Butterflies NGO
Butterflies NGO is a Delhi-registered non-profit founded in 1989 that delivers non-formal education, mobile schools, vocational culinary training, and a child-managed cooperative savings programme to street-connected and out-of-school children across Delhi, Uttarakhand, and eight other countries, funded via individual donations, institutional grants, and catering income from Chakhle Dilli.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Butterflies NGO does
Butterflies is a Delhi-registered non-profit organisation founded in 1989 that protects and empowers street-connected children and other vulnerable young people in India, with the goal of breaking intergenerational cycles of illiteracy and poverty. It is led by Director Rita Panicker, who has headed the organisation since inception, and is registered under the Societies Act 1860, the Indian Public Trust Act 1950, and FCRA 1976, with 80G tax-exempt status. Its core programmes include the Street Education Programme (non-formal, NIOS-accredited education delivered at eight fixed contact points across Delhi, reaching over 1,000 children daily), Mobile Schools / Mobile Learning Centres delivering NCERT-aligned education via laptops, LCD TVs, and libraries to remote areas of Delhi and Uttarakhand, and Non Residential Special Training Centres operated under an MoU with the Government of Uttarakhand. Distinctive offerings include the Children's Development Khazana (CDK), a cooperative-based financial literacy and savings programme for children aged 9–18 that as of March 2019 had 23,247 members across 8 countries and 10 Indian states with US$103,484 in collective savings; Chakhle Dilli, a vocational culinary and catering institute for street-connected youth whose catering income funds programmes; and Butterflies Broadcasting Children (BBC), India's first radio show hosted by children on All India Radio FM Rainbow Delhi.
The business model is a hybrid of donations, grants, and social enterprise revenue. Individual donations (including Zakat) are accepted online, by demand draft, cash, or bank transfer, with PayU Money as the payment gateway; institutional grants come from Misereor, Comic Relief, FIFA Foundation, and Indian central and state governments; and Chakhle Dilli generates earned income from catering clients including UNICEF, NIPCCD, CHILDLINE India Foundation, Save Life Foundation, CBGA, Breakthrough, IGSSS, the Embassy of Ireland, and JW Marriott Hotel. International giving is channelled through the Butterflies USA Foundation on Etapestry. All programmes centre children's participation via Bal Sabha (Children's Council), and the organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees with independent annual audits.
Butterflies NGO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Butterflies NGO
- Legal name
- Butterflies
- Website
- https://butterfliesngo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Butterflies NGO is a Delhi-registered non-profit founded in 1989 that delivers non-formal education, mobile schools, vocational culinary training, and a child-managed cooperative savings programme to street-connected and out-of-school children across Delhi, Uttarakhand, and eight other countries, funded via individual donations, institutional grants, and catering income from Chakhle Dilli.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Butterflies NGO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Child Welfare and Non-Formal Education Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Communication, Collaboration & Conflict Resolution Skills (EDAMAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Health, Wellness & Self-Care Skills (Sleep, Nutrition, Habits) (EDAMAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Butterflies NGO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Butterflies NGO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Donations from Individuals: Individual donors can make online donations through the website, demand drafts, cash donations, or bank transfers. All donations are 100% tax-exempt under section 80G.
- Chakhle Dilli Catering Income: Butterflies School of Culinary and Catering generates revenue through catering services and staff meals. All income from Chakhle Dilli goes directly to supporting street-connected children.
- Institutional Grants: Butterflies receives support from central and state governments of India, international organisations, and foundations including Misereor, Comic Relief, and FIFA Foundation.
- Zakat Donations: Accepts Zakat donations from Muslim donors to support vulnerable children with education, healthcare and life skills.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Donation/ grant-funded | One-time or recurring | Tax-deductible donations accepted at any amount |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Butterflies NGO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Butterflies NGO delivers non-institutional education, life skills, healthcare, and vocational training programmes directly to street-connected children in Delhi and Uttarakhand. Its portfolio includes the Street Education Programme (NIOS-accredited), Mobile Learning Centres, the Children's Development Khazana (a child-managed financial literacy cooperative), Butterflies Broadcasting Children radio show, Bal Sabha children's councils, and the Chakhle Dilli culinary vocational institute and catering social enterprise. All programmes are offered free of charge to beneficiaries and are funded through donations, grants, and social enterprise income.
