About Us

Born from emergency pandemic relief, the North-East Together Foundation unites over 60 grassroots non-profits to turn fragmented civil society into a powerful, unified force across six states.

Who we are

North-East Together Foundation (NET) is a collaborative platform that brings together grassroots organizations, civil society leaders, development practitioners and institutional partners across Northeast India.

Rather than implementing programmes directly, NET strengthens the ecosystem that enables grassroots organizations to thrive through collaboration, capacity building, fundraising, research, knowledge sharing and collective advocacy.

Today, NET represents more than sixty organizations working across Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.

Why we exist

The Northeast deserves stronger collaboration.
Despite thousands of registered NGOs,
organizations often work in isolation.

Our mission

We are a force fueled by compassion, committed to uplifting communities and transforming lives.

Increase the visibility, recognition and trust of Northeast India’s civil society organizations.

Enable organizations to advocate together and influence policies for greater social impact.

Document and disseminate best practices, tools, research and community knowledge.

Create opportunities for organizations to learn, collaborate and share experiences.

Strengthen grassroots institutions through capacity building, mentoring and organizational development.

Our Vision

"To build the strongest collaborative ecosystem
for civil society in NorthEast India,
where grassroots organizations are future-ready,
well-resourced and collectively influence
lasting social change."

Our Strategic Goals

Future-Ready Organizations

Enable more than 100 organizations to become resilient, professionally manageable and future-ready.

Unlock
Resources

Mobilise ₹1000 Crores from 50 domestic funders for grassroots organizations. These are NET’s long-term goals through 2035.

Areas of Work

Organisational Development (OD)

Strong organizations are the foundation of lasting social change, and NET believes that sustainable community impact is only possible when institutions themselves are strong, accountable, and resilient. We support grassroots organizations in strengthening their governance structures, leadership systems, strategic planning processes, financial management, human resources, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), fundraising capabilities, and overall organizational systems. Through partnerships with leading organizational development institutions and experienced practitioners, NET facilitates structured capacity-building programmes, mentoring support, peer-learning opportunities, and customised organizational development journeys tailored to the unique needs and growth stage of each member organization.

Collective Disaster Response and Humanitarian Action

NET was born from a spirit of collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic, when organizations across Northeast India came together to coordinate relief efforts and support vulnerable communities during an unprecedented crisis. That collaborative ethos continues to guide our humanitarian work today. During floods, landslides, earthquakes, and other recurring disasters, NET serves as a platform for coordination among member organizations, local communities, volunteers, donors, and government stakeholders. By sharing real-time information, pooling resources, and planning collective action, the network enables faster and more efficient emergency responses while reducing duplication of effort.

Capacity Building and Peer Learning

NET believes that some of the most valuable knowledge already exists within the lived experiences, innovations, and community practices of organizations across Northeast India. Rather than relying only on external expertise, we create opportunities for members to learn directly from one another through workshops, leadership development programmes, exposure visits, thematic dialogues, peer-learning forums, and cross-state knowledge exchanges. These platforms allow organizations to share practical solutions, discuss common challenges, replicate successful models, and build meaningful professional relationships across the region.

Resource Mobilisation and Strategic Partnerships

Many grassroots organizations have deep community trust and proven local impact, yet they often face significant barriers in accessing institutional funding and strategic partnerships. NET works to bridge this gap by connecting member organizations with CSR partners, philanthropic foundations, government agencies, multilateral institutions, and other development stakeholders. Beyond introducing funding opportunities, we strengthen members’ fundraising capacities through proposal development support, donor engagement strategies, partnership-building guidance, and resource mobilisation planning.

Areas of Work

Organisational Development (OD)

Collective Disaster Response and Humanitarian Action

Capacity Building and Peer Learning

Resource Mobilisation and Strategic Partnerships

Initiatives

Organizational Development with Dhwani Foundation

Strong organizations create stronger communities. Recognising that many grassroots organizations require support to strengthen their internal systems, North-East Together Foundation has partnered with Dhwani Foundation to implement the DrishtE Programme across Northeast India.

