NGOs in Chennai

5th Pillar

The Zero Rupee Note movement fighting everyday bribery since 1997

Anti-corruption education program has covered more than 3,000 schools, colleges and groups in India, reaching

AARDE Foundation

Chennai trust conserving Pulicat Lagoon's natural and built heritage since 2007.

Ability Foundation

Cross-disability organisation working on employment, media and inclusion

Agaram Foundation

Higher-education scholarships and rural school fellowships across Tamil Nadu

3,320+ arts and science graduates among Agaram achievers

AIM for Seva

Educating rural India, one child at a time

91 chatralayams (free student homes) covering 2700 villages

Aishwarya Trust

Funds screening and surgery for children with congenital heart defects in Tamil Nadu.

Aishwarya Trust has helped screen more than 2.21 lakh children and supported more than 8,150 successful surger

ALERT (Amenity Lifeline Emergency Response Team)

Trains the public in first aid, CPR and emergency response from its base in Chennai

526144 No. of People Trained

All The Children Trust

Chennai NGO supporting children through education, shelter and healthcare

Today, 746 children are experiencing the joy of learning in safe, supportive spaces—with access to upgraded in

Anandam

Chennai charity running a free home for destitute senior citizens alongside education, medical care and women's-empowerment initiatives.

Grown into a sprawling facility spanning 24,000 sq. ft. and accommodating 110 elders

Anandham Youth Foundation

Funds and mentors rural Tamil Nadu students through higher education.

Currently, Anandham has touched the lives of around 982 students studying in MBBS, Engineering, Arts & Science

ANEW - Association for Non-traditional Employment for Women

Free skills training and job placement for underprivileged young women in Chennai since 1997

ANEW's Home Nursing Program achieved an 82% placement rate for 180 trainees in 2024-25

AROMA Foundation

Child protection, healthcare, skills and disaster response programmes around Chennai.

Artisan Futures Development Foundation

Chennai foundation running craft-based artisan enhancement programmes with a focus on women's livelihoods.

Arvind Foundation

Early intervention, curative education and vocational training for children with special needs

140 Children/Young Adults

Avvai Home

Residential home and schools in Adyar, Chennai, for orphaned girls and destitute women.

Avvai Home houses a total of 189 children.

Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust

Chennai child care trust running children's homes, schools, kinship care and early intervention.

As of March 2025, Bala Mandir's Kinship Care programme supported 1,563 children across 886 families in 14 dist

Balavidyalaya

Free oral early-intervention school for young deaf children in Chennai

This year we had 20 admissions till date (14 children from Chennai, and one each from Madurai, Villupuram, Kri

Bhumi

One of India's largest youth volunteer non-profits

150,000+ volunteers engaged

Blue Cross of India

One of India's oldest and largest animal-welfare organisations

336,663 animal rescues over 61 years in Chennai

Born2Win Social Welfare Trust

Transgender-led trust building dignity, education and opportunity in Tamil Nadu

500+ lives transformed

Bro Siga Animation Centre

North Chennai organisation since 1984 running education, vocational training and tribal-welfare programmes for slum and rural-poor communities in Vyasarpadi.

C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC)

Excellence in environmental education

Surveyed more than 10,000 sacred groves and restored 53 over three decades

Cancer Institute (WIA)

Chennai's pioneering charitable cancer hospital, serving patients since 1954

545 in-patient bed hospital, only 35% of which are paying beds

Care Earth Trust

Biodiversity conservation research and advocacy in Tamil Nadu

Restoration of the 300-acre Vengathur Wetland underway; 841 metres of its West-to-East canal restored, widened

Centre for Social Initiative and Management (CSIM)

Trains social entrepreneurs and change agents through courses in cities across India.

Chetana Charitable Trust

Chennai trust developing and scaling health and education interventions for underserved children and youth

In 2025-26, 3,800+ individuals accessed accessible books through Chetana Trust's ARM library programme, and it

CHOLAI - Action for Child Labour

Chennai organisation working to end child labour through education and women's training

Christ Faith Home For Children

Chennai homes for girls, boys and infants plus women's welfare services since 1986.

