SPADE

What SPADE does

SPADE (Calcutta Society for Professional Action in Development) is a non-governmental organization founded in 1994 by a group of development professionals in Kolkata, West Bengal, and registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961. It has grown from a techno-managerial consultancy into a regional Capacity Building Institution operating 13 field offices across 11 districts in West Bengal and 1 in Tripura (Agartala), covering 117 Gram Panchayats and 104 municipal wards across 14 districts. SPADE's core methodology is institution-building at the grassroots: forming and federating Self Help Groups (SHGs), Clusters, Federations, and Cooperatives — primarily women's groups — to deliver financial inclusion, livelihood, and disaster preparedness outcomes. SPADE has institutionalized approximately 1.5 lakh (150,000) people under its community leadership models, formed 1,850+ WSHGs in Purulia alone (1,212 credit-linked), and run 3,600+ training programs covering 100,000+ participants via a faculty of ~30 trainers.

The organization's portfolio spans five primary program verticals: Institution Building, Capacity Building, Livelihood Promotion (goat rearing, bamboo craft, tailoring, agriculture, handicrafts including water-hyacinth products with IOCL Haldia), Disaster Management / Climate Adaptation (Community Based Disaster Preparedness, flood early warning — recognized with the 2018 Asia Regional Good Practice Exercise 1st Prize), and Supplementary Education through the Bartika Learning Centre sub-brand plus the forthcoming DigiEd online platform with PERVCOM/IIM Calcutta. SPADE does not operate as a technology product company: its technology stack is limited to Micro Solar Dome hardware installations in partnership with IIT Kharagpur, GIS-based communication networking for disaster preparedness, a forthcoming DigiEd online education portal, and conventional website/Facebook presence.

Its business model is non-commercial. Funding flows from three streams: (1) crowdfunding and individual donations via Give India for the Bartika Learning Centre; (2) Corporate Social Responsibility grants from Tata Power Community Development Trust, Indian Oil Corporation (Haldia Refinery), ONGC, and Stock Holding Corporation India Limited; (3) project grants from NABARD (the largest anchor funder, including SHPI 2002-03, Purulia WSHG since 2012, LEDP 2018-19, and FPO/CBBO 2022), UNICEF, CARITAS India and Germany, Oxfam India, Government of West Bengal departments, NAFED, WBSRLM, World Vision, Water For People, and ActionAid India. The organization holds 12A and 80G tax-exempt status, FCRA registration (valid through March 2027), Niti Aayog Unique ID, CSR-1 registration, and multiple government empanelments including NRLM Capacity Building Agency (2013) and TISS National CSR Hub (2014).

Name

SPADE

Legal name

Calcutta Society for Professional Action in Development

Website

https://spadeglobal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SPADE is a Kolkata-based non-governmental organization founded in 1994 that builds community institutions (SHGs, Federations, Cooperatives) and delivers capacity building, livelihood, disaster preparedness, and supplementary education programs across 14 districts in West Bengal and Tripura, serving ~150,000 beneficiaries through 150 staff and 13 field offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Rural Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Rural development services
• Community institution building
• Capacity building programs
• Livelihood promotion programs
• Disaster risk management

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolkata

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Crowdfunding: SPADE raises funds through individual donations via the Give India platform to sustain its Supplementary Education initiative (Bartika Learning Centre) for underprivileged first-generation learners.
2. CSR Funding: SPADE receives Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding from companies including Tata Power Community Development Trust (TPCDT), Indian Oil Corporation (Haldia Refinery), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), and Stock Holding Corporation India Limited to implement integrated development, livelihood, and capacity-building projects.
3. Government and Development Bank Grants: SPADE receives project grants from NABARD, UNICEF, CARITAS India, CARITAS Germany, and various Government of West Bengal departments for SHG promotion, livelihood programs, disaster management, and rural development initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SPADE is a non-governmental development organization that implements community-based programs in West Bengal and Tripura. Its core offerings include formation and capacity building of Self Help Groups (SHGs), Clusters, Federations, and Cooperatives, vocational training and livelihood promotion, disaster preparedness and risk reduction, supplementary education through Bartika Learning Centres, and rural solar electrification projects, delivered as funded projects for government departments, CSR partners, and international development agencies.

