SAN INDIA

What SAN INDIA does

SAN India (Social Audit Network, India) is a Chennai-headquartered non-profit initiative under the MSDS Trust, operating as the Indian chapter of Social Audit Network UK since 2010. The organization delivers social audit, social impact assessment, SROI measurement, Theory of Change development, SDG alignment, CSR advisory, ESG, and Social Stock Exchange readiness services to NGOs, corporates, CSR foundations, social enterprises, and educational institutions across India, with a regional presence in the UAE. Its core methodology is the Social Accounting and Audit (SAA) framework inherited from SAN UK, supplemented by proprietary tools including the VMVOA framework, SIA Toolkit, SAA Manual, and the SDG LAB APP — the only disclosed digital product in its portfolio.

The business model is professional-services driven, generating revenue from four streams: training and certification programs (SAA Master Class, Social Impact Practitioner Programs, workshops), social audit and impact assessment engagements, CSR advisory consulting, and Social Stock Exchange readiness support. There is no publicly disclosed pricing; engagements appear quote-based. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: training programs create a national ecosystem of 22+ certified auditors and practitioners who then drive downstream engagements within their organizations and regions. The organization holds a distinctive regulatory position through NISM Resource Committee membership and direct involvement in shaping the Social Auditor Examination content.

SAN India is a 6-person core team backed by a distributed national network, with no external investors or venture funding, operating under MSDS Trust governance alongside its parent CSIM initiative. Its revenue scale is not disclosed, and the organization functions more as a standards-shaping, network-coordinating body than as a high-growth commercial enterprise.

Name

SAN INDIA

Legal name

MSDS Trust (Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani Trust)

Website

https://san-india.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAN India is a Chennai-based non-profit initiative that delivers social audit, impact assessment, SROI, CSR advisory, and Social Stock Exchange readiness services to NGOs, corporates, and social enterprises across India and the UAE, operating through a national network of certified auditors and NISM-aligned training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Audit and Impact Assessment Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAFAF

Privacy, Data Protection & Cyber Governance (GRC)

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Risk, Compliance & Governance Advisory

Keywords

• Social audit services
• Social impact assessment
• CSR advisory
• Social stock exchange readiness
• SROI measurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training and Certification Programs: Revenue is generated through SAA Master Class programs and Social Impact Practitioner Programs that build capacities in Social Accounting and Audit practices. These programs target professionals across India seeking certification as social auditors and impact practitioners.
2. Social Audit and Impact Assessment Services: SAN India conducts social audits, social impact assessments, and SROI analysis for NGOs, CSR foundations, corporate foundations, and social enterprises. Services include writing social accounts, conducting audit panels, and undertaking impact assessments of projects.
3. CSR Advisory Services: Supporting corporates and CSR foundations in program design, implementation, impact assessment and strategic social impact planning. Revenue derived from consulting engagements with corporate clients.
4. Social Stock Exchange Readiness Support: Supporting NGOs and social enterprises in preparing for SSE requirements through impact frameworks, disclosure systems and outcome reporting. Latha Suresh of SAN India serves as resource person for NISM's Social Auditor Examination, contributing to certification requirements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAN India is the Indian chapter of the Social Audit Network (UK) and a project of the MSDS Trust. It conducts social audits, social impact assessments, SROI analyses, Theory of Change development, SDG alignment, CSR advisory, and Social Stock Exchange readiness work for NGOs, corporate CSR foundations, social enterprises, and development institutions. It also delivers training and certification programs (SAA Master Class, Social Impact Practitioner Programs, Workshops) and operates a national network of certified social auditors across India and the Middle East.