Over 200-250 people were screened for various ailments during the free medical camp.

Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG)

Chennai non-profit protecting consumer rights and promoting good governance since 1985

Crafts Council of India

Preserving India's living crafts since 1964

Spans ten affiliated State Councils, touching thousands of artisan families across 28 states

Cross Blood Foundation

Chennai trust connecting voluntary blood donors with patients since 1999.

We along with Voluntary Health Scheme (VHS) have identified 100 children with thalassemia and are actively inv

DakshinaChitra Museum

Living museum preserving South Indian art, architecture and crafts, since 1996

Collection of 18 authentic historical houses with contextual exhibits

Danirasa Foundation

Community-kitchen meal programme feeding underprivileged children and elderly people in Chennai

More than 37 lakh (3.7 million) meals delivered by Danirasa Foundation's community kitchen

DATRI Blood Stem Cell Donors Registry

India's blood stem cell donor registry matching patients with blood cancer since 2009

DEAN Foundation Hospice & Palliative Care Centre

Free home-based and outpatient palliative care for Chennai's urban and rural poor since 1998

20,667 patients treated since inception (9 March 1998), as on 30 June 2026

Dr John Joseph Foundation

Provides education, sports and welfare support to orphaned and underprivileged children in Chennai

60 students from the Gandhinagar slum area, Chennai, coached weekly under the Akshayam feeding programme (2019

Dr. Gordon Memorial Trust

Education, health, livelihood and women's programmes in rural Tamil Nadu districts.

Dream India Educational and Charitable Trust

Volunteer-run trust supporting government-school children across Tamil Nadu, Bengaluru and Mumbai since 2003

In 2020-21 Dream India Educational and Charitable Trust provided Covid-19 educational scholarships totalling R

Environmentalist Foundation of India (E.F.I)

Volunteer-driven scientific restoration of India's lakes, ponds and wildlife habitats

Operates across 18 Indian states

Exnora International

Community-driven civic action for waste management, clean water bodies and urban greening since 1989

300,000 trees planted (data for the past three years)

Freedom Trust

Adding life to years — empowering mobility, restoring dignity

Made a difference in over 30,000 lives since 1996

Gnanodaya Rehabilitation Association

Runs Gnanodaya High School for children from leprosy-affected and low-income families.

Today, the association oversees Gnanodaya School, a haven for 176 students (95 boys, 81 girls), with 60 residi

Gremaltes Hospital (Greater Madras Leprosy Treatment and Health Education Scheme)

Chennai charitable hospital treating leprosy and allied conditions since 1978

Patient Care & Support (Past 5 Years) 14099

Guild of Service (Central)

A century of grassroots social service

22 Units and projects helping over 5000 beneficiaries annually

HeART Beat Foundation

Chennai trust promoting art by artists with disabilities to support their livelihoods

Hope Public Charitable Trust (Hope Chennai)

Special education, therapy and vocational training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Chennai

Currently serves 380 children with intellectual disabilities across 3 districts

Imaara Survivor Support Foundation

Connects survivors of gender-based violence in Chennai with legal, medical and psychosocial support

428 allies trained in bystander intervention and 35 survivors supported one-on-one in 2024-25

Jayam Special School

Chennai school for children with autism, ADHD and learning difficulties

Recognized by the District Collector, Thiruvallur, for a 100% SSLC pass rate.

