Nonprofit, founded 2019
Marpu Foundation
Marpu Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization in India, founded in Hyderabad on 6 July 2019 by Raghu Vamsi Kadiri, at 18. Marpu is Telugu for change. It runs volunteer-first CSR and community programmes across 23+ states with 250+ partner companies and a community of more than a million volunteers.
Marpu Foundation at a glance
The facts companies, donors and journalists check first. Registrations are current as published by Marpu Foundation.
| What it is | A registered nonprofit organization in India |
| Founded | 6 July 2019, in Hyderabad, by Raghu Vamsi Kadiri, at the age of 18 |
| The name | Marpu (మార్పు) is the Telugu word for change |
| Registration | Registered in Telangana, Reg. No. 619 of 2019 |
| Tax approvals | 12A and 80G. 80G approval HYD/80G/2020-21/A/10246, so donors can claim the deduction |
| CSR registration | Form CSR-1, CSR00050243, with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
| NGO Darpan | TS/2019/0245410, on NITI Aayog’s NGO portal |
| Headquarters | Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Reach | Programmes in 23+ Indian states |
| Partners | 250+ companies have partnered with Marpu |
| Volunteers | A community of 1M+ volunteers |
| Lives reached | 10.2M+, from 22 city offices |
| Administration cost | 3% of programme budgets |
| Programme range | 49 CSR themes and 36 volunteering themes |
| Funding | Domestic only, with no foreign contributions |
| Website | marpu.org |
| Contact | connect@marpu.org, +91 79978 01001 |
Marpu Foundation in numbers
As reported by Marpu Foundation in 2026.
1M+
volunteers in the Marpu community
Marpu Foundation, 2026
250+
companies have partnered with Marpu
Marpu Foundation, 2026
23+
Indian states with programmes
Marpu Foundation, 2026
85%
of corporate partners stay on across years
Marpu Foundation, 2026
What the programmes have built
Miyawaki saplings planted
25,000+
Solar street lights installed across India
5,000+
Solar study lamps given to students
10,000+
Government schools revamped
30+
Water purification plants installed
100+
For CSR teams and donors doing due diligence
Is Marpu Foundation genuine, and how can a company check?
Yes, and the registrations on this page can be checked. Marpu Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization in India, registered in Telangana on 6 July 2019 (Reg. No. 619 of 2019). Its NGO Darpan ID, TS/2019/0245410, can be looked up on NITI Aayog’s NGO Darpan portal, and its CSR-1 registration, CSR00050243, is on record with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
For donors, 80G approval HYD/80G/2020-21/A/10246 means contributions qualify for the deduction; 12A means the foundation’s own income is exempt. Both now sit under Sections 332 and 354 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. Marpu Foundation files its income tax return every year and takes domestic funding only, with no foreign contributions.
For CSR teams, the usual due-diligence pack is available on request: registration certificates, the 12A, 80G and CSR-1 documents, the PAN, audited financial statements, a board resolution and past utilisation certificates. Programme budgets carry a 3% administration cost, and every rupee is reported against the project it was given for.
The track record is public too: The Hans India reported its pandemic relief in 2020, Telangana Today listed its Sankalp Tara Award in 2021, The CSR Universe reported its water conservation honour at CASCA 2025, and Deccan Chronicle featured it on World NGO Day 2026. Write to connect@marpu.org for documents.
How Marpu works
Volunteer-first, by design
Most CSR programmes treat volunteers as an audience for one day. Marpu treats them as the delivery system: trained, organised and supervised, with records like any operations team. The budget pays for what volunteers cannot do, so more of every rupee reaches the field.
- Volunteers are infrastructure, not audience. A trained network delivers programme after programme, instead of turning up once for a photograph.
- Structure replaces spontaneity. Roles, training, supervision and records, the way any operations team works.
- The budget buys outcomes, not overheads. Money goes to what volunteers cannot do, so more of every rupee reaches the field.
- Employees plug into the same system. Employee volunteering and CSR point at the same goal instead of running side by side.
What Marpu Foundation works on
49 CSR themes and 36 volunteering themes, grouped here by the change they aim for. Every programme maps to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Environment and climate
Lake rejuvenation, Miyawaki forests, afforestation, clean-ups and climate literacy, with volunteers who come back to water, count and care for what they planted.
Schools and learning
School revamps, libraries, scholarships and digital classrooms, often with employee volunteers who teach, mentor and paint.
Health and newborn care
Health camps, blood donation drives, eye care, menstrual health and upgraded newborn care in government hospitals.
Livelihoods and skills
Skilling, employability training and support for women, farmers and micro-enterprises.
Clean energy
Solar power for schools, health centres and villages, and solar street lights.
Public amenities
Bus shelters, sanitation and public spaces that people use every day, built with the local authorities.
Waste and circular living
Segregation, upcycling and public art made from collected waste, so people see where their rubbish goes.
Relief and resilience
Meals, rations and volunteer support when disasters strike, from the pandemic years onwards.
