What Vanke Foundation does

Vanke Foundation is a national non-public fundraising foundation established in 2008 and initiated by Vanke Co., Ltd., one of China's largest real estate developers. Headquartered in Shenzhen, the foundation focuses on climate action, sustainable community development, biodiversity conservation, and education. As of December 31, 2022, it had channeled RMB 824 million in cumulative public welfare investment across multiple focus areas, operating programs that reach 27,000+ communities across 32 Chinese provinces. The foundation holds a 4A National Level Social Organization rating from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs and is led by Chairman Wang Shi, founder of Vanke Group.

The foundation's core technical competency centers on community-scale organic waste processing, anchored by proprietary deployment of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae technology for kitchen waste treatment and community composting systems that combine BSF frass with green waste fermentation. Flagship deployments include BSF units processing 200 kg/day at Dameisha Vanke Center (yielding 64.7 tons CO2e reduction annually), Xishan Courtyard Sustainable Community (114.88 tons CO2e reduction), and a Net-Zero Carbon Science Museum with 3 tons/day capacity. The foundation co-developed the ACM0022 methodology under the Verra VCS standard for measuring carbon reduction potential of BSF composting, and maintains an Urban Garbage Map database with 83,622+ snapshots covering 47,197 residential areas across 337 cities.

The foundation is funded entirely through donations and grants from Vanke Co., Ltd., corporate partners, government agencies, and international climate organizations — it charges no fees for its programs. Its go-to-market model is multi-stakeholder and community-led, employing a 'research-pilot-empowerment-advocacy' work approach distributed through 329 partner organizations across five regional networks. Key programs include the Meisha Carbon-Neutral Community (pilot demonstration), the Dandelion Program in 1,669 Shenzhen schools, the Zero Waste Palace Museum partnership (reaching 21 million visitors), the Mount Qomolangma Snow Leopard Conservation Plan, the Qinghai Lake Flagship Species Protection Program, and the China Enterprise Climate Action Network (CCCA) with 72 member enterprises. The foundation maintains continuous UNFCCC COP participation since 2009, organizing annual China Enterprise Day side events.

Name

Vanke Foundation

Legal name

Vanke Foundation

Website

https://en.vankefoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vanke Foundation is a Shenzhen-based non-profit, initiated by Vanke Co., Ltd. in 2008, that funds climate action, community waste management, biodiversity conservation, and education programs reaching over 27,000 communities across 32 Chinese provinces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Philanthropy & Sustainable Community Development

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Forestry (800), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ), Regenerative Agriculture & Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) (EUABABAE), Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Offset Projects (Grid/Off-grid, Cookstoves, Buildings/Industry) (EUABABAN), Carbon Markets & Climate Finance (Offsets, Allowances, Carbon Funds) (FSAAALAH), Climate / Clean Tech & Decarbonization Funds (FSANAJAA)

Keywords

• Climate philanthropy programs
• Sustainable community development
• Community waste management
• Carbon neutral communities
• Biodiversity conservation initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Shenzhen

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Donations and Grants: Vanke Foundation is a national non-public fundraising foundation initiated by Vanke Co., Ltd. Receives donations and grants from corporate partners, government agencies, and international organizations. As of December 31, 2022, cumulative public welfare investment reached RMB 824 million yuan across all focus areas.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vanke Foundation is a charitable foundation that designs, funds, and implements sustainable community development programs centered on climate action, organic waste management, and biodiversity conservation. It operates demonstration projects such as the Meisha Carbon-Neutral Community and Xishan Courtyard, deploys proprietary Black Soldier Fly kitchen waste processing technology, convenes the China Enterprise Climate Action Network (CCCA), and publishes annual climate action casebooks and the Public Climate Action Handbook. Operations are funded by donations and grants from Vanke Co., Ltd., corporate partners, government agencies, and international climate organizations, with cumulative investment reaching RMB 824 million as of December 31, 2022.

