Batani

What Batani does

Batani is the International Indigenous Fund for Development and Solidarity, a non-governmental organization founded in 2004 as an initiative of indigenous peoples themselves to organize development programs and protect the rights of indigenous communities in Russia's North, Siberia, and Far East. The organization developed tools and mechanisms for negotiations between indigenous communities and extractive-industry actors and promoted international cooperation among indigenous peoples of Russia, the US, Canada, Norway, Bolivia, and other countries. After being designated a foreign agent by the Russian government in 2015 and liquidated by Moscow city court in 2017, the organization was re-established in the United States in 2018 by exiled staff who obtained political asylum in the US, Norway, and Sweden.

Batani's programmatic portfolio comprises six workstreams: the Indigenous Leadership Exchange Program (facilitating connections between Russian indigenous activists and international bodies); the Indigenous Rights Awareness Program (supporting indigenous media and information exchange); Indigenous Rights Watch (documenting criminalization of indigenous rights defenders, implemented via the Indigenous Peoples Rights International coalition); the Indigenous Russia Information Agency (an independent media outlet of indigenous peoples of Russia's North, Siberia, and Far East); the Indigenous Tube YouTube channel (talk-show format interviews hosted by Pavel Sulyandziga and Dmitry Berezhkov); and Financial Sustainability Programs (introducing financial instruments using IT solutions and global fundraising capacity for indigenous communities). Distribution runs through direct community partnerships, supported indigenous media platforms, and advocacy at UN mechanisms including the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, EMRIP, the Arctic Council, and the European Parliament.

Batani's business model is community-led: the organization raises funds through charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting indigenous rights, and through grants, with no commercial products or pricing structure. Its donor base and grant pipeline are not publicly disclosed. Key partners include Arctic Consult (Norwegian legal and economic advisory), Indigenous Peoples Rights International, ICIPR, the Lummi Nation (host of the April 2025 Orcas Island conference), Aborigen Forum, and the Center for the Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North in Moscow. The organization operates from Yarmouth, United States, with a staff headcount of 1–10, and as of May 13, 2025 has been declared an "undesirable" organization by the Russian Prosecutor General's Office, further restricting its operating space inside Russia.

Name

Batani

Legal name

International Indigenous Fund for Development and Solidarity Batani

Website

https://batani.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Batani is a US-registered nonprofit (originally founded 2004 in Russia) that supports indigenous communities—primarily in Russia's North, Siberia, and Far East—through leadership exchanges, rights documentation, independent media (Indigenous Russia, Indigenous Tube), and international advocacy at UN bodies and indigenous coalitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

Keywords

• Indigenous rights advocacy
• Nonprofit development fund
• Indigenous community support
• Human rights documentation
• Indigenous media platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Yarmouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Batani raises funds through charitable donations from individuals and organizations who support indigenous rights causes. The organization solicits support through its website and public appeals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Batani is a nonprofit indigenous rights fund that runs programs supporting indigenous communities through leadership exchanges, awareness/media support, human rights documentation (Indigenous Rights Watch), indigenous-led media outlets (Indigenous Russia, Indigenous Tube), and financial sustainability initiatives. The organization operates through international cooperation, advocacy at UN and other international bodies, and direct partnerships with indigenous communities, primarily focused on indigenous peoples of the Russian North, Siberia, and Far East.

Product overview

Batani is a non-profit organization (International Indigenous Fund for Development and Solidarity) that operates multiple programs supporting indigenous peoples' rights, not a traditional technology product company. Its offerings include: the Indigenous Leadership Exchange Program facilitating international connections for indigenous activists; the Indigenous Rights Awareness Program supporting media and information exchange; Indigenous Rights Watch documenting rights violations; the Indigenous Russia media agency providing independent news coverage; the Indigenous Tube YouTube channel hosting interviews on indigenous rights; and Financial Sustainability Programs helping communities develop sustainable funding mechanisms. The organization also produces publications including the Batani strategy document, green economy booklet, and just transition materials. These programs work together to promote human rights, environmental protection, and international cooperation among indigenous communities, particularly in Russia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indigenous Leadership Exchange Program A program supporting indigenous rights activists and community leaders from Russia in establishing contacts with indigenous communities, human rights organizations, international bodies, and development organizations abroad, providing resources and logistics for exchanges and international event participation.
• Indigenous Rights Awareness Program An information program supporting indigenous peoples media in Russia and other countries, promoting information exchange among indigenous activists in social media, developing IP community web-pages, and publishing case studies and analytical reports on indigenous rights.
• Indigenous Rights Watch A program implemented in Russia as part of the Indigenous Peoples Rights International coalition, supporting indigenous activists and researchers in documenting and publicizing indigenous rights violations and criminalization of indigenous leaders.
• Indigenous Russia Information Agency An independent media outlet of indigenous peoples of the Russian North, Siberia and the Far East, run by indigenous activists inside and outside Russia, raising awareness on indigenous issues including traditional culture, economy, languages, sustainable development, climate change, and negotiations with extractive industry.
• Indigenous Tube Channel A Russian YouTube channel featuring interviews with indigenous activists, experts, analysts, and politicians on indigenous peoples' rights issues, including rights on lands, resources, and self-determination, hosted by Pavel Sulyandziga and Dmitry Berezhkov.
• Financial Sustainability Programs for Indigenous Communities Programs providing financial sustainability for indigenous communities through new financial instruments using IT solutions, global fundraising for indigenous sustainable development initiatives, and education of indigenous leaders in financial management and fundraising.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Arctic ConsultcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Norwegian consulting company providing legal and economic advice to indigenous communities. The first Cooperation Agreement was signed with Arctic Consult when Batani was newly established in 2018. Arctic Consult assists Batani in its mission to support indigenous peoples' rights.
• Indigenous Peoples Rights InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal coalition initiated in 2019 to respond to the global crisis of attacks on and criminalization of Indigenous Peoples rights defenders. Co-founded by Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (former UN Special Rapporteur) and Joan Carling (former UN Permanent Forum member). Batani Foundation is a member and implements the Indigenous Rights Watch program within this coalition.
• International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICIPR was created after Russia's invasion of Ukraine to state that not all indigenous peoples support the regime and aggressive war. Batani co-organizes events and initiatives with ICIPR, including the historic Orcas Island conference in April 2025.
• Lummi NationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lummi Nation hosted the historic international conference on Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and Russian Far East on their traditional lands in April 2025. The conference concluded with a visit to the Lummi Nation reservation, marking a first step toward building a lasting partnership between Indigenous peoples of Russia and the United States.
• Aborigen ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-formal network of indigenous peoples leaders and experts of the Russian North, Siberia and the Far East. Batani cooperates with Aborigen Forum in preparing annual and thematic Indigenous Rights Watch reports on indigenous peoples rights in Russia.
• Center for the Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North in MoscowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert organization in Moscow that Batani cooperates with in preparing annual and thematic reports on indigenous peoples rights in Russia.
• Indigenous Russia PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent media outlet of indigenous peoples of the Russian North, Siberia and the Far East. Batani Foundation supports this project by providing funds and technical advice. Co-organizer of the historic Orcas Island conference.
• Russian-Speaking America for Democracy in RussiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil society organization that co-organized the historic international conference on Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Russian Far East held on Orcas Island in April 2025.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA): International NGO that supports indigenous peoples' rights through documentation, advocacy, and cooperation with UN mechanisms. Highly comparable to Batani's work at the UN Permanent Forum and EMRIP.
• Cultural Survival: US-based nonprofit advocating for indigenous peoples' rights, self-determination, and cultural preservation globally. Directly comparable to Batani in mission, funding model (donations/grants), and advocacy at UN and international fora.
• First Peoples Worldwide: Indigenous-led organization supporting indigenous economic self-determination and culturally appropriate development. Comparable to Batani's Financial Sustainability Programs and indigenous-led development model.
• Forest Peoples Programme: International NGO supporting forest-dependent indigenous peoples' rights to land, resources, and self-determination. Comparable to Batani's work on FPIC, extractive industries, and indigenous-business negotiation.
• Survival International: Global movement for the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples, focused on land defense, advocacy, and public campaigning. Closely comparable to Batani's indigenous rights advocacy and international media-driven approach.
• Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI): Global coalition founded by former UN Special Rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and Joan Carling to protect indigenous rights defenders. Batani is a member coalition partner implementing the Indigenous Rights Watch program.
• Amazon Watch: NGO protecting the Amazon rainforest and advancing indigenous rights in the Amazon Basin. Comparable to Batani in indigenous-led environmental advocacy, media campaigns, and direct support to community organizations.
• Sámi Council: International Sámi non-governmental organization working on indigenous rights, self-determination, and Arctic issues. Comparable to Batani in coordinating cross-border indigenous advocacy and participating in UN/Arctic Council processes.
• Tebtebba Foundation: Indigenous peoples' organization focused on policy advocacy, climate justice, and indigenous knowledge systems at the UN. Comparable to Batani in advocacy on just transition and climate change affecting indigenous communities.

Broad incumbents

• Amnesty International: Large global human rights organization with a dedicated indigenous peoples' rights portfolio. Shares Batani's UN advocacy and human rights documentation approach but operates at vastly greater scale and scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Maria_Vyushkova/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/BataniFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/batani

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 Batani