Jeevan Blood Bank and Research Centre

South Asia's largest public cord blood bank, running Chennai's Be The Cure stem cell registry since 1995

150,700 voluntary blood donations collected over 21 years (through 2017)

Jeevodaya Hospice for Cancer Patients

South India's first hospice, caring free of cost since 1990

First institution in Tamil Nadu licensed to use oral morphine for cancer pain control

Kalakshetra Foundation

India's foremost academy for Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, founded in 1936

The Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School was founded by Rukmini Devi in 1973. With a strength of about 500,

Kalanjiyam Trust

Education, health and livelihood programmes for rural communities in Tamil Nadu

Education Supported: 2000+

Kalpavriksham Trust

Supports cancer patients in Tamil Nadu with treatment access and awareness.

Our Scorecard: 60641 Overall Beneficiaries

Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital

Chennai's dedicated charitable children's hospital

200-bed exclusive children's hospital with 30 departments and 50 doctors

Karunalaya

Rescue, shelter and rehabilitation for runaway and working street children in Chennai

29 Karunalaya Children Clear SSLC Board Exams

Krishnamurti Foundation India

Trust running schools, study centres and the archive of J. Krishnamurti's teachings

Kumaran Special School

Chennai special school improving lives of special-needs children since 2002

Lakshmi Pain & Palliative Care Trust

Palliative care trust easing physical, emotional and spiritual distress in Chennai

Little Drops

A home away from home for the abandoned elderly

Over 1,000 abandoned elderly destitute currently accommodated across 10 homes, mostly in Tamil Nadu and one in

Little Flower Convent Hr. Sec. School for the Blind

Educating visually impaired children in Chennai since 1926

200 students currently educated with 50 teaching and non-teaching staff

LMES Foundation

Popularises hands-on science learning through workshops, events and digital content.

LonePack

Youth-led collective fighting mental health stigma through campaigns and peer support.

M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF)

Science and technology for pro-poor, pro-nature rural development

645,000 households touched

Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children

Early intervention for young children with developmental disabilities in Chennai

Madras Dyslexia Association

Helps children with dyslexia through remediation, teacher training and awareness.

Madras Naturalists' Society

Chennai's community of naturalists since 1978

Madras Social Service Society (MSSS)

Chennai archdiocese's official social-work arm serving fishing communities and slum residents since 1969

During its 2020-21 Covid-19 dry ration distribution, Madras Social Service Society covered 120 parishes across

MOHAN Foundation

India's premier organ-donation and transplant awareness nonprofit since 1997

Trained more than 2,300 transplant coordinators in India and SAARC nations (December 2009 to July 2019)

Myrtle Social Welfare Network

Chennai charity running a women's shelter, railway child helpline and skill training

NalandaWay Foundation

Arts, theatre and music programmes that build confidence in children from low-income communities

GutarGoo programme impacted 1,056 children aged 3-6 and 811 children aged 0-3 across 36 Anganwadi centres in 2

Nethrodaya

Let's share the light

For the past 21 years, on an average every year Nethrodaya is able to provide assistance for around hundreds o

Nizhal

Save Our Trees, Plant More Trees, Care For Trees

20 years of community greening in Chennai

Nobel Laureate Mother Teresa Charitable Trust (MTCT)

Chennai trust providing free food, education, and medical aid to the poor since 1997.

Our Trust currently provides free meals to 130-150 underprivileged individuals daily at our headquarters in Ch

Noel Foundation

Chennai-based nonprofit funding cardiac surgeries for children and education/livelihood programs across South India.

OfERR (Organisation for Eelam Refugees' Rehabilitation)

Run by and for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, supporting camps across Tamil Nadu since 1984

Providing services to 1 lakh refugees since 1984

One All Trust

Uses mixed-gender sports to build socio-emotional skills among adolescents in Tamil Nadu's fishing and tribal communities.

