NIVAS

What NIVAS does

NIVAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 and headquartered at the Posner Center for International Development in Denver, Colorado, with all operations in Nepal. The organization builds disaster-resilient homes for women-led families (single mothers, widows, and grandmothers) living in extreme poverty, applying a five-step methodology: Identify, Advocate, Train, Build, and Grow. Its core outputs are permanent, legally-titled homes (land registered in women's names), construction-skills training, vocational and livelihood training (goat farming, small retail, home businesses), and a Land and Housing Literacy Curriculum that was formally adopted by the Government of Nepal for nationwide dissemination in 2025.

Its underlying construction technology is context-adaptive rather than software-based: earthquake and flood-resistant techniques spanning fired brick, interlocking block, cut stone, and a pilot of Compressed Stabilized Earth Block (CSEB) that can be manufactured on-site. The organization describes itself as a community-led nonprofit that depends on local implementing partners (Tukee Foundation, Rural Women Development Center, Inclusive Designers & Builders) for field delivery and on local governments (multiple rural municipalities, Land Problem Resolving Commission, District Survey Office Banke) for policy alignment. As of 2025, it operates across 11 communities in Central and Western Nepal, has served 2,543+ people in 17 communities cumulatively, and built 40 homes for women-led families in FY2025.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable channels: individual donations, corporate partnerships and event sponsorships (annual gala tiers from $500-$10,000 with a matching fund), foundation grants, and a project-level donation storefront that sells materials or whole homes at $5,500-$8,500 per unit (website) or $6,500-$8,500 per the structured data. FY2025 fundraising totaled nearly $300,000 from 165 individual, business, and foundation donors. The organization runs lean, with 12 employees and a volunteer-heavy board and advisory structure; there is no equity, no institutional investment, and no subsidiary entities.

Name

NIVAS

Legal name

NIVAS

Website

https://nivas-built.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 that builds disaster-resilient, land-titled homes for women-led families in extreme poverty in Nepal, integrating construction training, livelihood support, and a nationally adopted Land and Housing Literacy curriculum across 11 communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Housing & Community Development Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Residential Building Construction (23611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Post-Disaster Whole-Home Rebuild (Fire/Water/Storm) (HSAPAEAH), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAG)

Keywords

• Disaster-resilient housing
• Nonprofit housing construction
• Women-led homeownership
• Land rights training
• Rural livelihood programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to fund home construction, family sponsorship, and general operations. NIVAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 46-3976971.
2. Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorship: Business partnerships where companies sponsor specific construction trades, materials, or programs. Industry partners cover materials and installation for trades like concrete, roofing, and electrical.
3. Annual Event Fundraiser: Annual fundraising event with tiered sponsorships (Diamond $10,000, Platinum $5,000, Gold $2,500, Silver $1,000, Bronze $500). Sponsors create matching fund to double donations.
4. Foundation & Institutional Grants: Funding from foundations and institutional donors. In FY2025, 165 individuals, businesses, and foundations invested nearly $300,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NIVAS builds disaster-resilient homes for women-led families in Nepal through its 5-Step Methodology (Identify, Advocate, Train, Build, Grow), providing land acquisition support, earthquake- and flood-resilient construction, vocational training, and seed capital for home-based businesses. The organization also delivers a Land and Housing Literacy Curriculum that was adopted nationwide by the Government of Nepal.

Product overview

NIVAS is a nonprofit organization (501(c)3) focused on ending homelessness for vulnerable families in Nepal, particularly women-led households. The organization operates a holistic housing program combining home construction, land rights advocacy, vocational training, and livelihood support. The core offering consists of the 5-Step Methodology (Identify, Advocate, Train, Build, Grow) which guides families from identification through homeownership and business development. Additional programs include Land and Housing Rights Training (adopted nationally by the Government of Nepal), Livelihood Training, Construction Training, Project Ascend (everest fundraising initiative), and Annual Event Sponsorship. NIVAS serves communities across Nepal including Nuwakot, Saptari, Damku, and Taksindu.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Home Construction Program
• Land and Housing Rights Training
• Construction Training Program
• Livelihood and Income Generation Training

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,543+ people have safe housing across 17 communities
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered visionary partner, industry partner, core implementing partner, implementing partner, event partner, technical partner, policy partner and local government partner.

