What Fundación Carolina Colombia does

Fundación Carolina Colombia is the Colombian filial of Fundación Carolina, a Madrid-headquartered non-profit foundation authorized by the Spanish Council of Ministers in 2000 and inscribed in the Spanish Registry of Foundations in 2001 (CIF G-82880923). The foundation promotes cultural relations and educational/scientific cooperation between Spain and Iberoamerican nations, operating as part of the Spanish Cooperation system under the regulatory framework of AECID and aligned with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Its Bogotá office is co-located with the AECID Technical Cooperation Office at the Embassy of Spain.

The foundation's core offerings are fully-funded scholarship programs spanning postgraduate degrees, doctoral studies, short-term postdoctoral research stays, summer schools (Escuela Complutense de Verano), and continuing education (Formación Permanente), plus the ICETEX–Fundación Carolina co-branded program targeting Colombian social entrepreneurs, indigenous communities, NARP populations, and rural women. Complementary products include the International Visitors Program (Jóvenes Líderes Iberoamericanos, Liderazgo Público Iberoamericano, Maestros Colombianos), the Red Carolina alumni network, the Vivir en España support program, the Becas Artistas Jóvenes Talentos music scholarships, and a research publications arm (Análisis Carolina, working papers, digital repository under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Distribution runs through a self-serve web application platform (gestion.fundacioncarolina.es), institutional partnerships with Colombian entities (ICETEX, ESAP) and Spanish universities, alumni-led outreach, and education-fair participation (QS World Grad School Tour).

The business model is non-commercial: scholarships are provided at no cost to beneficiaries, with funding derived from Spanish cooperation funds (AECID), institutional partners, corporate benefactors (Patronato including Banco Santander), and program-specific co-financing (e.g., Fundación Bolívar Davivienda and Fundación Albéniz for Filarmónica Joven de Colombia). The foundation has cumulatively awarded over 17,000 scholarships to Latin Americans and more than 3,000 to Colombians since 2001; the 2020–2021 edition offered 822 scholarships and the 2018–2019 cycle drew 197,082 applications from 66,019 candidates across Latin America. No revenue, headcount, or operating-budget figures are disclosed.

Name

Fundación Carolina Colombia

Legal name

LA FUNDACIÓN CAROLINA

Website

https://fundacioncarolina.org.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fundación Carolina Colombia is a non-profit foundation and Colombian branch of Spain's Fundación Carolina, offering fully-funded scholarships, academic exchange, and visitor programs between Spain and Iberoamerican countries, targeting Colombian professionals, social leaders, and underrepresented communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Educational Scholarships

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Country/Region-Specific Scholarships (Inbound/Outbound) (EDAIAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH), Government-Sponsored Scholarships & Exchange Funding (EDAIAOAF), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• International scholarships
• Postgraduate fellowships
• Doctoral research grants
• Cultural cooperation programs
• Alumni network services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Operations: Fundación Carolina Colombia operates as a non-profit entity. Funding derives from Spanish cooperation funds (Cooperación Española/AECID), institutional partnerships, and benefactors. Parent organization Fundación Carolina (Madrid) was authorized by Spanish government in 2000.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fundación Carolina Colombia delivers fully-funded scholarships and educational exchange programs for Iberoamerican students and professionals to study at Spanish universities, covering postgraduate degrees, doctoral programs, short-term postdoctoral research stays, summer schools, and continuing education. It combines the flagship ICETEX-Fundación Carolina scholarship program targeting Colombian social entrepreneurs, indigenous communities, NARP populations, and rural women with international visitor programs and the Red Carolina alumni network.

