Bangkok, Thailand – Airbnb has announced a significant investment in Thai non-governmental organizations, allocating funds to The Mirror Foundation and Raks Thai Foundation as part of its broader US$100 million Airbnb Community Fund. The initiative, launched in 2020, aims to support local communities and the people who live there, with over US$46 million distributed to more than 640 organizations across nearly 70 countries to date.
The funding for The Mirror Foundation and Raks Thai Foundation is part of a larger distribution to over 130 nonprofits in 25 countries this year. Airbnb’s Country Head for Southeast Asia and India, Amanpreet Bajaj, stated the company believes travel should benefit both visitors and local communities, and that the fund is designed to empower people and strengthen livelihoods.
The Mirror Foundation, established in 1991, operates from its headquarters in Chiang Rai Province and focuses on assisting hill tribe communities with issues including citizenship, drug abuse, cultural preservation, and human trafficking. The organization also provides crisis response, social innovation, and community development initiatives, serving both urban and rural populations. According to the foundation’s website, it accepts donations of electrical devices, furniture, computers, money, books, and general items.
The foundation offers a pick-up service for donations within the Bangkok metropolitan area, requiring a minimum of 2,000 books or 10 pieces of computer equipment for free collection. Contact information for donation inquiries is available via telephone (061-909-1840) and email (donate@mirror.or.th).
Raks Thai Foundation, recognized for its 25 years of community-based development work, concentrates on supporting vulnerable populations, particularly women and young people in rural regions. The foundation provides training in small business management, branding, and marketing to foster sustainable income opportunities. The Airbnb funding will enable Raks Thai to expand its educational initiatives, including STEM programs and resource provision for rural schools.
Airbnb’s Host Advisory Board plays a key role in determining funding priorities, with economic empowerment, sustainable and rural tourism, environmental sustainability, and preventing abuse and exploitation identified as focus areas for 2026. Tatiya Uttarathiyang, a Thai member of the 2025 Host Advisory Board, nominated Raks Thai Foundation, citing their long-term commitment to community-led change.
The distribution of funds for the 2025–2026 round is scheduled between November 2025 and March 2026, with grantmaking partners overseeing due diligence and payment facilitation to ensure efficient and transparent allocation of resources.
