The belief that shaped gROW
Turning crisis into opportunity for change.
In the aftermath of the COVID-19, grassroots NGOs stepped up as first responders.
They delivered food, enabled vaccinations and supported vulnerable communities, often at the cost of their own survival.
With depleted resources and mounting pressures, many struggled to pay their staff or keep the lights on.
EdelGive Foundation, along with a coalition of other funders and sector leaders, recognized a hard truth.
Philanthropy needs to evolve from funding-only programs to investing in organizational resilience.
The GROW Fund was born
GROW became a first-of-its-kind collaborative fund designed to strengthen 100 grassroots NGOs across India.
Its support focused on three pillars.
Such as salaries, rent
and essential overheads
that keep organizations running.
Skills in finance, technology, HR and leadership.
Within systems to sustain long-term impact.
Here’s what
we saw
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By the end of the two years, they were planning for the future with confidence, updating strategies, and investing in second-line leadership.
They began hiring strategically, upgrading technology, and building financial reserves.
At first, NGOs invested in basics like repairing toilets, buying furniture, paying overdue salaries. But within months, the story shifted.
The impact was validating
We learned that when given trust, flexible funding and the right tools, grassroots NGOs don’t just survive, they thrive.
They become resilient leaders and powerful changemakers for their communities.
₹147.9 Cr
mobilized in additional funding
93%
strengthened leadership pipelines
86%
achieved organizational growth
37%
built financial reserves
the pillars that made it possible
A structured program providing NGOs with skills-based support to strengthen resilience and future readiness.
Regular check-ins, peer engagement and access to learning resources helped NGOs track progress and build capacity across key operational areas.
Curated training and resources strengthened operational and strategic capabilities.
Sessions, delivered by expert agencies, focused on finance, HR and technology which were critical areas identified through careful analysis.
These were delivered by expert agencies to address gaps and support holistic organizational growth.
A digital learning platform offering resources, toolkits, courses and sessions recordings, tailored to participating NGOs.
It enables continuous learning and knowledge-sharing across peers.
The success of GROW proved the case for a new way forward, a collaborative model that invests in nonprofits at their foundation.
GROW+ builds on this momentum, helping organizations not only withstand shocks, but also lead community-driven solutions for today’s climate challenges.
From support to success
With GROW’s guidance and support, NGOs are building stronger teams, growing their skills and making a bigger difference in the communities they serve.
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Nurturing Aasraa Trust’s Mission with the GROW Fund support
Nurturing Aasraa Trust’s Mission with the GROW Fund support
Aasraa Trust works to uplift underserved children and youth in Uttarakhand through education and skills training. Like many growing NGOs, they faced challenges around workforce development and technological infrastructure. A valued supporter recommended The GROW Fund, and the partnership began.
“Working with The GROW Fund has been an unparalleled experience,” says Amit Balodi, CEO. “The workshops, training sessions, and feedback were invaluable learning opportunities.”
With the fund’s support, Aasraa was able to streamline processes and create key roles, including an Advocacy Manager who helped renew an important MOU with the Maharashtra state government. They adopted TYASuite software, which improved operations, transparency, and efficiency in procurement processes. At the same time, initiatives focused on organizational culture boosted employee satisfaction, reduced turnover and created a more motivated team.
“The most crucial area where we aimed to bring about change was streamlining our processes,” noted the team. Capacity-building initiatives have fostered a culture of learning, enhanced teamwork, and led to a more organized approach across departments.
The GROW Fund also helped Aasraa strengthen its brand through a website revamp to help them boost their visibility and communication. With this backing, the organization is now preparing to expand to 120 Night Schools and 100 Evening Learning Centers across India, reaching 10,000 students. The fund has also contributed to Aasraa’s recognition through prestigious awards, highlighting the success and impact of its work.
The GROW Fund has been essential in addressing Aasraa Trust’s operational challenges, enhancing internal processes, and fostering valuable collaborations. As Aasraacontinues to drive transformative change, the support from the GROW Fund remains acornerstone of its success, empowering the organization to make a lasting impact in thecommunities it serves.
