Suraj Foundation

What Suraj Foundation does

Suraj Foundation is a Mumbai-based non-profit organization operating in the cultural and social impact sector across India, the UK, and the US. Its work is structured around three programmatic pillars — Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion — delivered through arts, music, vocational training, and high-profile cultural events. The foundation's primary beneficiaries are Indigenous and Folk artists seeking platforms for cultural preservation, marginalized youth in Northeast India and other underserved regions requiring livelihood and skilling support, and diverse cross-cultural communities engaged through inclusion and empathy programs.

The foundation does not operate a technology product or platform; rather, its core delivery mechanisms are live cultural events (e.g., the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika centenary tribute at NCPA Mumbai in August 2025 and 'Symphony of Northeast' at Bharat Mandapam in December 2024 witnessed by the Prime Minister), workshops, multimedia music and dance performances, and community-based vocational training. Content is anchored by Chief Curator Sunita Bhuyan, an internationally acclaimed violinist and the first to interpret Assamese folk music on the classical violin (Times Music album 'Bihu Strings', 2012), with Director Surajit Bhuyan overseeing implementation of community and skilling programs that have reached 10,000+ rural youth, especially women in Northeast India, and Director KB Rajendran contributing corporate, technology, and entrepreneurship mentoring expertise.

The business model is donation- and charitable-contribution-based with no commercial pricing, products, or paying customers disclosed. Distribution is achieved through direct community engagement, partnerships with cultural institutions (NCPA Mumbai), international festivals (Paddy Fields, Kala Ghoda, Glasgow, Edinburgh), government bodies (High Commission of India in the UK), and corporate co-presenters (Great Manager Institute). The organization operates with a small team of approximately seven employees.

Name

Suraj Foundation

Legal name

Suraj Foundation

Website

https://surajfoundation.in

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Suraj Foundation is a Mumbai-based non-profit that delivers Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion programs through arts, music, and vocational training, serving Indigenous folk artists, marginalized youth in Northeast India, and cross-cultural communities across India, UK, and US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural and Arts Nonprofit

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Nonprofit cultural programs
• Arts and culture initiatives
• Diversity and inclusion
• Folk music preservation
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Suraj Foundation is a non-profit organization that creates healing platforms through arts, music, and culture, operating across three pillars — Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion. The Foundation conserves Indian heritage by supporting Indigenous and Folk artists, curates live events such as the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika centenary tribute and 'Symphony of Northeast' at Bharat Mandapam, and runs vocational training programs for marginalized youth. It works across India, the UK, and the US to deliver cultural programming and grassroots community impact initiatives.

Product overview

Suraj Foundation is a nonprofit organization that offers three interconnected program areas focused on Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion. The Culture Programs serve as a platform for Indigenous and Folk artists, conserving Indian heritage through multimedia performances and international showcases. Diversity Programs engage underserved youth in cultural activities and support talent development for sustainable livelihoods. Inclusion Programs provide vocational training and livelihood opportunities for marginalized communities. Together, these programs create healing platforms through arts, music, and culture to foster unity and positive change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Culture Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Impacted lives of more than 10,000 rural youth, especially women in Northeast India through sustainable livelihood programs

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Great Manager InstitutecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 August 2025Great Manager Institute partnered with Suraj Foundation to present the monumental tribute heralding Dr. Bhupen Hazarika's centenary. The star-studded evening at NCPA, Mumbai celebrated the legend's powerful legacy of unity and humanism through his timeless music. This partnership represents a key co-marketing initiative for cultural programming.
• National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), MumbaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCPA Mumbai served as the venue partner for Suraj Foundation's Dr. Bhupen Hazarika centenary tribute event. NCPA is India's premier performing arts institution, making this partnership significant for establishing credibility and reaching discerning cultural audiences.
• Paddy Fields FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuraj Foundation's Chief Curator Sunita Bhuyan contributes expertise to renowned festivals such as Paddy Fields, positioning the foundation within India's prominent folk and world music festival circuit.
• Kala Ghoda Arts FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuraj Foundation participates in the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, one of India's most prestigious multi-disciplinary arts festivals, as part of its cultural programming and visibility initiatives.
• High Commission of India in the UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuraj Foundation's cultural initiatives including participation in Glasgow Music Festival and Edinburgh Music Festival are supported through engagement with the High Commission of India in the UK, extending the foundation's reach to diaspora communities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Culture Fund, Ministry of Culture (Government of India): Government trust fund that channels corporate and institutional contributions toward cultural heritage projects. Operates in the same cultural-funding space as Suraj Foundation but as a public-sector incumbent.
• Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA): Government of India autonomous institution engaged in research, documentation, preservation and dissemination of Indian arts and culture. Comparable mission scope at much larger scale as a public-sector incumbent.
• British Council (India): UK's international organization for cultural relations, running arts, education and inclusion programs in India. Comparable as a cultural diplomacy and cross-border arts programming operator referenced in Suraj Foundation's UK partnerships.

Regional players

• Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters): India's national academy of letters promoting Indian literature and languages across regions. Tangentially comparable as a publicly-supported cultural promotion body but focused on literature rather than performing/folk arts.

Others

• Saregama India: India's oldest music label and a division of RPG Group, owner of a large catalogue of Indian music IP including folk and classical recordings. Comparable as a distribution/IP vehicle for Indian music, especially given Suraj Foundation's connection to Times Music's 'Bihu Strings' album.

Direct peers

• Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art (FICA): New Delhi-based nonprofit that platforms contemporary art, runs residencies, grants and public programming. Comparable as a grantmaking/curatorial arts nonprofit with a similar pillar-based programming approach.
• Raza Foundation: Mumbai-based foundation established by artist S.H. Raza supporting Indian visual arts and cultural initiatives. Comparable as a Mumbai-anchored cultural nonprofit working on heritage preservation and artist support.
• SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth): India's largest volunteer movement promoting Indian classical music, dance and culture among youth through events, workshops and school programs. Directly comparable to Suraj Foundation's Culture pillar work with folk/indigenous artists and youth-focused cultural programming.
• India Foundation for the Arts (IFA): Bengaluru-based arts grantmaking foundation supporting research, practice and education across Indian arts. Comparable grantmaking and capacity-building nonprofit serving the Indian cultural ecosystem.
• Seagull Foundation for the Arts: Kolkata-based nonprofit publishing house and arts foundation that supports performing arts, music, and visual arts through documentation and programming. Comparable nonprofit cultural-promotion model targeting Indian heritage preservation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=_Y4n3Hj68QQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surajfoundation

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 Suraj Foundation