What Sarvodaya USA does

Sarvodaya USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1987 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, with 18 employees. It functions as the US fundraising and program-support arm of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, a community-development movement founded in Sri Lanka in 1958 by Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne. Sarvodaya USA channels donations from US-based supporters into programs executed by the parent movement across approximately 15,400 villages spanning all districts of Sri Lanka, covering disaster preparedness, women's empowerment, youth entrepreneurship, peacebuilding, and education.

The organization's underlying technology footprint is modest and operational rather than platform-centric. Its most notable technical asset is the E-School Studio (e-iskole), an audio-visual recording studio used to produce educational content for rural distribution. Programmatic delivery relies on Sarvodaya's village-level network and partnerships with multilateral and private-sector organizations including USAID/OFDA (via ADPC), UNICEF, Expolanka Holdings, Georgetown Berkley Center, the Light Millennium, and the Stone Soup Leadership Institute. The organization has earned a Charity Navigator 4-star rating and holds a Candid Transparency Seal.

Sarvodaya USA's revenue model is donation-based, with fundraising conducted in the United States and programs executed in Sri Lanka. The organization discloses limited financial information; the only named funding figure in the available data is approximately $30,000 raised for COVID-19 relief. Governance is led by Chair John Coonrod, while the parent movement is now led by Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne following the April 2024 passing of founder Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne.

Name

Sarvodaya USA

Legal name

Sarvodaya USA

Website

https://sarvodayausa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sarvodaya USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Alexandria, Virginia, that raises donations in the United States to fund the Sri Lanka-based Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement's community development programs across approximately 15,400 villages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Development

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Response & Search-and-Rescue (SAR) (BPAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR) (BPADADAA), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

Keywords

• Community development programs
• Humanitarian disaster relief
• Nonprofit charitable fundraising
• International development aid
• Rural water sanitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Sarvodaya USA operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds from individual donors, monthly giving programs, and supporters to fund the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement's community development programs in Sri Lanka. The organization solicits donations through its website and direct appeals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sarvodaya USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds from donors in the United States to support the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement's community development work in Sri Lanka. Its offerings consist of humanitarian, development, and educational programs delivered through the parent movement, including water access, youth entrepreneurship, women's empowerment, disaster preparedness, emergency relief, food security, and e-learning resources. The organization does not sell products or services; it generates revenue through donations and channels those funds to program delivery in Sri Lanka.

Product overview

Sarvodaya USA is a non-profit humanitarian organization affiliated with the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement of Sri Lanka, founded in 1958 by Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne. The organization does not operate a unified technology product but rather offers a portfolio of community development programs and humanitarian services. Key offerings include: E-School Studio (e-iskole) for e-learning, the Tharunodaya Youth Entrepreneurship Program for youth economic empowerment, Women's Empowerment initiatives, Gravity Water Schemes for water conservation, Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Services, Food Security Programs, and the Artha Dharma National Development Initiative. The organization also maintains a Digital Library of Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne's Collected Works. These programs operate as distinct initiatives united by the mission of community-driven development through the Grama Swaraj philosophy of village self-governance, with a focus on grassroots empowerment across approximately 15,400 villages in Sri Lanka.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E-School Studio (e-iskole) An audio-visual recording studio for e-learning with green-screens, audio/video recording and editing facilities for creating live webinars, live chat, documentaries, and virtual training programs. Named e-iskole meaning 'e-school' in Sinhala. Used for educational content dissemination and virtual training.
• Tharunodaya Youth Entrepreneurship Program Youth entrepreneurship development project initiated in 2019 to develop capacities and increase financing opportunities for unemployed youth to engage in income-generating activities. Targets disadvantaged young men and women in rural areas, including women-headed families, conflict-affected people, veterans, and differently-abled youth. Has funded 160 young entrepreneurs and created 300+ new jobs.
• Women's Empowerment and Female Entrepreneurship Program (Sabrina Yusoof Women's Empowerment Initiative) Program providing training, skill development, education on business and financial aspects, loans, grants, and follow-up on progress for female entrepreneurs. Includes the Steve and Judy West Women's Enterprise Development Fund and the Sabrina Yusoof Women's Empowerment Initiative in partnership with Expolanka Holdings.
• Gravity Water Schemes and Water Conservation Programs Community water and sanitation program delivered through Sarvodaya Rural Technical Services Section, including 327 Gravity Water Schemes benefiting 24,141 families (147,103 people) over 25 years. Includes well construction, water collection facilities, village tank renovation, and rainwater harvesting.
• Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Services Emergency response services including disaster preparedness, cyclone recovery, COVID-19 relief, and crisis response for economic emergencies. Includes the 2026 Cyclone Ditwah recovery program and establishment of Intermediary Care Centers during health crises.
• Artha Dharma Initiative National initiative based on the philosophy of Economic and Moral Values (Artha Dharma) launched to redefine an integrated development action plan across Sri Lanka. Promotes economic independence, builds social capital, fosters decentralized systems, and empowers communities at the grassroots level.
• Food Security Program ('We are One' Campaign) Food security initiative addressing the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, including the 'We are One' campaign, food banks, community kitchens, home garden agriculture, and sustainable food sourcing. Partnership with Kimbula Kithul, a women-led small-holder farmer agri-food startup.
• Digital Library of Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne's Collected Works Digital library containing all 10 volumes of the collected works of founder Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne on people-centered strategies for community development. Scanned and posted through voluntary efforts.
• Disaster Preparedness Training (PEER Program) Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER) in partnership with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and supported by USAID/OFDA. Includes Community Action for Disaster Response (CADRE), Medical First Responders (MFR), Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR), and Hospital Preparedness for Emergencies (HOPE).
• COVID-19 Response and Healthcare Support Comprehensive COVID-19 response including emergency relief distribution, hygiene stations, quarantine centers, awareness campaigns, vaccination facilitation, and Intermediary Care Center operations (e.g., converting a training center in Thanamalwila into a 100-bed Intermediary Care Center).
• Livelihood Development for Migrant Workers Project supporting livelihood development for Sri Lankan migrant women returning from overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus on developing new livelihoods and economic independence for returning workers, addressing Sri Lanka's 1.8 million migrant population (34% women in low-skilled labor).