Product overview
Butterflies NGO operates as a non-profit organization with a portfolio of interconnected programmes focused on street children in Delhi and Uttarakhand, India. The core offerings include the Street Education Programme providing non-formal education at contact points across Delhi, Mobile Schools reaching remote areas, Children's Development Khazana (a child-managed financial literacy and savings programme), Butterflies Broadcasting Children (a child-hosted radio programme on All India Radio), and the Butterflies School of Culinary and Catering vocational training institute. Children's participation is central to all programmes, facilitated through Bal Sabha (Children's Council). The NGO also produces publications including research papers, newsletters, comic books, and posters.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Butterflies Broadcasting Children (BBC): India's first radio show by children - 'Bachon Ki Nazar Se – Through The Eyes of a Child' broadcast on All India Radio FM Rainbow Delhi 102.6MHz
- Chakhle Dilli
- Children's Development Khazana (CDK)
Products and services
- Street Education Programme Non-institutional education programme that reaches street-connected children at 8 contact points in Delhi (Chandni Chowk, Haathi Park, Kashmiri Gate, INA Market, Sadar Bazar, Jama Masjid, Nizamuddin Dargah, Okhla) using the formal/national syllabus with informal methodology. Accredited by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the programme serves street children who have limited or no access to formal schooling.
- Mobile Schools (Mobile Learning Centre) Mobile education programme delivering quality education at the doorstep of children in remote areas of Delhi and Uttarakhand. Equipped with laptops, LCD TVs, education software, children's libraries, and recreational materials, with lesson plans developed following NCERT guidelines and tailored to local context.
- Children's Development Khazana (CDK) Life skills education programme on financial management and democratic values for children aged 9-18, in which children serve as members, volunteer managers, and promoters of their own cooperatives. As of March 2019, it was operational in 8 countries and 10 states of India with 23,247 child members and savings of US$ 103,484 held in mainstream banks.
- Butterflies Broadcasting Children (BBC) India's first radio show by and for children, broadcast on All India Radio FM Rainbow Delhi 102.6 MHz every Tuesday at 4:05 pm. The programme enables children to tell their own stories and bridge the gap between adult and child perceptions.
- Butterflies School of Culinary and Catering (Chakhle Dilli) India's first vocational institute in culinary and catering for street and street-connected youth, providing hospitality training with staff meals and catering services. All catering income is directed to supporting street-connected children.
- Bal Sabha (Children's Council) Platform for children to meet, discuss, and decide on issues concerning them. Small Bal Sabhas are held monthly at each contact point, with a Big Bal Sabha bringing together child representatives from all contact points. Described as the soul of Butterflies.
- Intervention in Uttarakhand Programme run in partnership with the Government of Uttarakhand's Samagrah Shiksha Abhiyan, supporting out-of-school children of migrant families and dropouts through multipurpose mobile schools and Non Residential Special Training Centres (NRSTCs) in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Uddham Singh Nagar.
Quantifiable outcome
- 23,247 children enrolled in CDK programme with US$ 103,484 in savings
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Butterflies NGO
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Butterflies NGO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Butterflies NGO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UNICEFcoreUNICEF is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli, Butterflies' vocational culinary institute. This partnership supports the social enterprise model where catering income directly funds programmes for street-connected children.
- NIPCCDcoreNational Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli, supporting the vocational training programme for street youth.
- CHILDLINE India FoundationcoreCHILDLINE India Foundation is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli. Butterflies also works closely with CHILDLINE for child rescue operations.
- JW Marriott HotelminorJW Marriott Hotel provides industrial exposure visits for students of Butterflies School of Culinary & Catering, helping train street-connected youth in hospitality skills.
- Government of Uttarakhand (Samagrah Shiksha Abhiyan)coreFormal partnership under Memorandum of Understanding for supporting out-of-school children education. Butterflies operates Non Residential Special Training Centres (NRSTCs) in Dehradun, Haridwar and Uddham Singh Nagar.
- Butterflies USA FoundationcoreUS-based sister organisation that accepts donations from US and other international donors through its online platform, enabling international support for Butterflies' work in India.
- Family for Every ChildminorInternational alliance of child-focused organisations sharing knowledge and best practices on children's issues.
- Save Life FoundationminorRoad safety NGO that is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli.
