ABOUT US
We are a team of dynamic social entrepreneurs from Odisha, who came together to advance the growth stories of Odisha to the globe; therefore, we form Odisha Rising Foundation(ORF)-a social start-up to compliment and supplement the great work being done by Government through innovative projects and technological intervention. We started ORF with a philosophy of creating opportunities rather than doing charity which enterprises a vibrant philanthropic sector by driving collaborative action to accelerate social change.
ORF works to curate, connect, catalyse, and communicate the idea of new Odisha that is emerging beyond its big cities to connect government to ideas, ideas to action, and citizens to government!
It aims to make lasting and effective change within rural areas of Odisha by bringing all communities together to create change locally, in our small but determined way. All the work of ORF is informed by the SDGs and we are committed to do our bit to ensure they are achieved.
ORF VISION
Building Odisha as a most progressive, inclusive and sustainable State for all.
ORF MISSION
To enhance the high quality of life of the citizens by using technology and innovation in the field of education, healthcare, skilling, agriculture and climate change management.
CORE VALUES
Odisha First
In all our action, deeds and business; we will put Odisha first.
Innovating and being creative
New ideas drive continuous improvement.
Driving toward results
Our efficient, effective work meets measurable goals for today and tomorrow.
Engaging the community
All have a voice and are heard.
Valuing employees
Employee are supported and take pride in public service.
Building public trust
All have access to services and information. We work in an open, ethical and transparent manner.
Collaborating
We work better together as one team.
We are a valued partner in the community.
ORF TEAM
Akhaya Sagar
Co-Founder & CEO
Rajlaxmi Dash
Chief Operating Officer
Ch Aishya Prakash
Senior Program Manager
Swapnil Swain
Manager-Communications
Ranjit Singh
Consultant
ORF BOARD MEMBERS
The Board is a legal representative of ORF to all our stakeholders. It is primarily involved in setting the direction for the organisation, providing policy guidelines, mentoring, monitoring and evaluating its work. The Board meets at least once every quarter. None of the board members are related to each other and neither they are paid any remunerations.
Governance
ORF believes that a new model of governance – where priorities are determined by empowered communities to help overcome the challenges ahead and try to propose the solutions to its vast inequalities.
Today, 21st century NGOs adopt best practices in governance as a part of their strategy. At ORF too, governance encompasses the non-negotiable values of accountability, transparency and partnership.
We follow this approach with each individual or group that we partner, including vendors and third party suppliers. We actively engage advocates for child rights in particular and social justice in general, from among the educated, professional and business classes, from within and outside India. Governance is here to stay!
With our development partners:
- Selection criteria based on long-term strategy and values
- Selection norms and processes designed for transparency
- Multi-layered, participative, documented and audited grant sanctioning system
- Data-driven, participative planning, monitoring and evaluation
- Exhaustive financial and impact parameters – process and outcome
- Internal and external audits – financial and programmatic
- Financial risk management – training and funding support
- Financial and capacity building inputs for organisation building including leadership building, democratic functioning, performance measurement and internal transparency
With donors, media and government across markets:
- Comprehensive reporting to donors and the public
- Proactive transparency
- Feedback mechanisms
- Values, ethics screening
- Norm and best practice bench-marking across for-profit and non-profit sectors
- Active participation in development of sector norms across sectors
With employees and our board:
- Mission-centric performance planning, evaluation and reward systems
- Conflict of interest and ethics policies
- Democratic, participative, transparent decision-making
- Formal and informal feedback mechanisms and forums
- Documentation and independent audit
- Consistent adherence to, and investments in, building mission and values led ethos and culture
Stakeholders' Speak
ORF vibrantly engaged through social mobilization to enhance the self employable skills/capacity of the underprivileged youths and particularly women to help them become productive entities with dignity for supplementing basic food security, healthcare and education requirements of the family. ORF has also facilitated many relief operations impacting many lives
S S Patro DRDA
ORF's diversified domain experience, knowledge sharing skills and need based approach has helped them being identified by OSF to implement its livelihood projects successfully and accelerate COVID-19 relief in Odisha. OSF could maximise its impact through their valuable partnership with ORF. It is worth partnering with them.
John George OSF
PARTNERS
