What Jai Vakeel Foundation does

Jai Vakeel Foundation & Research Centre is an Indian public charitable trust founded in 1944 by Mr & Mrs Hormusjee Vakeel in Mumbai, and is positioned as India's oldest and largest non-profit serving individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). It operates a two-acre campus in Sewri (Mumbai) with rural branches in Talegaon (Pune district) and Deolali (Nashik district), and serves children and adults with intellectual disabilities including co-occurring conditions such as cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorder. Core programs span healthcare (diagnosis, therapy, counseling, rehabilitation), a school for ages 3–18 built on a multi-sensory curriculum aligned to NCF and NCERT standards, a Vocational Training Centre for employability, a Sheltered Workshop producing over 100 varieties of handcrafted goods, and Respite Care for severely challenged young adults. Its flagship systemic initiative, Project DISHA, is a NIEPID-certified assessment checklist and uniform curriculum deployed across 475 special aided schools in 36 Maharashtra districts through a partnership with the Government of Maharashtra, supported by a DISHA web-portal for online assessment and real-time progress monitoring.

The foundation's go-to-market is community-led and donation-funded: it reaches beneficiaries through rural medical camps, parent counseling, and a placement team that secures corporate jobs (e.g., Sodexo, Rhoda Textiles). Revenue is generated primarily through donations from corporate and individual donors — including Platinum-tier supporters Azim Premji Foundation, Bajaj Finserv, Piramal Family, and Credit Suisse/UBS AG — with donations qualifying for 50% tax exemption under Section 80G, plus supplementary income from the sheltered workshop's e-commerce and retail channels. The Digital Learning Program (introduced 2015) layers iPad-based games and learning software onto the curriculum, with reported 45% improvement across six learning parameters. The organization also runs the Inclusion Ke Sitaare Awards under the #ActToInclude campaign with Arth by Emcure, and has partnered with Chanakya Foundation on a couture embroidery band for global luxury fashion clients, extending the sheltered workshop into a creative-skills channel. The organization is governed by a board that includes medical professionals and business leaders, is led by CEO Archana Chandra (since 2013), and reports a 90% pass-through of funds to direct beneficiaries.

Name

Jai Vakeel Foundation

Legal name

Jai Vakeel Foundation & Research Centre

Website

https://jaivakeel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Jai Vakeel Foundation is India's oldest and largest non-profit serving individuals with intellectual disabilities, founded in 1944 in Mumbai. It delivers healthcare, education (ages 3–18), vocational training, sheltered workshop, and job placement services, and runs Project DISHA — a government-partnered curriculum initiative across 475 schools in Maharashtra.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education & Disability Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

IEP/504 Planning, Case Management & Compliance (EDAJAKAB), Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF), Virtual Special Education & Related Services (IEP Delivery Online) (EDAJADAG), Functional Life Skills & Transition-to-Adulthood Curriculum (ADL, Vocational, Community) (EDAGAMAJ), Occupational Therapy & Fine-Motor / Sensory Integration Instructional Materials (EDAGAMAG), IEP Speech/Language Evaluation, Goal Setting & Compliance Documentation (EDAKAEAC)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Intellectual disability support
• Vocational training programs
• Nonprofit disability services
• Sheltered workshop products

Headquarters

HQ city

Sewri

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: 90% of funds go directly to beneficiaries. Receives support from corporate donors, individual donors, and government grants. All donations are 50% tax exempt under section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for Indian taxpayers.
2. Sheltered Workshop Product Sales: Artisanal products including candles, incense sticks, diyas, envelopes, paper bags, and handicrafts are sold through the organization's shop, exhibitions, and e-commerce platform. Over 100 varieties of products being made at the workshop.
3. Student Employment Placement Services: Placement services for students with intellectual disabilities in corporate settings. Students placed in organizations including multinational companies like Sodexo, generating income for families and contributing members of society.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jai Vakeel Foundation delivers non-profit services for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), spanning diagnosis and therapy (occupational, sensory integration, play, neurodevelopmental, auditory verbal), special education through its school (ages 3-18) with an NCF/NCERT-aligned multi-sensory curriculum, vocational training and a sheltered workshop producing 100+ varieties of handcrafted products, corporate employment placement, and respite care. It also runs Project DISHA, a systemic initiative providing NIEPID-certified assessment checklists and uniform curriculum to 475 special aided schools across 36 Maharashtra districts. A social enterprise e-commerce shop sells handcrafted candles, diyas, home decor, and stationery made by workshop artisans to support program funding.

Product overview

Jai Vakeel Foundation operates as a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, spanning healthcare, education, and skill development. The core offerings include the Jai Vakeel School for education (ages 3-18), the Vocational Training Centre and Sheltered Workshop for employment preparation, and Respite Care for severely challenged young adults. The organization also runs Project Disha, a systemic change initiative providing assessment tools and curriculum for special schools across Maharashtra. A significant social enterprise component is the handcrafted products shop (powered by Zoho Commerce), selling over 100 varieties of candles, home goods, accessories, and traditional Indian items made by workshop artisans. The Digital Learning Program represents the main technology-enhanced educational offering using iPads.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inclusion Ke Sitaare Awards: An initiative of Jai Vakeel Foundation's #ActToInclude campaign, supported by Arth by Emcure, these awards recognize and honor individuals or organizations that have embraced and integrated neurodivergent individuals.
• Project Disha
• Sheltered Workshop