DrishtE serves as the first stage of an organization’s development journey, helping emerging and growing organizations assess their institutional strengths, identify gaps, and understand the key elements required to become effective, accountable, and sustainable institutions.

Through this partnership, NET identifies and mobilises grassroots organisations, facilitates their participation in the programme, and provides ongoing guidance as they begin their organisational development journey. By making high-quality organisational development support accessible to smaller community-based organisations, NET is building a stronger civil society ecosystem that is better equipped to create lasting impact.

Learning Dialogues and Knowledge Exchange

NET regularly convenes webinars, virtual discussions, and learning sessions that bring together practitioners, experts, and member organizations from across Northeast India. These forums create opportunities for organizations to exchange experiences, discuss emerging challenges, and collectively explore solutions relevant to the region.

Topics have included peacebuilding and social cohesion, financial compliance, organizational governance, fundraising, leadership, and other issues affecting the nonprofit sector

These discussions not only strengthen institutional capacities but also encourage collaboration, peer learning, and the sharing of practical experiences between organizations working in diverse contexts. By creating spaces for continuous learning and dialogue, NET enables its members to remain informed, connected, and better prepared to respond to the evolving needs of the communities they serve.

Connecting Grassroots Organizations with Donors

One of NET’s core strengths is its ability to bridge the gap between grassroots organizations and institutional donors. Many community-based organizations undertake impactful work but often lack the visibility, networks, or opportunities to engage with larger funding institutions.

NET actively facilitates introductions between member organizations and philanthropic foundations, CSR partners, and other development agencies. Beyond making these connections, the network supports due diligence processes, coordinates field visits, showcases the work of member organizations, and helps build trust between donors and grassroots institutions.

Through these efforts, several NET member organisations have successfully secured funding for initiatives in livelihoods, education, disaster resilience, and community development. More importantly, these partnerships contribute to building long-term relationships that strengthen local organisations and enable them to expand their impact across Northeast India.

Collective Disaster Response and Humanitarian Action

The North-East Together Foundation (NET) was born out of the collective response of civil society organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when grassroots organizations across Northeast India came together to support overwhelmed communities through coordinated relief efforts. Since then, humanitarian response has remained one of NET’s defining strengths. Rather than implementing relief directly, NET serves as a coordination platform that mobilises member organizations, donors, volunteers, and development partners during emergencies. By leveraging the local presence and community trust of its members, the network enables timely, efficient, and community-led responses that minimise duplication and maximise impact.

NET has facilitated collaborative relief efforts during floods and other disasters across Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh by connecting resources with organisations best positioned to respond on the ground. Beyond emergency assistance, the network promotes long-term resilience by encouraging collaboration, knowledge sharing, and preparedness among member organisations. Through this collective approach, NET demonstrates that strong partnerships and coordinated action are essential to addressing the complex humanitarian challenges faced by communities across Northeast India.

Networking and Regional Convenings

NET regularly convenes platforms that bring together grassroots organizations, donors, corporate foundations, government representatives, academics, and development practitioners to strengthen collaboration across Northeast India. Flagship initiatives such as Northeast EDIT provide member organizations with an opportunity to showcase their work, share innovative community-led solutions, and engage directly with philanthropic institutions, CSR partners, and development agencies. These events enhance the visibility of grassroots organizations while fostering meaningful partnerships that can support their long-term growth and impact.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) serves as both the network’s highest decision-making forum and an important space for learning, dialogue, and relationship building. In addition to reviewing the network’s progress and shaping its strategic direction, the AGM brings together member organisations with donors, government agencies, knowledge institutions, and other stakeholders interested in the development of Northeast India. These convenings strengthen trust, encourage collaboration, and create opportunities for organisations to exchange ideas, develop partnerships, and collectively advance solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges.