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KATHMANDU VALLEY PRESERVATION TRUST INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 223063050 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE A800 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · kvptnepal.org
revenue
$140K
expenses
$177K
net assets
$199K
employees
0
volunteers
5
program ratio
44%
mission · from form 990

HISTORIC BUILDING RESTORATION AND OTHER RESTORATION IN KATHMANDU VALLEY NEPAL

profile · synthesized from sources

Nonprofit dedicated to the restoration and conservation of historic buildings and cultural heritage sites in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. The organization implements preservation projects including temples, monasteries, palaces, and traditional urban infrastructure, often integrating seismic safety and traditional craftsmanship. It also produces scholarly publications and maintains a resource center on Newar architecture and urbanism.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Architectural Galleries
New wing at Patan Museum to showcase the valley’s architectural heritage and serve as a repository for recovered stolen art.
Buddhist Kathmandu Campaign
Identification and safeguarding of Kathmandu's earliest Buddhist structures.
Earthquake Response Campaign
Coordinated post-earthquake heritage recovery and rebuilding of urban historic zones in Kathmandu Valley, integrating traditional craftsmanship with international conservation standards and seismic safety.
KVPT Stories
Photography and storytelling project in collaboration with workxwork.com to document preservation efforts.
Kathmandu Darbar Initiative
Nepal's first seismic study of historic structures, conducted in collaboration with engineer Robert Silman from New York.
Patan Palace Restoration Project
Comprehensive conservation initiative focusing on seismic innovation and adaptive reuse of the Patan Royal Palace complex.
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Archaeological and Cultural Conservation 3 activities
    • Architectural research and documentation
      Creates and maintains an archive of architectural research, documents historic structures and their decorative elements, and produces publications and progress reports to advance understanding of Kathmandu Valley’s architectural heritage.
    • Establishment and operation of cultural resource centers and museums
      Established and operates the Architecture Galleries, Nepal’s first museum of architecture, in the restored Sundari Chowk within the Patan Palace Complex, and runs a resource center in Patan for architecture and urbanism.
    • Heritage conservation training and capacity building
      Trains personnel in restoration and conservation techniques, develops documentation protocols, and provides technical support systems. The organization also employs and trains local artisans, including women, and supports the revival of traditional craftsmanship and guilds.
  • Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
    • Historic building restoration and conservation
      Restores and conserves historic monuments, temples, shrines, monasteries, and palaces in the Kathmandu Valley, including seismic strengthening and post-earthquake recovery. The organization has conserved over 90 historic structures and completed more than 50 restoration projects following the 2015 earthquake.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$140K
Contributions & grants$140K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$177K
Program expenses44%
Admin / overhead56%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$98K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$199K
Cash$199K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$199K
Liquid reserves13.5 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -53.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ERICH THEOPHILE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2 $33K
ROHIT RANJITKAR DIRECTOR 2 $32K
relationships · 44

