Article at a glance:

A point of light in Mumbai

• Pratham, a not-for-profit organization in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, has used a “capital light” strategy to run child-education and nutrition programs for just a few dollars a child per year.
• This Indian nonprofit has linked with other community groups, local governments and corporations to create thousands of preschools, or balwadis, and other programs, spending almost no money in the process.
• Partnerships are the key to Pratham’s growth. Its capital light strategy includes borrowing spare rooms for classrooms instead of buying property. Moreover, corporate partners lend office space and equipment, and even employees.
• Pratham’s low-cost program model has made it possible for the organization to grow beyond Mumbai. Other small institutions should take heed: by replicating this strategy they too can increase their impact.