Product overview

Fundación Carolina Colombia is a non-profit educational foundation — the Colombian arm of the broader Fundación Carolina network — that operates a multi-product scholarship and academic exchange ecosystem. Its core offering consists of scholarship programs spanning postgraduate degrees, doctoral studies, short-term postdoctoral research stays, summer schools (Escuela Complutense de Verano), and continuing education (Formación Permanente), as well as the institutional ICETEX–Fundación Carolina co-branded scholarship program targeting Colombian social entrepreneurs and underrepresented populations. Complementing the academic offerings are the International Visitors Program (featuring group visits such as the Young Ibero-American Leaders and Public Leadership programs) and the Red Carolina alumni network, which sustains long-term engagement with former recipients. The foundation also produces and disseminates research through its Publications arm — books, working papers (Documentos de Trabajo), analytical briefs (Análisis Carolina), and seminar reports (Relatorías) — available via its open-access digital repository under Creative Commons license. All programs collectively support the foundation's mission of fostering cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation between Spain, Colombia, and the broader Iberoamerican community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Red Carolina: Network of alumni and ex-becarios of Fundación Carolina for networking and cooperation
• Programa de Formación
• Programa Internacional de Visitantes
• Becas ICETEX - Fundación Carolina

Products and services

• Becas de Postgrado Scholarships for graduate students from Iberoamerican countries to pursue postgraduate studies at Spanish universities, covering full or partial tuition and living expenses.
• Becas de Doctorado y Estancias Cortas Postdoctorales Doctoral scholarships and short-term postdoctoral research stays in Spain, often in collaboration with Iberoamerican universities to support the attainment of doctoral degrees or advanced research training.
• Programa ICETEX – Fundación Carolina Institutional scholarship program co-developed with ICETEX targeting Colombian professionals, focusing on social entrepreneurship, indigenous communities, rural women, and NARP populations, combining virtual training with a ten-day in-person academic residency in Madrid and covering 100% of costs.
• Programa Internacional de Visitantes International visitor program offering group visits (including Young Ibero-American Leaders, Public Leadership, Colombian Teachers, Hispanic Leaders from the US, and Trade Schools of Colombia) and individual visits, providing short-term academic and cultural immersion experiences in Spain.
• Red Carolina Alumni network connecting current and former scholarship recipients across Latin America, facilitating ongoing exchange, cooperation, and professional development among Carolina scholars.
• Vivir en España Program providing practical guidance and support for scholarship recipients living in Spain, including travel advice, administrative procedures, and cultural orientation activities.
• Escuela Complutense de Verano Summer school program hosted by the Complutense University of Madrid, offering intensive academic courses during the summer term for scholarship recipients.
• Becas Artistas Jóvenes Talentos Scholarships for talented young artists from Colombia, administered in partnership with ICETEX and supporting advanced music studies at institutions such as the Conservatorio del Liceu in Barcelona and the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid.
• Becas de Emprendimiento Scholarships supporting entrepreneurial projects, combining academic study with internship periods in technology-intensive companies to gain practical work experience.
• Formación Permanente Continuing education scholarships for professionals seeking ongoing development and specialization in Spanish academic institutions.

