Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

What Rajiv Gandhi Foundation does

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) is a non-profit charitable foundation established on June 21, 1991 in New Delhi, India, to realize the development vision of the late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi. The foundation operates as a programmatic grant-maker and direct implementer across five pillars: livelihoods, education, environment, contemporary studies, and Sadbhavana (social harmony). Its portfolio of programs includes the INTERACT scholarship program for children affected by terrorism (supporting 2,000+ scholars across 11 states), the Access to Opportunities mobility program (distributing motorized vehicles to the differently abled), the Vidya Gyan scholarship for Dalit and Muslim girls, the Lifeline Express hospital-on-a-train (with Impact India Foundation), the Village and Slum Library Project (1,322 libraries across 21 states), Wonderoom creative learning centers, Rajiv SKILLAB, the MARG gallery, the Sadbhavana Media Lab (4,000+ video archive), and the RISE & ACT civic training program.

Its business model is donation-funded rather than commercial: the foundation raises funds from individuals, corporations, and international donors, with contributions qualifying for 50% tax deduction under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act. It does not charge for programs and services, and operates as a community-led organization through NGO partnerships, government collaborations (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, NABARD, AIIMS), and academic alliances (Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, IGNOU, NUEPA). Its wholly-owned subsidiary RGICS functions as a policy research think tank, and a UK affiliate (founded February 1993) supports cross-border fundraising and scholarship pipelines. The foundation is chaired by Sonia Gandhi, with trustees including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and is staffed by 51-100 employees at its Jawahar Bhawan headquarters in New Delhi.

The foundation does not operate as a technology company and has no disclosed AI/ML, software, or proprietary platform capabilities. Its competitive position rests on brand legacy associated with the Gandhi family name, an extensive pan-India partner network across all states and union territories, and three decades of programmatic continuity rather than on technology, scale economics, or switching-cost advantages.

Name

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

Legal name

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

Website

https://rgfindia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is a New Delhi-based non-profit founded in 1991 that delivers education, livelihoods, disability support, environmental, and social-harmony programs across India through donations, NGO partnerships, and government collaborations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Social Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Charitable foundation services
• Social development programs
• Education scholarships
• Natural resource management
• Community empowerment initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

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. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation raises funds through donations from individuals, corporations, and international donors. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of 50 percent under section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that delivers social development programs across India in the areas of education, livelihoods, environment, and disability support. It provides scholarships, mobility assistance, mobile healthcare, literacy programs, and research through its think tank, funded entirely by donations and grants.

Product overview

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation operates as a non-profit charitable organization offering multiple social development programs rather than a unified technology product. Its portfolio includes child welfare initiatives (INTERACT, Wonderoom), mobility assistance (Access to Opportunities with vehicle distribution), educational scholarships (Vidya Gyan, Rajiv Gandhi Cambridge Scholarship), literacy programs (Village and Slum Libraries), healthcare (Lifeline Express mobile hospital train), and research through its think tank RGICS. The foundation also runs skill development (Rajiv SKILLAB), archives (MARG), media production (Sadbhavana Media Lab), and civic training (RISE & ACT). These programs work across multiple Indian states addressing livelihoods, education, environment, and community development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RGICS (Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies): Research institute undertaking studies on India's major developmental challenges by examining constitutional values, governance, economic growth, sustainability and global engagement.
• INTERACT
• Wonderoom
• Rajiv Sadbhavana Media Lab
• MARG (Memories and Archives of Rajiv Gandhi)
• RISE & ACT

