What Mann Deshi does

Mann Deshi Foundation is a non-governmental organization founded in 1996 by Chetna Gala Sinha in Mhaswad, a drought-stricken region of Maharashtra, India. The organization operates an integrated ecosystem of programmes targeting rural women micro-entrepreneurs and their communities across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Its primary beneficiaries include rural women running micro-businesses, smallholder farmers, school-age girls, and rural youth facing systemic barriers to formal financial services, business skills, and market access.

The product portfolio spans financial inclusion (via its companion entity Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank, India's first rural women's bank), entrepreneurship education through mobile bus-based business schools and the Deshi MBA, doorstep banking services at weekly markets (Rs 10,000–40,000 Cash Credit loans at 26% on reducing scale with 5–6% profit margin), the Mann Deshi Mahotsav marketplace exhibitions in Mumbai and Satara, the Mann Deshi Cattle Lab (launched May 2025 for veterinary diagnostics) and Soil Sakhi programme under the Centre for Climate Resilient Agriculture, water conservation infrastructure (16 check dams, 517 wells rejuvenated), the Mann Deshi Champions sports initiative and Maidan Cup (50 sports grounds in Bastar in partnership with Sachin Tendulkar Foundation), the NEEM Health subscription-based healthcare programme, and KickStart Girls youth development. Distribution relies on 13+ branch offices across rural Maharashtra and Karnataka, mobile digital literacy and business school buses, weekly market (haat) presence across 48 markets and 150 villages, and community radio with 50,000+ regular listeners.

Revenue is generated primarily through donations and grants routed via the US-based Friends of Mann Deshi nonprofit (used for tax-deductible international giving), while the companion cooperative bank generates revenue through interest on microfinance loans. Scaled to approximately 200 staff and reaching 1 million women by 2024, the foundation sustains a complex multi-stakeholder operating model underpinned by strategic relationships with corporate and institutional donors (HSBC, IndusInd, Mastercard, Walmart, Oracle, Northern Arc, Crisil Foundation, EdelGive, Rythm Foundation, GIZ, Sachin Tendulkar Foundation).

Name

Mann Deshi

Legal name

Mann Deshi Foundation

Website

https://manndeshifoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mann Deshi Foundation is a 1996-founded India-based nonprofit delivering financial education, business training, market access, climate-smart agriculture, healthcare, and sports programmes for rural women micro-entrepreneurs across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka alongside India's first rural women's bank.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microfinance and Rural Banking

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Savings Institutions, Not Federally Chartered (6036)

akta.pro primary industry

Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Lens / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Funds (FSANAJAM), Community Development & Affordable Housing Funds (FSANAJAK), Climate / Clean Tech & Decarbonization Funds (FSANAJAA)

Keywords

• Microfinance services
• Women's banking
• Financial inclusion
• Rural entrepreneurship
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Satara

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: NGO operates primarily through donations from Indian citizens (tax-deductible via CC Avenue) and international donors (routed through Friends of Mann Deshi, US-based nonprofit).
2. Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank Services: The companion bank (separate entity) generates revenue through interest on loans provided to women micro-entrepreneurs. Bank has $25 million in total business and remains consistently profitable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mann Deshi Foundation is an Indian non-profit founded in 1996 that provides rural women with an integrated combination of financial and non-financial services. Its companion entity, Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank (established 1997, India's first rural bank for women), offers customized credit, savings, and doorstep banking. The Foundation complements the bank with entrepreneurship training (Deshi MBA via mobile business schools), digital and financial literacy, community radio, healthcare, sports development, water conservation, and climate-resilient agriculture programs for smallholder farmers.

