New Delhi, Aug 06— Friends Union for Energising Lives (FUEL), the Pune-headquartered public charitable trust working in youth skilling, scholarships and career guidance across 18 states, has been honoured at the 13th National CSR & ESG Summit and Awards 2026, hosted by CSR Times under the theme “Role of Responsible Businesses for Inclusive Bharat.”
The Summit brought together India’s most responsible businesses, policymakers and development-sector leaders to deliberate on how corporate India can drive inclusive, measurable and lasting social change. The award was received on behalf of FUEL by Dr. Prachi Ahirao, Head of Department and Faculty of Management, and Ms. Sonali Ghongade, Finance Officer.
The recognition comes at a defining moment in FUEL’s 19-year journey — as it transitions from a career-counselling organisation founded in 2007 into FUEL SkillTech & Entrepreneurship University, established under Maharashtra Act No. 23 of 2026 and built almost entirely on corporate social responsibility capital.
A distinctive model: education built through endowment
At the heart of FUEL’s work is a model rarely attempted at scale in Indian higher education — inviting corporates and philanthropists to endow and name entire academic schools within a university, rather than fund short-cycle projects.
Under this model, each school on the FUEL campus is offered for adoption by a corporate partner or individual philanthropist, who receives naming rights and a long-term stake in the institution’s outcomes. The approach converts episodic CSR spending into permanent educational infrastructure — creating assets that outlive individual grant cycles and continue to serve first-generation learners, children of farmers and soldiers, women and economically weaker students for decades.
“This award is a testament to the leadership and impact FUEL has created through a unique model of education — one built on endowment and on corporates naming and adopting entire schools within a university. It affirms that CSR can move beyond intervention to institution-building.”
— Dr. Ketan Deshpande, Founder & Chairman, FUEL
Impact at scale
FUEL’s recognition rests on a measurable body of work built over nearly two decades:
•₹248 crore+ in CSR mobilised from 90+ corporate partners, at a 36% CAGR
•12.52 lakh+ lives reached — including 9 lakh+ students counselled and 2.93 lakh+ youth trained
•2,907+ scholarships disbursed to students from families earning under ₹5 lakh per annum
•300+ UG and PG scholars currently supported
•Presence across 18 states, with a focus on rural and aspirational districts
•Listed on the NSE Social Stock Exchange (NSESSENPO0067) — publicly positioned as India’s first SSE-listed organisation on the NSE
Beneficiaries are selected through a transparent, audited six-stage process spanning aptitude testing, screening, interviews, document verification and home visits.