Product overview

Vanke Foundation operates as a charitable foundation focused on climate action and sustainable community development, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist primarily of programs, publications, and demonstration projects rather than a unified platform architecture. Core programs include the Meisha Carbon-Neutral Community (pilot demonstration), Community Waste Management (flagship initiative with 27,000+ communities), Black Soldier Fly Kitchen Waste Processing Technology (innovative organic waste recycling), and the Dandelion Program (garbage classification education). Key publications include the Public Climate Action Handbook (3.0), Net Zero Drive Casebook, and Future Cities Advisory Outlook. International platforms include China Corner/China Enterprise Hall at COP conferences. Biodiversity initiatives cover Snow Leopard Conservation and Qinghai Lake Species Protection. All programs follow a 'Research - Pilot - Empowerment - Advocacy' methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Meisha Carbon-Neutral Community Pilot carbon-neutral community project in Shenzhen's Meisha Subdistrict combining Black Soldier Fly kitchen waste processing, community composting, biodiversity surveys, and rooftop gardens. Listed as a major demonstration project in Shenzhen's 14th Five-Year Plan for Climate Change.
• Community Waste Management Program Nationwide community waste management initiative following a Research-Pilot-Empowerment-Advocacy methodology, reaching 27,000+ communities across 32 provinces with waste reduction and zero-waste concepts.
• Dandelion Program Garbage classification education program launched with Shenzhen government including Dandelion volunteer lecturers, teacher training, and Dandelion Campus creation in 1,669 schools. Became a national model promoted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
• Zero Waste Day National Campaign Annual national public advocacy campaign promoting zero-waste lifestyle across 70+ cities with 100+ partner organizations through online and offline activities.
• Palace Museum Zero-Waste Program Zero-waste initiative with the Palace Museum engaging 3,000 staff, 11 million visitors, and 40,000 tour guides; reached 21 million visitors in zero-waste campaign over four years.
• Xishan Courtyard Sustainable Community Beijing-based sustainable community demonstration featuring in-situ BSF kitchen waste treatment achieving 30% household waste reduction, 31% green coverage, and 114.88 tons CO2e reduction annually. Certified as National Nature Education Base.
• Net-Zero Carbon Science Museum Science museum jointly founded with Yantian Administration, processing up to 3 tons of kitchen waste daily with estimated annual reduction of 970.5 tons CO2eq, equivalent to 7,000+ trees.
• China Corner / China Enterprise Hall at COP International climate platform at UNFCCC COP conferences hosting China Enterprise Day side events and corporate climate action showcases since 2013.
• Mount Qomolangma Snow Leopard Conservation Plan Ten-year snow leopard conservation program covering species investigation, public education, and ranger capacity building; selected for CBD COP15 Biodiversity 100+ Global Examples and recognized as Tibet's only national exemplary biodiversity case.
• Qinghai Lake Flagship Species Protection Program Flagship species protection program supporting Qinghai Lake National Park development and protection of Przewalski's gazelle, naked carp, and black-necked crane through monitoring and rescue systems.
• China Enterprise Climate Action Network (CCCA) Network of 72 member enterprises that jointly releases outstanding corporate climate action cases annually at COP Conferences and convenes the Low Carbon Initiative (which grew from 1,385 responding enterprises in 2015 to 1 million by 2018).
• Urban Garbage Map Database Urban garbage monitoring database covering 47,197 residential areas across 337 cities with 83,622+ snapshots; includes a garbage classification index evaluating up to 102 cities. Adopted by Qingdao and Suzhou municipal governments.
• Black Soldier Fly Kitchen Waste Processing Technology On-site organic waste recycling technology using BSF larvae (Hermetia illucens); processes 200kg kitchen waste daily at Dameisha Vanke Center reducing 64.7 tons CO2e annually, with 100% kitchen waste recycled on-site and 73 tons annual capacity. Outputs insect protein for feed and frass for composting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64.7 tons CO2e reduced annually at Dameisha Vanke Center through BSF processing
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

48 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core/flagship and minor.

