Harsha Trust
Harsha Trust is a non-profit development organization headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, implementing rural livelihood and institution-building programs for over 350,000 tribal households across 4,000+ villages in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, funded through CSR, philanthropic foundations, government schemes, and international development agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersBhubaneswar, India
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Harsha Trust does
Harsha Trust is a non-profit development organization registered on 29 January 2002 under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It implements rural livelihood and community development programs across 82 blocks in 20 districts spanning Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, reaching over 3.5 lakh (350,000) households across 4,000+ villages through a network of 33,228 Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs), Cluster Level Forums (CLFs), Producer Groups, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Its programmatic portfolio spans seven thematic areas: Institution Building, Food & Nutrition Security, Livelihood Security, Integrated Natural Resource Management, Clean Energy & Climate Change, WASH & Education, and Convergence with government entitlements. Core proprietary methodologies include the Panchasutra framework for SHG strengthening and an Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) approach linking land, water, and livelihoods through village-level planning.
The organization does not sell products or charge fees; it operates as a project-based implementation NGO funded through CSR partnerships (Axis Bank Foundation, HDFC Bank Parivartan, EY Foundation, Paradeep Phosphates), philanthropic foundation grants (Azim Premji Foundation, Reliance Foundation, JSW Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), Government of India and state government schemes (NABARD, MGNREGA, Odisha Livelihood Mission, Mission Shakti, ATMA, Odisha Millets Mission), and international development agencies (GIZ, UNDP). Its go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on women-centric grassroots institutions to deliver last-mile development outcomes in remote tribal geographies where government and commercial channels have weak reach. Notable programmatic milestones include ₹6.62 crore FPO turnover at PAPCL in FY 2023-24, multiple NABARD-recognized FPOs, and sustained recognition through the India NGO Awards (2008) and Livelihoods India Summit (2024).
Governance is provided by a seven-member independent Governing Board chaired by Dr. Aurobindo Behera (former IAS officer), with Mr. Gautam Kumar Pradhan serving as Managing Trustee. The organization operates with a workforce of over 1,000 personnel including 123 full-time development professionals, 104 contractual staff, 26 consultants, 34 Team Leaders, 12 Coordinators, and 826 community cadres, and maintains strategic partnerships with research institutions (ICRISAT, ICAR, OUAT), NGO coalitions (PRADAN, SRIJAN, RCRC), and clean energy specialists (SELCO Foundation).
Harsha Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Harsha Trust
- Legal name
- Harsha Trust
- Website
- https://harshatrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Harsha Trust is a non-profit development organization headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, implementing rural livelihood and institution-building programs for over 350,000 tribal households across 4,000+ villages in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, funded through CSR, philanthropic foundations, government schemes, and international development agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Harsha Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rural Development Services
- NAICS
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)
Keywords
Where Harsha Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bhubaneswar
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Harsha Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- CSR and Corporate Donations: Partnerships with corporations like Axis Bank Foundation, EY Foundation, HDFC Bank Parivartan, Adventz, Paradeep Phosphates Limited for project funding
- Philanthropic Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including Azim Premji Foundation, Reliance Foundation, JSW Foundation, Caring Friends, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Government Project Implementation: Government of India and State Government (Odisha, Madhya Pradesh) schemes including MGNREGA, NABARD, OLM, and various departmental programs
- International Development Agency Funding: Support from international agencies including GIZ (SENU project), UNDP
- Individual Donations: Public donations via online platform, bank transfer (domestic and international FCRA accounts)
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Harsha Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Harsha Trust is a non-profit development organization that strengthens women-centric community institutions including Self-Help Groups, Cluster Level Forums, Producer Groups, and Farmer Producer Organizations to deliver rural livelihood programs across Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Its core work covers institution building, food and nutrition security, livelihood enhancement through agriculture and micro-enterprises, natural resource management, climate-resilient and clean energy interventions, and health, WASH and education initiatives for tribal and marginalized households. Programs are delivered as field-implemented services, funded through CSR partnerships, philanthropic grants, government schemes, and international development agency support.
Product overview
Harsha Trust is a development organization offering a portfolio of community development programs and services, not a technology product company. The organization operates a multi-dimensional approach through seven interconnected program areas: Institution Building (formation of women-centric community institutions like SHGs, CLFs, and FPOs), Food & Nutrition Security (nutrition gardens, crop diversification, millet promotion), Livelihood Security (on-farm/off-farm models, APC, WADI), Access to Entitlements & Convergence (government scheme linkage), Clean Energy Adoption (solar irrigation, fencing, lighting), Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM and water security), and Health, WASH & Education. These programs work holistically through community-based organizations to improve quality of life for rural tribal households.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Institution Building Program
- Food and Nutrition Security Program
- Livelihood Security Program
- Access to Entitlements and Convergence Program
- Clean Energy Adoption and Climate Change Program
- Integrated Natural Resource Management and Water Security Program
- Health, WASH and Education Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 3.5 lac households improved quality of life
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Harsha Trust
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Harsha Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Harsha Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SELCO FoundationcorePartnership for promoting clean energy solutions. Mr. Gautam Kumar Pradhan serves as Regional Head, Odisha and Jharkhand at SELCO Foundation.
- Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM)coreState government mission for livelihood promotion. Collaborates on SHG promotion, CLF formation, GPLF, and producer group formation. Major partner for institutional building.
- Mission ShakticoreOdisha government mission for women's empowerment. Partners with Harsha Trust for SHG strengthening and women-centric institution building.
- SRIJANcoreNGO partner for SENU project in Madhya Pradesh. Co-creates knowledge and builds programs on each other's strengths for community empowerment.
- PRADANminorNGO coalition partner engaged in rural development initiatives.
- ICRISATminorResearch institution partner for agricultural research and development.
- ICARminorAgricultural research partnership with Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
- Odisha Millets MissioncoreState government initiative for millet promotion. Harsha Trust is a Facilitating Partner arranging IYOM programs and activities.
- RCRCminorNGO coalition partner.
- Paritrana FPO FederationminorFPO Federation coalition member.
- N+3FminorNGO coalition partner for rural development.
- ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency)coreGovernment partner for agricultural technology dissemination. Collaborates on finger millet farming and crop diversification programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Harsha Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BAIF Development Research Foundation: BAIF is one of India's largest rural development NGOs, focused on livestock, agriculture, and livelihoods for smallholder farmers. Comparable to Harsha Trust in its SHG/FPO model, climate-resilient agriculture, and large multi-state footprint targeting tribal communities.
- Gram Vikas: Gram Vikas is an Odisha-based rural development NGO focused on water, sanitation, livelihoods, and tribal community institutions. Directly comparable in geographic focus (Odisha tribal belts), institution-building approach, and integration of NRM with WASH/livelihood programs.
- DHAN Foundation: DHAN Foundation is a large Indian development NGO focused on poverty reduction through livelihoods, community institutions, and microfinance. Comparable in its women SHG strengthening, FPO promotion, and pan-India rural program portfolio.
- PRADAN: PRADAN is a leading Indian NGO promoting women's Self-Help Groups and livelihoods in rural, often tribal, areas. Directly comparable to Harsha Trust given overlapping focus on WSHGs, FPO promotion, and livelihood enhancement; Harsha Trust is also an explicit PRADAN coalition partner.
- SRIJAN: SRIJAN is a rural development NGO working on livelihoods, natural resource management, and community institutions across central India. It is Harsha Trust's co-implementing partner on the GIZ-funded SENU project in Madhya Pradesh, with directly overlapping program design and target beneficiaries.
- SELCO Foundation: SELCO Foundation promotes clean energy solutions for underserved communities. Harsha Trust's Clean Energy Adoption & Climate Change program is co-developed with SELCO, and Harsha's Managing Trustee also leads SELCO's Odisha and Jharkhand operations.
- Aide et Action International (ActionAid): Aide et Action / ActionAid works on education, livelihoods, and migration issues across South Asia. Trustee Umi Daniel leads its South Asia migration and education work, and the organization overlaps with Harsha Trust on tribal livelihood, migration, and education initiatives.
- Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR): WOTR is a recognized Indian NGO working on integrated watershed management, climate-resilient agriculture, and rural livelihoods. Directly comparable to Harsha Trust on the Integrated Natural Resource Management and climate adaptation programming pillars.
Emerging players
- Trickle Up: Trickle Up is an international NGO targeting extreme poverty among women in tribal and rural areas through livelihoods graduation approaches. Comparable in its SHG/coaching methodology targeting tribal communities, though operating with a global rather than India-only footprint.
Others
- WaterAid India: WaterAid India focuses on WASH access and is a former employer of Harsha Trustee Ms. Bishakha Bhanja. It overlaps with Harsha Trust's WASH program pillar, though WaterAid is a thematic specialist rather than a broad-based livelihoods implementer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Harsha Trust social profiles
Digital presenceHarsha Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Harsha Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Harsha Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Harsha Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Harsha Trust
What does Harsha Trust do?
Harsha Trust is a non-profit development organization that strengthens women-centric community institutions including Self-Help Groups, Cluster Level Forums, Producer Groups, and Farmer Producer Organizations to deliver rural livelihood programs across Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Its core work covers institution building, food and nutrition security, livelihood enhancement through agriculture and micro-enterprises, natural resource management, climate-resilient and clean energy interventions, and health, WASH and education initiatives for tribal and marginalized households. Programs are delivered as field-implemented services, funded through CSR partnerships, philanthropic grants, government schemes, and international development agency support.
Is Harsha Trust a public or private company?
Harsha Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Harsha Trust founded?
Harsha Trust was founded in 2002. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Harsha Trust based?
Harsha Trust is headquartered in Bhubaneswar, India, in the Asia region.
How does Harsha Trust make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. CSR and Corporate Donations are the primary driver. The others are philanthropic Foundation Grants, government Project Implementation, international Development Agency Funding and individual Donations.
Who are Harsha Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BAIF Development Research Foundation, Gram Vikas, DHAN Foundation, PRADAN, SRIJAN, SELCO Foundation, Aide et Action International (ActionAid) and Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR). Trickle Up is listed as an emerging player. WaterAid India is listed as an others.
Does Harsha Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Harsha Trust.
What industry is Harsha Trust in?
Harsha Trust's product category is Rural Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAA, Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAI, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems. Its NAICS code is 6242 and its SIC code is 8300.