What Obat Helpers Inc. does

OBAT Helpers Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in September 2004 by Anwar Khan and Afshan Khan as a family initiative — the name 'OBAT' is an acronym of the founders' parents' names (Obaid, Bilquis, Aman, and Tayyaba). The organization is headquartered at 1660 International Dr., Suite 600, McLean, VA, with a secondary address in Indianapolis, IN, and operates a lean staff of 1–10 employees. Its mission is to provide aid, support, education, and economic empowerment to displaced, stranded, and refugee populations residing in makeshift camps in Bangladesh — specifically the Urdu-speaking minority (Bihari) population that has lived in these camps for over 50 years, along with Rohingya refugees.

The organization delivers services through six core program areas: Education (11.7K students enrolled), Healthcare (100K people served annually), Charity & Relief (70K recipients of Ramadan Charity and Qurbani Assistance), Economic Empowerment, Youth Development, and W.A.S.H. — Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (165K people with clean water and sanitation access). It has also added an emergency Flood Relief Program for monsoon-affected communities in southeastern Bangladesh. Programs collectively reach approximately 300,000 beneficiaries across 116 camps. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is carried out through direct field operations, supported by donor-facing digital infrastructure (website, email newsletter, social media, community events, and downloadable awareness materials).

OBAT Helpers generates revenue exclusively through donations and charitable contributions from individuals, organizations, and grant-making bodies. Donations are tax-exempt (Tax ID 47-0946122) and zakat-eligible for Muslim donors, with a stated commitment to distributing zakat to eligible families. Donation channels include the organization's website, Zelle mobile payments, and U.S. mail-in checks. The organization has earned the 2025 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and the 2024 Great Nonprofits Badge, and reports financials through annual reports on its website. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Obat Helpers Inc.

Legal name

OBAT Helpers Inc.

Website

https://obathelpers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OBAT Helpers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that delivers education, healthcare, charity, WASH, empowerment, and youth development programs to approximately 300,000 displaced Urdu-speaking minorities and Rohingya refugees across 116 camps in Bangladesh, funded by tax-deductible and zakat-eligible donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Individual and Family Services (6241), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG), Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Refugee assistance programs
• Nonprofit humanitarian organization
• Displaced population support
• Education healthcare charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Mclean

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: OBAT Helpers generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, organizations, and grant-making bodies. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit that accepts tax-deductible donations and is zakat-eligible for Muslim donors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OBAT Helpers Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit humanitarian organization that delivers education, healthcare, charity/relief, WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene), economic empowerment, and youth development programs to displaced, stranded, and refugee populations living in 116 makeshift camps across Bangladesh. The organization was founded in September 2004 as a family initiative by Anwar and Afshan Khan to serve internally displaced Urdu-speaking minorities and Rohingya refugees with no access to basic amenities, education, or economic opportunities. All programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through tax-deductible and zakat-eligible donations.

Product overview

Obat Helpers Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a single, unified humanitarian aid platform offering multiple service programs to displaced, stranded, and refugee populations in Bangladesh. The organization provides six core service areas: Education Programs (serving 11.7K students), Healthcare Services (serving 100K people annually), Charity & Relief (including Ramadan and Qurbani assistance for 70K people), Economic Empowerment, Youth Development, and W.A.S.H. (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene serving 165K people). Additionally, the organization runs emergency response programs such as Flood Relief for crisis situations. All programs are designed to break the cycle of poverty and build a more equitable Bangladesh.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 11.7K students enrolled in education projects
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• BRAC: One of the world's largest development NGOs headquartered in Bangladesh; runs education, healthcare, water/sanitation, and economic empowerment programs overlapping heavily with OBAT's six pillars and serving similar low-income populations in Bangladesh.
• Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian organization providing emergency relief, health, WASH, and youth economic opportunities in fragile contexts; directly comparable program mix in displacement settings.
• World Vision: Large faith-inspired humanitarian organization providing child sponsorship, education, healthcare, and WASH in Bangladesh and other fragile settings; broad incumbent with overlapping beneficiary model.
• International Rescue Committee: Major international humanitarian organization providing health, education, WASH, and economic support to refugees and displaced people globally; operates in Bangladesh and overlaps OBAT's refugee-camp programming.
• CARE: Major international humanitarian organization running health, education, WASH, and women's economic empowerment programs across Asia including Bangladesh; competes for similar donor dollars.
• UNHCR USA: U.S. arm of the UN Refugee Agency; the lead multilateral organization protecting displaced populations including Rohingya and Urdu-speaking minorities in Bangladesh, the same community OBAT serves.

Direct peers

• Relief International: Humanitarian NGO delivering health, education, WASH, and economic recovery programs in crisis-affected countries; competes for similar institutional grant funding serving displaced populations.
• Sajida Foundation: Bangladesh-based nonprofit delivering health, education, and economic empowerment to underserved communities; directly comparable to OBAT in geography, program mix, and beneficiary profile.
• Direct Relief: U.S.-headquartered humanitarian aid organization delivering medical and emergency relief supplies to vulnerable populations; overlaps OBAT's healthcare and emergency flood-relief programming.
• HOPE Foundation for Women and Children: U.S.-registered nonprofit operating health and education programs in Bangladesh for vulnerable populations; similar model of small US-based team delivering services in Bangladeshi communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OBATHelpers
• Facebookfacebook.com/obat.helpers

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 Obat Helpers Inc.