Anand, in Gujarat's Charotar region, is the home of Amul and the birthplace of India's cooperative dairy movement — a place where collective effort lifted rural incomes, gave women their own earnings and helped families send children to school. That legacy of grassroots development lives on in the town's NGOs, which work on community health, ecology, charitable healthcare and rural development. 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 Anand, 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 Anand and Gujarat, 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.
Tribhuvandas Foundation
The Tribhuvandas Foundation, founded by the founder of the Amul cooperative, has worked for decades on community and maternal health in the villages of the Anand and Kheda region, building on the same cooperative spirit. Grounded, village-level health work like this saves lives and strengthens whole communities. For donors and CSR teams interested in rural health, it is an experienced, historically significant partner. Ask about the villages it serves and its health programmes, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Foundation for Ecological Security (FES)
The Foundation for Ecological Security, headquartered in Anand, works across India to restore and protect ecological commons — forests, water and grazing lands — alongside the communities who depend on them. Healthy commons underpin the livelihoods of millions of rural families. For donors and CSR teams interested in the environment and rural livelihoods, FES is a respected, well-governed partner with national reach. Ask about its programmes and the landscapes and communities it supports, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Charutar Arogya Mandal
Charutar Arogya Mandal, based at Karamsad in the Anand district, runs charitable healthcare and medical education, including a hospital serving the region's rural population. Affordable, quality healthcare close to home is a lasting need in rural Gujarat. For donors and CSR teams interested in health and medical care, it is an established institution. Ask about the patients it treats and its charitable services, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Pratham (Gujarat)
Pratham, one of India's largest education NGOs, runs programmes in Gujarat 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 coverage in the region and learning data, and confirm its compliance before funding.
Akshaya Patra Foundation (Gujarat)
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 Gujarat. 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.
Goonj (Gujarat)
Goonj is a national organisation known for turning urban material into a resource for rural development and for major disaster relief, with activity in Gujarat. 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 state and how contributions are used, and confirm its registrations before giving.
SOS Children's Villages (Gujarat)
SOS Children's Villages provides family-based care, education and a stable home for orphaned and abandoned children, with programmes in Gujarat. The family-style 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 care in the state and their education and outcomes, and confirm its registrations before giving.
Smile Foundation (Gujarat)
Smile Foundation is a national NGO running education, health and livelihood programmes in Gujarat, including learning centres for underprivileged children and 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 programmes in the region and their results, and verify its registrations before giving.
CRY (Child Rights and You) (Gujarat)
CRY works to protect child rights through education, health, nutrition and protection from child labour and early marriage, partnering with grassroots organisations across Gujarat. Its long track record and focus on root causes make it a trusted name in child welfare. For donors and CSR teams focused on children, it offers reach and accountability. Ask about its partner projects in the region and the children reached, and confirm its registrations before funding.
HelpAge India (Anand)
HelpAge India works for the care, health and dignity of older people, running mobile healthcare, helplines and support programmes in Anand and across Gujarat. As families change and younger members migrate for work, 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 Anand
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.
Anand's NGOs carry forward the cooperative spirit that made the town famous, from a mother's safe delivery to a restored village commons. Choose the cause that matters to you, run the checks above, and give with confidence — and nearby, see our guide to the top NGOs in Vadodara.
Find verified NGOs in Anand 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.