Product overview

SPADE (Calcutta Society for Professional Action in Development) is a non-governmental organization that offers a portfolio of development-focused programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include: Bartika Learning Centre for supplementary education; Institution Building Services for SHG and CBO formation; Capacity Building Programs for skills development; Livelihood Promotion through vocational training; Disaster Management Services; Solar Power Programs for rural electrification; FPO Promotion for farmers; and the DigiEd online education platform. These programs work together to support marginalized communities in West Bengal through community mobilization, training, and livelihood enhancement initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bartika Learning Centre: Supplementary education initiative for underprivileged first-generation learners in remote regions of Bengal, providing education through crowdfunding and donations via Give India platform

Products and services

• Bartika Learning Centre Supplementary education initiative operating physical learning centres for underprivileged first-generation learners in remote regions of West Bengal, sustained through crowdfunding via the Give India platform.
• Institution Building Services Formation and capacity building of community-based organizations including Self Help Groups (SHGs), Clusters, Federations, and Cooperatives at the grassroots level across eastern India, serving rural women and marginalized communities.
• Capacity Building Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 79.5% of SHGs increased their monthly savings by an average of 40% through SPADE's Financial Literacy program (2010-2011 pilot in South Dinajpur)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tata Power Community Development Trust (TPCDT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2015TPCDT engaged SPADE for implementing an Integrated Development project in April 2015 at Khanpur village under Guaberia GP and Chanpi and Basulia Wards under Sutahata Block of Haldia Municipality in East Medinipur district. Objectives include enhancing livelihood status of households with improved access to financial services and health (anaemia), promoting and strengthening Women SHGs, facilitating livelihood activities for increasing household income, and promoting financial inclusion.
• NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE has been a long-standing partner of NABARD for SHG promotion, bank linkage, and livelihood programs. Projects include: SHPI Project (2002-2003), Promotion of Women SHGs in LWE district Purulia (since 2012), LEDP at Manbazar-I Block (2018-2019), FPO promotion with NAFED as CBBO (2022), and multiple skill development programs. NABARD is a primary funder of SPADE's core community institution-building work.
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) - Haldia Refinery UnitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOCL's Haldia Refinery Unit partners with SPADE for CSR initiatives, capacitating local underprivileged women on selected trades including handicraft product development from water hyacinth and other vocational skills.
• NAFED (National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE signed a Memorandum of Agreement with NAFED in 2022 for Formation and Strengthening of Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs) in West Bengal and Tripura as CBBO (Cluster Based Business Organization).
• Oxfam IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE partnered with Oxfam India since 2000 for disaster relief in Nabadwip following devastating floods, and has continued collaboration on community-based development programs, disaster preparedness, and humanitarian assistance including Cyclone Amphan response (2020).
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF partnered with SPADE for Community Based Disaster Preparedness programs in Nadia and Murshidabad districts (2001-2011), Polio Eradication Program covering 248,700 children in 4 blocks of Murshidabad, and HIV/AIDS awareness programs.
• IIT KharagpurcoreTechnology or IntegrationSPADE partnered with IIT Kharagpur's Department of Science & Technology and NBIRT to implement solar power projects providing Micro Solar Domes to over 1,000 poor rural households in Manbazar and Burrabazar blocks of Purulia district. IIT Kharagpur also collaborated on a seminar on technology for sustainable development (December 2019).
• CARITAS India and CARITAS GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE partnered with CARITAS India and CARITAS Germany for community-based disaster risk reduction programs and the Global Programme India, including sensitization programs for World Environment Day 2023.
• CARE - West BengalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE was a partner in the CASHE Project (2002-2006) focused on building institutions (SHGs, Clusters, Federations) through poor rural women in West Bengal, Assam & Tripura, supported by CARE-West Bengal.
• Barefoot College InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE partnered with Barefoot College International by sending 18 women participants from SHG members of Manbazar-I and Barabazar blocks of Purulia to Tilonia, Rajasthan for a 3-month training in solar technology and assembling of solar equipment.
• UNDPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE worked with UNDP, and its Director Subhasish Debnath previously worked with UNDP and Department of Disaster Management, GoWB for nearly 10 years.