• Inhabit Denvervisionary partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate team specializing in property flips. Their partnership follows a 1:1 impact model where each home sold in Denver sponsors a home in Nepal, expressing their belief in HOME as meaningful space for people in both Denver and Nepal.
• MG.AEC Technologyvisionary partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEC community partner building partnerships that enrich economic prosperity. Major supporters of NIVAS's work, believing all people benefit from the beauty, stability, and safety of good buildings and infrastructure.
• Applewoodindustry partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily-owned service company since 1973 serving Colorado communities. Supports NIVAS efforts to house families globally, believing everyone deserves a safe haven where they can thrive.
• Western Mechanical Solutionsindustry partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded 2007 by Michael Fulton P.E., focused on high quality, energy efficient products and sustainable heating/cooling. Serves as NIVAS's Sustainability & Climate Resilience Partner, helping innovate adaptive solutions for home building based on founder's experience in Nepal.
• Tesla Electric Companyindustry partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPassionate about powering homes and building strong communities. Proud to sponsor complete electrical packages supporting NIVAS's mission for single mothers, enabling families to work, study, and feel safe.
• Tukee Foundationcore implementing partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing and community partner in Central Nepal. Leads construction management and community engagement for NIVAS home building programs.
• Rural Women Development Center (RWDC)core implementing partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFounded 1994 by Aasmani Chaudhary, RWDC reaches 100,000+ rural women through microfinance and income-generating programs. Partners in Western Nepal advancing land rights, gender equity, and indigenous women's leadership.
• Inclusive Designers & Buildersimplementing partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing and community partner contributing to NIVAS's housing programs.
• MetLife Nepalevent partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with NIVAS in September 2025 for a volunteer Build Day in Dang, bringing together local leaders, women construction trainees, municipal officials, and MetLife staff to begin construction for women-led families.
• Land Management Training Centertechnical partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical and institutional partner strengthening housing systems, policy alignment, and long-term impact through expertise in land management.
• Government of Nepal - Land Problem Resolving Commissionpolicy partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body partnered with NIVAS on land and housing advocacy efforts to strengthen systems protecting women's access to land.
• District Survey Office Banketechnical partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government office supporting NIVAS's land and housing advocacy initiatives.
• MOLCPAtechnical partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical and institutional partner contributing to NIVAS's work on housing systems and policy.
• Gadhawa Rural Municipalitylocal government partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Nepal supporting NIVAS programs and community engagement.
• Manahari Rural Municipalitylocal government partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Nepal supporting NIVAS programs and community engagement.
• Rajpur Rural Municipalitylocal government partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Nepal supporting NIVAS programs and community engagement.
• Raksirang Rural Municipalitylocal government partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Nepal supporting NIVAS programs and community engagement.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian and development organization with active programming in Nepal across livelihoods, water/sanitation, and灾后 recovery. Comparable to NIVAS in operating geography and integrated livelihood/housing programming, though Mercy Corps is much larger and broader in scope.
• World Vision: Large international humanitarian organization running child-focused community development and disaster response programs in Nepal. Comparable to NIVAS in operating in vulnerable Nepal communities and integrating shelter, livelihoods, and child welfare objectives.
• CARE International: Major international humanitarian organization with Nepal programs targeting women's empowerment, economic justice, and灾后 recovery. Comparable to NIVAS in focus on women-led households, land rights advocacy, and integrated livelihoods.
• Heifer International: Global nonprofit working to end hunger and poverty through livestock and sustainable agriculture, with deep Nepal presence. Comparable to NIVAS in Nepal operations, focus on women-led households, and livelihood-plus-asset approach (e.g., goat farming featured in NIVAS program).

Direct peers

• Build Change: Build Change designs and builds disaster-resilient houses in developing countries, including post-2015 Nepal earthquake reconstruction. Directly comparable to NIVAS in mission, beneficiary profile (low-income homeowners in disaster-prone regions), and disaster-resilient construction methodology.
• Habitat for Humanity: Global nonprofit building and improving homes for low-income families, with active programs in Nepal. Comparable to NIVAS in building permanent owner-occupied housing for vulnerable families, volunteer mobilization, and homeowner partnership model.
• All Hands and Hearts: Volunteer-powered disaster relief organization providing immediate and long-term rebuilding for communities affected by natural disasters. Comparable to NIVAS in post-disaster reconstruction mission and use of volunteer and homeowner labor models.
• SBP (formerly St. Bernard Project): Nonprofit focused on disaster recovery and resilient rebuilding for underserved communities in the U.S. and internationally. Comparable to NIVAS in disaster-resilient reconstruction, homeowner engagement, and community-led approach.
• ShelterBox: International disaster relief charity providing emergency shelter and essential items to families displaced by disasters and conflict. Comparable to NIVAS in disaster response focus and beneficiary overlap, though ShelterBox focuses on emergency/temporary shelter rather than permanent reconstruction.

Others

• Engineers Without Borders USA: Nonprofit mobilizing engineers to build infrastructure in developing communities, including post-disaster housing (e.g., Typhoon Yolanda response). Closely comparable via advisory board connection (Gerard Dalziel, retired Chief Engineer) and shared mission of engineering-enabled disaster recovery, though EWB is a volunteer engineering services body rather than a direct service housing provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/stories/highlights/18069986351594800
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nivas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 NIVAS