• China Minsheng BankmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Jointly launched Qinghai Lake Ecological Protection Foundation and Qinghai Lake Flagship Species Protection Program in 2023 to help build Qinghai Lake National Park and protect Przewalski's gazelle.
• C Team (Dadao Climate Change Promotion Center)core/flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Incubated by Vanke Public Welfare Foundation in 2017 along with enterprises and public welfare organizations. Became one of most important social organizations in China for enterprise climate action. Jointly hosts China Corner 'Enterprise Day' at COP conferences. Launched China Enterprise Climate Action Network (CCCA) with 72 member units.
• Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Regioncore/flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Strategic partnership established in 2013 for Snow Leopard Conservation Strategy around Mount Qomolangma. Vanke Foundation donated 11 million yuan over 10 years for species investigation, public education, and ranger capacity building. In 2023, signed five-year memorandum for Mount Qomolangma National Park support.
• Shenzhen Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau (Yantian Administration)core/flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Meisha Carbon-Neutral Community development since 2021. Jointly established Net-Zero Carbon Science Museum (2023) with 3 tons/day kitchen waste processing capacity. Meisha selected as first pilot project for net-zero carbon emission communities in Shenzhen.
• Urban Administration and Law Enforcement Bureau of Yantian DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed Meisha Carbon-Neutral Community biodiversity projects including Baseline Surveys, Nature Observation Year, Nearshore Marine Species Research, and Inland Lake & Wetland Ecological Restoration.
• Palace Museum (Forbidden City)core/flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerZero Waste Palace Museum program launched in 2020; reached 21 million visitors. Engages 3,000 staff, 11 million visitors, 40,000 tour guides. New five-year strategic cooperation signed in 2022. Showcased at COP28 exhibition.
• UN-Habitat China OfficemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-launched Future Cities Advisory Outlook 2023: Digital Innovations Empower Urban Net-Zero Carbon Transition with UN-Habitat at COP28. UN-Habitat National Officer Sheng Ying participated in Vanke Foundation side events.
• Tsinghua University (Vanke School of Public Health)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for climate-health seminars addressing health risks from climate change. Founding Dean Margaret Chan (former WHO Director-General) involved. Professors Huang Cunrui and John S. Ji serve as experts.
• Shenzhen Municipal Urban Management and Law Enforcement Bureaucore/flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint launch of Dandelion Program (垃圾分类) in July 2018 for community garbage classification, public advocacy, empowerment, and policy advocacy. Dandelion Program became national model; Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development promoted it nationwide.
• Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of China Urban Garbage Map database since 2020. Monitors 83,622+ snapshots covering 47,197 residential areas across 337 cities. Garbage classification index evaluates 102 cities.
• Green & Shine FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Shine' art class program for Zundao School in Sichuan Province. Online painting courses and music summer camps for rural education support.
• Chengdu Roots and Shoots Environmental Culture Exchange CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched sustainable management system for campus waste and hardware support at Zundao School since 2018.
• Beijing Woqi FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and compilation of Social Organization Industry Scan Report on Domestic Waste Issues, released at 4th Community Waste Management Forum.
• China Agricultural UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on community composting research, Spring Mud Action for garden waste composting, and technical guidelines development. Over 300 Vanke Property personnel trained.
• Huazhong Agricultural UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on Black Soldier Fly technology development and Black Soldier Fly Picture Book publication for public education.
• Sun Yat-sen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Meisha biodiversity surveys, identifying 273 species including 128 protected species in coastal marine life research.
• South China Botanical GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Meisha biodiversity research and species mapping for endangered species conservation.
• Blue FinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine biodiversity partner for Meisha coastal species research and conservation efforts.
• Zero Waste HubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of annual Zero Waste Day national public advocacy activity since 2018, held on third Saturday of August. Reaches 70+ cities with 100+ partner organizations.
• Shenzhen One FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Zero Waste Day national public advocacy activity since 2018.
• Verracore/flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year collaboration to develop ACM0022 VCS methodology for Black Soldier Fly carbon reduction calculation. Verra announced ACM0022 v3.0 and AMS-III.F v12.0 clarifications in February 2025, making insect composting applicable for carbon credits.
• Protix (Dutch insect feed producer)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSF seminar co-host providing lifecycle carbon accounting expertise. Introduced energy efficiency and biological conversion optimization methods for BSF production.
• Macao International Carbon Emission Exchange (MEX)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of BSF seminar; introduced potential for BSF projects in Macau communities, hotels, and restaurants for food waste recycling and carbon credit generation.
• Inspro Science Limited (Shenzhen)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntroduced smart BSF project for municipal food waste treatment in Yantian District, Shenzhen producing BSF larvae and fertilizers. Project designed for VCS certification with full automation and data recording.
• WildAidmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVanke Foundation supported development of Public Climate Action Handbook Version 2.0, released at COP28 side event.
• ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICLEI Deputy Secretary General Emani Kumar participated in COP28 side event on community climate action.
• Rare (international conservation organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRare Vice President Angela Kirkman spoke at COP28 side event on mobilizing community climate awareness.
• Wang Shi (Vanke Group Founder)core/flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerChairman of Vanke Foundation. Led Chinese entrepreneurs to participate in COP conferences since 2009. At COP28, expressed that entrepreneurial innovation creates pro-environment business cycles. Present at COP29 China Enterprise Day opening.