Who they work with

  • Alliance De Protection Du Patrimoine Culturel Asiatique Partner — Supported the publication of "Restoration of Itumbaha: Buddhist Kathmandu Campaign - Itumbaha Initiative 2002 - 2016".
  • Canada Fund Funder — Provided funding for the Radha Krishna Temple restoration project, with support earmarked for the training of women.
  • Department for International Development (UK) Funder — Provided funding for the Patukva Agam restoration project.
  • Department of Archaeology Government — Co-signatory to the tripartite agreement, providing regulatory oversight and approval for the restoration of Patukva Agam.
  • Department of Archaeology Government — Government agency co-funding and collaborating on the Patan Palace Restoration Project.
  • Federal Government of Nepal – Department of Archaeology Partner — Collaborated on monument restoration projects in Patan Darbar Square.
  • French Oriental Culture Heritage Sites Protection Alliance Funder — Major donor supporting the conservation of Mubaha Monastery structures.
  • Friends of Patan Partner — Community-based partner involved in heritage recovery efforts.
  • Gerda Henkel Foundation Funder — Funded post-earthquake heritage conservation projects.
  • Gerda Henkel Foundation Partner — Provided support for the publication of "Preserving Harishankara" and "The Restoration of the Krishna Temple".
  • German Development Service Funder — Provided funding for the Kathmandu Darbar Initiative
  • German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Funder — Funded heritage recovery and rebuilding efforts.
  • German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) Funder — Provided funding and technical support for the Patukva Agam restoration project.
  • Government of Nepal Partner — Collaborates with KVPT on the management and restoration of Patan Palace.
  • Government of the Federal Republic of Germany Funder — Provided funding for the Buddhist Kathmandu Campaign.
  • Kathmandu Metropolitan City Government — Local government partner in heritage restoration initiatives.
  • Lalitpur Metropolitan City Funder — Provided funding for the Dattatreya Temple preservation project.
  • Lalitpur Metropolitan City Government — Local government partner in heritage restoration initiatives.
  • Lalitpur Metropolitan City Government — Partner in funding the preservation of the Narasingha Temple.
  • Leon Levy Foundation Partner — Supported the publication of "Monuments of the Kathmandu Valley: Before and After the 2015 Earthquake" and "Tradition and Modernity in Patan".
  • Mubaha sangha Partner — Collaborates with the local monastic community in the conservation of Mubaha Monastery structures.
  • Nepal Department of Archaeology Government — Collaborated with KVPT on restoration and conservation operations.
  • Patan Municipality Government — Co-funder of the Patan Darbar Lighting Project
  • Patan Municipality Government — Partners with the municipal government in the conservation project at Mubaha Monastery.
  • Patan Museum Partner — Collaborated on restoration and cultural recovery efforts in Patan.
  • Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development Funder — Supported cultural heritage restoration initiatives.
  • Province Government 3 Government — Co-funder of the Patan Darbar Lighting Project
  • Rajopadhyaya Guthi Partner — Local religious confraternity and owner of Patukva Agam, co-signatory to the tripartite restoration agreement.
  • Saraf Foundation for Himalayan Traditions and Culture Partner — Provided courtesy support for the publications "Chörten in Nepal" and "Homesteading: The Claiming and Shaping of Tahaja".
  • Soaltee Hotel Funder — Provided funding for the Kathmandu Darbar Initiative
+ 14 more
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Engaged and Craft-Led Restoration
    methodology: community-engaged restoration
    By involving traditional craftspeople and training local laborers, including women, in heritage restoration, the organization ensures cultural continuity, project feasibility, and community ownership, because local stewardship strengthens both authenticity and long-term preservation.
  • Heritage-Led Public Space Redevelopment
    methodology: heritage-led_public_space_redevelopment
    By transforming abandoned heritage sites into publicly accessible spaces through conservation and adaptive reuse, the organization revitalizes urban life and community engagement, because linking heritage preservation to public benefit increases civic value and long-term stewardship.
  • Integration of Traditional Craftsmanship with International Conservation Standards
    methodology: traditional-and-international-conservation-integration
    By combining indigenous artisanal practices with global conservation science and seismic engineering, the organization ensures culturally authentic and structurally resilient restoration of historic buildings, because this synthesis improves both heritage integrity and long-term safety.
  • Public-Private Partnership with Tripartite Governance
    methodology: tripartite_agreement_model
    By structuring projects through a tripartite agreement between private owners, KVPT, and the Department of Archaeology, the organization ensures effective implementation and long-term protection of heritage sites, because shared accountability enables sustainable conservation beyond project completion.
  • Seismic-Resilient Conservation with Historic Fabric Retention
    methodology: historic-fabric-retention-with-seismic-upgrading
    By prioritizing maximum retention of original architectural elements while integrating concealed seismic strengthening techniques like interior back-up frames, the organization preserves authenticity and cultural value while ensuring structural resilience, because non-invasive engineering allows safety upgrades without compromising heritage integrity.