Kolkata Gives 2025: Rs 5 crore raises for grassroots NGOs at annual fundraising event

KOLKATA: Fund-raising NGO Kolkata Gives concluded its annual fund raising event for 2025 on Saturday with over 100 high net worth philanthropists mobilising Rs 5 crore for four NGOs working at the local, regional and zonal grassroots.

The funds will support Manovikas Kendra, Samaritan Help Mission, Sunbird Trust and MUKTI.“The event was a validation of what we always believed – that Kolkata is a city with a large heart,” said Pavan Agarwal, trustee, Kolkata Gives. “The fact that the city contributed with an open heart will now help these NGOs catalyse their growth, enhance their coverage and widen their influence across thousands.”The Kolkata Gives event attracted four prominent NGOs – Manovikas Kendra (works in the area of mental and physical disability), Samaritan Help Mission (works in the area of education across Howrah), Sunbird Trust (works in the area of holistic child development in remote North-East) and MUKTI (works in the area of social transformation in the Sundarbans).

Manovikas Kendra trustee Prof Anuradha Lohia highlighted the need for growth capital to fund the institution’s AI-driven growth that could accurately diagnose autism spectrum disorder individuals. Samaritan Help Mission presented its case for funding a new three-storied school block within its existing Bankra school. Sunbird Trust advocated for support to fund new school, tuition and hostel infrastructure in North-East.

MUKTI sought funding to scale its bridge schools across the Sundarbans.“The event proved to be a gamechanger in our journey to graduate from conventional to AI-driven ASD diagnosis,” said Prof Anuradha Lohia. “This precious funding will empower us to accelerate the next round of technology recruitments to create a modern Centre of Excellence that deepens our understanding of mental disabilities and their treatment.”Industrialist and 2025 Padma Shri recipient Sajjan Bhajanka, who was also present, remarked: ‘Such events increase the role of philanthropy in the city and facilitate NGO access to private growth capital.”