ASSIST

What ASSIST does

ASSIST is a registered non-governmental organization founded in 1985 and headquartered at 35-491 G.T. Road, Chilakaluripet, Palnadu District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The organization delivers comprehensive community development programs to marginalized rural populations across more than 270 villages in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, with over 400,000 people benefiting annually. Beneficiaries include daily wage laborers, small and marginal farmers, scheduled castes and tribes (notably the Banjara/Lambadi tribe), women, and children in mining-affected and river-island communities along the Krishna River.

ASSIST's service portfolio is anchored by the Comprehensive Community Development Project (CCDP), a 3-5 year program covering socio-educational development, infrastructure (housing, sanitation, water), and economic development. Specialized programs include Safe Water Access (276 water treatment plants installed and community-maintained), Reverse Osmosis plants in tribal villages, Housing and Sanitation with matching grants, Sustainable Agriculture with demonstrative plots, the government-funded Maathota horticulture program, Micro Business Loans, and Education Scholarships. Vocational training is delivered at facilities repurposed from former child daycare centers, covering tailoring, fashion design, computer applications, masonry, motor mechanics, and leather working. Programs are operationalized through community-managed Village Development Societies (VDS), Women's Self-Help Groups, and Mutually Aided Cooperative Thrift and Credit Societies (MACTS), with ASSIST positioning itself as facilitator and trainer rather than implementer.

The organization's revenue model is structured around charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners, with international contributions facilitated through FCRA registration and Section 80G (India) / 501(c)(3) (US) tax exemptions. Donation intake is processed via bank transfer, Pay U Money, UPI, and the Every.org platform. Strategic partnerships include VFS Global and Sri Lanka's NCPC for Project VISA (tourism workforce training, certified 123 participants in 2026), and corporate donors such as SEIL Energy India Limited and NREDCAP. ASSIST employs 51-100 staff and is governed by an Executive Committee led by Operational Director J. Ranga Rao and Executive Director K.S.R. Murthy, both serving since 1985.

Name

ASSIST

Legal name

ASSIST INDIA

Website

https://assist-india.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ASSIST is a registered Indian NGO founded in 1985 that delivers comprehensive community development programs (water, housing, vocational training, agriculture, microfinance) to marginalized rural populations across 270+ villages in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, funded by donations and corporate CSR.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE), Infrastructure, Energy & Urban Development Aid Programs (BPADABAJ), Climate, Environment & Natural Resource Management Aid Programs (BPADABAI)

Keywords

• Community development programs
• Rural development services
• Vocational training programs
• Safe water access
• Sustainable agriculture programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hyderabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ASSIST operates as a non-governmental organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations worldwide. The organization accepts one-off contributions, project-specific support, and regular donations. ASSIST is a fully registered society in India with up-to-date FCRA documentation enabling international funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASSIST is a registered NGO that delivers integrated rural community development programs in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, India. Its flagship Comprehensive Community Development Project (CCDP) is a 3-5 year multi-sector program covering safe water access, housing and sanitation, vocational training, sustainable agriculture, horticulture, micro-business loans, and education scholarships. Services are delivered free to beneficiaries through Village Development Societies, Self-Help Groups, and cooperative structures, and funded via donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate donors.

Product overview

ASSIST is a registered NGO (non-governmental organisation) working since 1985 for the comprehensive development of poor and marginalised communities in rural Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India. ASSIST's offering consists of community development programmes rather than a technology product—its core CCDP (Comprehensive Community Development Project) is a 3-5 year programme delivered through multiple interconnected projects including Safe Water Access, Housing and Sanitation, Vocational Training, Sustainable Agriculture, and Horticulture. Supporting programmes include Micro Business Loans for livelihood promotion, Education Scholarships for disadvantaged students, and Clean Water Supply via RO plants. The organisation operates through community-led Village Development Societies (VDS), Self-Help Groups, and Mutually Aided Co-operative Thrift and Credit Societies (MACTS), with vocational training facilities repurposed from former child development centres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400,000 people benefit from ASSIST's work each year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• VFS GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026VFS Global partnered with ASSIST and NCPC Sri Lanka for Project VISA, a vocational training programme for Sri Lanka's tourism workforce. ASSIST participated as a local implementation partner, delivering training in sustainable tourism, cultural interpretation, communication, and entrepreneurship. The program certified 123 participants across four batches in Galle, Negombo, Riverstone, and Kandy.
• National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) Sri LankaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026NCPC Sri Lanka partnered with VFS Global and ASSIST for Project VISA, a CSR initiative by VFS Global focused on sustainable tourism workforce development in Sri Lanka.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Digital Green: India-origin social enterprise using video-based extension to improve agricultural practices for smallholder farmers. Adjacent to ASSIST's sustainable agriculture and horticulture work but differentiated by technology-enabled extension approach.

Direct peers

• PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action): Indian NGO operating since 1983 with nearly identical mission — promoting livelihoods for rural poor through women's Self-Help Groups, agriculture, and micro-enterprise across multiple Indian states. Most direct comparable in scale, methodology, and community-led philosophy.
• Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA): Indian organization empowering poor self-employed women workers through cooperatives, microfinance, and skill building. Directly comparable to ASSIST's women's SHGs, MACTS thrift/credit societies, and vocational training programming targeting rural women.
• BAIF Development Research Foundation: Large Indian rural development NGO founded in 1967 focused on livestock, agriculture, watershed, and livelihoods for marginalized rural communities. Comparable in program mix (agriculture, water, community institutions) and pan-Indian rural footprint.
• Trickle Up: International NGO focused on extreme poverty graduation through livelihood coaching, savings groups, and cash grants in rural India and other geographies. Highly comparable to ASSIST's micro-business loans, vocational training, and SHG-based community empowerment model.
• WaterAid India: Indian arm of WaterAid International focused specifically on rural water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming. Directly comparable to ASSIST's Safe Water Access and Clean Water Supply (RO Plants) programmes and donor-driven operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Aga Khan Foundation (India): International development foundation operating rural development, education, and health programmes across South Asia including India. Comparable as a larger, multi-sectoral international NGO with rural community focus and similar donor-driven funding model.
• Concern Worldwide: International humanitarian NGO addressing extreme poverty through livelihoods, health, and education programming across multiple countries. Comparable to ASSIST in community-led rural development methodology, though with broader emergency response mandate and international footprint.
• Grameen Foundation: Global poverty alleviation organization operating microfinance, digital agriculture, and community development programmes across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Comparable as a larger, more institutionalized version of ASSIST's grassroots community-led development model.
• Heifer International: Global NGO focused on ending hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture, livestock, and women's empowerment in rural communities. Directly comparable programme verticals (sustainable agriculture, horticulture, women's livelihoods) with broader international scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ASSISTNGO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/assist-india

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ASSIST