FUNDAEC

Name

FUNDAEC

Legal name

FUNDAEC - Fundación para la Aplicación y Enseñanza de la Ciencia

Website

https://fundaec.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Rural Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• Rural education programs
• Community development services
• Non-formal education
• Regenerative agriculture training
• Educational curriculum development

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago De Cali

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: Online courses are offered at specific price points: DAS series courses cost USD 100, CAC series courses cost USD 120-150, and Huertas Paso a Paso costs USD 50 (COP 180,000). These provide revenue while maintaining accessibility.
2. Donations: FUNDAEC accepts donations through its website to support programs. The organization celebrates 50 years with community donations as a key funding mechanism.
3. Institutional Agreements and Grants: Implementation of SAT and other programs through formal agreements with governmental and non-governmental organizations that provide funding and institutional support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FUNDAEC develops and delivers contextualized educational programs for rural and underserved communities through the Tutorial Learning System (SAT) for accredited secondary education and the Preparation for Social Action (PAS) program for non-formal community education. The organization complements these educational offerings with regenerative agriculture training through the Cultivando la Esperanza demonstration farm, ecological restoration via the Nativo Bosque de Saberes project, online courses for development professionals, teacher training programs, and a Solidarity Fund supporting youth access to higher education. Programs are delivered through institutional partnerships with governments and NGOs, community-based tutors, and an online platform accessible globally.

Product overview

FUNDAEC operates a comprehensive portfolio of education for development programs centered around three main pillars: formal education (SAT - Tutorial Learning System), non-formal education (PAS - Preparation for Social Action), and agricultural development (Growing Hope - Regenerative Agriculture Farm). The ecosystem includes an Educational Center hosting workshops in Northern Cauca, an online course platform (Cursos en Línea), publications (70+ educational texts), a Native Forest restoration project (Nativo - Bosque de Saberes), teacher training programs, a Solidarity Fund for youth financial support, and participation in the international ShiftED Alliance for gender norms transformation. These interconnected programs work toward community well-being through education, food security, and environmental regeneration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAT (Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial): Tutorial Learning System - a secondary education program for rural communities with contextualized curriculum accredited in multiple countries
• PSA (Preparación para la Acción Social)
• Cultivando la Esperanza (Growing Hope)
• Nativo - Bosque de Saberes (Native Forest of Knowledge)
• Fondo Solidario (Solidarity Fund)

Products and services

• Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial (SAT) - Tutorial Learning System Accredited secondary education program for rural communities featuring a contextualized curriculum that combines academic content with community service and productive work. Structured in three progressive levels (Impulsor, Pr\u00e1ctico, Bachiller en Bienestar Rural) and recognized in five countries (Colombia, Honduras, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua). The program has reached over 300,000 students worldwide and covers 46% of Colombia's municipalities through approximately 60 partner organizations.
• Preparaci\u00f3n para la Acci\u00f3n Social (PAS) - Preparation for Social Action Non-formal education program that forms community well-being promoters through study, collective action, and service. Curriculum covers language capabilities, mathematical capabilities, scientific capabilities, and capabilities for community life processes. Active in 8 Colombian departments with 161 groups, 1,449 students, and 168 tutors. Globally reaches over 10,000 participants in 17 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, with over 75% women participation.
• Cultivando la Esperanza (Growing Hope) - Regenerative Agriculture Farm Demonstrative farm program for regenerative agriculture promoting food security and sovereignty in Northern Cauca. Features 6 productive units on the demonstration farm, partnered with 40 satellite farms and 29 household gardens. Trains farmers in agroecological practices to restore soil, protect biodiversity, and strengthen local food systems. Includes diploma programs in Leadership and Management in Popular Economies delivered with partner Semillas.
• Cursos en L\u00ednea (Online Courses in Education for Development) Online courses offering virtual, hybrid, or in-person formation in Education for Development. Includes two main course series: CAC (Contribuir al Avance de la Civilizaci\u00f3n) for graduate-level studies at USD 120-150 and DAS (Discurso de Acci\u00f3n Social) for undergraduate students at USD 100. Each course features tutor accompaniment, discussion forums, written reflection assignments, and Zoom meetings. Additional practical courses include Huertas paso a paso at USD 50.
• Centro Educativo (Educational Center) Regional educational center in Perico Negro village, Northern Cauca, offering workshops, seminars, and short-to-medium term courses on food production, regenerative agriculture, participatory research, and community leadership. Includes lodging facilities and a farm-to-table restaurant. Hosts national and international participants for in-person formation activities.
• Publicaciones (Educational Materials and Publications) Educational materials including books, teaching-learning modules, specialized documents, pamphlets, bulletins, and audiovisual content. Over 70 carefully developed SAT texts covering mathematics, science, language and communication, technology, and community service. Materials integrate disciplines, connect theory with practice, and combine abstract reasoning with concrete application grounded in rural realities.
• Nativo - Bosque de Saberes (Native Forest of Knowledge) Ecological restoration initiative across 11.5 hectares transforming degraded sugarcane land into biodiversity sanctuary and educational space. Restores degraded land through native species planting, hosts educational programs, maintains a community nursery, and has introduced over 180 species of fruit and timber trees. Developed in collaboration with the Bahai Community of Colombia.
• Fondo Solidario (Solidarity Fund) Fund supporting young people committed to community well-being with pathways to higher education and vocational training. Covers tuition, study materials, transportation, and meals for PSA participants pursuing further education. Addresses financial barriers for qualified youth seeking to continue their studies.
• Capacitaci\u00f3n de Maestros (Teacher Training) Teacher training program based on the Learning to Learn methodology using FUNDAEC's educational materials. Structured into three modules to help teachers exercise pedagogical autonomy and align practice with a holistic education vision. Developed in partnership with Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation in Uganda, demonstrating international replication of the methodology. Trained over 1,000 undergraduate teachers and 270 postgraduate teachers through CUBR.
• Accelerator for Shifting Gender Norms through Education (ShiftED Alliance Pilot) International initiative under the ShiftED Alliance validating a multilingual cross-cultural survey on gender norms reaching 25,000 adolescents. FUNDAEC leads one of 12 global pilot projects to transform gender norms and relationships through education in alliance with organizations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000+ students educated through SAT program
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• ShiftED AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational alliance of organizations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America working to transform gender norms through education. FUNDAEC was selected among only 12 organizations worldwide to lead pilot project reaching 25,000 adolescents.
• Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation (Uganda)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to incorporate Kimanya's 'Learning to Learn' program based on FUNDAEC's educational materials. Program draws on FUNDAEC texts and PSA materials, demonstrating international replication of methodology.
• SemillasmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership delivering diploma programs in Leadership and Management in Popular Economies for farmers and community leaders in Growing Hope program.
• Faiths for BiodiversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative recognized in 'United for Nature' report, featuring Native Forest Project developed with Bahai Community of Colombia.
• Bahai Community of ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration on Native Forest Project (NATIVO) adjacent to Bahai House of Worship in Agua Azul, Cauca, integrating environmental restoration with spiritual principles.
• 60+ Implementing Organizations in ColombiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of public and private organizations implementing SAT methodology through formal agreements, including government education secretaries and regional development organizations.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves1 record

