A family-run trust · Chennai, India · since 2022

Every child deserves a fair shot at learning.

RISE Trust pays school and college fees directly to the institution, for children whose families can't afford them — so no child has to choose between a classroom and a paycheck.

Support a student See our impact
80G tax exemption CSR registered Run entirely by trustees, zero overhead
Hero photo — a child at school, or Ramesh & Ganga with students, works well here
500+
students helped since 2022
3
states — TN, Kerala, Karnataka
100%
of fees paid directly to institutions
2022
the year we started
Photo of Ramesh & Ganga — add here

Why we started

"It is education that changes and uplifts lives and families." — Ramesh Ramanathan, Managing Trustee

Ganga and I started this trust in September 2022, a few months before I stepped down as Chairman & Managing Director of Sterling Holidays. We wanted part of our energy, going forward, spent on giving back — and we settled on one cause: supporting children from underprivileged families with their school education.

We began by helping children referred to us by family and friends. Today the trust carries the name RISE — Ramanathans Inspire, Support, Educate — and we still run it ourselves, with no staff and no office, so that as much of every rupee as possible reaches a child's fee bill.

Moments

From annual meetings to first report cards

A few of the moments this trust is really about. Swap these placeholders for real photos whenever you have them.

Annual family meet
Fee disbursement day
A student's first day of college
Report card review

How it works

Simple to understand, hard to misuse

A short, deliberate process — and we're involved at every step of it.

STEP 1

A trusted referral

Every child comes to us through someone we know — never a cold application.

STEP 2

We verify, in person

We meet the child and parents, and check income and school documents before the first payment.

STEP 3

We pay the school

Funds go straight to the institution for tuition, books, and uniforms — never to the family.

STEP 4

We follow up, yearly

We meet each family again every year, mark sheets in hand, before renewing support.

See the exact eligibility criteria
  • Family's combined annual income under ₹4 lakh
  • Up to two children supported per family
  • Aadhar, ration card, school bonafide certificate, and fee statement required
  • Support capped at ₹40,000 per child, per year
  • Covers tuition, books, and uniforms only

Our impact

Growing steadily, year after year

We started with 28 students in our first six months. This year, we're aiming for 300.

28 ~80 180 230 300 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26 FY27 (goal)
Students supported, by financial year Unaudited figures, as reported by the trustees
230
students in FY26 — 192 in school, 38 in college
₹68.78L
disbursed directly to schools and colleges in FY26
95%+
of funds raised reached students, rest carried to next year

In their words

What students, parents, and donors tell us

Placeholder quotes below — swap these for real testimonials from your students, parents, or donors.

Sample — replace with a real quote
"Because of RISE Trust, I could join college instead of dropping out to find work."
Photo
Student name
College student, Chennai
Sample — replace with a real quote
"They came home, met us, and saw our situation for themselves before helping. That meant a lot."
Photo
Parent name
Parent of a school student
Sample — replace with a real quote
"I know exactly where my contribution goes — straight to a child's school. That's rare, and it's why I keep giving."
Photo
Donor name
Individual donor

Registered & compliant

Everything here is a matter of record

80G tax exemption

Renewed by the Income Tax Department through assessment year 2031-32. Donations qualify for tax exemption.

CSR registered

Registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to receive corporate CSR contributions.

Fully compliant

Up to date on every annual statutory filing with the Government of India since 2022.

Get involved

Two ways to help a child stay in school

Give as an individual

Your contribution qualifies for tax exemption under Section 80G. Write to us and we'll share account details and send you a receipt.

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add here
UPI ID
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Email the trustees

Partner through CSR

RISE Trust is registered to receive corporate CSR contributions. Education falls under Schedule VII, Item (ii) of the Companies Act, 2013 — get in touch to route this year's CSR budget toward a child's education.

Discuss a CSR partnership

Know a child who needs help with school or college fees? We meet every family before we disburse — write to us with a reference.

Refer a student