Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, combines a strong education tradition with some of India's most respected NGOs. The city is home to pioneering work in disability and street-child education, while the wider state's nonprofits tackle mountain-specific challenges — forest rights, water, rural livelihoods and recurring natural disasters. 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 Dehradun, 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 Dehradun and Uttarakhand, 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.
Latika Roy Foundation
The Latika Roy Foundation is a leading resource for children and adults with disability in Dehradun, providing early intervention, individualised special education, vocational training and inclusion through its centres. Its work grew from one family's experience and has shaped disability practice well beyond Uttarakhand. For donors and CSR teams interested in disability and special education, it is an experienced, well-governed partner. Ask about the children and adults in its programmes and their progress, and confirm its 12A, 80G and FCRA status before funding.
Aasraa Trust
Founded in 2009, Aasraa Trust works with street and slum children in Dehradun and nearby districts, reaching them where they live and moving them into education through street classes, schools, nutrition, healthcare and shelter. It has supported tens of thousands of children across many projects. For donors who want their gift to reach the most vulnerable children directly, Aasraa's model is proven. Ask about children enrolled and moved into mainstream school, and verify its registrations before giving.
Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK)
RLEK is one of India's oldest and most respected legal and social organisations, known for fighting in the courts for forest rights, tribal communities and against bonded labour, and for adult literacy work. Based in Dehradun, its rights-based approach has set legal precedents that benefit communities far beyond the state. For donors who care about rights, environment and justice, RLEK is a historic, principled choice. Ask about its current campaigns and programmes, and confirm its compliance before funding.
People's Science Institute (PSI)
The People's Science Institute, based in Dehradun, works on water security, environmental protection and rural livelihoods across the Himalayan region, combining science with community action. Its work on reviving springs, water quality and sustainable farming addresses problems that decide whether mountain villages can survive. For donors and CSR teams interested in water and environment, PSI is a credible, research-led partner. Ask about the villages and water sources it has helped, and verify its registrations before giving.
Himalayan Action Research Centre (HARC)
HARC works on rural development and livelihoods in Uttarakhand's hill communities, supporting farming, water, women's groups and small enterprises. Mountain livelihoods are fragile, and HARC helps families earn and stay on their land rather than migrate. For donors interested in rural and mountain development, the work is grounded and practical. Ask about the communities it supports and what they have gained, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Cheshire Home Dehradun
Cheshire Home Dehradun provides residential care, rehabilitation and support for persons with disabilities, part of the wider Cheshire Homes network in India. It offers a stable home and care for people who may have nowhere else to live with dignity. For donors focused on disability and long-term care, it offers a clear, human-scale programme. Ask about residents and the care and rehabilitation provided, and confirm its 80G status before donating.
Himmotthan
Himmotthan works on integrated rural development across the central Himalayan region from Dehradun, supporting water and sanitation, livestock, livelihoods and women's collectives in remote hill villages. Its programmes are designed for the specific conditions of mountain communities. For donors and CSR teams interested in Himalayan rural development, it offers experienced, well-structured work. Ask about the villages and households it reaches, and verify its registrations before funding.
SOS Children's Villages (Uttarakhand)
SOS Children's Villages provides family-based care, education and a stable home for orphaned and abandoned children, with programmes in Uttarakhand. 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.
Pratham (Uttarakhand)
Pratham, one of India's largest education NGOs, runs programmes in Uttarakhand to help children master reading and basic arithmetic, working with communities and government schools, including in hill districts where reaching children is harder. 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 (Uttarakhand)
Goonj is a national organisation known for turning urban material into a resource for rural development and for major disaster relief, including in Uttarakhand, which faces frequent floods and landslides. It links everyday giving to dignity-based development rather than charity. For donors and CSR teams interested in disaster response and mountain rural development, Goonj has a strong record. Ask about its current Uttarakhand work and how contributions are used, and confirm its registrations before giving.
How to verify any NGO before you donate in Dehradun
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.
Dehradun's NGOs meet both city and mountain needs, from a disabled child's first therapy to a hill village's water supply. Choose the cause that matters to you, run the checks above, and give with confidence — and to compare a larger city, see our guide to the top NGOs in Delhi.
Find verified NGOs in Dehradun 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.