Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future
The Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, founded in 2019 in Seoul by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is a nonprofit that convenes diplomats, governments, and youth through forums and training programs focused on peace, sustainable development, and climate action, funded by donations and partnerships across Korea and global offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future does
The Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future is a private, Seoul-headquartered nonprofit foundation established in May 2019 by Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations. Operating with a small core staff of approximately seven employees, it functions as a convening and advocacy platform on peace, sustainable development, climate action, gender equity, human rights, and global citizenship, rather than as a technology, product, or commercial services company.
Its core offerings are programs and convenings, not software. Flagship initiatives include the Climate & Environmental Leader Training Course (delivered in partnership with DAEJAYON, now in at least eight cohorts since 2022), the annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue co-organized with Stanford University since October 2022, the BKM Global Health Forum, and recurring dialogues with the diplomatic corps in Korea, the BOAO Forum for Asia (where Ban Ki-moon serves as Chairman), the Seoul Dialogue on Africa, and most recently the High-Level Intergenerational Dialogue on Adaptation in Kenya with the Global Center on Adaptation. The foundation also publishes research outputs including SDGs Research Reports, climate-environment teaching materials, annual reports, and essay competitions, and operates a Research Library accessible through its multilingual website (Korean, English, Chinese).
The business model is donation-driven: the foundation is funded through individual and institutional contributions, partnerships, and goodwill generated by its events, with revenue and donor totals not publicly disclosed. It distributes content through a multilingual website, BF Media newsletter, YouTube/Instagram/Naver social channels, and an event-driven go-to-market anchored by the chairman's international engagements. Beyond its Seoul headquarters (5th floor, Naeja Building, Jongno-gu), the foundation opened a Beijing Representative Office on September 20, 2024, to extend operations across China and Northeast Asia. Governance rests with a Board of Directors chaired by Ban Ki-moon, with no parent company, no subsidiaries other than the affiliated BGI (Ban Ki-moon Global Initiatives), and no disclosed funding rounds or acquisitions.
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future
- Legal name
- Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future
- Website
- https://eng.bf4bf.or.kr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, founded in 2019 in Seoul by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is a nonprofit that convenes diplomats, governments, and youth through forums and training programs focused on peace, sustainable development, and climate action, funded by donations and partnerships across Korea and global offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Affairs and Development Foundation
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)
Keywords
Where Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: The foundation operates as a nonprofit organization funded through donations, partnerships, and potentially government support. The website features a dedicated donation page.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future is a nonprofit foundation that convenes international forums, dialogues, and conferences, and runs training and research programs to advance global peace, sustainable development, climate action, gender equity, and human rights. Its core deliverables include the Climate & Environmental Leader Training Course for youth, the BKM Global Health Forum, the Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue with Stanford, SDGs research reports, and climate-environment teaching materials, all funded through donations and delivered to diplomats, governments, students, and civil society.
Product overview
The Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future is a non-profit foundation focused on global citizenship, peace, sustainability, and development initiatives. The organization offers programs and services rather than technology products, including the Climate & Environmental Leader Training Course, global projects (BKM Global Health Forum, Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue), research library resources (SDGs Research Reports, essay competitions, teaching materials), and various diplomatic and educational events. The foundation serves as a platform for global citizens to address issues including climate action, sustainable development, gender equity, human rights, and peacebuilding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Climate & Environmental Leader Training Course: A training program to develop future climate and environmental leaders, implemented in partnership with DAEJAYON. The course has completed multiple cohorts (1st through 8th) since 2022.
Products and services
- Climate & Environmental Leader Training Course A structured training course designed for university students and young leaders to develop competencies in climate action, NET ZERO, and sustainable development. Delivered free of charge through a partnership with DAEJAYON and supported by the foundation's convening platform.
- BKM Global Health Forum International forum convened by the foundation to address global public health challenges and advance cross-border collaboration on health priorities, hosted via the foundation's online platform bkmhealth.or.kr.
- Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue An annual high-level dialogue co-hosted with Stanford University that convenes former government officials, researchers, business leaders, and civil society to examine sustainability solutions in the Trans-Pacific region.
- SDGs Research Reports Published research reports analyzing progress and challenges related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, made available through the foundation's online Research Library for policymakers, researchers, and educators.
- SDGs English Essay Competition An English-language essay competition for students and youth participants centered on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, hosted via the foundation's Research Library to promote global citizenship education.
- Climate-Environment Teaching Materials Educational textbooks and teaching materials on climate change and the environment produced by the foundation for use in classrooms, youth programs, and partner educational institutions.
Companies that use Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Korean National Police Agency (KNPA)minor5th International Counter-Terrorism Symposium on emerging technologies and AI in counterterrorism, convened in partnership with EU support. Ban Ki-moon delivered opening remarks.
- Paris Brain InstituteminorThe institute recommended Ban Ki-moon for the Sorbonne University honorary doctorate and organized the World Brain Health Forum at UNESCO where Ban Ki-moon participated.
- Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)coreHigh-Level Intergenerational Dialogue on Accelerating Adaptation in Kenya, bringing together youth leaders and global leaders including former President Macky Sall.
- Korea International Trade Association (KITA)minorBan Ki-moon delivered keynote address at 2025 KITA Forum on global trade order, with foundation involvement in discussions on Korean trade and global changes.
- BOAO Forum for Asia (BFA)coreBFA Seoul Conference 2024 - a major platform for Asian economic cooperation and dialogue. Ban Ki-moon serves as Chairman of BFA, linking the foundation closely with the forum.
- Korea Student Aid FoundationminorSocial Leader College Mentoring Team (Korment) visits to the foundation for educational engagement with students.
- DAEJAYONcoreJoint partnership for the Climate & Environmental Leader Training Course, with DAEJAYON serving as implementing partner for youth development and environmental training programs. Multiple cohorts (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th) have been delivered through this partnership.
- Korean Cultural Arts Education Promotion AgencyminorMOU on SDGs-based Arts Education Practice to develop cultural arts education models based on UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Stanford UniversitycoreAnnual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue bringing together experts, former government officials, business and civil society leaders to examine sustainability solutions. Stanford researchers present new methods for tracking wildfire pollution and recovering bleached corals.
- BGI (Ban Ki-moon Global Institute)coreSeparate but affiliated organization with its own website (bkmgi.org), operating under the Ban Ki-moon foundation umbrella.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bloomberg Philanthropies: Bloomberg Philanthropies is a major foundation with substantial climate and sustainable cities programs and strong convening power. It is comparable as a high-profile, donor-funded foundation engaging world leaders on climate, public health, and economic issues.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The Gates Foundation is one of the world's largest philanthropic foundations, operating across global health, development, and climate. While far larger, it is comparable to the Ban Ki-moon Foundation as a globally active, donor-funded nonprofit working on sustainable development and global cooperation.
- Open Society Foundations: Open Society Foundations is a large global grantmaking organization supporting human rights, governance, and sustainable development. It is comparable to the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for its international grantmaking and advocacy on human rights and democratic governance.
- UN Foundation: The UN Foundation is a major grantmaking organization closely tied to the United Nations, supporting global health, climate, and sustainable development initiatives. It is highly comparable to the Ban Ki-moon Foundation as both serve as convening/grantmaking platforms linked to UN diplomatic networks and global cooperation themes.
Direct peers
- Kofi Annan Foundation: The Kofi Annan Foundation is a Swiss-based foundation founded by the late former UN Secretary-General, focused on peace, sustainable development, and youth leadership. It is the closest analogue to the Ban Ki-moon Foundation—same founder archetype, same mission framing, and similar convening model.
- Mo Ibrahim Foundation: The Mo Ibrahim Foundation focuses on governance and leadership in Africa, founded by a high-profile global figure. It is comparable as a former-leader-led foundation with strong convening power, awards, and thought-leadership activities targeting governance and development.
- Global Center on Adaptation: GCA is an international organization focused on accelerating climate adaptation, with which the Ban Ki-moon Foundation has a core strategic partnership. They share overlapping missions, youth-focused programming, and global convening on adaptation, making them direct programmatic peers.
- Clinton Foundation: The Clinton Foundation operates global initiatives on climate, health, and economic development, leveraging the founder's diplomatic network. It is comparable to the Ban Ki-moon Foundation as a former-head-of-state-led platform running multi-issue global programs and convening events.
Emerging players
- ClimateWorks Foundation: ClimateWorks Foundation is a grantmaking organization funding climate mitigation and adaptation globally. It overlaps with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation's climate training and Paris Agreement advocacy, making it a relevant peer in the climate philanthropic ecosystem.
- World Resources Institute (WRI): WRI is a global research organization working on climate, sustainable development, and equity. It is comparable to the Ban Ki-moon Foundation's research library, SDGs reports, and climate-environment teaching materials as adjacent research and convening infrastructure in the climate/sustainability space.
Market position
Strengths2 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future social profiles
Digital presenceBan Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future
What does Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future do?
The Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future is a nonprofit foundation that convenes international forums, dialogues, and conferences, and runs training and research programs to advance global peace, sustainable development, climate action, gender equity, and human rights. Its core deliverables include the Climate & Environmental Leader Training Course for youth, the BKM Global Health Forum, the Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue with Stanford, SDGs research reports, and climate-environment teaching materials, all funded through donations and delivered to diplomats, governments, students, and civil society.
Is Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future a public or private company?
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future founded?
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future based?
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Contributions.
Who are Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bloomberg Philanthropies, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Open Society Foundations and UN Foundation. Direct peers are Kofi Annan Foundation, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Global Center on Adaptation and Clinton Foundation. Emerging players are ClimateWorks Foundation and World Resources Institute (WRI).
Does Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future.
What industry is Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future in?
Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future's product category is International Affairs and Development Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAH, International Grantmaking & Development Foundations. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8300.