Products and services

• INTERACT (Initiative to Educate, Rehabilitate and Assist Child Victims of Terrorism) A child support program that rebuilds the lives of children who lost one or both parents in acts of terrorism, providing educational support, counseling, and scholarships across multiple states in India.
• Rajiv Gandhi Access to Opportunities (RGAO) A mobility program launched in 1992 that enhances mobility for physically challenged individuals by providing motorised vehicles, enabling better access to education and employment.
• Vidya Gyan Scholarship Programme Scholarship initiative aimed at reducing school dropouts among Dalit and Muslim girls, shifting societal attitudes towards girls' education.
• Rajiv Gandhi Cambridge Scholarship Scholarship program in collaboration with Cambridge Commonwealth Trust providing world-class education opportunities for Indian students at Cambridge University.
• Village and Slum Library Project Establishment of libraries in villages and slums across multiple states to promote literacy and provide access to reading materials for neo-literates and children.
• Lifeline Express A mobile hospital on a train that provides free medical care, surgeries, and health services to rural areas in collaboration with the Impact India Foundation.
• Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS) A think tank that undertakes research on India's developmental challenges examining constitutional values, governance, economic growth, sustainability, and global engagement.
• RISE & ACT (Rajiv Institute for Social Empowerment and Active Citizenship Training) A social empowerment and active citizenship training program launched on Rajiv Gandhi's 77th birth anniversary in August 2021, focusing on constitutional values, leadership, and community problem-solving.
• Rajiv SKILLAB (Socio-Technical, Knowledge, Innovation & Learning Lab) A technical and vocational learning laboratory inaugurated in 2019 to provide skill development and innovation training for youth.
• Wonderoom A creative learning space at Jawahar Bhawan that provides experiential learning through activities, theatre, fine arts, and technology exposure for children.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 INTERACT scholars supported across 11 states
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RGICS (Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 1991RGICS was formed in August 1991 as one of the first projects of RGF. It serves as the think tank component, undertaking research on India's major developmental challenges including constitutional values, governance, economic growth, sustainability, and global engagement.
• Cambridge Commonwealth TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Rajiv Gandhi Travelling Scholarships Programme, supporting undergraduate and graduate students from British universities. Also supports Cambridge Scholarships and Bursaries.
• Impact India FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Lifeline Express - a hospital on a train concept providing free medical care in rural areas. The foundation collaborated with Impact India Foundation to develop this mobile hospital initiative.
• Commonwealth of Learning, CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop distance-learning material for NGO staff working with street children.
• IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned MoU to extend distance education programmes for higher education to Seychellois students.
• Sarva Shiksha AbhiyancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Kashmir initiative for quality education, training 120 teachers from 12 districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
• NUEPA (National University of Education Planning and Administration)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for establishing Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Chair for Teacher Development and Management. National study on Working Conditions of Teachers.
• AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for HRIDAY scheme - health project for children.
• FXB India SurakshaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to observe World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
• Khudai KhidmatgarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for launch of Mobile Sadbhavana Kendra.
• Jawahar Bhawan TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for cultural events at Jawahar Bhawan, hosting plays, musical performances, exhibitions, and public engagements.
• BAIF Development Research FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for breeding centres and livestock management programs under Barefoot Technicians initiative.
• Trees for LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to distribute fruit samplings and seeds for cultivation to rural households.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Ford Foundation (India): International foundation with a long-standing India office funding social justice, education, and inclusion programs. Comparable to RGF's social justice / Sadbhavana and scholarship missions in the Indian context.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (India): Global philanthropic foundation with active India operations in health, sanitation, and education. RGF received a Gates Foundation grant in 2013; comparable as a foreign grantmaking peer operating in India.

Broad incumbents

• Tata Trusts: India's largest private philanthropic foundation, supporting livelihoods, education, health, and water across India with a multi-sectoral portfolio similar to RGF. Comparably operates as a private foundation driven by a founding family brand and a pan-India execution footprint.
• Reliance Foundation: India's largest corporate foundation, with parallel programs in education, health, rural transformation, and disaster response. Like RGF, it leverages a high-profile brand and operates pan-India through partnered delivery.
• Azim Premji Foundation: One of India's largest private foundations, with a deep focus on education and a strong ecosystem of schools, universities, and field programs. Comparable to RGF's scholarship and education focus, but with much greater scale and specialized depth.

Direct peers

• Observer Research Foundation (ORF): India's leading think tank on policy and governance. Directly comparable to RGICS, RGF's research arm, in its focus on constitutional values, governance, and developmental policy.
• Mahindra Foundation: Indian foundation focused on education and youth employability through programs like Nanhi Kali. Comparable to RGF's scholarship- and education-focused initiatives and grassroots delivery model.
• Impact India Foundation: Partner of RGF on the Lifeline Express mobile hospital program; runs community health initiatives across rural India. Directly comparable for the Lifeline Express / mobile health delivery model.
• Aditya Birla Foundation: Indian private foundation running parallel programs in education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, and disability support — directly mirroring RGF's multi-thematic social development portfolio and operating model.
• Infosys Foundation: Corporate foundation supporting education, rural development, health, and arts across India. Similar in structure, donor base, and program breadth to RGF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVqEtZWviZTiExndqLwKbXA
• Facebookfacebook.com/rgfindia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rajiv-gandhi-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rajiv Gandhi Foundation