India Development Service
From a Rural School to Team India: Sadhana’s Journey
About 15 years ago, IDS provided initial funding to Pardada Pardadi Educational Society (PPES) to support girls’ education in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh. What began with just a handful of girls has grown into a long-term pathway for girls to pursue education, skills, higher education and sports.
Sadhana is one example of what that opportunity can make possible. A PPES student and basketball player, she represented India at the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2026, helping India reach the semi-finals and finish fourth.
Her journey is more than a basketball achievement. It is a glimpse of the lasting impact that education, encouragement and opportunity can have on a girl’s future — and a reminder of why IDS invests in programs like PPES.
Read Sadhana’s Full Story →Mission
We empower vulnerable communities in India through education, training, income generation, health care, and agricultural support.
Vision
We develop sustainable and innovative projects, primarily in rural India, through activist support, seed funding, networking, and information support.
Our Story
Established in 1974 in Chicago with a handful of immigrant students who came to the United States for a brighter future, India Development Service (IDS) provides funding to NGO partners in India to uplift marginalized communities who are often left behind by the country’s booming economic growth.
IDS espouses the philosophy that each human being, no matter how poor or disadvantaged, is endowed with the capacity to form and act upon an intelligent conception of their own life. It is the role of organizations like IDS to provide opportunities that allow individuals to realize this potential.
Opportunity, not Charity remains IDS’ guiding motto.
IDS takes a holistic approach to empowering disadvantaged communities so they can become self-reliant and live with dignity. Even before the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), IDS was at the forefront of supporting initiatives across education, health, agriculture, environmental protection, water and natural resource management, girls’ and women’s empowerment, gender equality, and income generation — all as part of a comprehensive vision for human development.
Over the last 50 years, IDS supported over 270 projects across 18+ states and impacted the lives of over 5 million people.
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Click on any timeline card to explore that year’s achievements