Agra is known the world over for the Taj Mahal, but the city is also home to some distinctive and courageous social work. It hosts nationally known organisations rehabilitating acid-attack survivors and rescuing wildlife, alongside steady work in child care, rural development and education across the surrounding districts. If you live here and want to give, volunteer or run a corporate social-responsibility programme, this guide is a useful starting point. It lists ten respected NGOs in and around Agra, what each does, and the checks every donor and CSR team should run first.
How we chose these NGOs
We looked for organisations with a real presence in Agra and Uttar Pradesh, programmes on the ground and public information about their work. Preference went to NGOs that are clear about their compliance — 12A, 80G, CSR-1 and FCRA — and that put services to people first. Treat this as a shortlist to research, and confirm an NGO's current status before you give.
Chhanv Foundation (Sheroes Hangout)
Set up in 2013, Chhanv Foundation works for the rehabilitation and employment of acid-attack survivors, best known for its Sheroes Hangout café in Agra, where survivors work with dignity and rebuild their lives. The foundation supports survivors with medical help, legal aid, livelihoods and a community, and has been recognised nationally for its work. For donors who want to support survivor-led recovery and women's empowerment, Chhanv is a powerful, well-respected choice. Ask about the survivors it supports and how funds are used, and confirm its registrations before giving.
Wildlife SOS
Wildlife SOS runs major animal-rescue and conservation work in the Agra region, including a bear rescue centre and elephant care nearby, having ended the practice of 'dancing bears' in India and rescuing elephants from cruelty. It combines rescue with veterinary care, habitat protection and support for the communities that once depended on captive animals. For donors and CSR teams interested in animal welfare and conservation, it is an experienced, internationally known partner. Ask about the animals it cares for and its conservation work, and confirm its registrations before funding.
DEHAT (Development of Humane Action Foundation)
DEHAT works with rural communities in the Agra region on organic farming, water conservation and women's self-help groups, helping families build steadier incomes and manage their resources. By linking farming, water and women's collectives, it strengthens whole villages. For donors interested in rural livelihoods and women's empowerment, DEHAT offers grounded, local programmes. Ask about the villages and women's groups it supports, and confirm its registrations before giving.
SOS Children's Villages (Agra)
SOS Children's Villages provides family-style homes, education, healthcare and emotional support for orphaned and vulnerable children in Agra. The family model gives children long-term security rather than only institutional care. For donors who want to fund a child's whole upbringing, it offers a well-established structure. Ask about the children in its care and their education and outcomes, and confirm its registrations before giving.
Smile Foundation (Agra)
Smile Foundation runs education, health and livelihood programmes in Agra, including its Mission Education initiative that has enrolled many first-generation learners in formal schooling, along with mobile health services. Its programmes are well documented and frequently funded through corporate CSR. For donors who want established systems and reporting, it is a dependable option. Ask for the specific Agra programmes and the children reached, and verify its registrations before giving.
Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children)
Bal Raksha Bharat runs child-welfare programmes in Uttar Pradesh, including the Agra region, on education, health and nutrition and child protection. As the Indian arm of a well-known global child-rights organisation, it brings strong systems and reporting. For donors and CSR teams focused on children, it is a dependable partner with measurable projects. Ask for the specific programmes in the region and the children reached, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Akshaya Patra Foundation (Uttar Pradesh)
Akshaya Patra runs one of the world's largest school lunch programmes, cooking and delivering mid-day meals to children in government and aided schools, with kitchens serving Uttar Pradesh. A hot, nutritious meal raises school enrolment, attendance and concentration. For donors who want a measurable, child-focused outcome, the programme is clear and proven, and its scale makes it a frequent CSR partner. Ask about meals served in the region and review its accounts, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Pratham (Uttar Pradesh)
Pratham, one of India's largest education NGOs, runs programmes in the Agra region and across Uttar Pradesh to help children master reading and basic arithmetic, working with communities and government schools. Its widely cited learning assessments keep its work measurable. For CSR teams that want learning outcomes at scale, Pratham is reliable. Ask for its local coverage and learning data, and confirm its compliance before funding.
Goonj (Uttar Pradesh)
Goonj is a national organisation known for turning urban material into a resource for rural development and for major relief work, with activity in Uttar Pradesh. It links everyday giving to dignity-based development rather than charity. For donors and CSR teams interested in rural development and disaster response, Goonj has a strong record. Ask about its current work in the region and how contributions are used, and confirm its registrations before giving.
HelpAge India (Agra)
HelpAge India works for the care, health and dignity of older people, running mobile healthcare, helplines and support programmes in Agra and across Uttar Pradesh. As families change, support for the elderly is increasingly needed. For donors and CSR teams focused on older people, HelpAge is an experienced national partner. Ask about its local programmes and the elders it serves, and confirm its compliance before funding.
How to verify any NGO before you donate in Agra
Run the same short checklist before you give, whatever the cause:
- 12A — confirms registration for income-tax exemption as a charity.
- 80G — makes your donation eligible for a tax deduction; collect a valid receipt.
- CSR-1 — required before a company can route CSR funds to the NGO.
- FCRA — needed if the NGO accepts foreign contributions; confirm it is active.
- Reporting — read the latest annual report and audited accounts, and ask for concrete results.
You can browse NGOs whose compliance has been checked on NGOLists, and the compliance guide explains each registration in plain language.
Beyond its monuments, Agra is home to some of India's most distinctive social work, from a café run by acid-attack survivors to a sanctuary for rescued bears. Choose the cause that matters to you, run the checks above, and give with confidence — and elsewhere in the state, see our guide to the top NGOs in Varanasi.
Find verified NGOs in Agra on NGOLists
Every NGO listed on NGOLists is checked for 12A, 80G, CSR-1 and FCRA before it appears, so donors and CSR teams can give with confidence. List your NGO or fund a cause today.