What Khalili Foundation does

The Khalili Foundation is a UK-registered charitable foundation established in 1994 by Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili to advance interfaith and intercultural peacebuilding through art, culture, and education. Its core asset is the Khalili Collections — eight distinct art collections of approximately 35,000 works (Islamic Art, Hajj & Pilgrimage, Japanese Meiji art and kimono, Enamels of the World, Swedish Textiles, Spanish Damascene Metalwork, and Aramaic Documents) assembled over five decades and documented across 120+ scholarly publications.

The foundation operates a portfolio of interconnected programmatic products: Interfaith Explorers (a UNESCO-supported free online learning resource for schools in 13 languages), Faith in the Commonwealth (a Global Citizenship Education partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat), the World Festival of Cultural Diversity (a year-round celebration culminating on UNESCO's World Day for Cultural Diversity), the Commonwealth Faith Festival, and the triennial Commonwealth Peace Prize (£50,000 award). Distribution is hybrid — free digital platforms self-served globally, plus institutional distribution through UNESCO, the Commonwealth, UNAOC, The King's Trust, Wikimedia UK, Google Arts & Culture, Europeana, and a network of universities and museums (Cambridge, Oxford, SOAS, Yale, Ashmolean, Asia Society). Cultural content is also disseminated through a Wikimedian-in-Residence programme (60+ million views on Wikimedia platforms) and publications (including Sir David Khalili's autobiography 'The Art of Peace').

Revenue is philanthropic rather than commercial: the foundation is funded by its founder and through donations and grants, employing a small staff (~5) to run a globally scaled mission. All programmatic outputs — educational resources, festival access, and most publications — are provided free to schools, charities, and libraries. Strategic priorities include climate resilience via the King's Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (founded October 2024) and UK domestic hate crime prevention via the Mosaic Initiative with The King's Trust (April 2025).

Name

Khalili Foundation

Legal name

Khalili Foundation

Website

https://khalili.foundation

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Khalili Foundation is a UK-registered charitable foundation founded in 1994 by Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili that uses its ~35,000-work Khalili Collections and cultural philanthropy programmes — Interfaith Explorers, Faith in the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Peace Prize, and the World Festival of Cultural Diversity — to advance interfaith and intercultural peacebuilding for schools, faith communities, cultural institutions, and youth globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Philanthropy and Heritage Education

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Cultural philanthropy
• Interfaith education
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Peacebuilding programmes
• Scholarly publications

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cultural Philanthropy and Foundation Grants: The Khalili Foundation operates as a charitable foundation that generates impact through cultural philanthropy—the act of giving and sharing through production and distribution of cultural knowledge. The foundation receives support from founder Sir David Khalili and generates revenue through endowment income, charitable donations, and grants to support its peacebuilding, educational, and cultural preservation initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Khalili Foundation is a charitable foundation that enables peacebuilding through art, culture, and education. It stewards the Khalili Collections—eight distinct art collections of approximately 35,000 works assembled over five decades—and delivers educational programmes such as Interfaith Explorers and Faith in the Commonwealth, events including the Commonwealth Faith Festival and World Festival of Cultural Diversity, and publications covering Islamic art, cultural diversity, and interfaith harmony. The foundation partners with UNESCO, the Commonwealth Secretariat, The King's Trust, and major universities and museums worldwide to deliver its programmes free of charge.

