Only 25 to 30 percent of NGOs in India are led by women despite women comprising 45 percent of the staff in these NGOs. What are their everyday struggles and how are they breaking barriers and building new pathways out of this inequity? Can investing in women-led organisations rebuild a more equitable India for women?
Through the stories and experiences of M Jayam, Neelam Besra, Shabina, Pushpa and many others, we explore the possibilities of gender-expansive and lasting impact — despite the odds.
Breaking the shackles of bonded labour in Tamil Nadu
Jayam Akka (‘elder sister’ in Tamil, a term affectionately used by her team and community) was born into a family bound by bonded labour. She occasionally speaks courageously about the indignities of her early years, recalling tasks assigned to Dalit women and girls — including washing menstrual clothes for influential households where her father served as a bonded labourer.
Unwilling to continue a life of indignity and determined to break this cycle of intergenerational exploitation, she founded Salem People Trust (SPT). Since 2007, SPT has rescued and rehabilitated 376 bonded labourers, helped 1,372 children return to school free from bonded labour, and continues to advocate for child rights.
“While our initial focus was on ending bonded labour, we are proud to have freed nearly 80 percent of those affected, with their children now attending school. Our board members and staff are chosen from former bonded labourers and others with lived experiences, including child labour and the pressures of sex-selective abortion. We believe those who have lived through these challenges are best positioned to serve as community organisers and leaders. Their deep understanding of the community’s struggles allows us to effectively address the needs and bring meaningful change,” says Jayam.
Empowering women’s leadership with flexible funding
We often overlook that NGOs and their leaders need support to sustain their invaluable work. Office infrastructure, staff medical insurance, well-being, and capacity-building all demand investment beyond traditional community programmes to empower them to continue their efforts sustainably and without fear.
And flexible funding enables this.
For example, with flexible support from the Rebuild India Fund, Jayam Akka is not only supporting 10 fellows to teach in five schools and organising 20 children’s collectives that impact over 2,500 children, but she’s also able to make crucial investments in her organisation.
After 14 years of grassroots work across 45 villages in Tamil Nadu for the first time, she has purchased a laptop, desk, and chairs — marking a milestone in her organisation’s journey toward essential office infrastructure.
Flexible funding refers to unrestricted financial support that allows organisations the autonomy to allocate resources where they are most needed — enabling them to build infrastructure and strengthen programmes without donor-imposed conditions.
For Jayam, a woman leader who has faced caste and gender discrimination, this practical upgrade to her office space is transformative. The equipment not only empowers her administratively but also strengthens her identity, fostering recognition in a world that has historically marginalised voices like hers.
This seemingly small milestone is both a personal victory and a meaningful step toward gender equality and social justice in her immediate environment.
Stopping girls from dropping out of school in Jharkhand
Like Jayam, Neelam Besra is a tribal woman leader from Churchu block in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district, a region marked by high migration rates. As the daughter of a daily wage labourer, Neelam also worked as one in her early life to support her NGO work. Her journey has inspired her to passionately advocate for young girls in Churchu — where school dropouts are common due to the scarcity of nearby schools and the burden of household chores, as both parents are often migrant workers.
Finding pathways out of disproportionate opportunities
“Due to personal experiences with violence, I am deeply passionate about supporting women and addressing this issue. My goal is to prevent others from enduring the hardships I have faced,” shares Pushpa from Vanangana, a grassroots organisation in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh.
Pushpa’s story is one of many where women leaders face substantial barriers despite their expertise and dedication. “We are often asked to submit proposals in English when seeking funding. But without the chance to learn English, this becomes a huge challenge. Effective communication with funders remains a constant struggle, which makes it difficult for grassroots organisations like ours to secure the necessary support,” she adds.
Flexible funding has been transformative for women-led organisations like Vanangana, allowing the organisation to support women survivors and make critical programme decisions. Shabina Mumtaz and Pushpa express its impact, “Flexible funding has given us the strength to support survivors of violence and make decisive programmatic decisions.”
Transformative growth beyond metrics
Investing in women’s leadership at all levels through flexible giving can be a game-changer in achieving global equity for women.
