India Development and Relief Fund

What India Development and Relief Fund does

India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) is a USA-based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity (EIN#52-1555563, granted in 1998) headquartered in North Bethesda, Maryland, that funds grassroots development and disaster relief projects in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The organization does not run programs directly; instead it partners with approximately 80 vetted local NGOs per year, sustaining roughly 110 active projects across six program areas: education and skill development, women's empowerment, environmental sustainability, healthcare, governance and innovation, and disaster relief and rehabilitation. Long-tenured partners include Manav Seva Sansthan (since 1988), Samerth Charitable Trust (since 1992), ERDS (since 2005), and Transparency International India (since 2004). Over 35 years, IDRF has funded more than $50 million in projects and has responded to major disasters including the 1999 Odisha Supercyclone (over $600,000 raised), the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake ($3 million raised), and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (over $1.1 million raised).

IDRF operates a donation-driven business model: it raises tax-deductible contributions from individual donors — primarily within the Indian-American community in the US — through its website, the Network for Good platform, email newsletters, social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), and in-person fundraising events. The organization reports that approximately 95 cents of every dollar goes directly to projects, implying ~5% overhead. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Donor engagement channels also include a 2025 Annual Appeal, a Donor Preferred Fund program, and legacy/planned giving options. The organization holds the Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency for seven consecutive years, a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, and GreatNonProfits Top Rated status.

Leadership is concentrated among former World Bank professionals. Founder Dr. Vinod Prakash (PhD, MIT; retired World Bank senior economist) serves as President and has worked pro bono since 1988; Mr. Rajeev (B.Tech IIT Delhi; MBA University of Maryland) serves as Executive Director with 20+ years of small-business scaling experience; Dr. Prem Garg (PhD, Stanford; former World Bank Director) serves as Treasurer; and Ms. Shubhra Garg (MBA, University of Maryland; former World Bank Chief Administrative Officer) serves as Secretary. Total US staff headcount is small (1–10). The organization is actively operating, with current programs, an Annual Appeal 2025, and 2024 news visible on its website.

Name

India Development and Relief Fund

Legal name

India Development and Relief Fund

Website

https://idrf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) is a USA-based 501(c)(3) public charity that raises tax-deductible donations from the Indian-American community to fund grassroots development and disaster relief projects across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka through approximately 80 vetted local NGO partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development and Disaster Relief

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN)

Keywords

• International development
• Disaster relief
• Women empowerment
• Grassroots charity
• Education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: IDRF operates as a USA-based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity (EIN# 52-1555563) since 1998. The organization raises funds through donations from individuals, corporate matching programs, and planned giving. Donors receive tax deductions for their contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IDRF is a USA-based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity that channels donations from individuals (primarily the Indian-American community) to vetted local NGO partners implementing grassroots development projects in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Its core offerings span six program areas: education and skill development, women's empowerment, environmental sustainability, health, governance and innovation, and disaster relief and rehabilitation. IDRF does not run direct service programs; it functions as a grant-making intermediary connecting donors to vetted implementing NGOs.

Product overview

India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) is a USA-based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity that operates as a grant-making organization facilitating development projects in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. IDRF does not run direct service programs but partners with local NGOs to fund specific grassroots projects. The organization offers six main program areas: Education & Skill Development (including scholarships, school construction, vocational training), Women's Empowerment (self-help groups, micro-credit), Environmental Sustainability (solar energy, organic farming, water harvesting), Health (mobile clinics, hospitals), Governance & Innovation (transparency, accountability initiatives), and Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation. Key financial products include micro-credit programs for women's businesses and skill development initiatives like the Patient Assistant Program and Drive with Pride program for vocational training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education & Skill Development Programs
• Women's Empowerment Programs
• Environmental Sustainability Programs
• Health Programs
• Governance & Innovation Programs
• Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 95 cents per dollar goes to projects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