Direct peers

• Escuela Nueva Foundation: Colombia-based non-profit pioneering contextualized rural primary education. Closest direct peer to FUNDAEC's SAT program: similar rural community-based model, Colombian origin, focus on transforming rural education through adaptable methodologies, and recognized internationally for scaling quality education in developing countries (featured alongside FUNDAEC in Brookings' Millions Learning).
• Fe y Alegría: Pan-Latin American Jesuit-led education network operating in 22+ countries with a similar mission of delivering quality education to underserved rural and urban communities. Highly comparable to FUNDAEC's mission of providing contextualized secondary education to populations excluded from traditional schooling.
• Room to Read: Global non-profit focused on literacy and girls' education in low-income countries, with strong emphasis on developing local content and training local educators. Highly comparable to FUNDAEC's emphasis on proprietary content (70+ texts) and community-based tutor network, with similar multi-country emerging-market footprint.

Broad incumbents

• PRATHAM: One of the largest non-governmental education organizations in India, reaching millions of children annually through low-cost, community-driven education programs. Comparable to FUNDAEC in mission (rural education access) and model (community-based delivery), but at significantly larger scale and with broader scope.
• BRAC: Bangladesh-headquartered international development organization operating one of the world's largest non-governmental education programs. Comparable to FUNDAEC in integrated development approach (education + livelihoods + health) and emerging-economy focus, but at vastly larger scale across multiple continents.
• Aga Khan Foundation: International development foundation operating education programs across South Asia, Central Asia, and East Africa with integrated community development approach. Comparable to FUNDAEC's integrated rural development model combining education, livelihoods, and civil society strengthening across multiple developing-country contexts.
• Heifer International: Global non-profit working to end hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture and community development. Comparable to FUNDAEC's Growing Hope regenerative agriculture program and integrated approach linking agriculture, education, and rural livelihoods across multiple countries.

Emerging players

• Kimanya-Ngeyo Foundation: Uganda-based non-profit that has formally adopted FUNDAEC's educational methodology ('Learning to Learn' program based on FUNDAEC texts and PSA materials). Most directly comparable as an organization replicating FUNDAEC's specific approach in an African context, providing a template for FUNDAEC's international replication model.

Others

• Ashoka: Global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs, including in education and rural development. Thematically adjacent to FUNDAEC as an enabler of social innovation in education; operates as a peer community and funding intermediary rather than direct program delivery.

Regional players

• Fundación Volver a la Gente: Colombian non-profit foundation focused on rural community development in post-conflict regions. Comparable to FUNDAEC as a Colombian non-profit foundation working on integrated rural development, though focused on different regions and a distinct programmatic model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FundaecOficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Fundaec/61554662219297
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundaec/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundaec_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FUNDAEC