When people don’t have access to basic services like education, healthcare, clean water, or job opportunities, it holds entire communities back—children miss out on learning, families struggle to stay healthy, and hopes for a better future begin to fade. These aren’t just services—they’re the foundation for dignity, growth, and progress. Yet in many parts of the world, support is either missing or not strong enough to bring real, lasting change. This is where impactful leadership becomes essential. Visionary leaders know how to connect people, ideas, and resources to solve problems in meaningful and sustainable ways.
Dr. Pratyush Kumar Panda, CEO of OneStage and Managing Director of the Collaborative Philanthropy Foundation, is one such leader. With a deep background in sustainability, public policy, and corporate responsibility, he has transformed OneStage into a platform that turns scattered efforts into powerful, long-term solutions. Under his guidance, OneStage has touched over 20 million lives across 17 states, worked with more than 300 donors, and completed 5,000+ impactful projects.
One of the most defining moments under his leadership was the transformation from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India to OneStage—a shift that marked a more inclusive, innovative, and collaborative approach to development. Driven by purpose and partnership, Dr. Pratyush is helping reshape how communities grow—by putting people first and ensuring every step is grounded in data, resilience, and local ownership.
Two Decades of Impact
With over two decades of experience, Dr. Pratyush Panda’s work is deeply rooted in social transformation, sustainability, and making development more inclusive and accessible. His academic background in sociology, rural management, and a Ph.D. in public policy and administration shaped his passion for driving systemic change.
Throughout his career, Dr. Pratyush Panda has worked across nonprofits like CARE and leading corporations such as ACC Limited and LTI Mindtree, where he led ESG, CSR, and sustainability initiatives. His move to OneStage was a natural step, bringing together years of experience to reshape how philanthropy is practiced—transforming it from fragmented giving into a strategic, collaborative effort for long-term impact. Under his leadership, OneStage connects donors, communities, governments, and experts to create solutions that are fair, climate-smart, rooted in local realities, and guided by data. In a world where good intentions often fall short of action, OneStage stands as a model of integrated and community-led development.
The Vision Behind OneStage
The APAC region’s diversity and complexity demand development models that respond to local needs, not just imported global solutions. OneStage meets this challenge by beginning where it matters most—with the community. By actively listening and co-creating with local stakeholders, it designs solutions that are relevant and scalable. From solar-powered irrigation to mobile health vans, OneStage builds adaptable models that can be customized and replicated with the help of academic institutions, governments, and civil society organizations.
This philosophy reflects the founding vision of OneStage: to bridge the gap between good intentions and lasting impact. Dr. Pratyush Panda recognized a critical disconnect—grassroots organizations often lacked resources to scale, while funders struggled to find credible, mission-aligned programs. OneStage addresses this by offering a collaborative, transparent platform that brings both sides together. Through inclusive, climate-aware, and data-driven initiatives—like AI-powered carbon tracking, solar agriculture, behavior change in public health, and water conservation—OneStage is redefining Indian philanthropy. It’s building a future where systemic, community-led development is not just possible, but sustainable.
Expanding Horizons
OneStage’s shift from CAF India marked a major evolution in its identity and strategy. Founded in 1998 to support strategic giving, the organization rebranded as OneStage in response to a more complex development landscape—becoming a platform focused on uniting people and resources to drive lasting change through improved access to essential services.
Through this shift, the organization was able to:
- Broaden Programmatic Focus: Expanded to cover education, early childhood development, health, climate action, and livelihoods for holistic community impact.
- Deepen Collaboration: Built stronger partnerships with companies, governments, foundations, and grassroots groups for more coordinated development.
- Embed Innovation & Evidence: Introduced a ‘Lab approach’ to test, refine, and scale practical, data-driven solutions.
This rebranding has allowed OneStage to amplify its reach and address some of India’s most urgent social challenges more effectively.
Putting Community Voices at the Center
Dr. Pratyush Panda’s leadership philosophy is rooted in purpose, trust, and co-creation. He sees leadership not as control, but as the ability to create empowering environments—an act of service that uplifts others.
