Humanitarian organizations, critical players in addressing global socio-economic challenges, operate as non-profit entities dedicated to uplifting marginalised communities and fostering sustainable development. Their mission encompasses poverty alleviation, education enrichment, healthcare improvement, disaster response, and more.
Upholding core values such as accountability, integrity, and collaboration, these organizations work tirelessly to inspire positive change. Their remarkable efforts in promoting equity and fostering innovation have earned them recognition as some of the best humanitarian organizations in the world.
Here are the 11 best humanitarian organizations working selflessly for society with a nonprofit motive:
1. Dera Sacha Sauda
Dera Sacha Sauda, a socio-spiritual organization, was founded by Revered Saint Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj in compliance with his Guru, Saint Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj’s command on April 29, 1948. It is located about two kilometres from the city of Sirsa on the Sirsa-Bhadra road, known as Shah Satnam Singh Ji Marg. This barren land was transformed into a place where people of all backgrounds unite to worship the Supreme God without discrimination.
The organization has been in the forefront of development of Indian society and the world as a whole having over 65 million followers worldwide. It is currently steered by His Holiness Revered Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan.
The organization has launched many campaigns including blood donation camps, free medical check-up camps, disaster-relief programmes, Tree Plantation campaign and war against drug campaign named as DEPTH. In February, they organized a cleaning campaign in Jaipur. The organization also hosts blood donation camps on the last Sunday of every month.
2. Care India
CARE India, a nonprofit organization, empowers marginalised women and girls through sustainable interventions in Health, Livelihood, Education, and Disaster Relief & Resilience. As part of the CARE International Confederation, it has a presence in over 100 countries and has contributed to India’s development for 75 years, impacting 84.2 million lives in 2021-22.
The organization works tirelessly to elevate the life of the needy by working towards improving the reach and quality of education, using healthcare campaigns to help people who need medical support and check-ups, provide livelihood to the needy and offer disaster-relief.
In India, the organization has worked in around 21 states in over 291 districts and has launched over 93 programmes. By March 2023, the organization has impacted over 3000 children under the Khushi project in Balrampur, UP. They have revamped over 42 Anganwadi centres.
3. Child in Need Institute
CINI, a non-profit NGO founded in 1974 by Dr. Samir Chaudhuri, operates in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, and extends its reach to the states of Jharkhand and Odisha. With a mission to secure the rights of children and adolescents to health, nutrition, education, protection, and participation, CINI focuses on underprivileged communities in rural and urban areas.
Their human rights-based approach strengthens local governance, facilitates education, child protection, and overall well-being, while fostering collaborations for sustainable development. Their projects include: Adopt a Mother Save a Child, Educate a Child, Urban Asha Training and many more. All are aimed at ensuring that a child does not have to grow up in a needy situation.
4. Save The Children
Save the Children, established in 1919 by Eglantyne Jebb, was created to address the dire situation of children affected by World War I. Now operating globally, the organization strives to provide children with a healthy start, access to education, and protection from harm. Save the Children commits to immediate responses during crises, exemplifying their five core values: Accountability, Integrity, Ambition, Collaboration, and Creativity. They aim to inspire transformative change in child welfare, emphasising diversity, equity, and inclusion. Their financial efficiency ensures that over 95% of donations directly benefit the children they serve.
Their programmes range from health and education to emergency, hunger and livelihood and protection. In 2023, due to the ongoing war in the Israel-Palestine region Save The Children has been working tirelessly to provide resources and support to the victims. Thousands of water bottles and food packages have been delivered.
5. BalRakshaBharat
BalRakshaBharat is the Bharat branch of Save The Children. The organization is quite prolific and active. The organization started its functions in 2008 spreading across multiple states. In just the year 2022-2023, they have been able to impact the lives of more than 13 million children.
Their projects generally come under education, health and nutrition, humanitarian relief work, poverty and inclusivity and safety and security. All the projects operating under those umbrellas are meant to help children get out of their dire situation and walk on the path of a brighter future.
The organization is heavily dependent on grants and volunteers. So, people can always offer their monetary and volunteer support.