Products and services

• Healthcare Services Holistic, need-based medical and therapeutic intervention providing diagnosis, therapy, training, counselling, and rehabilitation for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
• Jai Vakeel School - Education Programme Educational programme for students aged 3 to 18 years providing early intervention, functional academics, pre-vocational training, and activities of daily living (ADL) skill development, aligned to NCF and NCERT curriculum frameworks.
• Project Disha Systemic change initiative providing assessment checklists for IEP and uniform curriculum for special schools, with a DISHA web-portal for online assessments and progress monitoring across 36 districts of Maharashtra, covering 475 special aided schools and training 2,700 teachers.
• Vocational Training Centre 3-year programme developing and enhancing employability skills for students over 18 years, with focus on placing students in open employment or further training.
• Sheltered Workshop One of the largest sheltered workshops of its kind with over 100 varieties of products made by artisans in 8 vocations, providing gainful occupation for individuals with intellectual disabilities until retirement at age 50.
• Respite Care Nurturing environment for severely and profoundly challenged young adults, training them to manage Activities of Daily Living (ADL) until retirement at age 25.
• Digital Learning Program Technology-enhanced learning using iPads where children learn through games and learning software, resulting in average 45% improvement across 6 parameters of number work, alphabets, concepts, visual perception, expressive language skills and attending skills.
• Jai Vakeel Autism Centre Specialized education and therapy centre developing communication and sensory integration skills for individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), currently serving 31 children aged 6 to 18.
• Multi-Sensory Curriculum Comprehensive curriculum for students aged 3 to 18 years including Languages, Math, Environmental Studies, Art, Yoga and Activities of Daily Living, with objectives aligned to the national curriculum framework (NCF).
• Corporate Employment Placement Services Placement services for students with intellectual disabilities in corporate settings. Students placed in organizations including multinational companies like Sodexo, generating income for families and contributing members of society.
• Handcrafted Products (Social Enterprise Shop) Over 100 varieties of handcrafted products including candles, diyas, incense, envelopes, paper bags, table linen, cushion covers, laptop bags, notebooks, and traditional Indian items, made by artisans at the sheltered workshop and sold through online shop, exhibitions, and on-campus retail.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of funds go directly to beneficiaries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Chanakya FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion partnership to create a couture embroidery design band celebrating inclusion. Chanakya Foundation's clients include Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Valentino, Celine, Saint Laurent. Bands made with recycled sustainable threads and fabrics by graduating women at Chanakya school of crafts. Stands for a more sustainable and inclusive world.
• Arth by EmcurecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported the Inclusion Ke Sitaare Awards, part of Jai Vakeel Foundation's #ActToInclude campaign. Awards aim to recognize individuals and organizations embracing neurodivergent individuals, especially those with Intellectual Disability. Arth by Emcure offers products to support health and wellness.
• GenpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenpact Social Impact Fellowship (GSIF) enabled development of a Monitoring & Evaluation system for Project DISHA that is easy to use, replicable, and scalable to track implementation and effectiveness in special schools across Maharashtra.
• Social Justice & Special Assistance Department, Government of MaharashtracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership formed in 2019 with the Department of Social Justice & Special Assistance - Commissionerate of PwD, Government of Maharashtra to roll out Project DISHA in all special schools in Maharashtra. Focuses on building and disseminating Assessment Checklist for IEP and Uniform Curriculum in Special Schools.
• National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disability (NIEPID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIEPID certified the Assessment Checklist for IEP and Curriculum for age groups 3-14 years and 14-18 years developed under Project DISHA. Official certifying body for intellectual disability assessment frameworks.
• SodexocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultinational food services and facilities management company that has employed graduates of Jai Vakeel's vocational training program. Krishna was recruited by Sodexo and joined in December 2016, earning PF and medical benefits for his entire family.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sense International India: India arm of Sense International, working across multiple disability categories (deafblind, ID, multi-disability) with education and livelihood programs. Comparable as a larger multi-state disability-focused NGO with overlapping ID beneficiary base.

Direct peers

• Amar Seva Sangam: Tamil Nadu-based non-profit providing rehabilitation, special education, and vocational training for persons with disabilities including spinal injury and ID. Comparable as integrated care-through-employment model for disabled populations.
• ADAPT (Able Disable All People Together): Mumbai-based non-profit founded in 1972 providing education, therapy, vocational training and sheltered employment for persons with disabilities. Directly comparable as a Mumbai-headquartered, multi-program disability NGO serving ID/DD populations.
• Chetana Charitable Trust: Indian non-profit supporting education and empowerment of children and adults with intellectual disabilities through schools, vocational training, and community programs. Comparable in mission and beneficiary profile to JVF.
• Latika Roy Foundation: Dehradun-based non-profit offering special education, therapy, and vocational programs for persons with intellectual disabilities. Comparable in full-lifecycle ID service model spanning early intervention through sheltered work.
• Ashadeep Foundation: Guwahati-based non-profit running a special school, vocational training centre, and sheltered workshop for persons with intellectual disabilities. Comparable in operating model to Jai Vakeel including sheltered workshop product lines.
• Tamanna NGO: Mumbai-based non-profit offering free education, therapy, and skill-development programs for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable in mission, location, and beneficiary segment to Jai Vakeel.
• Ummeed Child Development Center: Mumbai-based non-profit providing multi-disciplinary therapy and education for children with developmental disabilities including ID and autism. Comparable as a high-quality clinical-education hybrid serving similar ID/DD beneficiaries.

Others

• National Trust (Ministry of Social Justice, India): Government body supporting persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities through scheme funding and partnerships with NGOs including JVF. Comparable as a funding and standards-setting counterpart in the ID ecosystem.
• NIEPID (National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disability): Government of India autonomous body that has certified JVF's Project Disha assessment framework. Functionally a regulatory/certifying counterparty and a potential peer in national ID curriculum and assessment services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheResearchSociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/jaivakeel
• Instagraminstagram.com/jaivakeel
• Xx.com/jaivakeel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jai-vakeel-foundation-and-research-centre

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Jai Vakeel Foundation