dZi Foundation
dZi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating community-led development programs in eastern Nepal across agriculture, education, WASH, and infrastructure for 61,000+ people across 13 communities, now expanding into the Koshi River Basin.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersRidgway, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What dZi Foundation does
dZi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998 by mountaineers Jim Nowak and Kim Reynolds, headquartered in Ridgway, Colorado with a country office in Lalitpur, Nepal, and a separately registered UK charity (dZi Foundation UK, #1151414) in Watford. The organization implements community-led development programs in remote eastern Nepal - spanning agriculture and livelihoods (including the MaUKa women's entrepreneurship program), education (earthquake-safe school construction, teacher training), health and WASH (45+ drinking water systems, sanitation infrastructure), and physical infrastructure (22 bridges, 15 trails, irrigation systems) - using a three-phase SEED-GROW-SUSTAIN model over multiple years before transitioning communities to full local ownership. dZi serves 61,000+ people across 13 communities in Solukhumbu, Bhojpur, and Khotang districts and is expanding in 2025 into five new municipalities across the Koshi River Basin.
dZi has no proprietary technology platform; its 'product' is the programmatic delivery model itself, supported by an all-Nepali 12-person country team, an all-Nepali program office, and a US/UK staff of approximately six covering executive leadership, finance and operations, partnerships and growth, and development operations. The revenue model is donation-based, drawing on individual donations (one-time and recurring in USD or GBP), corporate and foundation grants (including Oak Foundation, Vitol Foundation, Northlight Foundation, One Percent for the Planet, and others), planned giving/bequests, stock and wire transfers, and employer-matching programs via Benevity/Benesys. Suggested giving tiers range from $100 (ginger cultivation training for 60 farmers) to $10,000 (irrigation system for 60 families), with fundraising distributed through the dzi.org website, JustGiving (UK), supporter-hosted community events, and a corporate partnership program.
The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-star rating and GuideStar Gold transparency seal and operates a triple-audit system (community audits, independent Nepal office audit, annual US audit). A 2024-2025 leadership transition from Wende Valentine to incoming Executive Director Angie Brasington coincides with the Koshi expansion, and the board includes executives from Google, Morgan Stanley/Behrman Capital, Save the Children, FHI 360, Gates Ventures, and Medtronic.
dZi Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- dZi Foundation
- Legal name
- dZi Foundation
- Website
- https://dzi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- dZi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating community-led development programs in eastern Nepal across agriculture, education, WASH, and infrastructure for 61,000+ people across 13 communities, now expanding into the Koshi River Basin.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
dZi Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development / Community Development Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL)
Keywords
Where dZi Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ridgway
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
dZi Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals through the organization's website and fundraising campaigns. Donors can give one-time or recurring donations in USD or GBP.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from corporate partners and family foundations including One Percent for the Planet, Oak Foundation, Vitol Foundation, Northlight Foundation, and others. These partners provide programmatic and general operating support.
- Planned Giving and Bequests: Donors can name dZi in their will or estate plans. Contact through Executive Director or Director of Partnerships and Growth.
- Stock and Wire Transfers: Acceptance of stock donations and wire transfer donations for donors seeking tax-advantaged giving options.
- Employee Matching: Partnership with Benevity platform allowing donors to maximize impact through employer matching programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | $100 supports ginger cultivation training for 60 farmers |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | $250 pays for construction materials for drinking water station |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | $500 funds bridge construction for child safety |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | $1,000 pays for 30 desks and benches at 4 primary schools |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | $4,500 covers educational farm visit for 65 farmers |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | $10,000 funds irrigation system for 60 families |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
dZi Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
dZi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with subsistence farming communities in eastern Nepal to deliver integrated community development programs. Its work covers livelihoods and agriculture (cash crops, farmer training, women's entrepreneurship), education (earthquake-safe schools, teacher training), health and water/sanitation (drinking water systems, sanitation infrastructure), and physical infrastructure (bridges, trails, irrigation). Programs follow a community-led SEED-GROW-SUSTAIN model in which communities define the vision and dZi phases out after capacity is built.
Product overview
dZi Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization (501(c)(3) registered in Colorado, USA) that operates community-led development programs in eastern Nepal. The organization does not offer technology products or SaaS offerings. Its core work focuses on integrated community development programs including: (1) Livelihoods & Agriculture - cash crop programs, farmer training, agricultural enterprise support including the MaUKa (Mahila Udhyamshilta Karyakram) women's entrepreneurship program; (2) Education - construction of earthquake-safe schools, teacher training, early grade math education, child clubs; (3) Health & WASH - drinking water systems, sanitation infrastructure, health post support; (4) Infrastructure - bridges, trails, irrigation systems; and (5) Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Adaptation. Programs follow a three-phase SEED-GROW-SUSTAIN development model spanning access/equity, opportunities to thrive, and lasting change. dZi partners with six municipalities across four districts in eastern Nepal and is expanding into the Koshi River Basin.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,003 farmers earning average $141 USD per year in new income through cash crop sales
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use dZi Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
dZi Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
dZi Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.