At OneStage, this belief has fostered a flat, agile, and mission-driven culture. Dr. Pratyush Panda focuses on investing in people and aligning individual purpose with shared goals. He champions bold thinking, values experience and skill, and keeps community voices central to every decision.
This people-first approach has been key to OneStage’s growth, powering high-impact programs and meaningful partnerships with donors, governments, and grassroots organizations. Grounded in inclusion, transparency, and shared leadership, Dr. Pratyush’s empathetic and visionary style continues to inspire others and drive sustainable change.
Growth Fueled by Purposeful Partnerships
OneStage is entering a pivotal phase of strategic growth—one that prioritizes collaboration as the cornerstone for deeper impact and broader reach. Rather than operating in silos, the organization is building partnerships that connect grassroots realities with institutional capabilities.
These alliances span across key focus areas, each contributing uniquely to OneStage’s vision of systemic and sustainable change:
- Government Partnerships: Scaling pilots in education, health, climate, and waste management with state and district governments; Odisha and Haryana serve as replicable models.
- Corporate Co-Creation: Partnering with companies like AON and Pernod Ricard India to embed sustainability into operations through volunteering, campaigns, and SDG-aligned programs.
- Grassroots Networks: Collaborating with NGOs, academia, and training partners to strengthen local leadership and on-ground execution.
- Collaboration Over Acquisition: Focusing on co-ownership and long-term, value-aligned partnerships over centralized control.
Footprint Across 54 Districts in 17 States
OneStage continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to collaborative action and transformative change, with its measurable impact reflecting the scale and depth of its efforts across India.
The following key figures highlight the organization’s recent performance:
Organizational Reach & Scale
- Lives Impacted: Over 20 years, OneStage has improved the lives of 20+ million people across India through programs in education, health, environment, and livelihoods.
- Donor Engagement: Partnered with 300+ donors—including corporates, foundations, and individuals—to drive strategic philanthropy.
- NGO Partnerships: Collaborated with 500+ NGOs to deliver high-impact programs across key thematic areas.
Programmatic Footprint
- Geographical Coverage: Active in 54+ districts across 17 states, addressing region-specific needs.
- Project Implementation: Executed 5,000+ projects with a focus on education, health, sanitation, environment, and gender-inclusive livelihoods.
Tech in Action
At OneStage, technology is a strategic enabler—deeply woven into vision and execution to drive scalable systems change.
At the Vision Level: Technology as a Catalyst for Systems Change
- Decision Intelligence: Co-creating AI tools and real-time dashboards to track impact, community feedback, and environmental changes—enabling timely, data-driven decisions.
- Co-Creation at Scale: Digital platforms empower donors, NGOs, and governments to collaboratively design, fund, and monitor projects across regions.
- Transparency and Trust: Tech-enabled workflows—from fund disbursement to field reporting—build accountability in CSR and donor-funded initiatives.
In Daily Execution: Enhancing Speed, Scale, and Impact
- Mobile-Based Monitoring & Evaluation: Real-time tracking of water levels, tree survival, health counseling, and school enrollment via mobile apps.
- GIS and Remote Sensing: Geospatial tools support environmental monitoring of waterbodies and plantations.
- Digital Health Tools: Mobile platforms in projects like Sajag facilitate mental health screening, scheduling, and referrals.
- Community Engagement: WhatsApp, IVRS surveys, and digital feedback systems maintain ongoing dialogue with communities, CRPs, and village committees.
Internally, OneStage uses digital HR systems, cloud-based project management, and automated compliance tools to streamline operations across states—cutting duplication, boosting efficiency, and freeing teams to focus on impact and innovation.
Five Forces Transforming Philanthropy
Dr. Pratyush Panda outlines five major disruptions reshaping development and philanthropy.
With growing expectations for meaningful, lasting impact, these shifts are steering the sector toward smarter, more inclusive, and sustainable approaches:
- From Charity to Systems Change: The sector is shifting to long-term, outcome-focused impact, with funders prioritizing measurable results and organizations that invest in data, capacity, and community engagement.
- Technology-Driven Innovation: AI and data tools are vital for predicting issues and improving outcomes; effectiveness depends on combining tech with local insights.