Product overview

The Khalili Foundation is a peacebuilding foundation that operates through a portfolio of interconnected cultural, educational, and advocacy programmes. The core offering includes the Khalili Collections—eight distinct art collections with approximately 35,000 works spanning Islamic Art, Hajj & Pilgrimage, Japanese Art, and more. Educational initiatives centre on Interfaith Explorers (a UNESCO-supported digital learning resource) and Faith in the Commonwealth (delivering Global Citizenship Education through university toolkits and youth workshops). The Foundation runs major annual events including the Commonwealth Faith Festival and World Festival of Cultural Diversity, and administers the Commonwealth Peace Prize. Cultural knowledge is shared through publications (The Art of Peace, Visions of Splendour, Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity), films (A Thousand Colours), and the Wikimedia Residency Programme. A new product, Top Trumps: Islamic Art, brings cultural education through play. The Foundation's work bridges cultural heritage preservation, interfaith harmony, and youth empowerment through art, culture, and education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Khalili Collections Eight distinct art collections totalling approximately 35,000 works of art, conserved, researched, catalogued and published over five decades, made available through the Khalili Collections website, Wikimedia platforms, Google Arts & Culture, and museum partnerships for scholars, educators, and the general public.
• Interfaith Explorers A free, UNESCO-supported digital learning resource supporting the delivery of Religious Education, PSHE and citizenship education in primary and secondary schools, enabling pupils to explore cultural diversity and interfaith understanding.
• Faith in the Commonwealth A joint initiative with the Commonwealth Secretariat delivering Global Citizenship Education and religious literacy through university toolkits and Youth Training of Trainers workshops across the Commonwealth.
• Commonwealth Faith Festival An annual festival fostering collaboration and understanding among youth, peacebuilding, faith, and community groups across the Commonwealth, featuring roundtable discussions and youth-driven initiatives.
• Commonwealth Peace Prize An award of £50,000 given every three years recognising outstanding individuals who contribute to global peacebuilding efforts within the Commonwealth.
• World Festival of Cultural Diversity A global, year-round celebration of cultural diversity created in association with UNESCO, culminating in the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity on 21st May, featuring events, exhibitions, film screenings, and partner activities worldwide.
• Wikimedia Residency Programme A residency programme placing a Wikimedian In Residence to promote the diversity of visual culture on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia sites by sharing images and research, and supporting students, researchers, and institutions to share knowledge on open-access platforms.
• The Art of Peace Sir David Khalili's autobiography sharing his collecting philosophy, business ethics, and motivation to collect, conserve, research, publish and exhibit treasures from the Khalili Collections.
• Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity Book A landmark book published on the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, featuring contributions from leading cultural figures, diplomats, scholars, faith leaders, and heads of international organisations.
• A Thousand Colours A film produced in association with UNESCO to mark the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, celebrating cultural diversity worldwide.
• Top Trumps: Islamic Art A card game featuring 30 cards showcasing artworks from the Khalili Collections, created in association with the Interfaith Explorers programme, blending history, innovation, and strategy for an educational experience.
• Visions of Splendour A book telling the story of Islamic civilisation through the art it produced, showcasing the contribution of Islamic art and culture to the world.
• Khalili Publications A catalogue series of over 120 publications documenting the Khalili Collections, personally edited by Sir Nasser D. Khalili with contributions from the world's leading experts, with 88+ volumes published.
• House of Peace An exhibition project featuring five large paintings by artist Ben Johnson offering different views of Jerusalem in all its diversity, expressing unity through art.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 social action activities have emerged from Youth Training of Trainers workshops, covering social cohesion, peace-building, education, gender equity, human rights and inter-faith dialogue
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• The King's TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Partnership through the Mosaic Initiative to combat hate crime through education. Together with The King's Trust, the foundation launches social integration and youth leadership projects to address the rise in hate crime across the United Kingdom.
• Wikimedia UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Wikimedia UK partnership to promote cultural diversity on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia sites. The foundation employs a Wikimedian In Residence and helps students, researchers, and institutions share knowledge. In 2025, the foundation won Wikimedia UK's Partnership of the Year award.
• King's Commonwealth Fellowship ProgrammemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024The Khalili Foundation was announced as the Founder Member of The King's Commonwealth Fellowship Programme at CHOGM 2024 in Samoa with His Majesty King Charles III. This multi-year commitment strengthens climate resilience in vulnerable small island nations.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022The Khalili Foundation collaborates with UNESCO to promote cultural diversity globally. Key initiatives include funding support for the Memory of the World programme, university endowments for diversity projects, the World Festival of Cultural Diversity, and the Interfaith Explorers programme. The foundation's Interfaith Explorers has been integrated into UNESCO's official Clearinghouse on Global Citizenship Education.
• United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022MoU signed at the 9th Global Forum in Fez, Morocco. Cooperation includes promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, fostering social inclusion, implementation of the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, and institutional cooperation for shared events and projects.
• Commonwealth SecretariatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Faith in the Commonwealth is a joint initiative between the Khalili Foundation and the Commonwealth Secretariat to deliver Global Citizenship Education and religious literacy. The partnership includes the Commonwealth Faith Festival, Youth Training of Trainers workshops, and the Commonwealth Peace Prize (award of £50,000 to peacebuilders every three years).
• Europeana FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Europeana to share and promote Europe's digital cultural heritage. The Khalili Foundation contributes editorial stories celebrating cultural diversity, with the foundation honoured to have helped reach the milestone of 1000 editorial stories on the platform.
