Dhan (Development of Humane Action) Foundation, Madurai established in 1997 is building peoples’ institutions for development innovations to enable the poor communities for poverty alleviation and self reliance.

With their vision of building poverty free, gender balanced, democratic and value based society, DHAN Foundation is supporting people’s governance and management providing freedom of choice to the poor and marginalized communities by enabling them to determine and develop their quality of life.

Driven by the philosophy of ‘Giving back to the Society”, DHAN Foundation attracts, grooms and engages highly motivated, educated young women and men to the development sector.  Over 700 professional graduates drawn from various disciplines have been employed at the grassroots work along with 2500 local field workers.

DHAN has promoted 37,071 Self Help Groups (SHGs) covering 9, 23,865 poor families in 12 states which have Rs. 255 crores as savings and have mobilized Rs. 1,358 crores credit for their production and consumption needs. 1,05,000 women members occupy leadership positions at various levels in these SHGs.

DHAN has organised 2,12,879 poor farmers into 2,673 Tank Users Associations who are taking up water conservation and development programmes in partnership with funding agencies. This effort has  stabilized 63,101 ha of tank command area with increased storage in rehabilitated tanks. DHAN has also organised farmers to take up watershed development works in 61 watersheds benefitting 95,900 ha land through soil and moisture conservation practices.

DHAN has also organised poor and disadvantaged to create access to good drinking water and for healthcare particularly for women and children.

‘Jindal Prize – 2011’ for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation with a cash prize of Rs. 1 Crore is awarded to DHAN Foundation.