What Koru Foundation does

Koru Foundation is a registered non-profit organization headquartered in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India, that operates four integrated grassroots programmes addressing environmental sustainability, educational inequity, and menstrual health. Founded as a registered charity (with operational claim of 5+ years of grassroots impact) and operating with a lean team of approximately 12 employees supported by volunteers, fellows, and college ambassadors, the foundation works directly with schools, communities, and changemakers across India. Its core programmes are Project Sanjeevani (zero-waste education through Recycle Stations installed in schools, waste segregation systems, and community cleaning drives), Project Udaan (remedial education for underprivileged government school students in Standards 5-8 lacking foundational literacy and numeracy), Project Saathi (menstrual health — distributing eco-friendly compostable pads and running awareness sessions to break taboos), and Project Saar (a sustainable marketplace selling 17+ eco-friendly everyday products via the Koru Eco Shop e-commerce storefront).

The foundation's business model blends donation-funded programme delivery, corporate and government partnerships (Tata Group, NIT Jamshedpur, Forest Department Jharkhand, Mango Nagar Nigam, Buddy4Study), and cross-subsidization through Project Saar e-commerce revenue. Donations are structured into tiered giving options (₹500 to ₹25,000) tied to specific programmatic outcomes, with 91% of funds reportedly directed to programmes, and payments are processed through Razorpay. The Eco Shop sells products ranging from ₹15 (plantable seed pens) to ₹850 (AquaSave water conservation tanks), with cumulative sales of ₹50L+ since inception across personal care, home/cleaning, lifestyle, and stationery categories. Distribution operates as direct-to-consumer e-commerce plus field-based programme delivery to schools, residential societies, and underserved communities — with no intermediary distribution layer.

Customer segments span four groups: underserved government schools and communities (primary programme beneficiaries receiving zero-waste and remedial education), girls and women in underserved communities (menstrual health products and pads), conscious consumers (eco-shop retail buyers), and hotels, businesses, and institutions (sustainable B2B supplies). Geographic reach extends across 12 Indian states. Documented outcomes include 64,000+ students with direct Recycle Station access, 155,000+ kg of waste diverted from landfills, 2,400+ remedial-education beneficiaries, 8,000+ eco-friendly pads distributed, 4,200 trees planted, and 12,000 lives impacted in 2024 alone. The organization is not a technology platform; its infrastructure centres on community engagement, programmatic execution, and a small e-commerce storefront.

Name

Koru Foundation

Legal name

Koru Foundation

Website

https://thekorufoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Koru Foundation is a Jamshedpur, India-based non-profit operating four grassroots programmes — zero-waste education, remedial education, menstrual health, and eco-friendly products — serving underserved schools, communities, and conscious consumers across 12 Indian states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit community development and environmental education services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Zero-waste education
• Remedial education programmes
• Menstrual health initiatives
• Eco-friendly product retail
• Community development non-profit

Headquarters

HQ city

Jamshedpur

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations funding four active programmes. 91% of funds go directly to programme delivery. Offers specific donation tiers tied to programme outcomes.
2. Eco Product Sales (Project Saar): E-commerce sales of sustainable everyday products including personal care, home & cleaning, and stationery items. 100% of proceeds fund grassroots initiatives.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with corporate entities providing funding and support for programmes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Koru Foundation is a registered Indian non-profit that runs four grassroots social impact programmes—Project Sanjeevani (zero-waste education and Recycle Stations in schools), Project Udaan (remedial literacy and numeracy classes for underprivileged government school students), and Project Saathi (menstrual health awareness and eco-friendly pad distribution)—and operates Project Saar, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store selling sustainable everyday products (bamboo toothbrushes, jute bags, organic pads, plantable pens, etc.) whose proceeds fund the foundation's community programmes.

