Friends of the American University of Afghanistan

What Friends of the American University of Afghanistan does

Friends of the American University of Afghanistan (FAUAF) is a District of Columbia–incorporated 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 26-3639601) founded in 2008 that serves as the primary fundraising and advocacy arm for the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), which was established in 2006. AUAF delivers American-style liberal arts higher education through a hybrid online platform supplemented by an in-person campus at Qatar Foundation's Education City in Doha; the university relocated from Kabul to Qatar following the August 2021 Taliban takeover, which banned female education above the sixth grade and eliminated in-country operations. Its core offering is a three-tier educational framework (Prepare, Foster, Advance) spanning preparatory bridge programs, undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration, law, political science and public administration, and information technology, plus wrap-around services such as wellness programs, extracurricular activities, and career advancement support. All enrolled students receive 100% financial aid, with tuition and fees fully covered.

The organization's product surface includes dual degree pathways with Bard College, online courses through the Open Society University Network, the Transition to Success Program for high-school youth, STEM/IT bootcamps for Afghan girls, and a recently launched Bard Global Degree for displaced students from multiple countries. Faculty (105 total: 30 full-time, 75 adjunct) teach remotely from worldwide locations using the hybrid platform. The student body is 1,100 across 20 countries (with ~80% women), representing the largest enrollment in AUAF's 20-year history.

FAUAF funds AUAF through a mix of individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, U.S. government grants (USAID, U.S. Department of State), and Qatar government support (Qatar Foundation, Qatar Fund for Development, State of Qatar). Over five years (2021-2026), more than $55 million has been secured to maintain 100% financial aid. Go-to-market is event-driven (Annual Awards Dinner, Spring Soirée, Congressional panels) and community-led, with student/alumni storytelling, multi-channel social media, and partnerships with the George W. Bush Institute, the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, and international academic institutions. The organization's primary customer segment is Afghan women and girls, the only population globally subject to an official ban on higher education.

Name

Friends of the American University of Afghanistan

Legal name

Friends of the American University of Afghanistan

Website

https://friendsofauaf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Friends of the American University of Afghanistan (FAUAF) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and supports the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), which delivers American-style liberal arts higher education on a hybrid online platform and Doha, Qatar campus to 1,100 Afghan students in 20 countries, nearly 80% women, all on full financial aid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAJAA

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Pathway, Foundation & Bridging Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAJAF

Integrated Language + Academic Skills (EAP) Bridging Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Pathway, Foundation & Bridging Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAKAG

Academic & Classroom Integration Support (Study Skills, Academic Norms, Integrity)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Student Support & Cultural Integration Services

Keywords

• Higher education access
• University in exile
• Liberal arts education
• Refugee education
• Nonprofit fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals supporting Afghan education. Tax-deductible donations to FAUAF, a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 26-3639601).
2. U.S. Government Grants: Funding from USAID and U.S. Department of State supporting AUAF operations and student financial aid. Over $55 million secured over five years (2021-2026).
3. Qatar Government Support: Qatar Foundation provides buildings, facilities, student accommodation, and visa assistance. Qatar Fund for Development provides facilities and resources. State of Qatar provides 100% funding for 200 students covering housing, meals, and stipends.
4. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Private foundations and corporations providing support for AUAF's mission and student programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Friends of the American University of Afghanistan (FAUAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds and advocacy to support AUAF, the only university expressly dedicated to restoring higher education for Afghan women and girls. AUAF delivers accredited American-style liberal arts undergraduate and graduate degree programs online and at its campus in Doha, Qatar, providing 100% financial aid to all enrolled students. The educational model follows a three-tier framework—Prepare (preparatory programs bridging secondary and higher education), Foster (high-touch American-style education with wrap-around wellness and extracurricular services), and Advance (graduate career and academic placement support).

