Holy Cross NGO

What Holy Cross NGO does

Holy Cross Social Service Society (HCSSS), operating as Holy Cross NGO, is a non-profit society founded in 1995 and based in Kotturu, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It serves tribal and marginalized rural communities through a portfolio of programs spanning education (GLOW Clubs and LitClubs for adolescent girls), livelihoods (climate-resilient farming, tailoring, and non-timber forest product processing), health and WASH, water and environment, and housing. The organization is led by Project Director Mr. Karanam CK Prabhu Das and operates with a core team of five employees supplemented by an embedded community mentor network.

The organization's revenue model is grant-based, drawing from a mix of international foundation partnerships (Swiss Women's League, Global Girls GLOW, LitWorld, SELVIP Foundation) and Indian corporate CSR funding, with its FCRA registration enabling cross-border inflows. It has secured preferred positioning through recognition under the Government of Andhra Pradesh / NITI Aayog Aspirational Blocks program. There is no commercial product, technology platform, or pricing-based revenue stream; all activities are delivered as charitable programs to community beneficiaries at no cost to recipients.

The delivery model relies on in-person community engagement, field demonstrations, and trained local mentors rather than technology-mediated delivery. Geographic focus remains concentrated within Andhra Pradesh's tribal belt, and there is no indication of operational expansion to other states. The combination of small core staff, grant dependency, and program breadth across social sectors suggests an organization operating at sub-scale relative to the problem surface it addresses, with sustainability dependent on continued donor relationships and government convergence funding.

Name

Holy Cross NGO

Legal name

Holy Cross Social Service Society

Website

https://holycross.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Holy Cross Social Service Society is a 1995-founded non-profit NGO in Andhra Pradesh delivering education, livelihoods, health, WASH, and housing programs to tribal and marginalized communities, funded by international foundations and Indian CSR.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAG

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYEDAIAGAI

Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

Keywords

• Rural community development
• Tribal education programs
• Sustainable livelihood training
• Women empowerment initiatives
• Climate-resilient agriculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Kotturu

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. CSR Partnerships and Corporate Donations: The NGO receives funding and support from corporations through CSR collaboration initiatives, where companies fund specific programs in education, child protection, women's livelihood development, and sustainable agriculture to fulfill social impact goals.
2. International Foundation Grants: Holy Cross receives programmatic support from international organizations such as Swiss Women's League (climate-smart agriculture), Global Girls GLOW (GLOW Clubs), and LitWorld (LitClubs) for specific development interventions.
3. Foundation and Individual Project Support: Funding from foundations like SELVIP Foundation for specific projects such as housing construction for vulnerable families. Also receives project-based support for initiatives like girls' education, child-marriage prevention, and livelihood training.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Holy Cross Social Service Society is a non-profit NGO that runs community-based development programs for tribal and marginalized populations in Andhra Pradesh, India. Its portfolio covers education (GLOW Clubs for girls' social-emotional learning, LitClubs for children's literacy), livelihoods (climate-resilient farming, tailoring training, NTFP processing and value addition), health/nutrition/WASH, water and environment, climate resilience, and secure housing for vulnerable families. Programs are delivered directly through village-level mentors, women's groups, children's clubs, and farmer field schools.