Strengthening Badlao Foundation’s Capacity Through Partnership
Strengthening Badlao Foundation’s Capacity Through Partnership
Badlao Foundation, a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of tribalcommunities, forest dwellers, women, and children in Jharkhand, has always been committed torealizing its vision of providing a better quality of life through inclusive social and infrastructuredevelopment. Their mission, focused on empowering communities through Gram Sabhas,traditional community organizations, and women-based groups, faced significant challenges,particularly during the pandemic. The organization recognized the need for robust organizationalsupport to continue its impactful work and saw the GROW Fund as a beacon of hope.
The GROW Fund was identified as an essential resource for strengthening Badlao Foundation'score capacities, particularly in becoming a model training institution for Panchayati RajInstitution (PRI) training in the Santhal Pargana region. The Foundation aimed to enhance itsoutreach, increase deliverables to society, and modernize its operations through new technology,tools, and manpower. This ambitious plan included a comprehensive professional restructuringand the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for various operational aspects,such as MIS & Communication, Reporting & Documentation, Monitoring & Evaluation, andOrganizational Branding.
With the GROW Fund's support, Badlao Foundation focused on several critical areas: internalteam capacity building, particularly in fundraising and project proposal writing; leadership andmanagement training; and improving the organization's financial health. The Foundation alsostrengthened its HR, Finance, and Communication, Program, and MIS departments. By addressing these areas, the Foundation saw significant improvements in technology adoption,fundraising capabilities, and strategic planning.
The impact of these efforts was profound. Badlao Foundation expanded its operations, secured new projects, improved its networking, and enhanced its digital presence, including a redesigned website. The organization's functioning became more efficient, and the staff's skills were significantly enhanced through regular training and capacity-building programs. The community empowerment efforts also saw positive changes, indicating a broader impact across all levels.
Reflecting on their journey, Badlao Foundation acknowledges the importance of self-evaluation,which helped them identify areas of improvement. By focusing on technology, fundraising, andstrategic planning, the organization made substantial progress, setting a strong foundation forfuture growth. They plan to continue their development by seeking support from expertconsultants for strategy development, risk mitigation, and staff training.
Badlao Foundation's collaboration with the GROW Fund has been instrumental in enabling theorganization to overcome challenges, scale its operations, and improve program implementation.Their journey over the past two years, marked by significant organizational development, is atestament to the power of targeted support and continuous learning. As they look ahead, BadlaoFoundation remains committed to their mission and is eager to further expand their impact inJharkhand and beyond, serving Tribal and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) withrenewed vigor and dedication.
Empowering Change Through Collective Action at Shohratgarh Environmental Society (Lucknow)
Empowering Change Through Collective Action at Shohratgarh Environmental Society (Lucknow)
In the non-profit sector, leadership is a journey of resilience and commitment, focused onmaking a meaningful difference every day. Sandeep Srivastava, reflecting on his organization'sparticipation in a transformative program, emphasizes the power of collective action in achievinglasting change. Their participation in the program reinforced their belief in collective action andits pivotal role in non-profit leadership. It provided them with essential tools to amplify theirefforts, especially in resource-constrained environments, strengthening their resolve to foster amore equitable society.
Through strategic improvements, the organization has streamlined operations and enhanced team collaboration, resulting in reduced project turnaround times and increased overall efficiency.
A comprehensive Theory of Change has been developed to guide interventions, ensuringsustainability and maximizing impact across diverse community needs. There is a steadfastcommitment to achieving complete digital transformation, integrating advanced technology toenhance operational efficiency, support data-driven decision-making, and broaden communityengagement on a global scale.
Through participation in the program, the organization has embraced resilience and collectiveaction as core principles of effective non-profit leadership. This journey has not only refinedinternal operations but also empowered the organization to expand its impact and drive positivechange in communities worldwide. As the organization continues to evolve, it remains dedicatedto advancing its mission with determination and purpose, guided by the belief that unified effortscan achieve a more just and equitable society.
