Which NGO & CSR Conferences in India Are Worth It in 2027?

Every year our team gets the same question from founders, fundraisers and people trying to move into the sector: which conferences are actually worth the ticket and the train to Delhi? Most lists online mix NGO events with academic CSR conferences you'll never attend. This one doesn't. It covers six events, what each is good for, and when to expect them in 2027.

A note on dates: as of October 2026, none of these organisers has announced firm 2027 dates. The windows below are based on when each event has run in recent years. We'll update this post as dates are confirmed, and you can track them on the Ground Zero events page.

What are the top NGO and CSR conferences in India in 2027?

1. When is the India Fundraising Conference (IFRC) 2027?

Best for: fundraisers, resource mobilisation teams and NGO founders who raise money themselves.

IFRC is India's main conference built only around fundraising. It's run by the Resource Alliance with India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS). The 2026 edition, the fifth, was held on 5–6 February at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The 2025 edition drew 750 fundraisers and philanthropists.

• 2027 status: confirmed for 17–18 February 2027 at the India Habitat Centre (IHC), New Delhi.

• Why go: it's the one room in India where almost everyone works in fundraising. That makes it the best place to compare notes with peers, meet philanthropy and CSR teams, and see what's working in Indian giving right now.
• Our tip: IFRC sold out in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Register the week registrations open, and ask about early-bird and group rates for your team.

2. When is charcha 2027?

Best for: anyone working on livelihoods, skilling, rural development, policy, ai or Tech4Good, and CSR teams funding them.

charcha is India's largest collaborative convening on livelihoods. It's curated by the/spark forum, part of The/Nudge Institute's work towards a poverty-free India. The 7th edition ran on 15–16 September 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. It had 200+ speakers, 40 co-hosts and 50+ hours of sessions. Its first six editions together drew 15,000+ attendees.

• 2027 status: this would be the 8th edition. No dates yet. Recent editions ran in August 2024 and September 2026, so plan for August–September 2027 in Delhi.
• Why go: charcha puts civil society, government and business in the same rooms. Tracks in 2026 covered philanthropy and CSR, Tech4Good, inclusive livelihoods, policy, rural and agri livelihoods, education and skilling, and climate and green jobs.
• Our tip: it's huge, so pick two or three tracks before you arrive. The best conversations happen in the hallways at the India Habitat Centre, not in the plenary hall.

3. When is the CSRBOX summit (One Purpos India Forum) 2027?

Best for: CSR heads, ESG and sustainability teams, and NGOs looking for CSR partners.

If you've been searching for the "CSRBOX summit", this is it. CSRBOX ran the India CSR & ESG Summit for 12 years and renamed it the One Purpos India Forum (OPIF) for its 13th edition. That edition ran on 26–28 October 2026 at Hotel Pullman, New Delhi. It now combines five platforms: the Purpose Expo, the India Water & Rivers Forum, the India CSR & ESG Summit, the Doing Good for Bharat Awards and the India Philanthropy Forum.

• 2027 status: the 14th edition hasn't been announced. Based on past years, expect October–November 2027 in New Delhi.
• Cost: 2026 on-spot delegate passes cost ₹7,080 to ₹15,000 (incl. GST) for three days.
• Why go: it's one of the few places where corporate CSR teams, government officials and NGOs meet at scale. The 2026 edition also launched CSRBOX's India CSR Outlook Report.
• Our tip: if you're an NGO, use the exhibition floor. Book meetings with CSR teams before the event rather than hoping to catch them between sessions.

Don't mix it up with the India CSR Leadership Summit, which is a separate event run by India CSR (indiacsr.in). Its 19th edition was on 16 October 2026.

4. When is the 18th Livelihoods India Summit?

Best for: livelihoods practitioners, microfinance and financial inclusion teams, FPO promoters, researchers and funders in rural development.

The Livelihoods India Summit is run by ACCESS Development Services and is one of the longest-running convenings in the Indian development sector. The 17th edition is on 3–4 December 2026 at Le Méridien, New Delhi, with 700+ delegates and 100+ speakers expected. ACCESS also publishes the State of India's Livelihoods (SOIL) report.

• 2027 status: the 18th edition will follow the 17th. The summit has moved between December and January in recent years (the 2023 edition actually ran on 17–18 January 2024), so expect December 2027 to January 2028 in New Delhi.
• Why go: it's smaller and more focused than charcha. You meet people who run livelihoods programmes on the ground, and the SOIL report gives you the numbers to quote for the rest of the year.
• Our tip: pair it with charcha. charcha gives you breadth, and the Livelihoods India Summit gives you depth.

5. When is DoDM 2027 by ISDM?

Best for: NGO founders, CEOs, programme managers, and the HR, finance and operations people who keep nonprofits running.

DoDM is run by the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) and is about how social purpose organisations are managed, not just what they do. The 4th edition was held on 9 October 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, on the theme "What Makes Social Change Last?". Across its four editions since 2023, DoDM has had 4,000+ participants, 400+ speakers and 270+ research papers. The 2024 edition alone drew 1,100+ participants from 470+ organisations.

