Dasra
Dasra's mission is to drive collaborative action to accelerate social change for an equitable India where a billion thrive with dignity. As a leading systems orchestrator, Dasra brings together funders, nonprofits, government bodies, and communities, amplifying grassroots voices and enabling community-led change. Their strategy centers on building organizational capacity, nurturing leadership, and strengthening philanthropic infrastructure to unlock knowledge and resources for systemic, sustainable impact.
Theory of Change
Inputs
Financial resources (philanthropic and government funds, pooled investments)
Partnerships (NGOs, government, business, global foundations)
Technical expertise (research, advisory, technology, advocacy)
Cross-sectoral platforms and networks
Activities
Building collective platforms and pooled funds for sector collaboration
Empowering proximate leaders and marginalized communities
Research and knowledge dissemination
Capacity building (NGO/leader training, digital enablement)
Policy influence and narrative change
Cross-learning and convening events
Outputs
Millions of youth/beneficiaries directly reached
Hundreds of NGOs, funders, and industry partners supported/linked
Published research, policy reports, and sector events
Policy changes and new frameworks achieved
Outcomes
Systemic, sustainable improvements in health, education, livelihoods, sanitation, gender, climate, and inclusion
Elevated capacity and resilience in India’s civil society
Shift towards trust-based, community-centered philanthropy
Improved equity, dignity, and opportunity at scale
Programs
1. Catalytic Philanthropy
Strengthening India's philanthropic ecosystem by providing funder advisory, NGO capacity building, and research to unlock private & pooled social sector investments.
Advisory expertise and sector knowledge
Financial/in-kind resources from funders
Partnerships with NGOs and research entities
Advising and supporting funders to maximize strategic giving
Capacity-building programs for NGOs
Publishing knowledge products and research
36 funders advised (2022-23)
44 NGOs supported
INR 93 crores raised for NGOs
7 knowledge products published, 2 forums co-organized
Enhanced philanthropic capital flow
Stronger, more resilient NGOs
Evidence-based philanthropic decisions
Innovations in giving (district models, convenings)
2. ClimateRISE Alliance
Building climate resilience for India’s most vulnerable by fostering intersectional, community-driven climate action and sector collaboration.
65+ partner civil society organizations
Global partners and philanthropy resources
Research and technical knowledge
Consensus building, narrative mainstreaming, and cross-sector partnerships
Capacity-building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy for community-centric climate action
Cross-sector research with Observer Research Foundation
Published ground-breaking climate action research
Global partnerships - AVPN, India Climate Collaborative, Resilient Cities Network
Strengthened community resilience to climate change
Mainstreamed intersectional climate response
Policies influenced for greater climate inclusivity
3. ImpactPi
Institutional capacity-building for Indian non-profits—leadership, strategy, operational resilience, and fundraising—enabling scalable, impactful growth for sustainable development.
Expert panels, partnerships (Bloomberg, Stanford PACS, etc.)
Resource access for NGOs
Leadership and management programs for NGOs
Peer networks and cross-learning platforms
Training in fundraising, data, and talent management
Support for 600+ NGOs
Influenced budgets of INR 12,000 crore sector-wide
NGOs with increased scalability, resilience, and recognition
Global partnerships and prestigious grants for alumni organizations
4. Gender Equity (WomenLead India Alliance)
Accelerating gender equity through collective action to elevate women’s leadership across society, with a focus on private sector healthcare and philanthropy.
Network of key stakeholders
Thought leadership, sector research
Organizational partnerships and funding
Convening cross-sector networks (business, philanthropy, development)
Promoting and mentoring women leaders
Showcasing commitment at national/international forums
Platform for female leadership in healthcare/philanthropy
Increased visibility for under-researched women’s leadership sector
Connections across 10+ organizations and 25 service providers
Momentum towards gender parity in India (target within 10 years)
Increased women’s participation in leadership, workforce, and public life
Systemic change towards gender inclusivity
Other Information
Core Values
Equity—putting equity and dignity at the core of action and systems change
Collaboration—believing in collective, multi-sectoral action for impact
Leadership—nurturing capacity and proximate leadership
Knowledge—data, research, and evidence as the foundation for strategy
Inclusion—ensuring all voices, especially from marginalized groups, are amplified and included in solutions
Resilience—building sustainable and self-reliant systems and organizations
Scale
Over $445M funds influenced
1150+ platforms & partnerships orchestrated
2300+ non-profits supported
1130+ funders engaged/cultivated
72+ central/state policies advised
34M+ lives impacted by Rebuild India Fund
28M+ youth reached through 10 to 19 Collaborative
Pan-India presence; South Asia (urban sanitation)
Affected Users
Adolescents and youth, especially marginalized girls
Women and girls (leadership, equity)
Marginalized/vulnerable communities (SC/ST, LGBTQIA+, rural poor)
Informal/contract/supply chain workers
Children at risk of family separation
Urban slum dwellers and sanitation workers
Non-profits and grassroots organizations
Philanthropic families and funders
Communities vulnerable to climate change
Geographical Areas
India (pan-India, 22 states/UTs for Rebuild India Fund)
South Asia (Urban Sanitation, cross-learning)
Global partnerships (through alliances and collaborations)
Contact Info
To
Parnasha Banerjee- [email protected]
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