Fundación Forja

What Fundación Forja does

Fundación Forja is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-partisan foundation legally constituted in El Salvador on February 21, 2008, that delivers character formation programs across El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala. Its core offering is the Character Building Program (CBP), a holistic educational methodology built on universal principles of Good and Truth, structured around three pillars — Thinking Good, Loving Good, and Doing Good — that develops moral reasoning, affective capacity, and the will to choose and habituate goodness. The CBP platform extends into 11+ specialized sub-programs (CBP Kids, CBP Teens, CAMINO, CBP Parents, CBP Teachers, CBP Empresa, FORJAT, Construyéndome, Forjadores de Paz, DALE, and Joven con Valor), serving children, adolescents, university students, parents, educators, corporate employees, and vulnerable populations.

The organization operates with a small core team of 9 employees and a network of 4,009 cumulative committed volunteers across three countries, reaching 5,000+ direct beneficiaries annually as of 2023-2025 and 66,306 individuals cumulatively since 2002. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: programs are delivered through in-person workshops in private and public schools, corporate workplaces, and community centers, facilitated by trained volunteers. The 2020 pandemic forced a temporary operational closure and pivot to digital delivery platforms; the organization has since recovered and expanded its geographic footprint.

Fundación Forja is funded entirely through donations from individuals, corporations, and institutional partners, supplemented by in-kind volunteer time — which represented 23.6% of the $224,940 total program investment in 2025. It has no parent company, institutional investors, or external equity backing, and is governed by an independent Junta Directiva under President Clara Fortín de Carbonell and Executive Director Mónica Pacas Martínez. Strategic alliances include a 2012 partnership with Joven360 and Franklin Covey for the 'Joven con Valor' program, plus annual financial auditing by Zelaya Rivas Asociados.

Name

Fundación Forja

Legal name

Fundación Forja

Website

https://forjandoelcaracter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fundación Forja is a non-profit foundation that delivers the Character Building Program (CBP) and 11+ specialized sub-programs to children, youth, families, educators, and corporations across El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala, reaching 5,000+ direct beneficiaries annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Character Formation Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Character formation education
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Values-based education
• Community volunteer programs
• Corporate character training

Headquarters

HQ city

San Salvador

HQ country

El Salvador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a non-profit foundation established in 2008, Fundación Forja operates primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and institutional partners. The organization receives financial contributions to fund character-building programs for children, youth, families, and communities.
2. Volunteer Time Donations: The organization leverages a network of volunteers who donate their time and talents to facilitate workshops and programs. In 2025, volunteer time represented 23.6% of the total investment ($224,940), demonstrating the significant in-kind contribution that sustains operations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fundación Forja delivers a suite of character formation educational programs built on its Character Building Program (CBP) methodology. Programs serve children, teenagers, parents, teachers, corporate employees, and vulnerable communities across El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala through school partnerships, corporate engagements, and community-based workshops facilitated by trained volunteers.

Product overview

Fundación Forja offers a platform of character formation programs serving children, youth, families, educators, and adults in El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala. The core offering is the CBP (Character Building Program), which serves as the foundational platform from which all other programs derive. The program portfolio includes specialized tracks: CBP Kids and CBP Teens for children and adolescents; CAMINO for final school years; CBP Parents and CBP Teachers for families and educators; CBP Empresa and FORJAT for the professional and corporate sector; Construyéndome for adult self-development; DALE for university/final school years youth; and Forjadores de Paz for vulnerable populations. All programs are based on three pillars—Thinking Good, Loving Good, and Doing Good—to develop moral reasoning, affective capacity, and will to choose and habituate goodness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CBP - Character Building Program
• CBP Kids
• CBP Teens
• CAMINO
• CBP Parents
• CBP Teachers
• CBP Empresa
• FORJAT
• Construyéndome
• Forjadores de Paz
• DALE
• Joven con Valor

Quantifiable outcome

• 66,306 total individuals accompanied since 2002
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 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 minor.

• Joven360coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Alliance partner for the 'Joven con Valor' program - an intensive character formation program combining personal development and preparation for working life. Helps talented youth discover their identity, strengthen their character, and project themselves professionally with purpose and excellence.
• Franklin CoveycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Strategic alliance partner for the 'Joven con Valor' program, contributing their internationally recognized leadership and character development methodology to the program alongside Joven360 and Fundación Forja.
• Zelaya Rivas AsociadosminorOthersIndependent auditing firm (Registration No. 2503) that conducts annual financial audits of Fundación Forja's operations, ensuring transparency and accountability in financial management.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Character.org: US-based nonprofit focused on advancing character education in schools, families, and communities. Comparable as a peer promoting character formation as a core educational pillar with school-based and community-based program models.
• Junior Achievement: Global youth education nonprofit delivering work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programs in schools. Comparable as a school-delivered youth development program partner with corporate sponsorship model and presence across Latin America.
• Franklin Covey: Global leader in leadership and character development methodology. Comparable as a strategic partner of Fundación Forja on 'Joven con Valor' since 2012, offering character/leadership training to youth and corporate clients worldwide using a similar methodology framework.

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka: Global network supporting social entrepreneurs and changemakers. Comparable as a values-driven nonprofit fostering character, leadership, and social impact among youth and adults across multiple geographies.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large-scale youth development nonprofit offering character-building, education, and life skills programs. Comparable as a youth-focused character development organization with school and community-based delivery.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters: Youth mentoring nonprofit developing character and life skills in at-risk youth. Comparable in mission to develop character, relationships, and life outcomes among youth through community-based volunteer-driven programs.
• YMCA: International community-based youth and family development organization. Comparable in delivering character/values-based programming for children, youth, and families through community centers and school partnerships.
• Save the Children: International NGO operating across Latin America with programs for children and youth education and development. Comparable as a multi-country nonprofit delivering educational and character development programming to vulnerable populations.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity: International nonprofit with active operations in Central America addressing community development. Comparable as a regional NGO operating across El Salvador, Guatemala, and other Central American countries with community-based program delivery.
• Fundación Prizma: Latin American education-focused foundation working on youth development and values-based education. Comparable as a regional nonprofit delivering character and values education programs in Latin American school systems.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forjarcaracter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fundación Forja