What are examples of successful corporate-NGO collaborations?

June Spotlight on CSR Projects That Work

June is a key planning period for CSR heads and HR teams across India. With mid-year reviews and fresh CSR fund disbursals in sight, companies are actively looking for NGO collaborations, employee volunteering programs, and CSR project opportunities that deliver real impact.

More and more Indian corporates are moving beyond cheque-giving and towards strategic partnerships with NGOs that offer execution strength, community trust, and scalable models.

What Indian Companies Are Searching for in CSR Collaborations

Here are the top CSR-related keywords trending in India:

• NGO partners for CSR

• Employee volunteering programs

• CSR project opportunities

• Engagement activities for office employees

• Corporate volunteering events

• Fun volunteering activities for employees

If you're planning your quarterly CSR calendar, these real-world case studies can inspire your next partnership.

Corporate-NGO Collaborations That Worked in India

1. Garmin India + Marpu Foundation

Focus: Tree Plantation, ESG Goals, Employee Volunteering

Garmin India teamed up with Marpu Foundation to run hands-on, green volunteering events in Telangana and Karnataka.

🌱 1,500+ trees planted

👥 100+ employees engaged

📈 Custom impact reports aligned to ESG goals

What worked? Marpu handled everything - native sapling selection, employee engagement, and post-event care. The result: real impact, zero stress.

Takeaway: The right NGO partner turns volunteering into visible, scalable success.

2. Infosys Foundation + Agastya International Foundation

Focus: STEM education for rural studentsInfosys funded mobile science labs that reached over 15 million rural children across 19 states. The NGO managed on-ground outreach, while Infosys provided technology and funds.Takeaway: A simple model, but deep reach.

3. HDFC Bank + NGO Swades Foundation

Focus: Holistic rural developmentHDFC Bank supported Swades in empowering 2,600+ villages through sanitation, water, education, and skilling.Takeaway: Long-term partnerships create long-term change.

4. Tata Steel + CInI (Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives)

Focus: Tribal livelihoods in JharkhandOver 1 lakh families were impacted through water harvesting, women-led microenterprises, and education. Tata Steel brought scale, CInI brought deep rural understanding.Takeaway: Rural impact needs grassroots NGO partners.

What Makes a Corporate-NGO Collaboration Successful?

✅ Shared vision and aligned values

✅ Measurable impact with verified metrics

✅ Employee involvement opportunities

✅ Customizable volunteering modules

✅ Transparent reporting and documentation

Can Your Company Do This Too?

Yes – if you partner with the right implementation NGO. Whether you want to launch a tree plantation, a career mentorship drive, or hygiene kit distribution – there are scalable, ready-to-execute models that corporates can adopt with ease.

You need an experienced NGO with pan-India presence, execution capacity, and the ability to engage employees while delivering high social impact.

Final Word – Choose the Right NGO Partner

Many CSR teams struggle not because of lack of intent but lack of reliable NGO collaborators. The right NGO can:

• Design custom volunteering activities

• Handle logistics, training, impact reports

• Offer digital or offline volunteering formats

• Align the program with SDGs and CSR guidelines

To make this happen, you can collaborate with an experienced organization like Marpu Foundation, which helps companies implement impactful, employee-led, and SDG-aligned projects across India.

👉 To learn more, visit www.marpu.org