Airbnb Supports Thai Foundations to Empower Vulnerable Communities

Launched in 2020, the Airbnb Community Fund is a US$100 million initiative designed to support local communities and the people who live there.

“At Airbnb, we believe travel should create meaningful benefits for not just our hosts, but also the local communities that welcome our guests,” said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s Country Head for Southeast Asia and India. “That’s why we’re proud to support local organizations that are creating real impact on the ground across Thailand. Through the Airbnb Community Fund, we’re partnering with The Mirror Foundation and Raks Thai Foundation to help empower local people, strengthen livelihoods and build more resilient communities for the long term — ensuring the positive impact of travel is shared more widely.”

Airbnb hosts are deeply connected to their communities, and each year Airbnb partners with its host community to identify important issues and many of the nonprofit organizations that will receive donations. Host Advisory Board members helped select economic empowerment, sustainable and rural tourism, environmental sustainability, and ending abuse and exploitation as focus areas for this year’s donations. They also reviewed nominations in their regions, bringing host perspective to every decision.

Thai member of the 2025 Host Advisory Board, Tatiya Uttarathiyang, nominated Raks Thai Foundation. “I’m excited about Raks Thai Foundation because they’ve spent over 25 years creating real, community-led change across Thailand. Their approach empowers people to take charge of their own development through skill-building, community enterprise, and long-term livelihood support. They focus on groups that are often left behind—especially women and youth in rural areas—offering practical training in small business management, branding, and marketing to help them earn a sustainable income. What stands out to me is their commitment to building capacity, not dependency. They help communities understand their challenges and develop their own solutions.”

Raks Thai Foundation supports disadvantaged communities and vulnerable groups across Thailand. The foundation works closely with local communities, government agencies, and the private sector to address the root causes of poverty and inequality, by equipping people with the tools, knowledge and confidence to tackle challenges, strengthen livelihoods and lead their own sustainable development — creating lasting, community-driven change from the ground up.

Promboon Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of Raks Thai Foundation, commented, “With this support from Airbnb, Raks Thai Foundation will continue empowering small schools with STEM education and essential learning tools, creating long-term opportunities for children to learn, explore, and thrive.”

The Mirror Foundation works across Thailand to deliver practical support to vulnerable communities by nurturing widespread participation, designing innovative responses to social problems, and driving sustainable social transformation. Building on past collaborations with Airbnb — most recently supporting flood relief efforts in Hat Yai — the partnership continues to strengthen communities and expand access to meaningful, long-term social impact initiatives.

Mr. Sombat Boonngamanong, Founder of The Mirror Foundation, said, “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Airbnb and its hosts for partnering with The Mirror Foundation in creating meaningful change. Together, this support enables us to make a tangible impact in both urban and rural communities—supporting children, adults, and the elderly, across all genders and ages, and especially those affected by crises and hardship. We deeply appreciate Airbnb’s continued commitment to positive social impact.”

 

The Airbnb Community Fund in action
To date, the Airbnb Community Fund has distributed more than US$46 million to more than 640 organizations in nearly 70 countries, with hosts providing input each year. To learn more about the Airbnb Community Fund and this year’s recipients, please visit the Airbnb Community Fund website.

The 2025-2026 Airbnb Community Fund donations will be distributed from November 2025 through March 2026. Airbnb works with grantmaking partners including Goodstack to support due diligence and facilitate payment to many non-profit recipients.