Product overview

Holy Cross Social Service Society operates as a community development NGO offering a portfolio of social intervention programs focused on tribal and marginalized communities in Andhra Pradesh, India. The organization runs multiple programmatic offerings including: Education programs (GLOW Clubs for girls' Social-Emotional Learning and LitClubs for children's literacy), Livelihood programs (Climate-Resilient Farming, Tailoring Skill Training, and NTFP Processing & Value Addition Training), and Housing support. These programs are implemented as distinct, standalone initiatives rather than an integrated technology platform, each addressing specific community needs in education, economic empowerment, and basic needs fulfillment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GLOW Clubs Safe, nurturing group spaces for Indigenous and rural girls that build emotional well-being, confidence, and essential life skills through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) activities, alongside academic support and leadership development. Implemented for out-of-school girls in tribal villages of Andhra Pradesh.
• LitClubs Joyful literacy program that strengthens reading, writing, creativity, and confidence of Indigenous and rural children through storytelling, group discussions, creative expression, and collaborative projects. Supported by LitWorld, USA.
• Climate-Resilient Farming Promotes climate-smart, chemical-free agriculture practices including Jeevamrutham, Beejamrutham, mulching, soil restoration, climate-resilient crops, and farmer field schools for tribal and marginalized farming families. Supported by Swiss Women's League, Switzerland.
• Skill Training in Tailoring Vocational tailoring training for women and adolescent girls covering stitching, cutting, pattern making, and basic embroidery, enabling home-based or group income generation in tribal villages.
• NTFP Processing and Value Addition Training Trains tribal families in processing and value addition of Non-Timber Forest Produce (tamarind, mahua, hill broom, jackfruit, honey, medicinal plants) through cleaning, grading, drying, packaging, and market linkage support to improve incomes from forest-based livelihoods.
• Secure Housing Provides construction materials and support — including cement, sand, steel, stones, toilet fittings, and plumbing/electrical supplies — for building safe, permanent homes for vulnerable families such as widows and landless households. Funded in partnership with SELVIP Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Senchudi transformed from selling raw forest produce through intermediaries to processing and selling hill brooms independently at higher market prices
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Swiss Women's League, SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Women's League supports climate-smart agriculture programs, helping tribal and marginalized farming families strengthen livelihoods through natural farming practices like Jeevamrutham, Beejamrutham, mulching, and soil restoration techniques.
• Global Girls GLOW, USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Girls GLOW supports the Out-of-School Time Education Program through GLOW Clubs, providing safe, nurturing spaces for Indigenous and rural girls to build emotional well-being, confidence, and essential life skills through Social-Emotional Learning.
• LitWorld, USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLitWorld supports LitClubs, a joyful learning program that strengthens reading, writing, creativity, and confidence of Indigenous and rural children through storytelling, creative activities, and supportive group learning.
• Pragathi Seva SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPragathi Seva Society President Mr. Haribabu provided testimonial endorsement of Holy Cross's work with tribal and marginalized families, noting their genuine connection with communities and dedication to long-term change.
• Government of Andhra PradeshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoly Cross works closely with government bodies to link families with government schemes and create large-scale, sustainable impact. Programs operate in Aspirational Blocks recognized by NITI Aayog.

Scale indicators2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Navsarjan Trust: Navsarjan works with Dalit and tribal communities in Gujarat on education, livelihoods, and social mobilization — comparable grassroots, community-led development model.
• PRADAN: PRADAN promotes livelihood-based community development among rural and tribal communities across India through women's collectives and farm-based interventions — directly comparable to Holy Cross's tribal livelihoods and women's empowerment programs.
• Caritas India: Caritas India is a faith-based Catholic social service organization running community development, livelihoods, and disaster response programs for marginalized groups — directly comparable faith-based identity and mission.
• Seva Mandir: Seva Mandir works with tribal and rural communities in southern Rajasthan on education, health, and livelihoods through community-led institutions — comparable operating model and beneficiary profile to Holy Cross.
• Gram Vikas: Gram Vikas works with tribal and rural communities in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on water, sanitation, livelihoods, and education — overlapping geography and beneficiary group with Holy Cross.
• BAIF Development Research Foundation: BAIF implements large-scale sustainable livelihood programs for tribal and rural families across India, with similar focus on agriculture, livestock, and women's economic empowerment as Holy Cross.

Broad incumbents

• PRATHAM Education Foundation: PRATHAM runs one of India's largest education programs for underprivileged children, including literacy and learning initiatives that overlap with Holy Cross's LitClub program.
• UNICEF India: UNICEF India funds and implements large-scale child education, gender, and WASH programs across India, including in tribal districts — overlapping beneficiary focus with Holy Cross.

Emerging players

• SELCO Foundation: SELCO Foundation addresses energy poverty and sustainable livelihoods in underserved Indian communities, intersecting with Holy Cross's climate resilience and livelihood programs.
• Trickle Up: Trickle Up pilots extreme-poverty graduation programs for women in tribal India, including skills training and market linkages — overlapping with Holy Cross's NTFP and tailoring livelihood tracks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/holycrossngo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holy-cross-ngo
• Instagraminstagram.com/holycrossngo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Holy Cross NGO