Tirupati, one of India's most visited pilgrimage cities, sits in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, where rural poverty runs deep. The city is home to one of the state's premier social-service organisations and to a wider sector working on rural development, disability, women's self-help and child welfare. 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 Tirupati, 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 Tirupati and the Rayalaseema region, 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.
Rashtriya Seva Samithi (RASS)
Founded in 1981, RASS is one of Andhra Pradesh's premier social-service organisations, based in Tirupati and working across rural development, child development, disability, health, education, women's self-help groups and disaster management. Its breadth and decades of work have made it a trusted name across the state. For donors and CSR teams who want an experienced, well-governed partner with wide reach, RASS is a strong choice. Ask about its current programmes and the communities it serves, and confirm its 12A, 80G and FCRA status before funding.
People's Action Social Service (PASS)
Working since 1987, PASS serves aged people, disadvantaged communities and women in the Tirupati region, and runs a special school for mentally challenged children staffed by special educators. Caring for children with intellectual disabilities and the elderly fills needs that are easy to overlook. For donors and CSR teams interested in disability and elderly care, PASS offers experienced, specialised services. Ask about the children and elders in its care, and confirm its registrations before giving.
BIRDS (Bharathi Integrated Rural Development Society)
BIRDS works in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh on rural development, women's self-help groups, agriculture and livelihoods, helping poor families in a dry, difficult landscape. Its focus on women's collectives and farming addresses the foundations of rural incomes. For donors interested in rural livelihoods and women's empowerment, BIRDS offers grounded, regional work. Ask about the groups and households it supports and what they have gained, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Akshaya Patra Foundation (Andhra 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 Andhra 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 (Andhra Pradesh)
Pratham, one of India's largest education NGOs, runs programmes in Andhra 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.
Smile Foundation (Andhra Pradesh)
Smile Foundation is a national NGO running education, health and livelihood programmes in Andhra Pradesh, 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.
Goonj (Andhra 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 Andhra Pradesh, a state that faces cyclones and droughts. It links everyday giving to dignity-based development rather than charity. For donors and CSR teams interested in disaster response and rural development, 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 (Andhra Pradesh)
SOS Children's Villages provides family-based care, education and a stable home for orphaned and abandoned children, with programmes in Andhra Pradesh. 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.
HelpAge India (Tirupati)
HelpAge India works for the care, health and dignity of older people, running mobile healthcare, helplines and support programmes in Tirupati and across Andhra Pradesh. 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.
CRY (Child Rights and You)
CRY works to ensure children's rights to education, health, protection and participation, supporting grassroots projects in Andhra Pradesh. It funds and strengthens local organisations as well as running its own advocacy. For donors who want to support child rights through an established national organisation, CRY is a credible option. Ask about the projects it supports in the region and their outcomes, and confirm its registrations before funding.
How to verify any NGO before you donate in Tirupati
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.
Tirupati pairs a great pilgrimage tradition of giving with NGOs that serve the dry Rayalaseema countryside, from a special school to a women's self-help group. 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 Visakhapatnam.
Find verified NGOs in Tirupati 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.