• 2027 status: this would be the 5th edition. No dates yet. Recent editions ran in August and October, so plan for August–October 2027 in Delhi.
• Why go: the sessions are about running an NGO well: governance, leadership, teams, funding and measuring impact. The 2026 tracks covered institution-building, public systems, funding and impact beyond the numbers.
• Our tip: if you lead people in a nonprofit, this is the one to send your managers to. ISDM also runs masterclasses and Development Management Clinics, which are more hands-on than the panels.

6. When is Dasra Philanthropy Week 2027?

Best for: philanthropists, foundation and CSR leaders, and NGO heads working with large donors.

Dasra Philanthropy Week (DPW) is Dasra's annual convening of nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, foundations and policymakers. Dasra has been running it since 2013. The 2026 edition ran on 23–27 February in Mumbai, on the theme "Emerging Currents, Shaping Horizons". It mixed thematic days, closed-door sessions and virtual sessions, plus the invite-only India Philanthropy Forum (IPF).

• 2027 status: no dates yet. The 2026 edition ran in late February, so expect February–March 2027 in Mumbai.
• Why go: it's where India's big philanthropy conversations happen, including major family foundations, global funders and CSR heads. If your work depends on large grants, this is the room.
• Our tip: many in-person sessions are invite-only, so request an invite early. If you don't get one, the DPW virtual sessions are open to more people and still worth your time.

DPW often falls close to IFRC (early February), so pick based on your role. Fundraisers should go to IFRC. Leaders building relationships with big donors should go to DPW.

Which one should you go to?

Most people can't do all six, so here's how we'd choose:

• You raise money for an NGO: IFRC first. Add the One Purpos India Forum if CSR is a big part of your funding, and Dasra Philanthropy Week if you work with large foundations.
• You work in livelihoods or skilling: charcha for breadth and networking, then the Livelihoods India Summit for depth.
• You lead or manage a nonprofit team: DoDM.
• You work in CSR or ESG at a company: the One Purpos India Forum, with charcha's philanthropy and CSR track as a second pick.
• You're trying to get into the sector: pick one big event (charcha or DoDM) and go to meet people, not to collect certificates.

A few things that help at any of them:

1. Register early. Check Ground Zero Event page for discounts before buying. IFRC has sold out three years in a row.
2. Message 5–10 people on LinkedIn before the event and set up short coffee meetings.
3. Watch for volunteer and student passes. They're often the cheapest way in.
4. Follow up within a week, while people still remember you.

If you're job hunting, a lot of NGO and CSR hiring starts with a conversation at events like these. Keep an eye on NGO and CSR jobs on Ground Zero too, so you know which organisations are hiring before you walk in.

Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest CSR conference in India in 2027? For CSR specifically, it's CSRBOX's One Purpos India Forum, formerly the India CSR & ESG Summit. It's in its 14th year in 2027 and is expected in New Delhi in October–November. For overall size, charcha is larger: its first six editions drew 15,000+ attendees.

When is the India Fundraising Conference 2027? IFRC 2027 is on 17–18 February 2027 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. It has sold out every year since 2024, so register early & Check Ground Zero Event page for discounts before buying.

When is charcha 2027? No dates yet. The 2026 edition, the 7th, was on 15–16 September at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Expect the 8th edition in August–September 2027.

When is the 18th Livelihoods India Summit? ACCESS Development Services hasn't announced it yet. The 17th edition is on 3–4 December 2026 in New Delhi, so the 18th is likely between December 2027 and January 2028.

When is Dasra Philanthropy Week 2027? Dasra hasn't announced it yet. The 2026 edition ran on 23–27 February in Mumbai, so expect February–March 2027. Many in-person sessions are invite-only.

What is DoDM? DoDM stands for Dialogues on Development Management. It's an annual conference by the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) on how nonprofits are led and managed. The 2026 edition was on 9 October in New Delhi.

Are NGO conferences in India free? Most of these are paid. For example, 2026 passes for the One Purpos India Forum cost ₹7,080 to ₹15,000. Some events offer free webinars, student passes or volunteer slots. You can find free NGO events on the Ground Zero events page.

Where can I find NGO and CSR jobs in India? Ground Zero lists NGO, CSR and nonprofit jobs across India in one place, from fresher roles to leadership. Browse current openings or read our guide on how to get a job in the social sector in India.

Which of these are you planning to attend in 2027? Tell us, and if you're hiring or job hunting in the sector, we'd love to meet you there.

Sources

• Resource Alliance: India Fundraising Conference 2026
• ANI: charcha 2026 returns to Delhi for its 7th edition
• CSRBOX: One Purpos India Forum
• Livelihoods India
• ANI: ISDM hosts DoDM 2026
• ISDM: DoDM 2024 recap and 2025 preview
• Ground Zero events
• Dasra Philanthropy Week