• Google Arts & CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Google Arts & Culture to bring the Khalili Collections to global audiences through virtual exhibits and digital tours. Special festival sections spotlight cultural expressions worldwide on the GA&C platform.
• Aspen Institute UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Aspen Institute UK for the 'Designing for Diversity' webinar series exploring cultural diversity in different areas of modern life with leading thinkers and practitioners.
• University of CambridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through the Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development (CRSD) for deliberative space research and peacebuilding. Sir David Khalili is an Honorary Fellow at Cambridge. The foundation supports the CRSD's work on faith-inspired deliberation for peacebuilding.
• Oxford University (Kellogg College)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the inaugural human rights lecture series. Sir David Khalili hosted Ban Ki-moon at Kellogg College where he delivered the lecture on Human Rights in a Fractured World.
• Art UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt UK is the online home for every public art collection in the UK. The partnership supports democratizing access to art from the Khalili Collections.
• SOAS University of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGifts to SOAS University of London as part of cultural heritage donations. Sir David Khalili served as the longest-serving governor in SOAS history. Partnership includes the Faith in the Commonwealth initiative.
• Ashmolean Museum, OxfordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFine Meiji period Japanese Cloisonné masterpieces were presented to the Ashmolean Museum by Sir David and Lady Khalili in honour of His Majesty King Charles III.
• European Roma Institute of Arts and Culture (ERIAC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerERIAC participated in the World Festival of Cultural Diversity with two exhibitions: 'Gypsyism, Balkanism – Through a Glass, Darkly' in Belgrade and 'Emerging Talents – Spring Salon' in Berlin.
• The Sámi Museum (RiddoDuottarMuseat)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Sámi Museum in Karasjok participated in the World Festival of Cultural Diversity with a 360° virtual tour 'RUOKTOT – The Return of the Sámi Drums' for the World Day of Cultural Diversity.
• Makan Egyptian Centre for Culture & ArtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMakan participated in the World Festival of Cultural Diversity, sharing video content of Mazaher musicians and traditional Egyptian Zar music traditions.
• National Museum of AustraliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe National Museum of Australia participated in the World Festival of Cultural Diversity with 'Tapestry of Cultures' family festival celebrating cultures from around the world.
• Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques ChiracminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe museum participated in the World Festival of Cultural Diversity with the 'Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters' exhibition showcasing Australian Aboriginal songlines.
• BeepleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld-renowned digital artist Beeple donated an NFT 'Biological Collectible' for auction at the World Festival of Cultural Diversity. Proceeds went to UNESCO's efforts to support arts projects in developing countries.
• British LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Khalili Foundation demonstrated its commitment to democratising cultural heritage at the British Library conference 'Knowledge is Human: The Information Ecosystem in the age of AI'.
• Yale UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSir David Khalili spoke at Yale's International Leadership Center about the power of art to preserve shared cultural heritage. Partnership includes access to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
• Asia Society MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSir David Khalili visited the Asia Society in New York City to discuss cultural connectivity and toured the Madayin exhibition celebrating Aboriginal Australian bark paintings.
• Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council / American Jewish CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreakfast gathering hosted by the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council of the American Jewish Committee and The New York Public Library, bringing together senior business, religious and cultural leaders.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Henry Luce Foundation: Major US private foundation supporting cultural heritage, education, and interfaith understanding. Comparable founder-led foundation using arts, education, and religion as vehicles for civic and intercultural impact.
• Getty Foundation: Major private foundation supporting art scholarship, conservation, and cultural heritage. Operates alongside the J. Paul Getty Museum and Trust as a major institutional peer in cultural philanthropy and arts education.
• Aga Khan Museum: Museum in Toronto devoted to the arts and cultures of the Muslim world. Comparable in collections focus and educational mission, though operating as a museum rather than a foundation.
• British Council: UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Operates a global programme of cultural diplomacy, English education, and intercultural exchange — a much larger institutional analogue of the foundation's mandate.
• King's Trust: Major UK youth-focused charity with which the Khalili Foundation has a Mosaic Initiative partnership. A larger, more established peer in the youth/education/combatting-hate-crime space where the foundation is expanding.

Direct peers

• Aga Khan Foundation: Private foundation focused on cultural, educational, and development initiatives across the Muslim world and beyond. The most direct peer — both are founder-led private foundations using arts, culture, and education as vehicles for intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding.
• Aga Khan Trust for Culture: The cultural arm of the Aga Khan Development Network, focused on preservation of Islamic art and heritage. Directly comparable in operating cultural collections, archives, and educational programming around Muslim-world heritage.
• Barenboim-Said Foundation: Foundation founded by Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said using culture (music, education) to promote intercultural dialogue and peace. Highly comparable founder-led foundation model centred on culture as a peacebuilding vehicle.

Emerging players

• Anne Frank House: Museum and educational organisation using Anne Frank's legacy to promote intercultural dialogue, human rights, and interfaith understanding. Tightly comparable in mission of using culture/education to combat prejudice and foster peace.
• Institute for Cultural Diplomacy: International NGO focused on strengthening intercultural relations through cultural diplomacy. Operates in a similar thematic space (intercultural dialogue, peace education) but with a different programmatic model centred on forums and conferences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KhaliliGlobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/khalili-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/khalili_foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Khalili Foundation