Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, Bangalore

What Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, Bangalore does

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled is a Bangalore-headquartered non-profit trust founded in 1997 by Dr. Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar and the late Sugur Paramashivaiah Nagesh, operating as one of India's largest NGOs focused on the empowerment of persons with disabilities and underprivileged communities. The organization delivers a multi-vertical program portfolio across 21+ centers in India plus offices in the United States (Northborough, MA) and United Kingdom (Harrow), including inclusive education, vocational training through the Livelihood Resource Center (LRC), the BPO operations unit (celebrating 11 years), sports via CABI (Cricket Association for the Blind in India), arts and culture via the Sunadha troupe and SIMPA, environmental sustainability via Parisara, women rehabilitation via Swadhara Greh, the Vidyaprasad mid-day meal program, the Suvidya Digital Library, and the Assistive Technology Accelerator (ATA). Technology enablement is centered on third-party accessibility tools (JAWS, NVDA screen readers, smart class AV, DAISY-format content) rather than proprietary platforms, and the 2024 website redesign introduced WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.

The business model is primarily donation- and grant-driven. Corporate CSR contributions form the majority of funding, with 150+ corporate partners across banking (HDFC, SBI, IndusInd, HSBC, Barclays, Standard Chartered), technology (Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, DXC, Unisys, NTT DATA, Western Digital, L&T Technology Services), financial services (Morgan Stanley, Citi Foundation, ANZ, Societe Generale), and other sectors (Hyundai, Otis, Tesco, Nike, JLL, ABB, ITC). Individual donations flow through a website portal with subscription tiers of ₹365/year, ₹730/2-year, and one-time options from ₹500 to ₹10,000+, all eligible for 50% tax exemption under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act. Secondary revenue streams include fees from SIMPA's Certificate, Diploma, and Bachelor of Performing Arts courses (affiliated with Karnataka State Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University), BPO services revenue, and government contracts for the mid-day meal and rural ICDS programs. Cumulative disclosed impact includes ₹100+ crore in annual CSR funding, 34,000+ students educated, 55,000+ youth trained with a 72% placement rate, and 30 million mid-day meals served.

Name

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, Bangalore

Legal name

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled

Website

https://samarthanam.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled is a Bangalore-based non-profit founded in 1997 that empowers persons with disabilities and underprivileged communities across India through inclusive education, vocational training, blind cricket, arts, and rehabilitation programs delivered via 21+ centers and 150+ corporate CSR partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN)

Keywords

• Disability empowerment services
• Inclusive education programs
• Vocational rehabilitation training
• Corporate CSR partnerships
• Assistive technology training

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangalore, Karnataka

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices25 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate CSR Funding: Majority of funding comes from corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from companies operating in India. The trust has crossed ₹100+ crore in annual CSR funding, supported by over 150 corporate partners across sectors including banking, technology, manufacturing, and finance.
2. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to the trust through its website donation portal, with options for recurring and one-time donations. Donations are eligible for 50% tax exemption under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act.
3. BPO Operations Revenue: Samarthanam operates its own Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) unit employing persons with disabilities, generating revenue while providing employment to beneficiaries. The BPO team celebrated its 11th anniversary, indicating sustained operations.
4. Mid-Day Meal Program: The trust executes midday meal programs (Vidyaprasad) in partnership with government departments, serving 30 million meals to school children. This may involve government contracts or co-funding arrangements.
5. SIMPA Course Fees: The Samarthanam Institute of Music and Performing Arts (SIMPA) affiliated with Karnataka State Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University offers certificate, diploma, and Bachelor of Performing Arts courses, generating fee-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 in Bengaluru that empowers persons with disabilities (PwD) through education, vocational training, livelihood programs, sports, rehabilitation, and assistive technology services. The trust operates its own BPO service unit staffed predominantly by PwD employees to support sustainable livelihoods, while also receiving corporate CSR funding for community programs across 13+ Indian cities and offices in the USA and UK.