Product overview

Koru Foundation operates four core social impact programmes: Project Sanjeevani (zero-waste education and Recycle Stations in schools), Project Udaan (remedial education for underprivileged students), Project Saathi (menstrual health and eco-friendly pads distribution), and Project Saar (eco-friendly product marketplace). The organization functions as a non-profit with a social commerce component — the Eco Shop (Project Saar) sells sustainable everyday products including personal care items (bamboo toothbrushes, tongue scrapers, combs, loofah sponges, organic sanitary pads), home/cleaning products (coconut coir scrub pads, water conservation tanks, stainless steel travel cups), bags/lifestyle items (jute bags, rice husk mugs, coffee husk mugs), and stationery/gifts (plantable seed pens, tree-free diaries). Every purchase from the eco shop directly funds the NGO's grassroots programmes. The organization is not a technology platform but rather a community-focused non-profit with educational and environmental initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project Sanjeevani: Zero-waste education program embedding environmental philosophy in schools through Recycle Stations, compost plants, and student-managed systems.
• Project Udaan
• Project Saathi
• Project Saar
• Koru Store / Eco Shop

Products and services

• Project Sanjeevani Zero-waste education programme that embeds environmental philosophy in schools through Recycle Stations, compost plants, and student-managed waste segregation systems, targeting government schools, residential societies, and communities across India.
• Project Udaan Remedial education programme providing foundational literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning to government school students from Standard 5 to 8 who lack basic reading and arithmetic skills, delivered through volunteer tutors.
• Project Saathi Menstrual health programme that distributes eco-friendly compostable sanitary pads and runs awareness sessions in schools and communities to break menstrual taboos and restore dignity for girls and women in underserved areas.
• Project Saar Eco Shop Own-brand e-commerce marketplace and sustainability programme selling affordable eco-friendly everyday products (personal care, home cleaning, stationery, lifestyle) with all proceeds funding Koru Foundation's grassroots community programmes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64,000+ students have direct access to Recycle Stations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered moderate.

• Buddy4StudymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation-focused partner providing support for underprivileged student initiatives and scholarship/education programmes.
• Anandi OrganicmoderateTechnology or IntegrationProduct partnership supplying organic compostable menstrual pads for Project Saathi distribution.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Akshaya Patra Foundation: Large-scale Indian NGO with school-linked programme delivery and corporate-partner-led funding model. Comparable in structure to Koru Foundation as an India-focused, donor/CSR-driven multi-state NGO.
• Sulabh International: Large Indian NGO operating across sanitation, hygiene, and dignity programmes. Comparable in combining grassroots sanitation/hygiene with environment and education, similar in mission breadth to Koru Foundation's sanitation-and-dignity oriented Project Saathi.
• CRY (Child Rights and You): One of India's largest children's rights NGOs running education, health, and welfare programmes. Comparable in multi-programme structure and India-wide grassroots delivery model to Koru's Project Udaan remedial-education focus.

Regional players

• Hasirudala (Hasiru Dala): Karnataka-based waste management and livelihoods NGO focused on source segregation, composting, and waste-picker welfare. Comparable mission-wise to Koru but with a regional (South India) focus versus Koru's Jharkhand base.

Direct peers

• Goonj: India's largest grassroots NGO focused on urban waste (clothing/textiles) and recycling, channeling redistribution to underserved communities. Directly comparable to Koru's Sanjeevani zero-waste and Saathi dignity-led programmes in terms of community-driven waste-to-impact model.
• Saahas (Waste Management Social Enterprise): India-based social enterprise tackling solid waste management, school composting, and source-segregation infrastructure. Closely comparable to Koru's Recycle Station footprint and zero-waste curriculum delivery.
• Waste Warriors Society: Indian NGO focused on sustainable waste management, segregation education in schools, and community clean-up drives. Highly comparable to Koru Foundation's Project Sanjeevani programme and Recycle Station model.

Emerging players

• Daily Dump: India-based sustainable social enterprise selling composting and waste-management consumer products. Comparable in commercial eco-product positioning to Koru's Project Saar eco-shop.
• Boondh (Menstrual Health NGO): India-focused menstrual health and hygiene non-profit tackling taboos and access to safe products in underserved communities. Directly comparable to Koru's Project Saathi programme.
• Bare Necessities Zero Waste Solutions: Indian social impact e-commerce retailer of zero-waste personal care and home products, with a social mission. Comparable to Project Saar's eco-shop with its dual social/commercial model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-koru-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Koru Foundation