6. Akshaya Patra
Akshaya Patra is a non-profit organization founded in the year 2000 by Madhu Pandit Dasa. Based in Bengaluru, India, it is one of the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programs. The organization serves nutritious daily meals to school children to support their health and education, with a vision to eliminate classroom hunger.
It operates in partnership with the Indian government and various state governments, striving to improve the nutritional status of children and encourage school attendance. By providing mid-day meals to over 1.8 million children across India, Akshaya Patra plays a pivotal role in enhancing access to education and fostering child development. The organization’s dedication to eradicating hunger and supporting the nation’s youth has garnered widespread recognition and support.
7. Goonj
Goonj, an Indian non-governmental organization (NGO), was founded by Anshu Gupta in 1999. It, implements various initiatives such as Cloth for Work, School to School, Not Just a Piece of Cloth, Rahat (disaster relief and rehabilitation), Green by Goonj (upcycling products), Goonj Alliance for Rapid Response on Disasters (GARRD), and Goonj Fellowships.
They focus on repurposing and distributing old material to empower rural communities, improve education, address menstruation-related issues, provide disaster relief, and promote sustainability through upcycling. Goonj undertakes many campaigns and programmes many of which fall under female health, waste recycling, disaster response, child education etc.
8. GiveIndia
Founded in 2000, GiveIndia, also known as Give Foundation, is dedicated to reducing poverty through effective social initiatives in India. It empowers both individuals and institutions to contribute to selected causes and executes high-impact programs throughout the country.
Leveraging an extensive network of partners and broad geographical coverage, GiveIndia bridges the gap between individuals, organizations, and the vision of a poverty-free India.
The organization focuses on improving society. It does it via it’s campaigns such as No Child Hungry, Elderly Lives Matter, No Child Homeless and Every Girl In School. The organization has impacted more than 15 million lives and raised over 700 crores in funds.
9. Pratham
Pratham, founded in 1995, is a prominent educational organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of education in India. It began by educating slum children in Mumbai and has since expanded its reach nationwide. Pratham collaborates with government systems and employs innovative, cost-effective methods to address education system gaps, notably through its Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, which has demonstrated a positive impact on children’s learning outcomes.
The NGO is involved in education, vocational training and research and advocacy. Most of its resources go towards education projects. The NGO has more than a thousand employees with thousands of volunteers all over the country.
10. Sphere India
Sphere India, a national coalition of humanitarian organizations, emerged from the Sphere Project pilot in 2003. Sphere India focuses on five key objectives. First, it aims to establish SMART mechanisms for greater accountability to affected and at-risk populations. Second, it fosters multi-sector, multi-stakeholder coordination to support preparedness, response, and resilience-building. Third, it promotes knowledge and capacity sharing.
Fourth, it engages in collaborative advocacy to drive policy and system changes. Lastly, it strives to create a network linking humanitarian, development, DRR, CCA, and peace-building organizations to enhance accountability for affected and at-risk populations.
11. HelpAge India
HelpAge India, a non-profit registered under the Societies’ Registration Act of 1860, was established in 1978 to support disadvantaged older individuals and enhance their quality of life. Recognized with the ‘UN Population Award 2020’, it addresses the needs of India’s 138 million elderly through various programs, advocating for their rights, healthcare, livelihood, and disaster response while aiming for a dignified life.
The NGO has been responsible for being the backbone of the elderly who have been neglected by society. In 2023, they focused on spreading awareness for elderly abuse amongst other healthcare campaigns like cataract surgery etc.
Conclusion
In a world faced with diverse challenges, humanitarian aid organizations play a pivotal role in addressing societal issues and making a positive impact. The dedication and tireless efforts of these non-profit humanitarian organizations are evident in their commitment to alleviating poverty, promoting education, improving healthcare, responding to disasters, and fostering sustainable development.
With a focus on accountability, collaboration, and innovation, these organizations work towards creating a brighter and more equitable future for people worldwide. They not only address immediate needs but also strive to empower individuals and communities for long-term well-being.