• West Bengal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (WBSRLM) / AnandadharacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE became a partner of State Mission Management Unit of Anandadhara (State Rural Livelihood Mission) implementing model block program in 6 Blocks in Nadia, Murshidabad, and Dakshin Dinajpur districts. Anandadhara is a society under Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal.
• West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Limited (WBSCL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE partners with WBSCL (Govt. of West Bengal Undertaking, Nodal Ministry: SHG & Self Employment Department) for skill training programs including Goat Rearing Training for SHG members in Purulia, Bankura, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar districts.
• World VisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Vision is listed among SPADE's international organization partnerships.
• Water For PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE partnered with Water For People - India for a project ensuring sustainable safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene needs in Kandi Block of Murshidabad district, constructing approximately 600 household toilets and upgrading 40 tube wells.
• ActionAid IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPADE is engaged with ActionAid India as a development sector partner, including joint work on formulation of regional strategy paper for West Bengal state.
• Goal GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoal Global is listed among SPADE's international organization partnerships.
• PERVCOM (IIM Calcutta Social Informatics Group)coreTechnology or IntegrationSPADE partnered with PERVCOM under the guidance of the Social Informatics Group, IIM Calcutta for the DigiEd Project, a forthcoming joint initiative to spread quality education for underprivileged school children through supplementing the existing delivery system by online classes using internet-enabled online education platform.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ActionAid India: Indian arm of ActionAid International focused on women's rights, disaster response, and community-based development. SPADE is listed as a partner organization for joint work including West Bengal regional strategy; comparable in disaster preparedness, women's empowerment, and grassroots mobilization.
• Habitat for Humanity India: Indian arm focused on housing, sanitation, and livelihoods for low-income families through community institution building. Comparable to SPADE in CSR-funded implementation model, government partnership, and targeting of economically vulnerable SC/ST families in rural India.
• PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action): India's largest grassroots development NGO, similarly focused on promoting women's SHGs, livelihoods, and natural resource management across rural India. Directly comparable to SPADE in mission (community institution building), operational model (field-based cadres), and donor base (government, multilateral, CSR).
• Gram Vikas: Odisha-based NGO focused on rural water, sanitation, and livelihoods in tribal/scheduled caste communities. Comparable to SPADE in mission scope (community institution building + WASH), beneficiary demographic (SC/ST rural), and funding mix (government, multilateral, CSR).
• SRIJAN (Self Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action): Delhi-headquartered NGO focused on livelihoods, natural resource management, and women empowerment in rural India. Directly comparable to SPADE's livelihood promotion, FPO work, and NABARD/government-funded implementation model in underserved districts.
• Transform Rural India Foundation (TRIF): Rural development foundation working on livelihoods, SHGs, and community institutions in eastern India — directly competing for similar NABARD, Tata Trusts, and CSR-funded programs in geographies that overlap with SPADE's West Bengal and Tripura footprint.
• SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association): Gujarat-based federation of women in the informal sector focused on SHG formation, microfinance, and livelihood promotion — directly parallel to SPADE's core women SHG and federation work in West Bengal. Member institutions like SEWA Bank and Manasi Samabay Rhindan Samity (which SPADE helped establish) mirror SPADE's federation-to-cooperative model.
• WaterAid India: India arm of WaterAid International focused on WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) in rural communities. Comparable to SPADE's Kandi/Murshidabad WASH work with Water For People, sharing donor ecosystem (multilateral foundations, CSR) and targeting similar marginalized districts.

Regional players

• Child in Need Institute (CINI): Kolkata-headquartered NGO operating across West Bengal on child nutrition, women's health, and community development. Operates in the same state as SPADE and overlaps on maternal/child health, SHG work, and government partnership with West Bengal's Panchayat & Rural Development Department.

Broad incumbents

• BRAC India: Indian operations of BRAC — the world's largest development NGO — operating across health, education, microfinance, and livelihoods. BRAC has been developing ultra-poor graduation models directly relevant to SPADE's graduation programs; provides an example of the scale-up path available to community-based livelihoods NGOs in India.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SPADE-Global-621583857989133
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spadekolkata

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SPADE