Product overview

Mann Deshi is a women-focused NGO operating a multi-product ecosystem for rural empowerment, combining financial inclusion through its pioneering women's bank with capacity-building programmes, market access initiatives, and community development projects. The core offering consists of the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank (India's first rural women's bank) complemented by Business Schools delivering the Deshi MBA programme, Chambers of Commerce for market access, and Community Radio for outreach. These are augmented by Digital Literacy and Social Impact Fund programmes addressing financial infrastructure gaps. Community empowerment verticals span Water Conservation (check dams, well rejuvenation), Mann Deshi Champions (sports talent development), Bicycles for Girls (education access), Healthcare Services (diagnostic center, health camps), Championing Green (climate action), and the Centre for Climate Resilient Agriculture with Soil Sakhi, Farm to Market, and the recently launched Cattle Lab. Youth-facing programmes include KickStart Girls and a Youth Development Center. Market access is facilitated through Mann Deshi Mahotsav exhibitions. The portfolio operates as an integrated ecosystem where financial products enable entrepreneurship, business training builds capacity, market linkages drive growth, and community programmes address structural barriers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank India's first rural bank for women, established in 1996, providing customized financial products, affordable credit, and safe savings spaces for rural women micro-entrepreneurs; operates 13+ branches with 200,000+ accounts and 4,600+ cooperative members.
• Weekly Market Cash Credit Loan Customized doorstep microcredit loan product for women micro-entrepreneurs operating in 48 rural weekly markets across 150 villages; loans of Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000 at 26% per annum on reducing scale, provided to Joint Liability Groups of 3 unrelated women with free doorstep collection and on-the-spot mobile app transactions.
• Business Schools (Deshi MBA) Entrepreneurship training programmes including the Deshi MBA course for aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs, with mobile bus-based schools traveling to remote locations delivering business, financial, and digital literacy training.
• Chambers of Commerce Advisory and market access services for women entrepreneurs, including toll-free helpline, customized advisory, market access facilitation, and advocacy.
• Mann Deshi Community Radio Community radio station focusing on stories relevant to women entrepreneurs, government schemes information, and local musical and folk traditions, reaching 50,000+ regular listeners.
• Digital Literacy Programme Training introducing rural women to digital banking, ATMs, and cashless apps, delivered via customized Digital Literacy Buses equipped with dummy ATM machines, wi-fi enabled tablets, and educational materials including movies and pictorial booklets.
• Social Impact Fund for Women Micro Entrepreneurs First Social Impact Fund for women micro-entrepreneurs in India, set up in partnership with Northern Arc Investments, providing working capital loans to help women grow their enterprises.
• Mann Deshi Mahotsav Bi-annual exhibition and festival in Mumbai (Nariman Point, Dadar, Vile Parle) and Satara promoting women entrepreneurs and their products, providing market access and visibility to urban consumers.
• Healthcare Services Comprehensive healthcare services including diagnostic center with radiology and pathology services, health camps for diabetes and hypertension screening, and community healthcare worker programmes. NEEM Health Project subscription-based healthcare for families of 4 at Rs. 50/month.
• Mann Deshi Cattle Lab Veterinary diagnostic laboratory providing Complete Blood Count (CBC), Kidney Function Tests (KFT), Liver Function Tests (LFT), and urine analysis for rural livestock including dairy buffaloes, cows, sheep, and goats.
• Centre for Climate Resilient Agriculture (Soil Testing) Agricultural support including soil testing laboratory analyzing 14, 18, and 21 critical soil parameters, Soil Sakhis network for grassroots sample collection, Sheti Shala training workshops, expert advisory, and market linkage services.
• Mann Deshi Champions (Sports Programme) Sports talent identification and training programme for rural youth in field hockey, athletics, wrestling, badminton, swimming, cricket, football, kabaddi, kho-kho, and volleyball, with support for state, national and international level competitions; 7,000 athletes enrolled, 300 competing at higher levels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% increase in average annual incomes of business school trainees
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Sachin Tendulkar FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Joint 'Maidan Cup Campaign' developing 50 sports grounds across 50 villages in Bastar tribal region (Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh). Initiative aims to promote cricket, football, kabaddi, kho-kho, athletics, and volleyball. Sachin Tendulkar inaugurated first ground at Swami Atmanand Hindi Medium High School in Chhindnar village. Coaches will train 100 local teachers to spread sports knowledge. Expected to benefit over 5,000 children.
• National Payments Corporation of IndiacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in digital literacy curriculum development for Financial and Digital Literacy Bus programme, helping rural women learn digital payments and cashless transactions.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical support partner for development of Weekly Market Cash Credit Loan product, helping design the innovative loan scheme for rural women vendors.
• Dvara Healthcare FinancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop NEEM Health Project including community healthcare worker programme, comprehensive screening, and health savings tools. Also working on curriculum for community healthcare workers with Georgetown University's MedStar Hospital.
• NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner listed on Mann Deshi website for skill development.
• Chhattisgarh District Administration (Dantewada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict administration partnership for Maidan Cup Campaign developing sports infrastructure in Maoist-affected Bastar region. Initiative aims to transform the region and provide youth development opportunities.
• Georgetown University MedStar HospitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Georgetown University's MedStar Hospital and Dvara Healthcare Finance to develop curriculum for community healthcare workers to be shared with government.
• Aparna PopatminorOthersDouble Olympian and National Badminton Champion serves on Advisory Panel, supporting Mann Deshi Champions sports programme.
• Gautam NarayanminorOthersPresident & CFO of Knack RCM serves on Advisory Panel.