41 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Manav Seva Sansthan (SEVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner since 1988, based in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Works on Japanese Encephalitis prevention, disaster relief, and Musahar community empowerment. Multiple projects across Bihar floods, COVID-19 relief, and rehabilitation programs.
• Samerth Charitable TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 1992, focuses on water security and harvesting in Kutch district, Gujarat and Kabirdham district, Chhattisgarh. Has constructed 37 check dams and 12 dug wells across 97 villages.
• Economic Rural Development Society (ERDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2005, based in West Bengal. Works on micro-credit for women, rural sanitation projects, and disaster rehabilitation. Has changed lives of 2,000 families in 133 villages.
• Phect-NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Nepal operations including ICU setup at Kirtipur Hospital and COVID-19 relief campaign in Nepal.
• Transparency International IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2004. Project Pahal promotes good governance in Bihar and Jharkhand by raising awareness of citizen rights and fighting corruption.
• Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society (SVRDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 1996, based in Tamil Nadu. Village Energy Program providing solar power to 100 villages and rural sanitation projects.
• Vatsalya TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 1998. Patient Assistant Program creating skill development for 700+ women from rural Maharashtra in medical field.
• Maharshi Dayanand Mahila Sikshan Sansthan SamiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2001. Founded by Dr. G.R. Verma (IDRF Board Member). Focuses on women's education in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. IDRF helped build staff quarters and computer rooms.
• Chaitanya TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for LEAP (Livelihood Enhancement Action Program for Women) in Maharashtra tribal areas. Training in clean milk production, organic farming, vermi-composting, and kitchen gardening.
• Saraswati Jain Sewa SamitiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2002. Supports Mahatma Gandhi Kushtha (Leprosy) Ashram and Sawai Mansingh Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• Vivekananda KendracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2000. Mobile medical clinics serving 50,000+ marginalized people in 35-40 remote villages across Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. RAMA program supports medical van operations.
• Health Aid TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 1999. Supports Jay Ambe Hospital in Chaparda, Gujarat providing healthcare to 600,000 people in 250 villages.
• Swami Keshwanand Smriti Charitable TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2003. Scholarships for medical, engineering, and technical college students in Rajasthan. IDRF funded construction of office building.
• Society for Welfare of the HandicappedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2016. Supports Patiala School for Deaf and Blind with 350 students, 280 in hostel. Education for children with special needs in Punjab.
• Atma Vidya AshramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2006. 'Dollar a Day' program supporting orphaned and destitute children with lodging, boarding and education at Sivananda Ashram in Andhra Pradesh.
• World Teacher Trust (WTT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2010. Free homoeopathic dispensaries serving nearly 10,000 patients per month in Andhra Pradesh.
• Ramakrishna MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for COVID-19 relief campaigns. Hospital capacity augmentation and remodeling projects.
• Sri Sathya Sai TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Super Cyclone Fani relief in Odisha (2019) and COVID-19 relief campaigns.
• Shiksha BharaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for tribal girls' hostel near Delhi. Biogas plant project providing clean energy to meet kitchen fuel needs. Empowers up to 150 girls per year from northeast India.
• Gwalior Hospital and Education Charitable TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2015. Snehalaya School near Gwalior serving 300+ girls from villages with plans to expand to 500 students.
• Sri Lanka Centre for Development Facilitation (SLCDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for women-headed households and families with persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka. Micro-credit program benefiting 78 women.
• Lila Poonawalla FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2009. Merit-cum-need scholarships for girls in Maharashtra and Telangana. Over 12,220 scholarships to 5,848 girls since inception.
• Mata Balak Utkarsh PratishthancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2009. Arogyadoot mobile medical care program treating 2,000+ women and children annually in Maharashtra.
• Magan Sangrahalaya SamiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2003. Women empowerment through eco-friendly micro-enterprises in Maharashtra. 10 projects over decade providing sustainable livelihood to 500 rural women.
• Dharma Vana ArboretumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for biodiversity conservation project in Telangana. 455-acre arboretum conserving tropical dryland flora.
• S-VYASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2002. Construction of women's hostel accommodating 500 students. Stop Diabetes Movement with 1,426 camps in 21 states.
• Janaagraha Center for Citizenship & DemocracycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for governance projects including IPaidABribe, IChangeMyCity, Bala Janaagraha, and Community Policing in urban India.
• Shyamprasad Institute for Social Service (SISS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Arogya Dhara health initiative in 162 villages benefiting 50,000 people in Telangana.
• Open Learning Exchange NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for One Laptop Per Child and E-Pustakalaya digital library project in Nepal.
• Sew Bharti J&KcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Jammu and Kashmir Floods 2014 relief and rehabilitation.
• Vardan Sewa SansthancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for multi-specialty hospital in Ghaziabad, NCR. 170-bed charitable hospital inaugurated by UP Governor in 2015.
• Ajekar Padma Gopal Education TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Karkala Jnanasudha Pre-University College science laboratories serving 550 students in Karnataka.
• Indian Society of Agribusiness ProfessionalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for skill development training for unemployed youth in Odisha. 303 students trained with 245 placed in jobs.
• Gyan JyoticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2011. Scholarships for nearly 20 high-achieving students from Haryana.
• Yogoda Satsanga Society of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for corpus fund and meditation hall construction in Chennai serving tribal areas of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh.
• Sew Bharti Madhya BharatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 1995. Sagar Girls Hostel and Midli Project supporting tribal girls' education in Madhya Pradesh.
• S M Sehgal FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2017. Strengthening role of women farmers project in Alwar district, Rajasthan benefiting 2,000+ farmers.
• Ma Saraswati TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2007. Scholarships for needy students from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Shree Banaskantha Anjana Patel Kelvani MandalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2014. Co-Ed Commerce College and Girls' Hostel project in Gujarat.
• Hope FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Super Cyclone Fani relief in Odisha (2019).
• Local Police (Maharashtra)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Bhirud family donation for Child Help Shelter-Bal Bhavan at Jalgaon Railway Station.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a large international humanitarian and development NGO operating across multiple continents including South Asia. It overlaps with IDRF's disaster relief, governance, and economic development programs at a much larger scale, with institutional funding and global operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the international development space where IDRF participates.
• Oxfam America: Oxfam America is a large US-based international development and humanitarian organization that operates across South Asia including India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It overlaps with IDRF's work on poverty alleviation, women's empowerment, disaster response, and governance activism, though at a much larger scale with institutional funding. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the development sector.
• UNICEF USA: UNICEF USA raises funds in the United States for UNICEF's global child-focused development, education, and emergency response programs across South Asia. It shares IDRF's child education, health, and disaster relief themes but operates at vastly larger scale with institutional and individual giving. Relevant as a broad incumbent in international development fundraising.
• Charity: Water: Charity: Water is a US-based nonprofit focused on water access and sanitation projects in developing countries. It shares IDRF's small-staff, donor-funded, transparency-credentials-driven model and competes for the same individual donor market, though focused on water specifically. Comparable as a sophisticated, donor-experience-focused nonprofit in the international development space.
• Heifer International: Heifer International is a US-based nonprofit that provides livestock, training, and agricultural support to smallholder farmers in developing countries including South Asia. It overlaps with IDRF's women's empowerment, rural development, and environmental sustainability programs, with a livestock-based model. Comparable as a long-standing international development nonprofit with smallholder focus.