Women-led organisations envision growth as a process of “by the community, for the community”. For grassroots organisations, growth transcends quantitative metrics; it is marked by a nuanced understanding of gender dynamics and inclusive support systems. Women-led organisations like Shakti Shalini and Udan Women Empowerment Society exemplify this by focusing on fortifying leadership and establishing robust administrative systems for survivors of gender-based violence.
“In the past six months, we have used the funds to cover salaries for management and operational expenses at Pehchan, our shelter home for women in distress. This has included healthcare for residents, travel costs for both the team and residents, and part of the funds were allocated to routine repairs and maintenance of the shelter,” shares Anjali Thakur from Shakti Shalini.
She highlights a successful case study where the organisation secured a corporate funder to support the well-being needs of counsellors who worked tirelessly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic to help survivors of gender-based violence.
Udan Women Empowerment Society — a grassroots organisation in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh — has also strategically used Rebuild’s flexible funding to cover honorariums for its team, renew its website, purchase Tally software for financial management, and manage expenses incurred during office visits for evaluating the accounting practices of partner organisations.
These efforts demonstrate how flexible funding is strengthening operational efficiency and sustaining vital community-driven work.
Resilience defines women-led organisations’ journeys. Rita Mishra of Patang encapsulates this sentiment, “Resilience means soaring despite unfavourable winds, preserving values, and maintaining focus on the organisational vision.”
Why are women’s organisations underfunded?
Globally, the funding gap for feminist organisations remains glaringly high. AWID’s 2013 study on feminist financing revealed a median funding of $20,000, with only 0.4 percent of gender equality funding reaching feminist organisations a decade later. This disparity undermines the critical need for sustained investment in women-led NGOs striving to empower vulnerable women.
Systemic biases in funding practices further exacerbate conditions that restrict the growth of women leaders, with many donors favouring larger, often male-led, organisations. These biases manifest in undervaluing women’s leadership, doubting the sustainability of women-led initiatives, and scrutinising their financial management capabilities.
Networking is essential for organisational growth and sustainability. However, women-led NGOs often face barriers in accessing influential networks that are crucial for securing funding, knowledge sharing, and amplifying their impact. (In the photo: Women leaders engaging in conversation at Rebuild’s Partner Workshop in Mumbai)
Despite these odds, women-led organisations are not merely surviving but are actively trying to challenge systemic and societal biases. Flexible funding acts as a booster and confidence builder, unlocking their potential and driving sustainable change within their community by providing reliable multi-year grant support.
Even though they are receiving disproportionately low philanthropic funding for gender equality initiatives, women-led organisations are forging new pathways to equity.
How can you help empower women-led organisations?
Here are some principles that can help you support India’s frontline of women-led organisations:
- Identify and invest in local women-led organisations — you will impact not only the communities they serve but also strengthen India’s female workforce in the social sector. If you need support in identifying such organisations, reach out to Rebuild.
- Don’t just give to community programmes, also support organisational development.
- Have skills? Volunteer regularly and long term. Grassroots organisations need all the support they can get. Communications, finance, proposal writing, data management, event management, funder outreach — there is a lot you can do.
- Learn and abide by principles of gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion — be considerate of the lived experiences and everyday traumas NGO leaders and staff endure. Can you make your funding more inclusive by supporting translation in local languages?
- Mental health and well-being are critical to sustainable work with communities, can you support the well-being of local women-led NGOs?
- Most importantly, keep dignity at the centre of all your interactions and engagement with grassroots NGOs. Be mindful of their work and personal journeys.
Rebuild is committed to supporting over 500 grassroots organisations. We are a movement that is breaking the cycle of vulnerability for millions of Indians. Join us to support more leaders like Jayam Akka, Neelam, Pushpa, Anjali, and Reeta.
Know more about Rebuild India Fund and its phenomenal women leaders here.
This article was contributed by Rebuild India Fund, Dasra; written by Sangeeta Bhattacharya (Associate Director) and Shiboni Sundar (Associate).
Edited by Pranita Bhat
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