Product overview

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled operates as a multi-initiative NGO offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs for persons with disabilities and underprivileged communities. The organization's offerings span across Education (inclusive education, scholarships, assistive devices), Livelihood (vocational training, BPO services, job placement), Sports (blind cricket through CABI), Arts & Culture (Sunadha troupe, SIMPA music academy), Environment (Parisara sustainability programs), Rehabilitation (Swadhara Greh for women), Health & Nutrition (mid-day meals), Assistive Technology (ATA programs), and Digital Access (Suvidya Digital Library). Programs are delivered through 21 centers across India, USA, and UK, with a focus on creating long-term impact through education-to-employment pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 34,000+ students educated through inclusive education programs
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hyundai Motor India FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHyundai Motor India Foundation partnered with Samarthanam on the 'Samarth' initiative, providing assistive mobility devices for persons with disabilities across India, supporting the blind cricket program, and sponsoring the Indian Men's Blind Cricket Team for the T-20 bilateral series against Sri Lanka in 2024. The partnership aligns with Hyundai's 'Progress for Humanity' vision.
• HDFC BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHDFC Bank is a major CSR supporter of Samarthanam, providing funding for education, livelihood, and disability inclusion programs. Listed among 150+ corporate supporters on Samarthanam's website.
• State Bank of India (SBI)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSBI sponsored the SBI 1st Women's T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind 2025, organized by CABI/Samarthanam. Major supporter of blind cricket initiatives.
• IndusInd BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIndusInd Bank sponsors the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy Men's National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind. Named as a key supporter in Samarthanam's sports programs.
• United Way MumbaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way Mumbai is a strategic partner of Samarthanam, collaborating on community investment and social impact programs. Vice President Anil Parmar has provided testimonials.
• GoSports FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoSports Foundation partnered with Samarthanam and Hyundai for the 'Samarth' initiative supporting blind cricket in India.
• Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAF validates Samarthanam as an international organization and supports fundraising and donor management. Listed as both a partner and an accreditation body.
• Deshpande FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeshpande Foundation, a leading philanthropic foundation in Massachusetts and India, collaborates with Samarthanam in innovation, entrepreneurship, and international development areas.
• Karnataka State Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIMPA (Samarthanam Institute of Music and Performing Arts) is affiliated with this university, enabling BPA degrees and formal music/performing arts education for persons with disabilities.
• World Blind Union (WBU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamarthanam Trust is the Indian representative partner of the World Blind Union, an internationally acclaimed organization working for the welfare of the visually impaired across the world.
• DAISY Forum IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamarthanam TechVision is an active member of DAISY Forum India, providing advanced computer training and Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) training for the visually impaired.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Light for the World: International disability-inclusive development organization headquartered in Austria with programs in India and other Asian/African countries. Comparable in mission and CSR-funded program model, though headquartered outside the region.
• Humanity & Inclusion (Handicap International): International NGO working in India on disability inclusion, rehabilitation, and inclusive employment. Comparable in target population and program categories, though a global organization with India as one of many operating geographies.

Direct peers

• National Association for the Blind (NAB): India's largest organization for the blind, headquartered in Mumbai with multiple state centers. Directly comparable to Samarthanam in providing inclusive education, vocational training, and rehabilitation services to persons with visual impairments across India.
• Mobility India: Bangalore-based NGO providing rehabilitation, assistive devices, and skill development for persons with disabilities. Directly comparable in operating geography and service mix (rehabilitation, assistive tech, livelihoods).
• Youth4Jobs Foundation: India-based NGO specializing in skill development and job placement for youth with disabilities. Comparable to Samarthanam's Livelihood Resource Center in target segment (PwD youth), training methodology, and placement outcomes.
• Sightsavers India: International NGO with India operations focused on preventing avoidable blindness and promoting disability inclusion. Comparable in mission, target population (PwDs in India), and CSR funding model — competes for the same corporate disability-inclusion budgets.
• Enable India: Bangalore-based disability NGO focused on livelihoods, education, and economic independence for PwDs. Highly comparable in service offering (skill training, placement) and geography (Bangalore headquarters, similar urban Indian markets).
• Sense International India: India arm of Sense International, focused on deafblind and multi-sensory impaired individuals. Comparable in disability-services mission and India-based operating model, with overlapping CSR funding channels.

Broad incumbents

• Leonard Cheshire Disability: UK-based international disability organization with programs in education, livelihood, and inclusive development across multiple countries including India. A broader incumbent with similar program categories and a comparable international footprint.
• CBM India: India arm of CBM (Christian Blind Mission), a large international disability organization with broader geographic and program scope. Operates as a larger incumbent across disability inclusion, eye health, and community-based rehabilitation in India.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SamarthanamTFTD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXWyda3dsdkjaZzfg6qX0ew
• Facebookfacebook.com/samarthanaminfo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samarthanam-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/samarthanamtrustforthedisabled

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, Bangalore