Lighthouse Communities Foundation lists on BSE’s Social Stock Exchange to scale youth livelihoods

For many young people, finding a job begins long before they enter a classroom. Understanding their strengths, identifying career options and building the confidence to pursue them can be just as important as acquiring skills.

Lighthouse Communities Foundation (LCF), a non-profit working to improve livelihood opportunities for underserved youth, has marked its listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange’s (BSE) Social Stock Exchange (SSE). The listing follows a public issue of Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instruments held from September 30 to October 14, 2026.

The foundation marked the milestone with a bell-ringing ceremony at BSE on October 29, attended by government officials, corporate partners, philanthropic organisations and its leadership.

A new route to fund social impact

The listing gives Lighthouse Communities Foundation access to a regulated platform through which corporates, corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners and impact-focused supporters can fund its work.

ZCZP instruments differ from conventional investments. They pay no interest and return no principal, meaning subscribers contribute towards defined social outcomes rather than receiving financial returns. The platform also requires organisations to report how funds are used and the progress achieved.

“Models that combine career guidance, skilling and employer linkages, supported by transparent funding, are exactly what our youth need to find stable livelihoods,” said Manisha Verma, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department, Government of Maharashtra, who attended the ceremony as chief guest.

The listing comes as LCF looks to expand a model that combines government infrastructure and corporate support to deliver livelihood programmes.

Helping young people find the right career path

LCF’s Lighthouse programme begins by helping participants understand their aspirations and strengths before they choose a vocational training pathway. The foundation works with partner organisations offering courses aligned with available employment opportunities.

Since its establishment in 2015, LCF has reached more than 2.9 lakh young people across six states. Its Lighthouse programme operates 51 centres, with women accounting for nearly 60% of enrolments. According to the foundation, 77% of placed youth remain employed a year after placement.

The model brings together state and local governments, which provide infrastructure, and corporate partners, which fund operations and implementation.

Dr Ganesh Natarajan, Co-Founder and Chairman of LCF, said the listing was an important milestone in the organisation’s work with underserved youth.

“Ringing the bell at BSE today is a proud moment for everyone who has been part of the Lighthouse journey, from our young people and partner organisations to the corporates and governments who backed us early,” he said.

He added that LCF aims to reach one million young people nationally, helping them choose and build the careers they aspire to.

Pune is the next focus for expansion

The proceeds from the issue will support LCF’s work in Pune, with a target of helping 500 young people develop career awareness, confidence and job-readiness skills to access sustained livelihoods.

In Maharashtra, the foundation works with the Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department and the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training under a memorandum of understanding signed in January 2023.

Its initiatives include a Lighthouse centre at ITI Mulund and Model Career Centres in Thane and Nagpur. The partnership has provided career counselling to more than 5,500 young people, skilling to over 2,075 and placement support to more than 3,200.

The next phase is expected to extend the programme to additional Model Career Centres and industrial training institutes, including those in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Amravati.

Lighthouse Communities Foundation will report its progress through the Social Stock Exchange’s disclosure framework. For the foundation, the listing creates an opportunity to connect funding with measurable outcomes as it works to expand access to meaningful and sustained livelihoods.