5 inspiring NGO leaders you must support this New Year

AS we bid farewell to 2025 and step into 2026, it’s the perfect time to reflect on our New Year’s resolutions and not just personal goals. But commitments to a better world. In a nation like India, where challenges like poverty, inequality, and social neglect persist, true transformation begins with amplifying the voices of unsung heroes. These are the NGO leaders dedicating their lives to the most vulnerable: orphaned children, abandoned elders, nomadic tribes, and visually impaired girls. By supporting them, you’re not just donating; you’re investing in stories of resilience that ripple across communities.

From Maharashtra’s drought-hit farmlands to Tamil Nadu’s coastal tribes and Delhi’s bustling streets, these NGO leaders’ efforts embody hope amid hardship. Each story is backed by real impact. And we’ve linked directly to their active fundraisers on give.do, a trusted platform for seamless, tax-exempt donations. Let’s dive in and make 2026 the year we collectively uplift these changemakers and NGO leaders. Your support could be the turning point for a child, an elder, or a family in need.

1. Ashok Deshmane: Championing education for orphans of farmer suicides at Snehwan

In the arid landscapes of Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, where drought and despair once claimed countless farmers’ lives, Ashok Deshmane emerged as a beacon of unwavering resolve. Born and raised in Parbhani, Ashok witnessed the devastating toll of farmer suicides firsthand, families shattered, children left to fend for themselves on the streets. A successful IT engineer, he could have chosen a comfortable corporate path. Instead, in 2015, he quit his job to found Snehwan, a sanctuary that translates to “loving home” in Marathi. What started as a personal pledge to adopt 25 orphans has blossomed into a lifeline for over 100 underprivileged children. The NGO provides free food, shelter, healthcare, and quality education.

Ashok’s story is one of quiet rebellion against systemic neglect. “Every child deserves a chance to dream beyond survival,” he often says. He echoes the ethos that drives Snehwan’s residential school near Pune. Through innovative programs like skill-based learning and emotional counselling, these kids, many scarred by loss, are not just surviving; they’re thriving. One alumnus, now pursuing engineering, credits Ashok for turning his grief into grit. Snehwan’s impact extends beyond academics. It breaks the cycle of poverty and child labour, fostering self-reliant individuals who give back to their villages.

In 2026, as climate challenges intensify, supporting Ashok means safeguarding rural futures. His work has already rewritten narratives for drought-affected families, but scaling up requires collective backing. Ready to be part of this love story? Donate to Snehwan’s education and shelter fund on give.do and help more orphans chase their dreams. With your contribution, Snehwan can expand to reach 200 children by year’s end, proving that one man’s resolve, amplified by many hearts, can irrigate hope across parched lands. His resolves makes him one of the NGO leaders you should support.

2. Prasad Mohite: Building families for orphans and elders at Prarthana Foundation

Picture a young couple in rural Maharashtra, turning their home into a haven for the forsaken. That’s the inspiring journey of Prasad Mohite and his wife Anu, who launched Prarthana Foundation in 2018 amid the quiet village of Morvanchi. Prasad, haunted by stories of street orphans and abandoned seniors, envisioned “Prarthana Balgram”, a prayerful village where no child sleeps hungry and no elder dies alone. Today, as “father” to nearly 40+ orphaned kids and caretaker to dozens of seniors, Prasad’s foundation operates residential homes offering not just shelter, but unconditional love, nutrition, and vocational training.

Prasad’s transformation began with as a young boy after his father took his life due to crop failure and agricultural debt. That spark ignited a movement. Through Prarthana, abandoned children receive schooling, while elders get medical check-ups and festive celebrations that combat isolation. “We don’t run an orphanage; we build a family,” Prasad shares, his eyes lighting up as he recounts Diwali distributions of sweets and clothes. Success stories abound, a girl once scavenging for scraps now tops her class, while a 75-year-old widow finds joy in communal storytelling sessions. The foundation’s holistic approach addresses India’s dual crisis: youth vulnerability and elder neglect, impacting low-income families across Satara district.

As 2026 unfolds, with urbanisation straining support systems, Prasad’s work is more vital than ever. He named his NGO after his daughter who he lost as a baby, believing that every life matters. Challenges like rising costs for food and education loom, but your support can fortify these homes. Join the family and Prasad, one of the truly inspiring NGO leaders by donating to Prarthana Foundation’s shelter and care campaign on give.do. Every rupee helps educate a child or heal an elder, turning Prasad’s prayer into a nationwide promise of dignity and belonging.