Product overview

SAN INDIA operates as a unified service organization offering social audit, social impact assessment, and participatory impact practices. The core portfolio includes Social Audit, Social Impact Assessment, Social Return On Investment (SROI), Theory of Change, SDG Alignment, CSR Advisory, ESG, and Social Stock Exchange Readiness services. Supporting these are training programs (SAA Master Class, Social Impact Practitioner Programs, Workshops), the SDG LAB APP digital tool, publications (Guide to Social Impact Assessment, The Social Audit Ecosystem), and a national network of certified social auditors. The organization emerged from CSIM (Centre for Social Initiative and Management), a project of MSDS Trust, and serves NGOs, CSR foundations, social enterprises, and mission-driven organisations across India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Social Audit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 45 CSR projects assessed by SAN India practitioners
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• W+ Standard / WOCANcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Marie Banu Rodriguez was appointed in July 2024 as an Independent W+ Standard Verifier of SAN (the sole verification provider for the W+ Standard managed by WOCAN - Women's Organization in Conflict Prevention and Management).
• NISM (National Institute of Securities Markets)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Latha Suresh of SAN India has been appointed as a resource person for NISM and was involved in revising the resource material for the Social Auditor Examination (NISM Series XXIII). SAN India is part of the Resource Committee of the Social Stock Exchange for creating content for the Social Auditors Exam. Bina Joshi has also been a Resource Person of NISM since 2022.
• SAN UK (Social Audit Network, UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010SAN India is the Indian chapter of Social Audit Network, UK, launched in India in 2010. SAN UK evolved the Social Accounting and Audit framework. SAN India serves as the knowledge partner of SAN UK in India and jointly publishes key resources including the 'Guide to Social Impact Assessment'. Marie Banu Rodriguez serves as Director of SAN UK.
• CSIM (Centre for Social Initiative and Management)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001CSIM, a project of MSDS Trust, has been one of India's pioneering institutions in promoting Social Entrepreneurship and capacity building since 2001. In 2009, CSIM incubated the social audit practice in India in collaboration with SAN UK. Many of SAN India's social auditors and practitioners have been trainers and mentors in social entrepreneurship through CSIM.
• MSDS Trust (Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani Trust)coreOthers · 1 January 1999SAN India is a project of the MSDS Trust, founded by Mr. P N Devarajan in 1999. MSDS Trust operates the Centre for Social Initiative and Management (CSIM), which incubated the social audit practice in India in collaboration with SAN UK. SAN India works as a separate entity under the Trust.
• National Family Health Survey (NFHS) / Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Madhuri Ravindra Kumar served as State Project Coordinator for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for NFHS Round 4 in 2014-15, representing the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Basix (Social Enterprise Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Agyeya Trippathi spent approximately 8 years with Basix, a Social Enterprise Group, as part of his professional engagement in small and medium-size development projects. Basix focuses on Inclusive Finance, Agriculture value chain, Enterprise Development, and Entrepreneurship.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FSG: Global social impact consulting firm. Comparable in strategy consulting, impact evaluation, and CSR advisory for foundations and corporates.
• Social Audit Network (UK): UK parent organization and developer of the Social Accounting and Audit framework. SAN India is its Indian chapter; they share methodology, training, and publications.
• AccountAbility: Global sustainability and ESG advisory firm. Comparable in ESG/CSR advisory, materiality assessment, and impact reporting standards.
• Sattva Consulting: India-based impact consulting firm providing CSR advisory, impact assessment, and social sector research. Directly comparable in CSR advisory and impact evaluation services.
• DASRA: India philanthropy and social impact advisory. Comparable in CSR/grant advisory, NGO capacity building, and impact reporting.
• Social Value International: Global network for social value and SROI methodology. Directly comparable as the originator/standard-setter of the SROI framework that SAN India practices and trains on.
• Intellecap (part of Aavishkaar Group): India-focused impact advisory and investment firm. Comparable as a provider of CSR advisory, impact assessment, and social enterprise advisory services.

Emerging players

• CSRBOX: India platform connecting corporates, NGOs, and social enterprises for CSR and impact programs. Comparable as a technology-enabled CSR advisory/impact reporting provider.
• Impact Reporting (via Sopact): Impact data management and reporting software. Comparable as a digital platform for standardized impact measurement and stakeholder reporting.

Regional players

• Institute of Social Auditors of India: India's social auditor membership body. Comparable as the institutional home of certified social auditors and gatekeeper for the Social Auditor Examination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-india

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAN INDIA