What Cohesion Foundation Trust does

Cohesion Foundation Trust is a non-profit trust established in 1996 and registered in 2001 under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950, headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The organization implements eight thematic development programs — Education & Child Protection, Water & Sanitation, Disaster Preparedness & Management, Health & Nutrition, Social Securities, Decentralized Governance, Livelihoods & Income Generation, and Infrastructure Development — targeting rural and urban poor communities across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh. Its core delivery model relies on a community-based, bottom-up approach channeled through 525 community institutions including Self Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organizations, Baal Panchayats, and School Management Committees, reaching 59,463 households (85%+ from marginalized communities) with 75%+ women participation. There is no proprietary technology product; the organization functions as a grassroots implementation NGO rather than a software or AI platform.

Cohesion's business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. Income streams comprise institutional donor grants (Azim Premji Philanthropic Foundation, HCL Foundation, HDFC Bank Parivartan, Misereor, McCain Foods), Corporate Social Responsibility funding (Kotak Mahindra Bank, Wipro Foundation, Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development), and government program implementation partnerships (Jal Jeevan Mission as Knowledge Partner since 2021, Atal Bhujal Yojana as Implementing Partner since 2021, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, NABARD). The organization operates with a lean core team of 12 professionals supported by community institutions, volunteers, and partner networks, and does not sell products or services commercially. Its operating geography expanded from Gujarat to Chhattisgarh (2011), Maharashtra (2012), urban slums (2015), and Uttar Pradesh (2020), with a 2022 strategic pivot emphasizing women farmers and engagement with climate, gender, and livelihoods networks.

Name

Cohesion Foundation Trust

Legal name

Cohesion Foundation Trust

Website

https://cohesionfoundation.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cohesion Foundation Trust is an Ahmedabad-based non-profit trust (est. 1996) implementing community development programs across education, livelihoods, water and sanitation, health, and disaster response in 4 Indian states, reaching 59,463 households through 525 grassroots community institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community development programs
• Rural livelihood initiatives
• Women empowerment programs
• Water and sanitation services
• Education and child protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Ahmedabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Donor Funding: Majority of funding comes from institutional donors and foundations including Azim Premji Philanthropic Foundation, HCL Foundation, HDFC Bank Parivartan, McCain Foods, Misereor, and others. Grants are received for specific development programs.
2. Government Grants and Schemes: Facilitates access to government schemes (MGNREGA, PM Kisan, NSAP Pensions, PDS) for beneficiary communities. Revenue derived from program implementation partnerships with government.
3. CSR Funding: Corporate Social Responsibility funding from companies like Kotak Mahindra Bank, Wipro Foundation, Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development, and others for specific CSR-aligned projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cohesion Foundation Trust runs integrated rural and urban community development programs across eight thematic verticals—education and child protection, water and sanitation, health and nutrition, livelihoods and income generation, disaster preparedness, social security, decentralized governance, and infrastructure development—for marginalized communities, with a particular focus on women. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Ahmedabad, the trust operates across Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, reaching 59,463 households across 535 villages and 6 urban locations, and delivers programs through direct field implementation and partnerships with institutional donors, CSR contributors, and government agencies.