Product overview

The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), supported by Friends of AUAF, operates as a unified higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs. The core offering is AUAF's adaptive online education system supplemented by its Three Tiers Program (Prepare, Foster, Advance) that guides students from preparatory programs through graduation and career advancement. AUAF delivers undergraduate degrees (Business Administration, Law, Political Science and Public Administration, Information Technology) and graduate programs including MBA. Supporting offerings include the Transition to Success Program for high-school-aged youth, STEM Bootcamps for Afghan female students, and the Bard Global Degree partnership with Bard College. The institution operates in hybrid mode combining online instruction with in-person classes at its Doha, Qatar campus in Education City, serving students across multiple countries including Afghanistan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AUAF Three Tiers Program AUAF's adaptive three-tier educational framework guiding Afghan students from preparatory programs through high-touch American-style education and on to graduate career and academic placement. Includes wrap-around services such as wellness programs and extracurricular activities, delivered online and in Doha.
• Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs in Business Administration, Law, Political Science and Public Administration, and Information Technology delivered online and in person for Afghan students.
• Graduate Degree Programs Graduate-level programs including the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and other graduate degrees for Afghan students.
• Transition to Success Program Program supported by U.S. Embassy Kabul that helps Afghan high-school-aged youth regain educational progress and achieve educational, professional, and personal goals after extended school closures.
• STEM Bootcamp IT and STEM bootcamps for high-school-aged Afghan female students delivering computer science and coding instruction along with confidence building and soft-skills development.
• Bard Global Degree Shared degree program in partnership with Bard College that brings together disenfranchised students and faculty from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Russia, Ukraine, and South Sudan through a single program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% financial aid provided to all enrolled students through government and private support
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bard CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Bard College offers dual degree programs with AUAF, pledged to take 100 students free of charge after the Taliban takeover. AUAF President Ian Bickford previously taught at Bard and helped establish exiled universities there. Bard also helped Central European University relocate from Budapest to Vienna.
• Qatar FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQatar Foundation provides buildings, facilities, and teaching spaces in Education City, Doha for AUAF's relocated campus. Also provides student accommodation, visa assistance, and 100% scholarships for approximately 200 students covering housing, meals, and stipends.
• Open Society University Network (OSUN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSUN provides shared online courses worldwide, connecting AUAF students with peers globally. AUAF is part of the OSUN network of colleges and non-profit groups working to expand education access for Afghan women. Bard College represents OSUN at the UNHCR's 15by30 Multistakeholder Pledge.
• American University of Central AsiasupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmerican University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan hosted AUAF students after the Taliban takeover, similar to American University of Iraq-Sulaimani.
• George W. Bush InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe George W. Bush Institute is a key advocacy partner, with Executive Director David J. Kramer speaking at U.S.-Afghan Women's Council meetings. The Institute advocates for targeted sanctions and sustained support for Afghan women.
• DuolingosupportingTechnology or IntegrationDuolingo language learning platform enables AUAF to assess more than 20,000 new applications each year, helping manage the high demand for AUAF education.
• BoodleBoxsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBoodleBox is a collaborative platform designed for higher education, embracing purposeful faculty-driven uses of AI for the specific needs of Afghan students.
• Georgetown University-QatarsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUAF's new offices are embedded within Georgetown University-Qatar, located within the most visible and celebrated international studies program in the Middle East.
• International Stability Operations Association (ISOA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFAUAF Founder Leslie Schweitzer serves on ISOA's Advisory Council. AUAF participated in the ISOA Qatar 2025 Conference in Doha, showcasing its mission to international leaders.
• MENTEEsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMENTEE is a global mentorship organization collaborating with AUAF to provide opportunities and pathways to productive academic pursuit through virtual mentorship events and programs.
• U.S. Afghan Women's CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. Afghan Women's Council is a bilateral body supporting Afghan women and girls. George W. Bush Institute represents the U.S. side at the council's annual meetings.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• African Leadership University: Mission-driven African higher-education network (ALU Mauritius and ALU School of Business) targeting high-impact emerging-economy leadership development with employer partnerships. Comparable in targeting ambitious underserved populations with American-style curricula, though operating in a different region.
• University of the People: Tuition-free, online, U.S.-accredited university serving underserved and displaced learners globally. Operates a closely analogous online delivery model with no tuition revenue, but is a recent and rapidly scaling competitor in the same free-online-higher-education niche.

Direct peers

• Bard College: AUAF's core strategic partner that hosts the dual-degree program and the Bard Global Degree shared-degree initiative. Bard is the closest collaborator in the exiled-university space and effectively AUAF's academic home institution in the U.S.
• Central European University: The most direct peer: an American-modeled university that was forced into exile from Budapest to Vienna in 2018-2019 after political pressure. Shares the same university-in-exile operating model and close Bard/OSUN network ties that AUAF relies on.
• American University of Iraq, Sulaimani: American-style liberal arts university in Iraq that also hosted AUAF students post-2021. Closely mirrors AUAF's regional positioning, American-style curriculum, and OSUN/Bard network ties.
• American University of Central Asia: American-style liberal arts university in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, that hosted AUAF students after the 2021 Taliban takeover. Operates a similar American-modeled higher-education mission in Central Asia and is part of the same OSUN network.

Others

• Institute of International Education (IIE): Operates the Scholar Rescue Fund and other programs supporting displaced students and scholars worldwide. Plays a comparable role in the displaced-student ecosystem and represents an adjacent enabling organization rather than a direct competitor.
• Scholars at Risk Network: Global network of universities protecting threatened scholars and students. Operates in the same protective-education-for-at-risk-populations space and provides a comparable advocacy/community infrastructure for displaced learners.
• Open Society University Network (OSUN): Global network of colleges and non-profits coordinated by Bard College that shares online courses and supports AUAF students. AUAF is an OSUN member and OSUN's broader network functions as an ecosystem enabler for AUAF's mission.

Regional players

• Georgetown University-Qatar: AUAF's host institution in Education City, Doha, providing embedded offices within its international studies program. While a broader incumbent in the region, it provides direct infrastructure for AUAF's operations and is a strategic regional ally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FriendsofAUAF
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCG0SIJfN_ne4QSX3PWwSvhA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FriendsofAUAF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-the-american-university-of-afghanistan
• Instagraminstagram.com/friendsofauaf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Friends of the American University of Afghanistan