COD is a non-profit society, registered under the Charitable Societies Act in 1989 and started its functioning with limited resources and personnel. An elected governing body from the 21 Member General body controlled the activities of COD.

Centre for Overall Development has been working with poor people of Kozhikode and Malappuram districts from the very beginning. The works of COD was charity in nature in the beginning but gradually changed its thrust to "Animation".

Growth/ Major Break throughs :

COD has a decade of experience in social development activities. The following are the growth chart of COD.

	1986	Started regular beneficiaries Programme supported by Save A Family Plan Canada, and SAFP India.
	1989	Registered under Charitable Society Registration Act. Fr. John Kalariparambil was appointed as the new Director.
	1990	Animation programme was started.
	1991 & 92	20 Credit Unions were started. 26 cents lands purchased for COD. Assistance given to 40 people for House Construction. 100 Latrines were constructed for the poor people. Assisted 150 people for starting income generation programmes.
	1993 & 94	Health education programme was started Housing assistance to 230 people Women Development Programme was started
	1995 & 96	A major project was started in 20 villages of Adivaram area in 2 Panchayats supported by Karl-Kubel Foundation, Germany. 20 SHG's started. A Bulk lending scheme of 'NABARD' was imparted. State Bank of Travancore sanctioned a loan of Rs. 5 lakhs to 72 self employment units in non-farm sector.
	1997	Assisted 75 people for House Construction. Assistance was given to 150 people for Latrine Construction. 15 Mahila Sangams formed.
	1998	Health promotion programme was started with the support of Andheri Hilfe , Germany. 500 Latrines were constructed 70 Houses were constructed 100 individual self employment units were started 48 Mahila Sangams were federated into a central level unit called "Women Action Society (WAS)". 100 Self Help Groups were started. Set up a resource team consisting of 15 members for Self Help promotion programme trained by NABARD.
	1999	Construction work started of a Residential training centre under COD. Assisted 140 people for House construction. 275 Latrines were constructed. EDP training to 40 Women groups for 40 days. Women Development programme in traditional Rubber growing area with the support of Rubber Board, Govt. of India. Selected NGO in Kakkad "Vanasamrakshana Samithi" (VSS) for the Participatory Forest Management Programme. National Environment Awareness Campaign was conducted with the assistance of Science Technology, and Environment department, Govt. of Kerala.
	2000	35 Houses and 327 Latrines were constructed. Assisted 200 families for starting individual income generation programmes. 490 Bio-gas plants were constructed till date.
	2001	Animators Training Course for 50 people was started. Conducted Interface programme with PRI's and Banks on development issues. Training were given to other NGOs, Banks and PRIs (Indian Overseas Bank, SMGB, B. P.Moideen Sevamandir, Ramanattukara Grama Nirmana Samithi, Integrated Development Society, Koodaranhi and Chakkittapara Panchayath etc.) on Micro Finance Institutions.