Product overview

Cohesion Foundation Trust is a non-profit organization (NGO) established in 1996 and registered under Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. The organization operates as a collection of eight distinct development programs rather than a unified technology product: Education & Child Protection, Water & Sanitation, Disaster Preparedness & Management, Health & Nutrition, Social Securities, Decentralized Governance, Livelihoods & Income Generation, and Infrastructure Development. These programs work collectively toward the organization's mission of sustainable socio-economic development of vulnerable populations in under-serviced areas, with special focus on women. The organization functions primarily as a grassroots implementation NGO, not as a technology platform or software provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education and Child Protection Program Educational support and child protection services for children from rural and urban poor households across Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, addressing learning access, retention and child safeguarding.
• Water and Sanitation Program Provision of safe drinking water, sanitation infrastructure and hygiene behaviour-change support for rural and urban poor communities, with emphasis on women and households across the trust's program states.
• Health and Nutrition Program Maternal and child health, nutrition awareness and access-to-health-services interventions for marginalized households, particularly women and children in underserved villages and urban pockets.
• Livelihoods and Income Generation Program Livelihood promotion and income-generation support for poor households, typically organized through women's self-help groups, micro-enterprise development and skill-building interventions.
• Disaster Preparedness and Management Program Community-level disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response interventions for vulnerable rural and urban populations across the trust's operational states.
• Social Securities Program Facilitation of access to government social security schemes and entitlements for eligible poor households across the trust's program states.
• Decentralized Governance Program Strengthening of panchayati raj institutions and community participation in local governance and development planning in program villages.
• Infrastructure Development Program Community infrastructure development to support basic amenities and connectivity for rural and urban poor settlements served by the trust.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached 59,463 households with 85%+ from marginalized communities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• NASSCOM FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology sector foundation supporting digital literacy and skill development initiatives.
• Quest AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for education programs and teacher capacity building initiatives.
• Development Support Centre (Sajjata Sangh)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal development partner supporting agricultural and rural development initiatives.
• ActionAid AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation working with grassroot organizations for social justice.
• Sarva Siksha AbhiyanmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment of India's flagship program for elementary education; CFT works as implementation partner.
• Small Farmers' Agribusiness ConsortiummajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment body supporting Farmer Producer Organizations and agricultural development.
• Reach To TeachmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation-focused nonprofit supporting teacher training and school improvement programs.
• Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for urban slums work in Raipur; recognized as Best Execution Partner in 2017 for Samaveshi Shaher project.
• Jal Jeevan MissioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment of India's initiative for rural drinking water; CFT empaneled as Knowledge Partner for Gujarat and Maharashtra for capacity building since 2021.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting child-focused programs including education and nutrition interventions.
• Water and Sanitation Management OrganisationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for water and sanitation programs in Gujarat.
• OxfammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational confederation working on social justice, especially during disaster response.
• World Wide Fund For NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization supporting sustainable agriculture and wetland conservation.
• Centre for Advanced Research & Development (CARD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and development organization supporting program implementation.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment of India initiative for groundwater sustainability; CFT is Implementing Partner for Gujarat since 2021.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association): SEWA is a prominent Indian women's empowerment organization focusing on informal sector women workers. Directly comparable in its women-centric, grassroots organizing model and SHG-based livelihood approach, particularly for the urban poor segments Cohesion serves.
• Seva Mandir: Seva Mandir is a Rajasthan-based rural development NGO working on education, livelihoods, health, and women's empowerment in tribal and rural communities. Directly comparable in its holistic rural development model and grassroots institution-building approach.
• PRADAN: PRADAN is a leading Indian NGO promoting women's Self Help Groups and rural livelihoods across multiple states. Directly comparable as a grassroots livelihoods and women's empowerment organization working with marginalized communities in similar geographies.
• Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) India: AKRSP India focuses on rural livelihoods, water resource management, and community institutions across Gujarat and other states. Comparable in its Gujarat presence, watershed management work, and SHG-based community development model.
• Swayam Shikshan Prayog: SSP is a Maharashtra-based NGO empowering rural women through self-help groups, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation. Directly comparable in its women-led community development model and multi-state rural footprint.
• Gram Vikas: Gram Vikas is a rural development NGO working on water, sanitation, livelihoods, and education with tribal and marginalized communities. Comparable in its holistic community development approach and emphasis on inclusive rural institutions.
• BAIF Development Research Foundation: BAIF is one of India's largest rural development NGOs focused on livelihoods, agriculture, and natural resource management across multiple states. Comparable in its multi-state rural footprint and emphasis on sustainable agriculture and community institutions.
• WaterAid India: WaterAid India focuses on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) across underserved Indian communities. Comparable in its WASH program design and government partnership model, particularly relevant given Cohesion's Jal Jeevan Mission and Atal Bhujal Yojana engagements.

Broad incumbents

• Oxfam India: Oxfam India is a large international NGO addressing inequality, gender justice, and disaster response. Comparable as both a donor partner and a broader incumbent working on similar themes including women's empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
• ActionAid India: ActionAid India is a major international NGO federation working on poverty alleviation, women's rights, and disaster response. Comparable as both a strategic partner and a broader incumbent with overlapping program areas (livelihoods, education, women's rights).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cohesionf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cohesionfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/CohesionFoundationTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cohesion-foundation-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/cohesionfoundation.trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cohesion Foundation Trust