Impact without aid: How the Marpu Foundation scaled across 23 indian states on passion, purpose, and people

How does an organisation manage to inspire over 80,000 volunteers, form partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, and support communities in 15 states, all while being completely funded domestically?

The answer? The Marpu Foundation's fresh and open approach.

In an era when many nonprofits rely on international funding to make a difference, Marpu stands out as an impressive exception. Operating in 23 Indian states, the foundation has launched numerous campaigns, empowered different communities, and sparked significant behavioural changes, all without accepting a single rupee in foreign aid.

What kicked off in 2019 as a simple gesture, just a few friends cleaning up an abandoned park in Hyderabad, soon grew into a movement that spread nationwide. That park's transformation inspired these young people to take their mission beyond just their city, reaching out to lakesides, remote villages, and public schools.

This led to the establishment of the MARPU Foundation; ‘MARPU’ translates to ‘change' in Telugu. The organisation is built on the principle that real progress often starts with small, kind acts. At the forefront of this revolution is Kadiri Raghu Vamsi, known affectionately as the environment man, a national youth award winner, and recipient of the 2019 Chakra Award. In a bold step, Vamsi chose to forgo foreign funding, stressing the importance of development driven by the community.

The Philosophy Behind the Movement

What makes Marpu unique isn’t just its extensive reach or scale; it’s the philosophy that drives every initiative. The foundation firmly believes that true change comes from within the community. By connecting with local feelings, traditions, and challenges, Marpu ensures that its efforts lead to lasting ṄṄchange, not just temporary fixes.

Instead of pushing solutions onto communities, the team takes the time to listen. They hold community meetings, engage with village elders, students, and local leaders, and work together to create campaigns. This empathy-first strategy doesn’t just address issues—it fosters trust, which has been vital for their expansion.

Campaigns That Speak Volumes

Marpu’s influence isn’t measured in vague statistics; it’s in the tangible changes they’ve made. Over the years, they’ve led:

  • The Green Army Movement: Over 50,000 students have been trained as eco-warriors, leading tree-planting initiatives, waste segregation workshops, and plastic-free campus efforts.

  • Swachh Gaon, Sundar Gaon: A rural sanitation initiative that revitalised over 300 villages, engaging local panchayats and youth groups, all without foreign funds.

  • Adopt a Lake Initiative: From restoring neglected lakes in Hyderabad to reviving water bodies in rural Karnataka and Maharashtra, this campaign combined ecological restoration with civic engagement.

  • School Transformation Projects: Marpu revamped more than 100 government schools, sprucing up facilities and promoting menstrual hygiene through student-led clubs.

Each campaign was thoroughly documented, including photos, progress reports, and community feedback, all shared publicly. This transparency built their credibility and, in turn, attracted collaborations with corporate and government entities.

Scaling Without Foreign Funding

Typically, scaling impact comes with hefty costs. But Marpu decided to change that narrative. While many organisations chase grants abroad, Marpu looked inward:

  1. Grassroots Crowdfunding: Every community member was seen as a stakeholder. Rs. 10, Rs. 100, every little bit counted. Ground-level crowdfunding not only raised money but also fostered a sense of emotional investment.

  2. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): By demonstrating real-time results and maintaining clean audits, Marpu drew CSR partnerships from reputable Indian companies, including Fortune 500s like Infosys and Wipro.

  3. Volunteer-Led Execution: With over 80,000 volunteers, campaigns were cost-effective but high-impact. Volunteers weren’t just participants—they evolved into leaders and mentors.

  4. Hyperlocal Partnerships: From local grocery stores donating supplies to teachers offering meeting spaces, support came from the very communities they served.

Saying no to foreign aid wasn’t an act of pride—it was about maintaining dignity. When people build their futures, they tend to protect them longer.

Leadership Rooted in Service

Kadiri Raghu Vamsi’s leadership style isn't about grand speeches; it’s all about action. From personally painting school walls to planting trees with kids, his on-the-ground presence fosters a culture of leading from the front.

Vamsi believes:

"We don’t need aid to create change. What we need is courage, community, and conviction."

He trains every volunteer with this mindset, empowering them to be changemakers in their own right, rather than just followers of an organisation.

The Road Ahead

Today, the Marpu Foundation isn’t just an NGO, it’s a movement. With ambitions to grow to 100,000 volunteers, introduce sustainability education in schools, and launch environmental policy discussions at the state level, the journey is just beginning.

But one thing is clear: this growth will always be rooted in India, by Indians, and for India.


💚 Be the Change With Marpu! Join the expanding army of change-makers. Whether you're a student, a professional, or a homemaker—there’s a spot for you.

📩 Check out marpufoundation.org to sign up as a volunteer or partner.

📢 Spread the word. Let’s show the world that real change doesn’t always rely on foreign aid—it needs heart.