- One Percent for the PlanetminorEnvironmental partner providing platform for members to donate 1% of sales to environmental causes including dZi
- AVPNminorAsia Venture Philanthropy Network - network for social investment and philanthropy
- Outdoor ProlinkminorOutdoor industry pro deals program linking brands with professionals
- Revel BikesminorBicycle company partnership documented in 2022 - likely promotional or cause marketing
- Tracee Metcalfe, M.D.minorAmbassador - Internal medicine physician and mountaineer, first American woman to summit all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks. Advocates for dZi's work in Nepal.
- Jake NortonminorAmbassador - World-renowned climber, photographer, filmmaker. UN Mountain Partnership ambassador advocating for mountain communities.
- Mark UdallminorAmbassador - Former US Senator from Colorado and mountaineer. Champions bipartisan legislation and public lands protection.
- Erik WeihenmayerminorAmbassador - Only blind person to summit Mount Everest and complete all Seven Summits. Founded No Barriers organization.
- Porters ProgressmajorLocal Nepal organization that partnered with dZi in 2007, leading to dZi's narrowed focus on eastern Nepal region
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
dZi Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps runs multi-sector community development programs in Nepal and globally, with overlapping focus on agriculture/livelihoods, youth, and disaster response. Both organizations operate community-driven programs at similar mid-size scale with analogous donor-funded models.
- Heifer International: Heifer International operates a community-led development model focused on livestock/agriculture livelihoods in Nepal and other developing countries, with similar approaches to smallholder farmer training and income generation. Its community empowerment model directly parallels dZi's SEED-GROW-SUSTAIN approach.
- Aga Khan Foundation: Aga Khan Foundation operates integrated community development programs across mountainous regions of South/Central Asia with multi-sector programming (agriculture, education, health, infrastructure). Its work in similar Himalayan contexts and long-term community partnership model closely mirror dZi's approach.
- CARE International: CARE International operates integrated community development programs in Nepal spanning women's economic empowerment, agriculture, health/WASH, and disaster preparedness. Its multi-sector integrated focus directly mirrors dZi's approach.
- Water For People: Water For People is a WASH-focused international development NGO with community-led water and sanitation programs. dZi board member Bhumika Piya works at Water For People, indicating direct organizational overlap with dZi's WASH portfolio.
- WaterAid: WaterAid is a WASH-focused international development NGO operating community-led water and sanitation programs in similar geographies. Its community-partnership approach and infrastructure focus directly parallel dZi's health/WASH programming (45 drinking water systems serving 11,815+ people).
- Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity operates a community-led model building local capacity for housing and infrastructure solutions globally, including in Nepal. Its emphasis on community partnership and infrastructure development parallels dZi's bridge, trail, and school construction work.
Emerging players
- Room to Read: Room to Read operates education-focused international development programs in Nepal and Asia. While narrower in sector than dZi, its focus on school construction and educational outcomes in low-income communities overlaps with dZi's earthquake-safe school program serving 8,469 students.
Broad incumbents
- World Vision International: World Vision is a large international development NGO with multi-sector community development programs in Nepal including agriculture, education, health, and disaster response. Its community-led sponsorship model and integrated approach parallel dZi's broader community development work at greater scale.
- Save the Children: Save the Children is a large international development NGO with substantial Nepal programs focused on child welfare, education, and health. dZi board member Heike Sommer spent 21 years at Save the Children supporting emergency programs including the Nepal earthquake response. dZi's education and WASH work overlaps with Save the Children's broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
dZi Foundation social profiles
Digital presencedZi Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
dZi Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
dZi Foundation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
dZi Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
dZi Foundation 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 dZi Foundation
What does dZi Foundation do?
dZi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with subsistence farming communities in eastern Nepal to deliver integrated community development programs. Its work covers livelihoods and agriculture (cash crops, farmer training, women's entrepreneurship), education (earthquake-safe schools, teacher training), health and water/sanitation (drinking water systems, sanitation infrastructure), and physical infrastructure (bridges, trails, irrigation). Programs follow a community-led SEED-GROW-SUSTAIN model in which communities define the vision and dZi phases out after capacity is built.
Is dZi Foundation a public or private company?
dZi Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was dZi Foundation founded?
dZi Foundation was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is dZi Foundation based?
dZi Foundation is headquartered in Ridgway, United States, in the North America region.
How does dZi Foundation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants, planned Giving and Bequests, stock and Wire Transfers and employee Matching.
Who are dZi Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mercy Corps, Heifer International, Aga Khan Foundation, CARE International, Water For People, WaterAid and Habitat for Humanity International. Room to Read is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are World Vision International and Save the Children.
Does dZi Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for dZi Foundation.
What industry is dZi Foundation in?
dZi Foundation's product category is International Development / Community Development Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAL, Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 700.