People for Progress in India

Who we are

PPI is a Seattle-based non-profit grass-roots organization that supports development work in India. PPI was founded on the concept that help to under-privileged should go beyond conventional charity. PPI has been guided by the following goals:

To fund programs that make people self-reliant and self-sustaining through co-ops, low interest loans, education, health care, vocational training, small-scale industries, etc.
To maximize the effect of money sent by working directly with local organizations and volunteers and maintaining contact with them
To encourage new ideas that involve people participation in such issues as environmental awareness, forestation, etc.

History

PPI was started by a small group of concerned individuals coming together to do something for the less fortunate in India. PPI was incorporated as a no-profit organization in October, 1978 in the State of Washington. We started with one project and a collection of $1800 in the first year. The first PPI project was a women's and children's health improvement undertaken through RUHSA in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

What we do

From 1979 through 2007, PPI has supported more than 100 projects, undertaken with 43 non-governmental organizations. This has added up to an investment of over $419,000. PPI projects are spread across India dealing with a wide range of needs and issues such as health care, literacy, human rights, environmental awareness and protection, women's special needs, vocational training, water supply, micro-credit, and rehabilitation of the handicapped.

How we operate

PPI is run entirely by volunteers. Funds are collected through pledges by members and also by donations from well-wishers. Most of the funds are collected through an annual benefit dinner and again in December through an appeal mailed with the annual report.

PPI volunteers meet once every month to discuss the proposal received during the month and the progress of other projects. When project proposals are received, they are subjected to an initial scrutiny and a few are selected for review. Each proposal is reviewed by three people, who rate each proposal using an Evaluation Form. At the following meeting, the reviewers present it to the other members after which a detailed discussion follows. We seek clarifications and answers from the NGOs and if satisfied, we short list for a quarterly review. At this quarterly review, the proposals are weighted against one another and a decision is made to approve or reject them.

Annual Reports

We prepare reports of operation every year. Here is a collection of our Annual Reports

Tax exempt status

PPI is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 organization. IRS Tax Exempt ID No is 91-1057315