Harpswell

What Harpswell does

Harpswell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, registered in Connecticut and operating primarily from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, that advances young women in Southeast Asia through a portfolio of residential, educational, and leadership development programs. The organization was founded by Dr. Alan Lightman following a 2003 trip to Cambodia, with the first residential leadership center opening in 2006 and a second following in 2009–2010; as of July 2025 it has produced 269 graduates of its Cambodian Women's Higher Education program and currently houses 74 young women at its two Phnom Penh dormitories (Boeung Trabek and Teuk Thla). Core programs include the Cambodian Women's Leadership Program (residential university-track program), the ASEAN Women's Leadership Summit (a five-month hybrid program for women aged 25–35 from ASEAN countries and Nepal), the Leadership Residents Program (international volunteer mentors who teach an in-house curriculum covering critical thinking, debate, English, civic engagement, and computer literacy), the U.S. Scholars Program (full scholarships at six partner U.S. universities), the Mentorship Program, the IKAT Women's Conference, Social Impact Grants, the Harpswell Alumnae Association, and the Harpswell Alumnae House for transitional housing.

Harpswell's "technology" is fundamentally a human-delivered residential curriculum rather than a software platform: the proprietary offering is a multi-decade, in-house academic and leadership program taught by Leadership Residents living alongside students at the dormitories. The underlying operating model combines direct service delivery (two physical dormitories and a hybrid summit program in Penang, Malaysia), partner-mediated distribution (six U.S. university scholarship partners including Christian Brothers University, Agnes Scott, Bard, Bowdoin, Northeastern, and Rhodes; and Universiti Sains Malaysia's KANITA unit as the academic partner for the ASEAN Summit), and a volunteer labor force (152 cumulative Leadership Residents over 14 years). Programs are free to beneficiaries and access is granted via competitive application; in 2025 the ASEAN Summit pivoted from a 12-day in-person format to a 5-month hybrid format, and from 2026 will expand into Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.

Financially, Harpswell is a donation-funded nonprofit with no fee-bearing beneficiaries and no disclosed revenue. Funding sources span individual donations (online in USD/AUD, check, wire, securities, donor-advised funds, and matching gifts), foundation and corporate grants (a named $100,000 gift from the Elizabeth Ross Johnson family in 2022, and an ongoing partnership with the Obama Foundation's Girls Opportunity Alliance), and event-based fundraising. Disclosed unit economics include $3,000 per student per year for the Cambodian dormitory program, $950 for one year of safe housing, $500 for a semester of college tuition, and $4,000 all-in per ASEAN Summit participant. Governance rests with a Board of Trustees that expanded materially in 2024–2026; Dr. Alan Lightman retired from the board in May 2025 after 20 years of service, and Jacyl Shaw was appointed Executive Director in March 2024. The organization holds a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and was awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Government of Cambodia in 2008.

Name

Harpswell

Legal name

Harpswell Foundation

Website

https://harpswell.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harpswell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances young women in Southeast Asia through two residential leadership centers in Phnom Penh, a regional ASEAN Women's Leadership Summit, U.S. scholarships at six partner universities, and a lifelong alumnae network of 356+ women.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Leadership Development and Education (Nonprofit)

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADALAB

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

SECONDARYBPADAGAF

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

SECONDARYBPAGABAL

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYEDAMALAK

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

Keywords

• Women's leadership development
• Residential leadership centers
• Higher education scholarships
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Southeast Asia education

Headquarters

HQ city

Phnom Penh

HQ country

Cambodia

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Harpswell is funded by contributions from individuals. Donors can give online (USD or Australia), by mail (check), via Donor Advised Funds, Matching Gifts, wire transfer, or gifts of securities. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) with Tax ID 04-3474498.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Harpswell receives funding from foundations and corporations, including a notable $100,000 donation from the Elizabeth Ross Johnson family and partnerships with organizations such as the Obama Foundation's Girls Opportunity Alliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Harpswell Foundation operates two residential leadership centers in Phnom Penh that provide safe housing, meals, and an in-house leadership curriculum (critical thinking, debate, English, computer literacy, civic engagement) to young Cambodian women attending university. It also runs an annual ASEAN Women's Leadership Summit for women aged 25–35 from ASEAN countries and Nepal, and a volunteer Leadership Residents program staffed by international women mentors. All programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded entirely by donations and grants.

Product overview

Harpswell is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) offering a portfolio of women empowerment and leadership development programs in Southeast Asia. The core offerings include the Cambodian Women's Leadership Program (residential dormitory leadership centers in Phnom Penh), the ASEAN Women's Leadership Summit (5-month hybrid training program), the Leadership Residents Program (volunteer mentors), the U.S. Scholars Program (international scholarships), and the Mentorship Program (virtual career guidance). Additional offerings include IKAT Women's Conference, Social Impact Grants, Harpswell Alumnae Association, and Harpswell Alumnae House. These programs work together to provide education, housing, training, networking, and ongoing support to young women leaders across Southeast Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IKAT Women's Conference: A gathering for women leaders working in and for Southeast Asia, associated with the ASEAN Women's Leadership Summit.

