Welcome to a Dream
Heartcrafted Foundation
India has made significant strides over the last seven decades of independence. There are many success stories.
But, there is still a long way to bridge in bringing women at par with men in the livelihood space.
We plan to work in this space – enable sustainable livelihood and income for underserved women across India.
About Us
Our Journey
Heeya Social Enterprises
Partner Organization
Why We Do What We Do
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The Context
India has made significant strides over the last seven decades of independence. There are many success stories. Extreme hunger has eliminated, livelihood and income have increased, HDI and Genie Index have improved.
However, there is still a long way to bridge in bringing women at par with men on almost all dimensions. One area which stands out among them is livelihood.
Women continue to have very low participation in the workforce. Even for the ones who are engaged there are the issues of lower access to the formal sector, being at low-end jobs, lack of pay parity, and lesser access to enabler like skill development.
Apart from the challenges at home, the woman also faces social and infrastructural constraints like community support, transport, security, etc.
However, there is well-established research to show that income (and freedom to spend) for women is the second most impactful social intervention (after the education of girl child). This not only help augment the family income, but gives the lady at the house decision making power, participation in home and civic issues, and build long term assets (physical, or notional like education, nutrition).
Heartcrafted Foundation plans to work in this space – enable sustainable livelihood and income for underserved women across India.
The Approach
The macro fundamentals, along with the well-established studies chronicling the positive impact of the income for the woman of the house, gives the three fundamental principles of “What, How, and Where” for the Foundation.
What:
- Sustainable income for a woman at home – significant, sustainable, growing.
- Leverage differential skills.
- Support ecosystem – training, working capital, supply chain, working capital.
How:
- Identified cluster
- Scalable pilots
- Metrics drive – Input/ Output/ Outcome/ Impact
- Leverage partner ecosystem
Where:
- Social and political stability
- Homogeneous cluster
- Higher anticipated RoI
- Prior exposure of the team
- Factor advantages – language, culture alignment
The Structure
In synopsis, the core principles of the work to be done by Heartcrafted Foundation are as follows:
1. The initiatives will focus on sustainable livelihoods for underserved women.
2. The initiatives will be funded through funds raised through multiple channels.
3. The focus will be a combination of short term and long term initiatives with visible signs of output, outcome, and ideally impact.
4. The stakeholders will be kept updated and involved at every stage, including visits to locations as requested.
5. The audited accounts will be shared with all the stakeholders on demand.
6. A reasonable amount (15-20%) will be set aside for unavoidable administrative overheads for smooth execution.
The Model
Model - Seven-Step Approach to Develop Women Craft Entrepreneur
Skill Analysis
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the artisans.
Market Needs
Identify in line with changing context and consumer behavior.
Design & Implementation
Interventions - training, hand-holding, financial awareness, product design, sampling, and pilot.
Market Creation
Positioning through personalized storytelling for the products.
Backward Integration
Create an ecosystem for raw material sourcing.
Financial & Social
Support through funds and community support available through the local co-operative group.
Fair Trade
Ensuring that the tenets of fair trade practices are followed at every stage
Craft Livelihood Programme (CLP)
Components
Skill Training
- Yarn making
- Weaving
- Loom management
Business/ Legal Training
- Costing
- Revenue planning
- Documentation
Marketing Support
- Photograph of products
- Making short video
Financial Awareness and Linkages
- Cash flow management
- Self Help Groups
Backward Linkages
- Supply chain support
- Working Capital Management
Handholding and Mentoring
- Joint Go To Mark (GTM)
- Market exposure
Milestones
1 year - 100 women micro-entrepreneurs
- 20% income increase (1 year)
- Creation of jobs/ micro-entrepreneurs: 1-2
- Upgraded loom
- Increase in inquiries
- Financial linkages established
- Part of artisan network
- App to be launched
3 years - 500 women micro-entrepreneurs
- 20%-100% income increase (2-3 years)
- Creation of jobs/ micro-entrepreneurs: 1-5
- Upgraded loom
- Direct customer connect
- Financial linkages enhanced
- B2B/ International buyers connected
- Documentation of products and people
5 years - 1,000 women micro-entrepreneurs
- Creation of jobs/ micro-entrepreneurs: 1-10
- 100% income increase
- Direct customer connect
- Financial linkages enhanced
- B2B/International buyers connected
- App to be launched
- Documentation of products and peopl
Funding
The typical sources of funds for Non-Profits – Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Indian Philanthropic Foundation, International, and Individual Giving.
All these options have been detailed below.
Corporate Social Responsibility
- Companies need to spend 2% of the profit on CSR
- Estimated USD 3 B for top 500 companies
- At times affiliated foundations (e.g. Infosys)
Features
- Gating criteria – credibility/ references/ 80G (FCRA bonus)
- Capex focus – Visible, traceable
- Specific causes
- Local – employee engagement, customer showcase
- Report/ Audit
Stakeholders
- Head – CSR
- CSR Team
- Senior management champion
- Ecosystem
Indian Philanthropic Foundations
- High Net Worth Individual/ Families -Tata Trusts, Azim Premji Foundation, etc.
- Corporate
Features
- Similar to CSR
- Unlike CSR stable leadership
- Long term
- Higher entry-level scrutiny
Stakeholders
- Trustees
International Organizations
- FCRA needed
- Uncertain regime
- Rigid norms
Potential funding from parent FCRA compliant organization. To be monitored.
Individuals
High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs)
- One to one
- References
High on quantum, low on mandatory compliance.
Retail
- Crowdfunding – cause-based
Low on quantum, low on compliance
Friends, Family, Fools
Trustees
Padmavathi Ambil
LLB (Bangalore University)
Practicing Advocate
Volunteering
- Legal Aid Cell of Abhaya Ashram
- Hengasara Hakkina Sangha
Member Internal Compliance Committee (ICC) - multiple corporates
Trustees
Manjunatha Vishwanatha Mathihalli
BE (Sri Jayachamarajendra College Of Engineering)
Organization Agile Coach
Siemens, GE Healthcare, ThoughtWorks
Volunteer/ Donor - Akshayapatra Foundation, Sankara Eye Foundation, RangDe
https://www.linkedin.com/in/manjunathmv/
Dipankar Khasnabish
B Tech (IITKgp), PGDM (IIMB)
NPCIL, Infosys, Tata Elxsi
Volunteering
- Federation of Resident Welfare Associations, Communities, and Establishments of Greater Whitefield (ForeGW)
- Technology Alumni Association Bangalore (TAAB) - IIT Kharagpur
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipankarkhasnabish/