Kula Project, Inc.
Kula Project is a Lynchburg, Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 15-month Fellowship for Rwandan smallholder coffee farmers that combines regenerative agriculture training, household entrepreneurship education, Village Savings and Loans Associations, and Women's Centers, funded by donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersMarietta, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Kula Project, Inc. does
Kula Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia (with a mailing address in Marietta), operating an international development program in Rwanda. Its core product is a 15-month Fellowship that trains smallholder coffee farming households in regenerative agriculture practices, layered with a household entrepreneurship curriculum called The Circle and a financial inclusion component delivered through Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs). Supplementary infrastructure includes Women's Centers (the Liddy and Coko centers are referenced) that provide skills training and serve as ongoing community hubs beyond the cohort period.
The underlying delivery model is community-led rather than technology-led: participants are peer-nominated, locally hired field staff serve as mentors, and impact is tracked through structured pre-, during-, and post-program data collection. Financial inclusion is being extended through a committed pool of up to $500,000 in no-interest loans made available to Fellowship participants through 2028, sitting alongside the existing VSLAs.
Kula's business model is donation- and grant-driven rather than revenue-generating. Funding is sourced from individual donors, giving circles, faith-based communities, and institutional partners (Together Women Rise named Kula as its 2024 Featured Grantee), and is supplemented by earned income channels such as the Kula Coffee roaster subscription that connects U.S. consumers to the Rwandan supply chain. The organization carries the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025) and is rated by Charity Navigator, supporting institutional fundraising credibility. Kula is explicitly not a technology company and does not market AI or software products.
Kula Project, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kula Project, Inc.
- Legal name
- Kula Project, Inc.
- Website
- https://kulaproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kula Project is a Lynchburg, Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 15-month Fellowship for Rwandan smallholder coffee farmers that combines regenerative agriculture training, household entrepreneurship education, Village Savings and Loans Associations, and Women's Centers, funded by donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kula Project, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development and Poverty Alleviation Services
- NAICS
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)
Keywords
Where Kula Project, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Marietta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kula Project, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Kula Project generates revenue primarily through tax-deductible donations from individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations. The organization accepts various donation forms including one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, planned giving, stocks and cryptocurrency, in-kind donations, and corporate matching contributions.
- Grant Funding: Kula receives grant funding from institutional funders such as Together Women Rise, who named Kula a 2024 Featured Grantee for a two-year grant period to support women entrepreneurs in Rwanda's coffee communities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kula Project, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kula Project operates the 15-month Kula Fellowship, a poverty graduation program for smallholder coffee farmers in Rwanda that combines regenerative agriculture training, household entrepreneurship coaching through The Circle, skills training at Women's Centers, and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) with no-interest loans. Programs are provided free of charge to participants and funded entirely through donations, grants, and charitable contributions. The organization aims to partner with 24,200 farmers by 2031, impacting over 70,000 people.
Product overview
Kula Project is an impact-driven non-profit organization that operates a multi-component program centered around the 15-month Kula Fellowship. The Fellowship combines agricultural support for coffee farming with household entrepreneurship training delivered through The Circle program, and skills development via Women's Centers. Fellows receive industry training, business investment, leadership skills, access to Village Savings and Loans Associations with no-interest loans, and participate in a Business Plan Competition. The organization aims to grow prosperity with smallholder coffee farmers in Rwanda through regenerative agriculture and entrepreneurship support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 147% average income increase within 2 years after graduation
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Kula Project, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kula Project, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kula Project, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Infinite GivingminorInfinite Giving is a partner platform through which donors can process stock and cryptocurrency donations to Kula Project, providing a seamless giving mechanism for charitable contributions of non-cash assets.
- 1% for the PlanetminorKula Project is a member of 1% for the Planet, an organization of businesses committed to donating 1% of sales to environmental causes. Kula's commitment to environmental sustainability and regenerative agriculture practices aligns with this organization's mission.
- CandidminorCandid (formerly GuideStar) has awarded Kula Project the Platinum Seal, indicating the highest level of nonprofit transparency and accountability. The Candid Platinum Seal 2025 is displayed on Kula's website.
- Charity NavigatorminorKula Project holds a rating from Charity Navigator, indicated by the EIN 45-5273875 displayed on their website. This third-party evaluation provides donors with assurance of organizational accountability and performance.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Kula Project, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Root Capital: Nonprofit agricultural lender that provides credit and capacity building to smallholder coffee cooperatives in Africa and Latin America — analogous impact-focused financial inclusion work.
- TechnoServe: Major international nonprofit working with smallholder coffee farmers across Africa and Latin America on agricultural training, business development, and poverty alleviation — closest direct competitor to Kula's coffee-focused model.
- Heifer International: Implements poverty graduation models combining livestock/agriculture training, VSLAs, and household entrepreneurship in developing countries — directly comparable methodology to Kula's Fellowship.
- Sustainable Harvest: Coffee importer that runs relationship-based farmer training and transparency programs in coffee origins including Rwanda — overlapping smallholder coffee beneficiary base.
- Solidaridad: International NGO driving sustainable production of coffee and other commodities with smallholder farmers across Africa — similar regenerative agriculture and livelihoods focus.
- Twin / Twin Trading: UK-based nonprofit working directly with smallholder coffee farmer cooperatives on training, finance, and market access — comparable farmer-development model in coffee.
Broad incumbents
- Mercy Corps: Large international development NGO running economic development and agriculture programs in fragile contexts including East Africa — broader portfolio but overlapping target geographies.
- Fair Trade USA: Larger-scale coffee and agricultural certification organization that supports smallholder farmer livelihoods through standards, premiums, and market access across multiple commodities.
Emerging players
- Progreso Foundation: Dutch nonprofit focused on financial inclusion for smallholder coffee farmers and cooperatives in Latin America and Africa — comparable niche in coffee smallholder finance.
- Grounds for Health: Nonprofit working specifically in coffee-growing communities on women's health and economic empowerment — overlaps with Kula's women-focused community development approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kula Project, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceKula Project, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Kula Project, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kula Project, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kula Project, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kula Project, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kula Project, Inc.
What does Kula Project, Inc. do?
Kula Project operates the 15-month Kula Fellowship, a poverty graduation program for smallholder coffee farmers in Rwanda that combines regenerative agriculture training, household entrepreneurship coaching through The Circle, skills training at Women's Centers, and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) with no-interest loans. Programs are provided free of charge to participants and funded entirely through donations, grants, and charitable contributions. The organization aims to partner with 24,200 farmers by 2031, impacting over 70,000 people.
Is Kula Project, Inc. a public or private company?
Kula Project, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kula Project, Inc. founded?
Kula Project, Inc. was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kula Project, Inc. based?
Kula Project, Inc. is headquartered in Marietta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kula Project, Inc. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are grant Funding.
Who are Kula Project, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Root Capital, TechnoServe, Heifer International, Sustainable Harvest, Solidaridad and Twin / Twin Trading. Broad incumbents are Mercy Corps and Fair Trade USA. Emerging players are Progreso Foundation and Grounds for Health.
Does Kula Project, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kula Project, Inc..
What industry is Kula Project, Inc. in?
Kula Project, Inc.'s product category is International Development and Poverty Alleviation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAA, Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAI, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems. Its NAICS code is 8139 and its SIC code is 8300.