Students For A Free Tibet, Inc.

What Students For A Free Tibet, Inc. does

Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1994 that operates as a chapter-based international network advocating for Tibetan political freedom and independence. The organization campaigns for Tibetans' fundamental right to political freedom through education, grassroots organizing, and nonviolent direct action, working in solidarity with the Tibetan people both inside Tibet and within diaspora communities. SFT's target constituency comprises young people and student activists, Tibetan community organizers (particularly in the NY/NJ diaspora), and broader human rights supporters, with its global chapter network serving as the primary delivery vehicle for advocacy, training, and mobilization.

SFT's programmatic portfolio includes the week-long Free Tibet! Action Camp (an intensive training program in nonviolent action and grassroots organizing), targeted campaigns on issues such as the release of named political prisoners (Panchen Lama, Go Sherab Gyatso, A-Nya Sengdra, Dorje Tashi & Gonpo Kyi), the Tibet Climate Crisis, corporate accountability (ThermoFisher protest), and transnational repression. The organization also coordinates annual commemorative events — March 10 (Tibetan National Uprising Day) and February 13 (Tibetan Independence Day) — and maintains an online merchandise store at sft-merch.myshopify.com with proceeds funding advocacy work. Operational reach is enabled through a website-driven online action network, email newsletter, social media, press releases, and a chapter-based field network spanning multiple countries.

As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SFT generates revenue through individual donations and monthly recurring contributions processed via Convio and PayPal, membership fees, merchandise sales, Amazon Smile referrals (0.5% of eligible purchases), and Facebook Fundraisers. The organization maintains a small professional staff of 1-10 employees headquartered at 602 East 14th Street in Manhattan, supported by a broader volunteer and intern pipeline across communications, events, campaigns, USA grassroots, and graphic design functions. Leadership transitioned in 2026 with Pema Doma departing as Executive Director and Tenzin Myinlek assuming the role, as evidenced by public statements during the July 2026 UN demonstration following activist Lobga Rangzen's self-immolation.

Name

Students For A Free Tibet, Inc.

Legal name

Students for a Free Tibet

Website

https://studentsforafreetibet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Students for a Free Tibet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that operates a global chapter-based network of young activists campaigning for Tibetan political freedom through education, grassroots organizing, and nonviolent direct action. It generates revenue via donations, memberships, and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: SFT generates revenue primarily through individual donations, monthly recurring donations, and membership fees. The organization uses online donation platforms (Convio) and PayPal for processing contributions.
2. Merchandise Sales: SFT operates an online store (SFT Store) selling responsibly-made merchandise. All profits from merchandise sales support the organization's work to free Tibet.
3. Amazon Smile: SFT receives donations through Amazon Smile program, where 0.5% of purchases are donated to the organization.
4. Facebook Fundraisers: SFT accepts donations through Facebook fundraisers created by supporters.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) is a chapter-based nonprofit network that campaigns for Tibetans' fundamental right to political freedom through education, grassroots organizing, and nonviolent direct action. Its core activities include running advocacy campaigns (such as freeing Tibetan political prisoners, Tibet climate crisis, ThermoFisher protest, and transnational repression), hosting the annual Free Tibet! Action Camp training program, organizing commemorative events (March 10 and February 13), and operating the SFT Store merchandise site whose profits fund the movement.

Product overview

Students For A Free Tibet (SFT) operates as a chapter-based nonprofit network offering advocacy programs, not a unified technology product platform. The organization provides grassroots organizing infrastructure through its global chapter network, hosts the annual Free Tibet! Action Camp for activist training, runs targeted campaigns (Free Tibetan Political Prisoners, Tibet Climate Crisis, ThermoFisher Protest, Transnational Repression), organizes commemorative events (March 10 Tibetan National Uprising Day, February 13 Tibetan Independence Day), maintains an online merchandise store, and provides action kits and training materials. These programs collectively support the Tibetan freedom movement through education, grassroots mobilization, and nonviolent direct action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Tibet! Action Camp A week-long intensive training program in nonviolent action and grassroots organizing designed for current and future leaders of the Tibetan independence movement. Delivered by SFT to participants from its chapter-based network and broader activist community.
• SFT Store Online merchandise store selling responsibly-made apparel and goods, with all profits directed to supporting SFT's campaigns for Tibetan freedom.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/students-for-a-free-tibet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Students For A Free Tibet, Inc.