Education
Expanding access to meaningful learning and opportunity for children and youth.
Explore projects →India Development Service · Since 1974
Opportunity changes lives.
IDS partners with trusted grassroots organizations across India to create sustainable change through education, health, livelihoods, women’s empowerment and environmental action.
Scroll to discover five decades of impact
5M+
Lives impacted through community-led development.
90%+
Of funds are directed toward projects in India.
50+Years of grassroots partnership
270+Projects supported
18+States across India
5M+Lives impacted
90%+Funds directed to projects
Our belief
Opportunity, not charity.
IDS was founded on the belief that every individual has the capacity to shape their own future when given access to the right opportunities, tools and support.
By partnering with grassroots organizations, IDS helps communities build solutions that are locally led, practical and designed to last.
“Development succeeds when communities lead the way.”
Founded in Chicago
1974
More than five decades of volunteer-led service and partnership.
Our focus areas
Many challenges. One shared future.
Sustainable progress is interconnected. IDS supports projects that strengthen education, health, livelihoods, equality, agriculture and the environment.
Health
Improving healthcare access, awareness and wellbeing for underserved communities.
Explore projects →Livelihoods
Supporting skills, entrepreneurship and sustainable income opportunities.
Explore projects →Agriculture
Helping rural and farming communities build resilient, sustainable futures.
Explore projects →Women & Girls
Advancing education, dignity, leadership, safety and economic independence.
Explore projects →Environment
Building climate awareness and protecting shared natural resources.
Explore projects →Explore our projects
See where change is happening.
Explore IDS-supported work through the interactive India map or browse decades of projects through the searchable year archive.
Stories from the field
Community-led change in action.
Temporary images can be replaced with the official project photography once available.
Watch our story
Five decades of ideas, action and partnership.
See how IDS began, what continues to guide the organization, and why grassroots partnership remains central to its work.
Your gift in action
Small contributions can create lasting opportunity.
Every gift helps trusted partners provide practical tools, learning and resources that communities can carry forward.
$50Can support one villager
$75Can support one child
$2,000Can support a primary school
Our journey
More than fifty years of grassroots partnership.
Explore defining moments in IDS history and see how its work has evolved.
1974IDS milestone
India Development Service begins
IDS was established in Chicago to support economic and social development in India through grassroots partnership.
Join the IDS community
Opportunity begins with people who believe in it.
Donate, volunteer or help share the work of grassroots organizations creating lasting change across India.