Work you can see
A few programmes on camera: a bus shelter opened by Hyderabad Traffic Police, newborn care in a government hospital, farmers, a metro station wall made of waste, and the volunteers behind all of it.
Watch
Bolarum bus shelter launch: press meet and coverage
In April 2025, a bus shelter built by Marpu Foundation at Bolarum, Hyderabad, was opened by Hyderabad Traffic Police officers. Telugu news channels recorded the press meet, and Telugu dailies reported the opening the next day.
Watch
Upgrading NICU facilities at a government hospital
Newborn intensive care facilities upgraded at a government hospital, with Raghu speaking at the handover.
Watch
A wall made of chips packets at Durgam Cheruvu metro station
At Durgam Cheruvu metro station in Hyderabad, an artwork made from chips packets and wrappers collected by Marpu volunteers asks commuters where their waste goes.
A CSR programme for farmers
A CSR programme that distributed farming equipment to farmers, seen from the air and on the ground.
Marpu Foundation volunteer orientation
New volunteers at a Marpu Foundation orientation: roles, safety and what the day is for.
Painting a mural with volunteers
Volunteers repainting a public wall with a tree mural.
In the field
Clean-ups, community visits, volunteer briefings and drives, as they happen.
Recognition for Marpu Foundation
Honours received by the foundation, with Raghu accepting on its behalf as founder.
2025
Excellence in Water Conservation
New DelhiFor water conservation, CASCA 2025
2024
Samman Samaroh recognition
TelanganaRecognition of NGOs for their social service, WORK Telangana Chapter
2023
Ranked fifth in India
IndiaAmong nonprofits on India Philanthropy Day
2022
NGO of the Year, Empowering Environment
BengaluruFor environmental work
2021
Sankalp Tara Award
HyderabadFor youth-led social impact
What the press has said
Marpu Foundation is a volunteer-driven NGO focused on building a better world through everyday people power.
Deccan Chronicle, World NGO Day, February 2026
So far, they have served over 16,000 meals and also distributed dry rations to more than 3,000 needy families.
The Hans India, June 2020, on Marpu’s pandemic relief
The core team of Marpu, numbering five, are all under 25 but have already impacted the lives of around 10,000.
The Hans India, October 2020
Ways to work with Marpu Foundation
Every route runs through marpu.org, except employee volunteering, which runs through OurVolunteer.com.
Partner for CSR
Plan, implement and report a CSR programme with a CSR-1 registered implementing partner, from one district to many states.
Donate
Give to a programme you care about. Marpu Foundation issues receipts under its 80G approval.
Volunteer
Join a drive, a weekend programme or a long-term role near you.
Intern
Internships in programmes, partnerships, communications and research.
Employee volunteering
Volunteering days and programmes for your teams, planned and run end to end.
Speak to the founder
Talks, advisory and partnerships with Raghu Vamsi Kadiri.
Questions about Marpu Foundation
Straight answers, with the registration numbers.
What is Marpu Foundation?
Marpu Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization in India. It was founded in Hyderabad on 6 July 2019 by Raghu Vamsi Kadiri and runs volunteer-first CSR and community programmes across 23+ states, with 250+ partner companies and a community of more than a million volunteers.
Is Marpu Foundation a registered NGO?
Yes. Marpu Foundation is registered in Telangana (Reg. No. 619 of 2019) and listed on NITI Aayog’s NGO Darpan portal (TS/2019/0245410).
Does Marpu Foundation have 12A and 80G approval?
Yes. Marpu Foundation holds 12A and 80G approval. Its 80G approval number is HYD/80G/2020-21/A/10246, so donations are eligible for the deduction, subject to tax law.
Is Marpu Foundation CSR-1 registered?
Yes. Marpu Foundation is registered on Form CSR-1 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (CSR00050243), so companies can implement their Section 135 CSR programmes through it.
Who founded Marpu Foundation?
Raghu Vamsi Kadiri (Kadiri Raghu Vamsi) founded Marpu Foundation in 2019, at the age of 18, and leads it as Founder and CEO. More about Raghu.
Where is Marpu Foundation based?
Marpu Foundation is headquartered in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, and runs programmes in 23+ Indian states.
How can a company partner with Marpu Foundation for CSR?
Start at marpu.org or write to connect@marpu.org with the cause, the geography, the budget range and the timeline. Marpu proposes a programme, implements it with trained volunteers and reports on it.
How do I donate to Marpu Foundation?
Donate through marpu.org. Marpu Foundation issues receipts under its 80G approval. It accepts domestic contributions only.
How can I volunteer or intern with Marpu Foundation?
Join through marpu.org, where current drives, programmes and internships are listed by city.
How is Marpu Foundation different from other NGOs?
Marpu is volunteer-first: trained, organised volunteers are the main delivery system of each programme, and the budget pays for what volunteers cannot do. Raghu calls the approach Volunteer-First CSR and set it out in a 2026 working paper on SSRN.
Planning CSR for this financial year?
Tell Marpu Foundation the cause, the geography, the budget and the timeline. A volunteer-first programme comes back, with a plan for reporting it.