Quantifiable outcome

• 327 Gravity Water Schemes completed benefiting 24,141 families (147,103 people) over 25 years at total cost of Rs. 213,558,908
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Light MillenniumminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2024Light Millennium, a Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications, featured Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne as keynote speaker at their 4th Annual World Water Day International Panel on March 24, 2024.
• Stone Soup Leadership InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2022Collaboration between Stone Soup Leadership Institute and The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement to spread awareness of the Sri Lanka crisis and raise donations. Created a video with Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne's grandchildren carrying forward his message.
• Kimbula KithulminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2022Partnership between Sarvodaya and Kimbula Kithul, a women-led small-holder farmer supporting agri-food startup, for the 'Feed Fundraiser 4 Sri Lanka' and food security programs during the economic crisis.
• Expolanka HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2022Expolanka Holdings, a globally diversified conglomerate in Sri Lanka, partnered with Sarvodaya to utilize their expertise in women's empowerment. Expolanka launched the Sabrina Yusoof Women's Empowerment Initiative, aiming to create a more inclusive Sri Lanka through supporting female entrepreneurs.
• Institution of Engineers Sri LankaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2021Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne delivered the Sanmugam Arumugam Commemoration Centenary Oration and keynote addresses at the 32nd International Conference on Sustainable Development of Water Resources.
• Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2020ADPC, supported by USAID/OFDA, partnered with Sarvodaya for the Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER) since 1998. After 2 decades of implementation, Sri Lanka was recognized for Phase 5 of PEER focusing on disaster risk reduction and management.
• Georgetown University Berkley CenterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 August 2020Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs invited Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne for a Zoom webinar interview about Sarvodaya's COVID-19 response, recognizing the organization as a leading faith-inspired organization.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2020Sarvodaya partnered with UNICEF to form inter-religious groups addressing ethnic and religious gaps in society. The program aims to take these initiatives to grassroots level with UNICEF's support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WaterAid America: WaterAid America is the US affiliate of WaterAid, focused on clean water access, sanitation, and hygiene in low-income countries. Its emphasis on gravity-fed water schemes and rural water infrastructure directly parallels Sarvodaya's 327 gravity water schemes serving 147,103 people in Sri Lanka.
• BRAC USA: BRAC USA is the US fundraising affiliate of BRAC, the world's largest development NGO, operating across South Asia including programs that mirror Sarvodaya's microfinance, education, and community-empowerment focus. Both organizations are diaspora-rooted INGOs that channel US donor funds into South Asian grassroots community development.
• Aga Khan Foundation USA: Aga Khan Foundation USA is the US fundraising arm of the Aga Khan Development Network, focused on rural community development, disaster response, and education in South Asia and East Africa. Both organizations operate as US-based 501(c)(3) affiliates channeling donor funds into faith-inspired community development across the developing world.
• Grameen Foundation USA: Grameen Foundation USA channels donor funds into Grameen's microfinance and poverty-alleviation programs globally, with a comparable focus on entrepreneurship for disadvantaged women and rural communities. Like Sarvodaya USA, it is a US-based nonprofit affiliate supporting South Asian grassroots economic empowerment.

Broad incumbents

• Winrock International: Winrock International implements US-funded international development programs across agriculture, environment, and social inclusion globally. Its work on community empowerment, water resources, and rural livelihoods in Asia parallels several of Sarvodaya's program areas.
• Direct Relief: Direct Relief is a major US humanitarian aid organization providing emergency medical assistance and disaster relief globally. Its emergency response capabilities and Sri Lanka engagement during crises make it broadly comparable to Sarvodaya's disaster response and COVID-19 intermediary care center work.
• Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a major global humanitarian organization with deep operations in crisis response, economic recovery, and community resilience programs in Sri Lanka and across Asia. It is comparable to Sarvodaya in disaster response and community development focus but operates at much greater institutional scale.
• Heifer International: Heifer International is a large established INGO operating rural community development programs with an emphasis on sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurship globally. It shares Sarvodaya's model of community-led rural development, though it operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity is a major US-headquartered INGO focused on housing, water/sanitation, and community resilience globally. Its community-led development approach and Sri Lanka presence make it broadly comparable to Sarvodaya's grassroots village-level programming.
• ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) International: ADRA is a faith-inspired global humanitarian organization operating community development, disaster response, and food security programs in Sri Lanka and across Asia. It shares Sarvodaya's faith-inspired community development orientation and disaster preparedness focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sarvodayalanka
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/pcusarvodaya
• Facebookfacebook.com/sarvodayausa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sarvodaya-usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Sarvodaya USA