Products and services

• Cambodian Women's Leadership Program A residential higher education program providing free safe housing, meals, leadership training, and mentorship to young Cambodian women attending university in Phnom Penh through two dormitory leadership centers (Boeng Trabek and Teuk Thla).
• ASEAN Women's Leadership Summit A 5-month hybrid leadership development and professional networking program for accomplished young women aged 25–35 from the ten ASEAN countries, Nepal, and (in 2026) Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea, culminating in a week-long in-person summit in Penang, Malaysia.
• Leadership Residents Program A volunteer program that recruits international women to commit 4–8 months living at Harpswell's Cambodian leadership centers, teaching the core curriculum, facilitating critical thinking sessions, and mentoring students.
• U.S. Scholars Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate from university for Cambodian Women’s Leadership program participants; 42%+ complete graduate degrees; fewer than 10% of their parents received a university degree.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Obama Foundation (Girls Opportunity Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Harpswell partnered with the Obama Foundation's Girls Opportunity Alliance, joining a global initiative to support girls' education and leadership. This partnership connects Harpswell to a broader global network of organizations working to empower young women.
• Christian Brothers University (CBU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBU is Harpswell's primary US university partner for the US Scholars program. Exceptional Harpswell graduates receive full one-year scholarships to study at CBU in Memphis, Tennessee. CBU also organizes community service activities and integration support for scholars.
• Agnes Scott College, Bard College, Bowdoin College, Northeastern University, Rhodes CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThese six US colleges/universities partner with Harpswell to offer full scholarships to exceptional graduates through the US Scholars program, enabling Cambodian women to pursue higher education in the United States.
• Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) — Unit for Research on Women and Gender (KANITA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ASEAN Women's Leadership Summit is organized in collaboration with KANITA at USM, which provides academic expertise on gender studies and women's empowerment. Faculty from USM serve as trainers and speakers in the Summit curriculum.
• Candid (GuideStar)minorOthersHarpswell holds Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, demonstrating nonprofit accountability and transparency standards through the internationally recognized Candid platform.
• Red Dirt Road, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Dirt Road is a women-owned social enterprise and sewing school founded by Harpswell alumnae in the village of Tramung Chrum, Cambodia. Harpswell's early community efforts (2003) included the construction of a school and healthcare program in this village, which led to Red Dirt Road's founding.
• Techo Startup CenterminorOthersA Harpswell alumna (Then Yanuth, Class of 2022) works as Program Manager at Techo Startup Center, demonstrating the career outcomes of Harpswell graduates in Cambodia's innovation ecosystem.
• Girl Effect (Girls Opportunity Alliance partner)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough the Obama Foundation's Girls Opportunity Alliance, Harpswell is connected to Girl Effect and other global organizations working on girls' education, enabling cross-organizational learning and awareness.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Room to Read: Operates girls' education and literacy programs across Southeast Asia, including Cambodia. Highly comparable as a nonprofit focused on educating and empowering girls through scholarships, mentoring, and life skills — overlapping with Harpswell's leadership development and US Scholar pathways.
• Girl Rising: Uses storytelling, education, and partnerships to advance girls' education and empowerment in countries including Cambodia, India, and across Southeast Asia. Comparable mission and Southeast Asian geographic footprint to Harpswell.
• Educate Girls: Focuses on enrolling and retaining out-of-school girls and improving learning outcomes for girls in rural India. Comparable as a regional developing-market nonprofit addressing girls' access to education with measurable outcomes.
• WE Charity: International development nonprofit operating education and empowerment programs globally, including leadership development for young people. Comparable as a youth-leadership-focused international nonprofit with similar volunteer-engagement and donor-funded model.
• She's the First: Partners with local organizations in Asia and Africa to support girls' education and leadership from secondary school through university. Comparable as a US-headquartered nonprofit focused on first-generation university women, similar donor base and scholarship model to Harpswell.

Emerging players

• WomenLift Health: Invests in mid-career women leaders in health through leadership programs and convenings across Africa and Asia. Comparable as a women's leadership development organization using cohort-based, hybrid training models akin to Harpswell's ASEAN Summit.

Regional players

• Cambodian Women's Development Association (CWDA): Cambodian nonprofit focused on women's economic empowerment, microfinance, and development. Comparable as a Cambodia-based women-focused nonprofit working in similar communities, but more focused on economic than educational leadership.
• Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC): Cambodian NGO advancing gender equality and women's rights through research, advocacy, and community programs. Comparable as a Cambodia-based gender-equality organization whose Executive Director is a Harpswell alumna, indicating ecosystem overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Plan International: Large international NGO advancing children's rights and equality for girls across 80+ countries, including Cambodia and throughout ASEAN. Comparable as a globally established girls' education and leadership organization operating in Harpswell's geographies at much larger scale.
• Malala Fund: Global girls' education fund operating across multiple developing countries with advocacy, programmatic, and grantmaking arms. A larger and more globally recognized incumbent in the same girls' education and leadership space as Harpswell.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Harpswell_Now
• Facebookfacebook.com/harpswellfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/harpswell_now
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harpswellfoundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Harpswell