGs) with 100 members to support entrepreneurship activities including vegetable selling, tailoring, and beautician work.
• The Tilak Raj Gauri Memorial Scholarship A flagship scholarship initiative supporting higher education dreams of young individuals from underserved communities, providing financial assistance, mentorship, career guidance, and emotional support.
• The Bharat Education Scholarship An education scholarship program supporting students from marginalized backgrounds to access educational opportunities.
• My Life, Mere Faisley (MLMF) A life skills program focused on preventing early childhood marriage, creating spaces for adolescents and young people to learn about themselves, their aspirations, and build life skills.
• The Jagrik Project A civic education program creating awareness among young people about rights and duties in the Indian constitution and UN Sustainable Development Goals, implemented in collaboration with Commutiny - The Youth Collective.
• Sustainable and Inclusive Urbanization in Patna A project in collaboration with UNFPA and Patna Municipal Corporation focusing on empowering sanitation workers and slum dwellers through health, safety, leadership training, and enterprise promotion.
• The Bihar Youth Collective A collective of like-minded organizations strengthening youth-centric ecosystem in Bihar, co-creating and co-leading initiatives to strengthen adolescent participation across the state.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 children and youth benefited from free supplementary education across learning centers
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Implementing partner for Sustainable and Inclusive Urbanization in Patna project, collaborating on citizen engagement for gender and right-based slum development.
• University of Cambridge (Prof. Tony Booth)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Developer of Index for Inclusion toolkit used in Project ALIVE for creating inclusive schools and educational practices.
• University of Manchester (Prof. Mel Ainscow)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-developer of Index for Inclusion toolkit used for inclusive education implementation.
• Commutiny - The Youth CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Implementing partner for The Jagrik Project (Samvidhan LIVE!) and Bihar Youth Collective. Co-creates and co-leads youth-centric ecosystem initiatives in Bihar with 12 member organizations.
• Honey Bee NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Diksha has been a member since 2011, implementing Ignite creativity contests and innovation programs for children.
• Regional English Language Office (RELO), US Embassy New DelhicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly manages the Access Program with US Consulates in 20 locations across India.
• Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for slum development project, sanitation worker training, and urban health initiatives including vaccination camps and health screenings.
• National Urban Health Mission (NUHM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner for health camps on sexual and reproductive health covering slums in Patna.
• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (Prof. Anil Gupta)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of Honey Bee Network serves as mentor to Diksha Foundation for innovation and creativity programs.
• MIT (Peter Senge)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools as Learning Organizations framework developed by Peter Senge is being evaluated for school improvement program design.
• Cambridge University (John Macbeath)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership for Learning framework developed by John Macbeath is being evaluated for potential use in school improvement programs.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF's Adolescent Participation Framework and Child Rights framework incorporated into Jagrik toolkit and civic education programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Barefoot College: India-based NGO headquartered in Rajasthan delivering community-led education and skills training to marginalized rural populations. Comparable in grassroots, community-ownership model and focus on women/youth empowerment.
• Akanksha Foundation: India-based education non-profit running after-school learning centers and schools for underprivileged children. Comparable in operating learning-center hubs for low-income communities, with a similar holistic-development philosophy.
• Door Step School: India-based NGO providing supplementary education to underprivileged children in urban slum communities. Comparable in center-based supplementary K-12 delivery model for low-income populations.
• Pratham Education Foundation: One of India's largest education NGOs operating supplementary education and remedial learning programs for underprivileged children across multiple states including Bihar. Directly comparable in mission (closing learning gaps for marginalized children) and delivery model (low-cost community-based centers).
• Educate Girls: India-based non-profit focused on enrolling and retaining out-of-school girls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other low-literacy states. Comparable in targeting marginalized girls, life-skills curriculum and government-school partnership model.
• Salaam Bombay Foundation: Mumbai-based NGO working with at-risk adolescents through in-school and after-school life-skills programs. Comparable in targeting older youth (13-22 age range) with life-skills and personality development curricula similar to the Access Program.
• Teach For India: Non-profit placing fellows in low-income schools across Indian cities including Patna. Comparable in delivering supplemental education to underserved children and youth in urban slums.
• Magic Bus Foundation: India-based youth-development non-profit running life-skills and education programs for adolescents from low-income communities. Comparable in targeting youth life-skills and education-to-employment pathways.

Broad incumbents

• Smile Foundation: Larger pan-India NGO with a portfolio spanning education, health and livelihood programs for underprivileged communities. Comparable in mission breadth and CSR-funded delivery model, though larger and more diversified.
• Room to Read: Global education non-profit with significant India operations focused on literacy and girls' education. Comparable in literacy curriculum development and direct delivery to marginalized schoolchildren in India.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dikshatweet
• Facebookfacebook.com/dikshafoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diksha-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/dikshafoundationngo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Diksha Foundation