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ICETEXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Strategic alliance between ICETEX and Fundación Carolina for institutional scholarship programs targeting Colombian social leaders. The program combines virtual training with a 10-day in-person stay in Madrid, covering 100% of costs (tuition, airfare, accommodation, meals, transportation). Since 2019, the partnership has benefited 216 Colombian professionals with emphasis on indigenous communities, NARP populations, and rural women. The VII convocatoria (2026) targets 34 beneficiaries prioritizing 16 departments.
• AECID (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundación Carolina Colombia is housed within the AECID Technical Cooperation Office at the Spanish Embassy in Bogotá. The foundation is part of the Spanish Cooperation system and participates in the Stable Coordination Group (GEC) of Spanish Cooperation in Colombia. Operates under the regulatory framework of Spanish development cooperation aligned with Agenda 2030.
• Fundación Bolívar DaviviendamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration agreement for the 'Filarmónica Joven de Colombia' scholarship program. The foundation co-funds music scholarships enabling talented young Colombian musicians to study at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid. Part of broader effort to develop talent for national development.
• Fundación AlbénizmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'Filarmónica Joven de Colombia' scholarship program, providing music education opportunities at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid. Joint selection committees evaluate candidates.
• Banco SantandermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanco Santander provides funding support for scholarship programs. The 'Máster Oficial en Género, Identidad y Ciudadanía' program at Universidad de Cádiz was offered with Banco Santander sponsorship.
• Universidad Complutense de MadridcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the 'Escuela Complutense de Verano' (Complutense Summer School), a flagship program offering intensive academic courses. The XXV edition (2026) welcomed 59 grantees from Fundación Carolina.
• Escuela Superior de Música Reina SofíamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadrid-based music school that hosts Filarmónica Joven de Colombia scholarship recipients for advanced music studies. Selection conducted jointly with partner foundations.
• Spanish Universities NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of Spanish universities offering academic programs under Fundación Carolina scholarships. Programs span all knowledge areas including postgraduate degrees, doctoral programs, postdoctoral research stays, and institutional studies. Over 160 programs offered in recent editions.
• ESAP (Escuela Superior de Administración Pública)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Colombia's public administration school for the 'Diplomado en Cooperación Internacional' (International Cooperation Diploma), now in its third cohort. APC Colombia also collaborates on this program.
• Cooperación Española (Spanish Cooperation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundación Carolina forms part of the Spanish Cooperation system, operating within the regulatory framework established by Spanish development cooperation agencies. Aligns activities with Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ICETEX: Colombian government entity that finances international higher education for Colombian students through credit and scholarship programs. Highly comparable as a Colombian education-funding institution; also a strategic partner of Fundación Carolina for the joint scholarship program.
• Fulbright: Fulbright is the US government's flagship international scholarship program, offering fully funded study, research, and teaching opportunities across ~160 countries. Highly comparable to Fundación Carolina as a foreign-government-sponsored scholarship program targeting talented students from partner countries.
• DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst): German Academic Exchange Service is the world's largest funding organisation for international academic exchange, offering scholarships to students and researchers from developing countries. Directly comparable as a national-level scholarship program funded by a foreign government to attract international talent.
• Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos (OEI): Intergovernmental organization for Iberoamerican educational, scientific, and cultural cooperation. Directly comparable as a multilateral cooperation entity promoting educational exchange between Spain and Latin American countries, with overlapping mission and audience.
• Becas Santander: Banco Santander's global scholarship platform offering funding for higher education, employability, and entrepreneurship programs across Iberoamerica. Highly comparable given Santander's significant presence in Colombia and shared Spanish-language audience.
• Chevening: UK government scholarship program offering fully funded master's degrees at any UK university to future leaders from eligible countries including most of Latin America. Closely comparable in mission, funding model (foreign-government cooperation), and target audience of emerging international leaders.

Regional players

• Bec.ar: Argentine government scholarship program funding Argentine professionals to study abroad in technology and skilled trades. Comparable as a Latin American national scholarship program targeting international education, though anchored to Argentine demand.
• ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo): Chilean government agency administering scholarship and research funding programs for Chileans studying abroad. Comparable operating model targeting Iberoamerican students/funding international education, though anchored to Chilean demand.
• CONAHCYT (formerly CONACYT): Mexican government agency funding scholarships for Mexican students to pursue graduate studies abroad. Comparable in mission and structure as a national scholarship agency funding international education, though anchored to Mexican demand.

Broad incumbents

• Fundación Botín: Spanish private foundation supporting education, science, and rural development, with significant scholarship and talent-development programs across Iberoamerica. Comparable as a Spanish foundation with a similar mission of talent development in the Iberoamerican region, though broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RedCarolinaCol
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvdsK2l_EH0pLBRvqTNmqpA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FundacionCarolinaColombia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundaci%C3%B3n-carolina-colombia
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundacioncarolina

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 Fundación Carolina Colombia