Direct peers

• American India Foundation: AIF is a US-based nonprofit dedicated to catalyzing social and economic change in India, with programs in education, health, livelihoods, and disaster response. It serves a similar Indian-American donor base, raises funds through similar channels, and partners with grassroots NGOs across India — making it the most directly comparable peer to IDRF in terms of mission, donor community, and geography.
• Pratham USA: Pratham USA is a US-based nonprofit raising funds to support Pratham's education programs across India, primarily from the Indian-American diaspora. It shares IDRF's diaspora-driven fundraising model, education focus, and grassroots NGO execution model, with a more education-specialized mandate but comparable donor base and operational structure.
• SEVA Foundation: SEVA Foundation is a US-based 501(c)(3) public charity that funds community-driven development and health programs in India, Nepal, and other South Asian countries. Like IDRF, it channels donor dollars through vetted local NGO partners, focuses on grassroots development, and serves the diaspora giving market. Strong direct comparability in mission, geography, and operating model.
• Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation USA: Ekal USA is a US-based nonprofit that funds rural education and village development across India, primarily fundraising from the Indian-American diaspora. It overlaps with IDRF's education, rural development, and women's empowerment focus areas, and uses a similar model of channeling donor funds through local implementing partners. Strong comparability in donor base and grassroots delivery model.

Emerging players

• GiveDirectly: GiveDirectly is a US-based nonprofit that delivers cash transfers directly to households in extreme poverty across multiple countries including parts of South Asia. While its model (direct cash transfers vs. NGO-funded projects) differs, it competes with IDRF for diaspora and impact-focused donor dollars, especially in digital/social-media-driven fundraising. Relevant as an emerging alternative in international development giving.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/idrf_us
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IDRFUS
• Facebookfacebook.com/IDRFUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/india-development-and-relief-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/idrf.org_/?locale=us

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about India Development and Relief Fund