What Ektara does

Ek Tara is a Kolkata-based nonprofit organization founded in 2011 that delivers holistic education to disadvantaged children, primarily from the Topsia and Tiljala urban slums. The organization operates a multi-program model built around the Ek Tara Learning Centre (ELC), established in 2021, which accommodates primary, secondary, and higher-education cohorts and houses a STEAM laboratory, computer laboratory, library, and the Tomorrowland Foundation Music and Arts School (TLFMAS). Through its government school partnership with Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Ek Tara supports the conversion of primary schools into model schools, and through the Chakke Pe Kaksha mobile school program (in partnership with The Mobile School of Belgium), it reaches 73,449 primary students using a wheeled blackboard delivery model. The Creative Ek Tara Foundation, established in 2018, operates a parallel social enterprise (Ek Tara Creates artisan products and Annam community kitchen) to generate income for women from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The organization is funded entirely through donations, corporate partnerships, grants, and social enterprise revenue, with all educational services provided free of charge to beneficiaries. It maintains a network of cross-border fiscal sponsors (Her Future Coalition in the US and Prospero World in the UK) that enable tax-efficient international giving, and its diverse partnership portfolio spans corporate (Tata Steel, IndianOil PETRONAS, Wipro, Grant Thornton, Bata India), educational (Modern High School, Indus Valley World School, Mahadevi Birla World Academy, La Martiniere, J.D. Birla Institute), and international development actors (Tomorrowland Foundation, TeachForIndia, Disappearing Dialogues, Lions Club International). The organization reports 95% student transition from pre-primary to high school and a 70% increase in women seeking skill-building opportunities, and has educated close to 2,000 children since inception. Founder Vinita Saraf leads the organization with a 51-100 person team operating from a single headquarters in Kolkata.

Name

Ektara

Legal name

Ek Tara

Website

https://ektara.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ek Tara is a Kolkata-based nonprofit founded in 2011 that delivers free holistic education and women's empowerment programs to disadvantaged children and women in the Topsia and Tiljala slums, operating a Learning Centre, mobile schools, and a social enterprise funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Domain-Specific Curriculum (Literacy, Numeracy, Science, SEL, Motor, Arts) (EDACAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Personalized Learning Platforms for ECE (EDACANAJ), Cultural Responsiveness & Inclusive Curriculum Materials (Anti-bias, Diverse Representation) (EDACAJAM), Education Systems Strengthening (Policy, Planning, EMIS, Governance) (BPADAKAK)

Keywords

• Nonprofit education services
• Community learning programs
• Slum children's education
• Women's empowerment programs
• Mobile classroom schools

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolkata

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Ek Tara raises funds through individual donations, corporate partnerships, and international donors. US donors can contribute through Her Future Coalition (501(c) fiscal sponsor), and UK donors through Prospero World (charity number 1163952) which enables Gift Aid tax efficiency.
2. Social Enterprise - Creative Ek Tara Foundation: Social enterprise established in 2018 to generate sustained income for women from disadvantaged backgrounds through Ek Tara Creates and Annam (Community Kitchen) projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ektara is a nonprofit organization providing holistic educational services to disadvantaged children in Kolkata's Topsia and Tiljala slums. The core offering consists of structured learning programs at the Ek Tara Learning Centre (Early Years, Primary Years, and Higher Education Programmes) with digital tools, STEAM and computer labs, complemented by arts education at the Tomorrowland Foundation Music and Arts School, mobile schools (Chakke Pe Kaksha), and social enterprise programs for women's income generation.

Product overview

Ektara is an educational NGO operating a multi-component ecosystem supporting disadvantaged children in Kolkata. The core offering consists of the Ek Tara Learning Centre (ELC), established in 2021, providing structured education through Early Years, Primary Years, and Higher Education Programmes. Adjacent to the learning centre, the Tomorrowland Foundation Music and Arts School (TLFMAS) offers arts education. The Creative Ek Tara Foundation, established in 2018, operates parallel income-generation programs ('Ek Tara Creates' artisan products and 'Annam' community kitchen) for women's empowerment. Additional programs include the mobile school initiative 'Chakke Pe Kaksha,' KMC Model Schools partnership, and a Day Care Centre. The organization does not offer a technology product or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ek Tara Learning Centre (ELC): State-of-the-art learning centre providing education for disadvantaged children with programs including Early Years Programme, Primary Years Programme, and Higher Education Programme
• Creative Ek Tara Foundation
• Tomorrowland Foundation Music and Arts School (TLFMAS)
• Ek Tara Creates
• Annam
• Chakke Pe Kaksha
• Ek Tara Bakes
• Anantara Programme
• Conversations by Tara

Products and services

• Ek Tara Learning Centre (ELC) A state-of-the-art learning centre established in 2021 providing holistic education for disadvantaged children through Early Years Programme (EYP), Primary Years Programme (PYP), and Higher Education Programme (HEP), featuring digital teaching tools, STEAM laboratory, computer laboratory, and library facilities. Housed at Ektara's headquarters in Kolkata, accommodating up to 950 students during COVID-19 staggered operations.
• Tomorrowland Foundation Music and Arts School (TLFMAS) Music and arts school created in partnership with Tomorrowland Foundation for children in underserved communities in Kolkata, providing facilities for arts, music, dance, photography, and theatre. Housed within the Ek Tara Learning Centre.
• Creative Ek Tara Foundation Social enterprise providing sustained income generation for women from disadvantaged backgrounds through two projects: 'Ek Tara Creates' (artisan products showcased at exhibitions such as The India Story and SASHA Trade Fair) and 'Annam' (community kitchen inaugurated with IndianOil PETRONAS). The foundation also operates Ek Tara Bakes (bakery training and production program).
• Chakke Pe Kaksha Mobile School Mobile school initiative in partnership with Belgian organization The Mobile School, using an extendable six-meter-long, two-sided blackboard on wheels to provide quality learning resources at the primary level. The project currently reaches 73,449 students.
• Day Care Centre Safe space for 30 children aged 7-18 facing abuse at home or left unattended for long hours, offering free internet access, three-course meals, library, and co-curricular activities from 8am to 6pm.
• Conversations by Tara Publication series featuring Tara mascot who champions girls' education, reaching out to children across India to educate them on issues impacting their wellbeing. Tara represents the millions of girls in India who come from low-income homes and miss out on basic development opportunities.
• Anantara Programme Scholarship initiative supporting students from diverse schools across Kolkata through merit-based selection, with 40 students in the program plus a new cohort. Aims to facilitate educational continuity for promising students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of students successfully transition from pre-primary to high school
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tomorrowland FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEk Tara partnered with Tomorrowland Foundation to create a state-of-the-art music and arts school (TLFMAS) for children in underserved communities in Kolkata. Tomorrowland Foundation is set up by Tomorrowland, one of the largest electronic music festivals in the world.
• The Mobile School (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Belgian organization The Mobile School for the 'Chakke Pe Kaksha' project - a mobile school using a six-meter-long, two-sided blackboard on wheels to provide quality learning resources at the primary level.
• Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEk Tara partnered with Kolkata Municipal Education Department to enable conversion of primary schools into model schools. Also collaborated on AnondoGari project.
• Wipro EarthianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education project where students visited Rabindra Sarobar to learn about Kolkata's ecosystem through community interviews and environmental observation.
• Indus Valley World SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for annual concerts, sports events, library programs, and educational exchanges.
• Mahadevi Birla World AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational training in fashion design, library partnership, and career guidance sessions.
• La Martiniere for BoysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual inter-NGO events and collaborative programs including Crucible of Dreams event.
• IndianOil PETRONAS Private LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInaugurated the Community Kitchen (Annam) project for income generation for women.
• Inner Wheel Club Calcutta MidtownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCervical Cancer Awareness Session organized in collaboration with the club.
• TeachForIndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeer mentorship program hosted by TeachForIndia for adolescent girls involving multiple sessions.
• Disappearing DialoguesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Green Grants awarded in collaboration with Ek Tara to create awareness about East Kolkata Wetlands and build youth environmental ambassadors.
• Tata SteelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTATA Steelium Community Engagement Programme involving skill training volunteering, and Swachh Bharat awareness on plastic waste management.
• Grant Thornton IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGTintheCommunity day with volunteers conducting waste segregation and management activities.
• Lions Club InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSight For Kids eye camp partnership providing eye screenings for girls.
• Bata IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool shoe distribution for children who walk to school.
• Team4Tech / GuidewireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer collaboration with Guidewire through Team4Tech for technology skills and support.
• ThinkArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts workshops including 'Images of Men' workshop on masculinity, MILLIPEDE theatre project with National Theatre of Scotland.
• J.D. Birla InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial literacy workshops for parents and malnutrition awareness for community mothers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Room to Read: Global education nonprofit operating at significantly larger scale across multiple countries with literacy and girls' education programs. Comparable in mission focus on literacy, girls' empowerment, and outcomes-driven measurement, but operates at broader geographic and budgetary scale than Ek Tara.

Direct peers

• Pratham: One of India's largest NGOs focused on quality education for underprivileged children, operating learning centres, government school interventions, and vocational programs nationally. Highly comparable in mission, delivery model (own learning centres plus government school partnerships), and target beneficiary segment.
• Smile Foundation: India-based nonprofit delivering education, healthcare and livelihood programs to underprivileged children and families. Comparable in multi-thematic structure (education + women's empowerment), corporate partnership model, and pan-India fundraising footprint.
• Door Step School: Indian nonprofit providing education to underprivileged children, including through mobile classroom vans reaching slum communities. Highly comparable in mobile/community delivery models and target population (urban slum children).
• Teach For India: India-based nonprofit placing fellows in low-income schools to deliver quality education. Ek Tara explicitly lists TeachForIndia as a partner for peer mentorship of adolescent girls, indicating close ecosystem overlap in mission and target beneficiaries.
• Akanksha Foundation: Indian nonprofit operating schools and education programs for children from low-income communities in Mumbai and Pune. Closely comparable in operating learning centres, holistic curriculum, and focus on long-term student outcomes for disadvantaged populations.
• The/Nudge Foundation: India-based nonprofit working on sustainable livelihoods and education for underprivileged populations, including girls' education initiatives. Comparable in operating model combining direct programs with ecosystem-building and impact measurement.
• Make A Difference (MAD): Indian nonprofit providing education and life skills to children in shelter homes and underprivileged communities. Comparable in target beneficiary (disadvantaged children), focus on educational outcomes, and youth-mentorship approach.
• Mobile Creches: India-focused nonprofit providing early childhood care and education for children of migrant and disadvantaged families, including a Day Care Centre component. Closely comparable to Ek Tara's Day Care Centre (children aged 7–18 facing abuse/unattended) and ECE programs.
• Magic Bus India Foundation: India-based nonprofit delivering education and livelihood programs to children and youth from underprivileged communities. Comparable in using community-based delivery models and partnering with corporate donors (e.g., corporate volunteering, CSR) to scale impact.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ektarango
• Facebookfacebook.com/NGOEkTara
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ektarango

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 Ektara