- CBGAminorCentre for Budget and Governance Accountability is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli.
- BreakthroughminorHuman rights organisation is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli.
- AspireminorOrganisation is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli.
- Action IndiaminorSocial organisation is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli.
- IGSSSminorIndo-Global Social Service Foundation is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli.
- Embassy of IrelandminorDiplomatic mission that is a catering client of Chakhle Dilli.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Butterflies NGO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Aide et Action India: International education-focused NGO with India operations supporting marginalized children's access to quality education. Comparable in life skills and education access mission but operates as part of a broader global network.
- CHILDLINE India Foundation: National 24-hour child helpline and emergency outreach service for children in distress. Already a Butterflies catering client and operational partner; comparable in child protection mandate but much broader national reach via helpline infrastructure.
- Save the Children India: Indian arm of an international child rights NGO operating across education, health, and child protection at national scale. Significantly larger and broader in scope than Butterflies but operates in the same child welfare domain.
Direct peers
- Pratham Education Foundation: One of India's largest NGOs focused on education access for underprivileged children, with nationwide programmes for out-of-school children. Comparable mission in education access and life skills, though much larger in scale.
- Mobile Creches: Delhi-headquartered NGO providing early childhood care and education to children of migrant construction workers. Comparable operating base, child welfare focus, and use of mobile delivery models to reach vulnerable children in non-traditional settings.
- Child in Need Institute (CINI): West Bengal-based NGO working on child rights, nutrition, education, and protection for vulnerable children. Comparable integrated child welfare approach combining education, health, and life skills programming.
- Salaam Baalak Trust: Delhi-based NGO providing shelter, education, and protection to street and working children. Directly comparable to Butterflies in target population, geography, and non-institutional support model, with overlapping programmes in non-formal education and life skills.
- Railway Children India: Indian arm of UK-based Railway Children focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and educating children at railway platforms and stations. Highly comparable mission (street-connected children in Delhi) and similar non-institutional outreach methodology.
Others
- Butterflies USA Foundation: Sister non-profit organization to Butterflies India that channels US donor contributions through Etapestry. Same mission via fundraising conduit; included as it represents a unique US-India non-profit funding architecture relevant for understanding Butterflies' full operating structure.
Regional players
- Terre des Hommes India: Indian branch of Swiss child rights NGO working on migration, child labour, and street children with comparable non-formal education and protection programmes. Comparable mission; partnered internationally with development networks also including Butterflies (Family for Every Child).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Butterflies NGO social profiles
Digital presenceButterflies NGO compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Butterflies NGO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Butterflies NGO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Butterflies NGO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Butterflies NGO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Butterflies NGO
What does Butterflies NGO do?
Butterflies NGO delivers non-institutional education, life skills, healthcare, and vocational training programmes directly to street-connected children in Delhi and Uttarakhand. Its portfolio includes the Street Education Programme (NIOS-accredited), Mobile Learning Centres, the Children's Development Khazana (a child-managed financial literacy cooperative), Butterflies Broadcasting Children radio show, Bal Sabha children's councils, and the Chakhle Dilli culinary vocational institute and catering social enterprise. All programmes are offered free of charge to beneficiaries and are funded through donations, grants, and social enterprise income.
Is Butterflies NGO a public or private company?
Butterflies NGO is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Butterflies NGO founded?
Butterflies NGO was founded in 1989. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Butterflies NGO based?
Butterflies NGO is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does Butterflies NGO make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations from Individuals are the primary driver. The others are chakhle Dilli Catering Income, institutional Grants and zakat Donations.
Who are Butterflies NGO's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Aide et Action India, CHILDLINE India Foundation and Save the Children India. Direct peers are Pratham Education Foundation, Mobile Creches, Child in Need Institute (CINI), Salaam Baalak Trust and Railway Children India. Butterflies USA Foundation is listed as an others. Terre des Hommes India is listed as a regional player.
Does Butterflies NGO have an API?
No public API is recorded for Butterflies NGO.
What industry is Butterflies NGO in?
Butterflies NGO's product category is Child Welfare and Non-Formal Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAIAF, Communication, Collaboration & Conflict Resolution Skills, with a secondary code of EDAMAIAJ, Health, Wellness & Self-Care Skills (Sleep, Nutrition, Habits). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8200.