150+ Facilitators Trained

People for Cattle in India (PFCI)

Chennai NGO working against cattle cruelty and illegal slaughter

People for Cattle in India has rescued over 1,200 cattle - cows, calves, bulls and buffalo - from illegal traf

Prakriti Foundation

Curating performing arts, literature and heritage festivals in Chennai since 1998

Premavasam

Chennai home caring for abandoned children and persons with disabilities

PRISM Trust (Prisoners Rights Intervention Support Mission)

Reformation and reintegration support for young, first-time offenders in Tamil Nadu

135 male prisoners and 35 female prisoners (170 total) received health checkups at PRISM's health camp at Cent

REACH (Resource Group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health)

Chennai NGO fighting tuberculosis for over two decades

25,351 people with TB and symptoms of TB supported by REACH in 2024-25

Reciprocity Foundation

Chennai collective running beach clean-ups, water projects and child health drives.

RMD Pain and Palliative Care Trust

Runs hospital, hospice and home-based palliative care in Chennai

1,50,000+ Hospital & Home-based care sessions since 2005

Roja Muthiah Research Library

Chennai archive preserving Tamil-language print heritage, from early books to some 300,000 items

50,000 books (plus another 50,000 items like periodicals and ephemera) originally collected by founder Roja Mu

Round Table India

Fellowship of young professionals delivering education, healthcare and community projects

11 million lives touched

SAATHII

Rights-based health, legal and social services for communities marginalised by HIV status, gender or sexuality

Svetana programme worked across 361 districts in 22 states and union territories, reaching 10.45 million pregn

Sahodaran

Chennai's first community-based organisation run by and for MSM and transgender people

Supported a cultural event lasting 60 hours which entered Asian Book of Records.

Sai Sankalp

Chennai trust running a free school for underprivileged children since 2006

Sanitation First India

WASH nonprofit building sanitation and dignity for schools and communities

Sankalp Trust

Special-needs schools and vocational centres for children and young adults in Chennai.

Sankara Eye Hospital

Charitable eye hospitals at Pammal and Nanganallur in Chennai and in Odisha

Sankara Nethralaya

Not-for-profit eye hospital serving patients regardless of means

3,500+ patients seen every day

SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation)

WHO Collaborating Centre for mental health research and rehabilitation in Chennai

SCARF runs three residential centres with a total bed strength of 150.

Sevalaya

Free schools, old-age homes and children's homes in rural Tamil Nadu since 1988

20,00,000+ beneficiaries

Shanthibhavan

Runs a home caring for destitute elderly people at Sholavaram, Chennai.

Share and Care Children's Welfare Society

Runs education, nutrition, elderly care and disaster relief programmes for underprivileged families in Chennai

Provides free education, nutritious meals, and medical care to over 350+ children from remote villages

Shooting Stars Foundation

STEM scholarships and career-readiness training for underserved Indian students

1,506 scholars

Sneha Foundation Trust

A free, confidential suicide-prevention helpline run by volunteers in Chennai

The Befrienders India Train the Trainer (BITT) conference was conducted by Sneha in association with Befriende

Sri Arunodayam Charitable Trust

Refuge, rehabilitation and family reunification for abandoned children with intellectual disabilities since 2003

Over 410 abandoned children with intellectual disabilities cared for since 2003, of whom 109 were reunited wit

SRM Foundation

Chennai non-profit working on education, skilling, healthcare and livelihoods for underserved communities

9,500+ patients at community health camps in 2025

Sundaram Medical Foundation

Chennai's trusted community-owned not-for-profit hospital

Over 230 beds across facilities in Anna Nagar and Mogappair

Surabi Trust

Chennai trust running health, education and child support services from Villivakkam

Suyam Charitable Trust

Chennai trust tackling child labour, school dropouts and youth distress since 1999

2 SCHOOLS

Tamil Nadu Differently Abled Federation Charitable Trust

Disability-led trust for education, livelihoods and mobility aids in Tamil Nadu.