3. Revathi Radhakrishnan: Empowering Nomadic Tribes through Vanavil Trust

From the silver screen to sandy shores scarred by tragedy, Revathi Radhakrishnan’s path to social entrepreneurship is a cinematic tale of redemption. A former filmmaker in Chennai, Revathi’s life pivoted during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. She was in tsunami-ravaged Nagapattinam and was exposed to the plight of nomadic tribes. One of them was the Boom Boom Mattukarars, traditional fortune tellers reduced to begging. Haunted by the sight of illiterate children scavenging amid ruins, she founded Vanavil Trust in 2005 as an alternative residential school. She blends education with cultural preservation. Today, Vanavil serves over 150 kids from marginalised communities, achieving zero illiteracy rates and producing Tamil Nadu’s first IT professional from a nomadic background.

Revathi’s mantra? “Education is the bridge from margins to mainstream.” Her trust’s hostels provide not just ABCs, but life skills like digital literacy and entrepreneurship, helping girls defy early marriage norms. One graduate, who once roamed streets for alms, now codes software for a living, her story a testament to Vanavil’s magic. Programs integrate tribal arts, ensuring children honour their heritage while accessing modern opportunities. Revathi’s TEDx talks and awards, including Amazing Indians 2022, spotlight how she’s integrated 2,000+ nomadic families into society, combating exclusion in Tamil Nadu’s coastal belts.

In 2026, as tribal rights gain global focus, Vanavil needs allies to expand hostels and scholarships. Revathi’s impact is profound. Fuel her vision by contributing to Vanavil Trust’s education and livelihood fundraiser on give.do. Your donation could send a nomadic child to college, weaving threads of inclusion into India’s diverse tapestry.

4. Dr. GP Bhagat: Rescuing abandoned parents at Saint Hardyal Educational and Orphans’ Welfare Society (SHEOWS)

In the shadow of Delhi’s temples and bustling markets, Dr. GP Bhagat uncovered a heartbreaking betrayal: elders discarded like yesterday’s news. A PhD holder in artificial intelligence, Dr. Bhagat could have chased tech accolades. Instead, inspired by cultural reverence for seniors clashing with grim realities, he established SHEOWS in 1994 to rescue the abandoned. Surveying NCR streets, he found hundreds forsaken by families, victims of abuse, poverty, or migration. Today, SHEOWS shelters over 500 elders in its Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram, offering free medical care, nutritious meals, and emotional solace, while also supporting orphans through education.

Dr. Bhagat’s story is laced with personal grit; his own father’s legacy fueled this mission. “Age should bring wisdom’s warmth, not winter’s chill,” he asserts. SHEOWS’s mobile units patrol hotspots, rehabilitating the frail with physiotherapy and counselling. Impact metrics are staggering: over 10,000 seniors revived since inception, many regaining health to reunite with kin or volunteer. One resident, a 82-year-old poet, found her voice again through ashram workshops. India’s ageing population is projected to hit 20% by 2050. And SHEOWS pioneers holistic elder care.

As 2026 spotlights senior welfare, funding shortages threaten beds and medicines. Dr. Bhagat’s work shines. Stand with him by donating to SHEOWS’s elderly rescue campaign on give.do. Your gift ensures dignity in twilight years, honouring the change maker who turned empathy into an eldercare revolution.

5. Dheeraj Bhola: Illuminating futures for visually impaired girls at Blind Welfare Society

Born without sight in Delhi’s underbelly, Dheeraj Bhola could have let darkness define him. Instead, he inherited his visually impaired father RP Bhola’s torch, expanding the Blind Welfare Society (BWS) into a powerhouse for empowerment. BWS, under Dheeraj’s leadership rescues abandoned blind girls from railway stations and slums. He provides free housing, Braille education, and skills like coding and crafts. Today, the NGO nurtures 40+ girls annually, transforming street survivors into confident professionals, chefs, teachers, even entrepreneurs.

Dheeraj’s narrative is pure inspiration: “Blindness took my eyes, but not my vision.” A call about a stranded girl sparked his resolve; now, BWS’s tech-integrated hostels teach independence, from voice-assisted learning to job placements. Alumni stories dazzle, a former beggar now leads a women’s self-help group. Dheeraj’s advocacy has been featured in national media. He challenges stigma, proving visually impaired women can shatter glass ceilings. With 2.2 million blind Indians, mostly women and girls underserved, BWS fills a critical gap. The NGO fosters inclusion through annual costs of Rs 2 lakh per girl.

Entering 2026, with disability rights in the spotlight, BWS seeks to double its reach. Dheeraj’s work demands urgency. Light the path by supporting BWS’s girls’ care fundraiser on give.do. Donate today, because every contribution unveils potential, echoing Dheeraj’s truth: true sight lies in the heart.

These five change makers and NGO leaders aren’t waiting for miracles. They’re creating them. In 2026, let’s resolve to amplify their impact through donations, shares, and awareness. Visit give.do for verified, transparent giving, your action today builds India’s brighter tomorrow. What’s your first step? Share this blog and start supporting. Together, we’re the force for good.

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