Scale indicators45 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bandhan Bank: One of India's largest microfinance-originators-turned-banks, headquartered in Kolkata with deep rural women-borrower focus. Broad incumbent serving overlapping microfinance customers but at vastly larger scale and with scheduled commercial bank license versus Mann Deshi's cooperative bank charter.
• Grameen Bank: Pioneering microfinance institution founded by Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh, serving poor women via group lending and social development programmes. The conceptual peer for any rural women's microfinance-plus-empowerment model, but operates under materially different country context and at much greater scale.

Emerging players

• Bharat Microfinance (formerly SKS Microfinance): Indian microfinance NBFC serving women self-help groups with group lending plus financial and non-financial services. Comparable loan product and customer methodology to Mann Deshi's Weekly Market Cash Credit, operating in similar rural geographies with JLG-centric lending.

Direct peers

• Satin Creditcare Network: Indian microfinance NBFC focused on women borrowers in rural and semi-urban areas using joint liability group lending. Comparable business model, customer profile, and women's empowerment narrative as Mann Deshi's Weekly Market Cash Credit product.
• Jana Small Finance Bank: Indian small finance bank converted from Janalakshmi Financial Services, with primary customer base of micro-borrowers and small entrepreneurs. Comparable deposit-taking plus group-lending model and rural women customer segment, but with commercial SFB charter vs Mann Deshi's cooperative bank.
• Spandana Sphoorty Financial: Indian microfinance institution (NBFC) extending joint liability group loans primarily to rural women, similar to Mann Deshi's Weekly Market Cash Credit product. Direct peer on customer segment and group-lending methodology, though listed and far larger.
• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank: Indian SFB that grew out of Ujjivan Financial Services, focused on financial inclusion for underserved women micro-borrowers and small entrepreneurs via JLG group lending. Comparable product set (group loans to women, doorstep service) and customer base to Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank.
• SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association): India's largest women's empowerment collective, also operating a cooperative bank (SEWA Bank) for informal-sector women since 1974. Direct peer given shared mission of women's financial inclusion via cooperative banking plus non-financial services (health, childcare, capacity building).

Others

• Women's World Banking: New York-headquartered nonprofit network focused globally on women's financial inclusion through partner financial institutions. Adjacent ecosystem participant that collaborates on products and research with peer institutions like Mann Deshi, but does not directly compete on lending products or microfinance delivery.
• NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development): India's apex development finance institution for agriculture and rural development, with which Mann Deshi has interacted for policy and pilot support. Not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem actor whose funding and policy positions influence the operating environment for Mann Deshi's agriculture and rural programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/manndeshiorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbekCGHgL1QGBhDqwQjiNig
• Facebookfacebook.com/manndeshi.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/manndeshi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mann-deshi-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mann Deshi