- Climate as a Development Priority: Climate change affects all development areas; top organizations now embed resilience through sustainable solutions like solar farming and water restoration.
- Blended Finance Models: Outcome-linked grants and impact bonds drive accountability and attract diverse funders, including private investors.
- Community-Led Development: Real progress is led locally, with grassroots innovation and inclusive leadership at the core.
Vision Rooted in Accountability and Community Needs
Over the next 12 to 18 months, OneStage is advancing a strategy that combines deep community impact with system-level growth—reflecting Dr. Pratyush’s belief that legacy lies in building systems that outlast individuals or funding cycles. His vision centers on a development model grounded in community needs, accountability, and collaboration.
Dr. Pratyush Panda promotes strategic philanthropy that is scalable, data-driven, and human-centered—shifting from symbolic CSR to real problem-solving through strong partnerships with donors, governments, and grassroots groups. For him, leadership means empowering the next generation of changemakers who balance empathy, effectiveness, and purpose with performance. By nurturing a culture of listening, shared goals, and thoughtful risk-taking, he aims to leave behind not just impactful programs but a legacy of capable, compassionate leaders.
Guided by this philosophy, OneStage’s strategic roadmap focuses on three core priorities:
- Scale Programs via Government Integration: Embed programs like PANI, Sajag, and ECD into public systems via strong government ties and grassroots capacity-building.
- Boost Tech & Data Use: Invest in AI, mobile tools, and dashboards to improve monitoring, transparency, and efficiency.
- Forge Impact-Driven Partnerships: Co-create innovative, accountable solutions with corporates, multilateral bodies, and tech partners—moving beyond traditional funding models.
Alongside these, OneStage is also enhancing internal leadership, team culture, communication, and governance to ensure sustainable growth.
Living the Promise
The passing of Dr. Pratyush’s father in December 2019 marked a significant turning point in his life. In his memory, he established the Basudev Panda Foundation, a Section 8 company dedicated to channelling his philanthropic initiatives. Since 2021, this foundation has become the primary vehicle for his charitable activities.
In alignment with his lifelong values, Dr. Pratyush Panda joined the #LivingMyPromise movement, pledging to donate 50% of his wealth to philanthropic causes. This commitment reinforces his personal dedication and connects him with a community of like-minded individuals striving for meaningful societal change. Through this network, he aims to optimize grant-making, engage in collaborative funding, and continuously learn from fellow philanthropists.
To fulfill this promise, the Basudev Foundation now supports 11 schools, bridging the digital divide for more than 3,000 students, runs an FPO empowering over 2,000 women, and funds a community-accessible college library. For Dr. Pratyush Panda, wealth serves as a tool to drive systemic change—investing in initiatives that promote equity, sustainability, and dignity to build a more inclusive and resilient society.
Guiding Principles for the Next Generation
To future leaders pursuing a path defined by purpose, impact, and integrity—know that the journey ahead is meaningful, though often challenging. The problems you’ll tackle are complex, and progress may feel slow, but it’s in this uncertainty that lasting change is made.
Dr. Pratyush Panda shares five key lessons for emerging changemakers:
- Start with purpose, and stay connected to people: Ideas matter, but people make them real—listen with humility and partner equally with communities.
- Don’t chase scale—build depth that scales: Build adaptable, context-driven models that grow meaningfully.
- Use data to guide you, but lead with empathy: Let metrics guide you, but lead with compassion and intuition.
- Choose collaboration over competition: Shared leadership and teamwork drive lasting change.
- Stay resilient and kind: Setbacks are part of the journey—stay grounded in purpose to move forward with clarity.
True leadership lies in taking responsibility for a better future and inspiring others to believe in it. Keep going—the world needs you.
Dr. Pratyush Panda’s 5 Business Mantras
- Lead with Purpose, Rooted in People: Start with purpose and stay connected to community needs.
- Think Systems, Not Just Projects: Design scalable, adaptable models for lasting impact.
- Use Tech Wisely: Let data and digital tools drive transparency and action—guided by empathy.
- Partner for Greater Good: Collaborate across sectors to co-create sustainable solutions.
- Lead with Values: Stay resilient, listen deeply, and empower others through purpose-driven leadership.
