Institution Builder
Established governance frameworks, operational systems, and multi-state outreach infrastructure at GBSS.
Social Impact Leader · Institution Builder
Kumar
Preetam Puri
Co-founder & Board Member, Gramin Bharti (GBSS) · Founder, Development Wala
Building scalable grassroots institutions across India at the intersection of education, equity, and community-driven systems change.
About
A Builder of Institutions,
A Champion of Equity
Kumar Preetam Puri is a social impact leader, institution builder, and development strategist working at the intersection of education, equity, and grassroots systems change. His work is rooted in a simple yet powerful belief: that access to opportunity must not be defined by geography or socio-economic background.
As Co-founder and Board Member of Gramin Bharti, Preetam has played a defining role in transforming the organisation from the ground up into a multi-state development institution, working across education access, community development, and youth empowerment.
His expertise spans organisational development, strategic communications, impact evaluation, and digital fundraising — enabling GBSS to grow into a credible, scalable, and impact-driven institution with presence across 20+ states in India.
Today, GBSS has impacted more than 5,000 individuals and communities, delivering programmes across education, livelihoods, and social development — and the work continues to scale.
Education Access Advocate
Founder of HEMP — a flagship mentorship programme democratising access to top higher education institutions in India and abroad.
Evidence-Based Practitioner
Designed MEL systems and impact evaluation frameworks to enable data-driven decision-making across all major programmes.
Sector Thought Leader
Represents grassroots perspectives at national and international development forums, bridging communities and policymakers.
Key Contributions
Building GBSS from the Ground Up
Preetam’s multi-dimensional contributions have shaped every pillar of Gramin Bharti’s growth — from governance to grassroots communications.
01
Organisation Building & Leadership
- Established governance and operational frameworks
- Scaled outreach across 20+ Indian states
- Built partnerships with communities, donors & institutions
- Strengthened long-term organisational sustainability
02
Communications & Outreach
- Led website, branding & digital communication strategy
- Built and managed social media platforms
- Authored annual reports, impact reports & documentation
- Designed funder and stakeholder communication strategies
03
Impact Evaluation & MEL
- Evaluated impact of all major GBSS programmes
- Designed Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning systems
- Enabled data-driven decision-making across initiatives
- Strengthened programme effectiveness and scalability
04
Digital Fundraising & Growth
- Designed and led digital fundraising campaigns
- Built donor engagement through storytelling and impact data
- Expanded outreach across digital and social platforms
- Diversified revenue streams for financial sustainability
Higher Education Mentorship Programme
A high-impact flagship initiative breaking the barriers of inequality in access to higher education — one student at a time.
200+
Students supported in higher education journeys
1,500+
Students & professionals given career guidance
2,000+
Mentors and volunteers engaged
IITs
& top national/international universities
Flagship Initiative
HEMP: Democratising Higher Education
Founded by Preetam Puri, the Higher Education Mentorship Programme (HEMP) addresses one of India’s most persistent inequities — the unequal access to quality higher education based on background, location, and economic status.
- Mentors students from marginalised and low-resource backgrounds through the admissions journey
- Supports admissions into top institutions in India and abroad, including IITs and leading global universities
- Provides comprehensive guidance on scholarships, applications, essays, and career pathways
- Engages a large volunteer and mentor network committed to educational equity
- Emerging as a scalable, replicable model for democratising higher education access across India
Impact at a Glance
Numbers That Tell a Story
Across programmes, states, and communities — GBSS is building measurable, lasting change at scale.
20+
States Reached
Across India
Across India
5,000+
Individuals & Communities
Impacted
Impacted
Multi
Programmes Delivered
Across Sectors
Across Sectors
200+
Students Mentored
Through HEMP
Through HEMP
2,000+
Volunteers & Mentors
Engaged
Engaged
1
Organisation Built
from the Ground Up
from the Ground Up
Representation & Thought Leadership
Bringing Grassroots Voices
to Every Room
Preetam actively contributes to bringing community-led perspectives into national and global conversations on development, education, and equity.
Grassroots & Community
Active representation at community platforms, rural development forums, and local governance spaces — keeping the work grounded in lived realities.
National Presence
Speaker and participant at national development conferences, NGO summits, education forums, and policy dialogues across India.
International Engagement
Represented GBSS in international discussions on education equity, rural development, and grassroots institutional models for sustainable impact.
Development Wala
Preetam is also the founder of Development Wala — India’s leading one-stop platform for the nonprofit and development sector, created to help aspiring professionals navigate and build meaningful careers in social impact.
Let’s Build Together
Ready to Create Change
That Lasts?
Whether you want to expand access to quality education, strengthen underserved communities, or scale proven models like HEMP — there’s a place for you in this work. Reach out to explore partnerships, funding, and collaboration opportunities with Gramin Bharti.