Tamilnad Kidney Research (TANKER) Foundation

Free and subsidised dialysis and kidney care for underprivileged patients since 1993

9,04,444 free and subsidised dialysis sessions since June 1993

Team Everest

A volunteering platform and education scholarship programme open to anyone, anywhere

1 Lakh volunteers inspired from India and 30 more countries

The Banyan

Mental health care for homeless persons living with mental illness

Over 4,000 homeless people with mental illness cared for at its Emergency Care and Recovery Centres

The Clarke School for the Deaf

For children with special needs since 1970

1600 + Children Supported Through Personalized Programs

The Ma Foi Foundation

Chennai foundation enabling education, health and livelihood for the disadvantaged

The Madras Seva Sadan

A legacy of compassion in education, arts and social service since 1928

15 institutions across 4 campuses, including 6 schools educating over 4,000 students

The New Life Charitable Trust (NLCT)

Chennai trust caring for abandoned elderly people and orphaned children since 1991

62 senior citizens supported at Saranagathi, its home for destitute aged people

The Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu (SPASTN)

Serves children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in Chennai.

Thozhamai

Chennai child rights and human rights organisation working in resettlement colonies.

COVID relief reached over 6,000 families; over 12,500 families supported since the 2015 floods

Thuvakkam

Chennai volunteer movement planting trees and running civic and relief drives

TREE Foundation

Community-based Olive Ridley sea turtle conservation on Tamil Nadu's coast

44,67,463 hatchlings released

Tulir - Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse

Chennai centre working to prevent and heal child sexual abuse

Conducted a prevalence study of child sexual abuse among 2,211 Standard 11 students across 24 schools within t

Udavum Karangal

Homes for abandoned children, the mentally ill and the destitute elderly

More than 25,000 children supported since 1983

Udhavum Ullangal Public Charitable Trust

Chennai trust providing school fees, uniforms, and supplies to underprivileged children since 2000.

185,000+ persons benefited/reached across 21 districts

United Way Chennai

Mobilises companies and volunteers for education, health and environment in Chennai.

V-Excel Educational Trust

Chennai-founded trust delivering lifespan education, therapy and vocational training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

18 centres across Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, in operation for 25 years

Vaishnavi Welfare and Charitable Trust

Chennai trust addressing child malnutrition through maternal health programs, registered since 2014.

1,000+ antenatal mothers supported through Shakthi

Vasantham

Residential special school and home for persons with intellectual disabilities

Victory Sports Foundation

Chennai nonprofit using football and boxing to give underprivileged children access to sport and life skills

Victory Sports Foundation has supported 3,000+ children and distributed 3,500 sports kits across 5 districts i

Vidya Sagar

Services for children and adults with disabilities in Chennai

3,800 children and adults with disabilities served each year

Vidyarambam Trust

Village learning centres for rural under-achievers across Tamil Nadu

Conducts about 300-400 learning centres every year, covering 6,000-8,000 students in about 100-125 villages

Vishranthi Charitable Trust

Empowering grandmothers with love, care and compassion

Caters to the physical, psychological and emotional needs of 140+ women at its Old Age Home in Palavakkam

Vishvodayaa Trust

Chennai trust promoting literacy and women's and children's education since 2001.

Voluntary Health Services

Non-profit multispecialty hospital and community health programme in Adyar

Established 14 rural mini-health centres serving over 100,000 people with immunisation, maternal care, sanitat

Women's Education and Economic Development Society (WEEDS)

Tamil Nadu society building pathways of dignity and economic independence for women since 1989.

Empowering 1,00,000+ people across 300+ communities

Working Women's Forum (India)

Trade union and microcredit network for women in the informal sector since 1978

The forum initiated its maiden endeavour in the year 1978 with 800 women, now a social movement of 11,03,726 w

World Vision India

Child-focused humanitarian and development organisation

Over 3 lakh children and their families reached across 22 states and 1 union territory

Yein Udaan

Chennai grassroots initiative providing cradle-to-college education support for children in the Chetpet dhobighat community.

100% pass rate in public exams and school graduation

Your Hope is Remaining

Empowers women and communities in Chennai and Trichy through education and health

YRGCARE (YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education)

Non-stigmatising HIV testing, treatment and research across India since 1993

25 states & UTs where YRG Care has enabled interventions