The foundation was established on the ocassion of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's birth centanary. Maulana Azad Education Foundation is a voluntary non-political, non-profit making social service organization established to promote education amongst the educationally backward sections of Society. It funded by the ministry of social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.

The aims of the Foundation is to formulate, implement educational schemes and plans for the benefit of the educationally backward minorities in particular and weaker sections in general. It was registered under the Societies Registration Act. 1860, on July, 1989.