• Margaret Chan (Former WHO Director-General)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonorary Director-General of WHO and Founding Dean of Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University. Addressed COP28 side event emphasizing health-climate nexus.
• Sequoia Climate FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of COP29 side event 'Dialogues with the World: Building a Net-Zero Carbon Future' with Vanke Foundation and C Team.
• China Association of Circular EconomyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of COP29 side event on people-centered circular economy transition.
• Guangdong Low-Carbon Development Promotion AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of COP29 side event on people-centered circular economy transition.
• State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of COP29 China Enterprise Day launch ceremony. Bureau of Social Responsibility of SASAC partners with Vanke Foundation for enterprise climate engagement.
• Xinjiang UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes ecological civilization construction and cultivates ecological social work talents for northwest border area sustainable development.
• Friends of NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for development of Guidelines for Construction of Zero-Waste Schools published in 2021.
• Beijing Roots and Shoots Community Youth Service CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplemented special promotion and practice plan for Zero-Waste Schools guidelines, conducting training and practical activities in 11 schools across 9 provinces.
• Shenzhen Duckgaga Public Welfare Culture Promotion CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched 'Zero-waste Venture Plan' in February 2022 to provide technical support for zero-waste offices across China. Recruited 21 joint promotion partners, influenced 387 enterprises.
• Novo Nordisk (China) PharmaceuticalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of six seed companies receiving one-on-one zero-waste office guidance under Zero-waste Venture Plan.
• Ping An TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of six seed companies receiving one-on-one zero-waste office guidance under Zero-waste Venture Plan.
• Zhejiang Century Huatong GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of six seed companies receiving one-on-one zero-waste office guidance under Zero-waste Venture Plan.
• Chengdu Shoujing Public Welfare Service CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for nature education curriculum development ('Good Land and Fun' course series) and zero waste education empowerment.
• Chengdu Urban River Research SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for rural community waste classification and composting research. Organized 29 activities with 800+ villagers; developed Rural Composting Manual.
• Shenzhen Social Work CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated 'Green Benefit Program' training column at Shenzhen Social Work Course, incorporating Woqi project partner cases and community co-built garden practices.
• CECA (Public Policy Advocacy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for three consecutive years (since 2020) for Public Policy Advocacy Capacity Building Program. Empowered 57 social organizations; 20 proposals submitted to national, provincial, urban two sessions.
• Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Institute of Sociology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint launch of 'Xi Rang Scholars Support Program' in 2021 to cultivate young scholars in waste management field from humanities and social sciences perspective.
• McKinsey & CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZhang Haimeng from McKinsey & Company serves as board director of Vanke Foundation.
• China Philanthropy Research Institute, Beijing Normal UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWang Zhenyao from China Philanthropy Research Institute serves as board director of Vanke Foundation.
• Artron Art GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWan Jie, Chairman of Artron Art Group, serves as supervisor of Vanke Foundation.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rare: International conservation NGO that co-presented with Vanke Foundation at COP28 on community climate awareness. Comparable as a behavior-change-focused conservation organization working through local partnerships in China and globally.
• Beijing Woqi Foundation: Chinese waste-management-focused foundation that co-produced the Social Organization Industry Scan Report on Domestic Waste with Vanke Foundation. Directly comparable as a domestic grantmaker focused on community waste and environmental issues.
• Friends of Nature: One of China's oldest environmental NGOs; partnered with Vanke Foundation on Guidelines for Construction of Zero-Waste Schools (2021). Comparable as a domestic environmental NGO focused on public education and grassroots environmental action.
• China Environmental Grantmakers Alliance (CEGA): Coalition of Chinese environmental funders that recognized Vanke Foundation projects through CEGA Excellent Grantmaking Cases. Comparable as an aggregator and convening body in the Chinese climate philanthropy ecosystem.
• Shenzhen One Foundation: Major Chinese public fundraising foundation co-hosting Zero Waste Day with Vanke Foundation since 2018. Operates comparable community-level public welfare programs across China with similar grantmaking and advocacy functions.
• C Team / Dadao Climate Change Promotion Center: Incubated by Vanke Foundation in 2017 to drive Chinese corporate climate action. Co-hosts China Enterprise Day at COPs and jointly publishes the Net Zero Drive Casebook; operates as a sibling organization with overlapping climate philanthropy and corporate engagement focus.
• WildAid: International conservation organization that developed the Public Climate Action Handbook under Vanke Foundation support and co-hosted COP28 side events. Comparable as a climate-wildlife NGO operating in China with grant-funded advocacy and publications.

Broad incumbents

• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local governments for sustainability that co-presented at COP28 with Vanke Foundation. Comparable as a broader, established climate-governance player with overlapping city-level decarbonization focus.
• Alibaba Foundation: Major Chinese corporate philanthropic foundation with comparable scope in environmental programs, education, and rural development. Comparable as a larger corporate foundation with broader program mandates and substantially larger funding base.
• The Nature Conservancy (China): Large international conservation NGO with an active China program. Comparable as a much larger incumbent operating biodiversity and climate programs with corporate and government partners across China.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vanke-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Vanke Foundation