A List of 7 Foundations Offering Funds to Indian NGOs All Round the Year

A List of 7 Foundations Offering Funds to Indian NGOs All Round the Year Grants & Scholarships- Empowering the Dalit Communities Around India

Deadline: throughout the year

Dalit Foundation, a non-government organisation, is the first grant-making institution in South Asia working for the empowerment of Dalit communities with an aim to build the capacity of its partners  order to execute effective grassroots level interventions.

The Foundation supports individuals, community-based organisations, and networks that work to secure social change and protect the rights of Dalit. It provides small grants and fellowships towards strengthening the Dalit Movement and nurturing future leaders for the movement.

The Dalit Foundation pursues the world's most important value - equality - and works to end the injustice of caste discrimination. By so doing, the Foundation works for the whole of humankind.

Eligibility Criteria

Grants Eligibility

Applicant organizations must:

Work in innovative ways to bring about change on a range of Dalit issues such as land reforms, manual scavenging etc.

• have an annual budget not exceeding Rupees 10 lakh [$25,000]
• are led by people – especially women – from the discriminated community
• focus on more than a single sub-caste
• are not associated with any political party
• and have not been convicted of any offence

Fellowships Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Belong to the Dalit community
• Not be paid employees or consultants with any organization
• are engaged in their individual capacity as activists or researchers, who have either adequate academic qualification or work experience
• Not be office bearers of any political party
• Not have been convicted of any offence that would adversely affect the credibility of the Foundation.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply by sending concept notes at the address mentioned on the website.

For more information, please visit Dalit Foundation.

Arghyam Foundation Grants for Groundwater and Sanitation Projects in India

Deadline: throughout the year

Arghyam, a public charitable foundation based in Bengaluru, Karnataka (India) grants funds to organizations, which implement and manage groundwater and sanitation projects in India.

Arghyam supports sustainable water management towards meeting the basic water needs of all citizens, especially those from vulnerable communities. Its activities are contextualized around the broader issues of water sector and take into consideration agriculture, industrial and environment aspects with a focus on domestic water.

Arghyam's mission is to improve the access to clean water and sanitation by fostering partnership and networks of practice that include individuals, non-government organizations, governments, and research and academic organizations.

Funding Principles

• Arghyam looks for innovation in its projects in both rural and urban areas, while ensuring the projects are in line with Arghyam's vision of safe, sustainable water for all.
• Projects must ensure the principles of equal access, inslusivity and display gender sensitivity.
• Projects that have the potential to scale by leveraging government funding.
• Arghyam's grant policy supports organizations which ensure social, institutional, environmental, technological and financial sustainability in their work and to the communities they work with.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for Arghyam's support, the organization must possess:
  • Certificate of registration, and
  • 12 A certificate and 80 G certificate from the Income TaX Department.
• The foundation does not support individuals or for-profit companies.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can download the concept note form through the website.

For more information, please visit Arghyam Foundation.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s India Open Grants Fund to NGOs Working in India

Applications can be made anytime

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is an UK-based grant making organization supporting overseas NGOs, especially in India and the UK, and provides funding to local NGOs working with disadvantaged communities, helping them access basic services. Grants are generally given to NGOs who find difficult to raise funds from other sources. 

The foundation strengthen organisations working with disadvantaged young people, and to support better integration of young people who migrate. With the mission “to improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in India”, the Foundation gives grants of about 40 million rupees a year to local NGOs working in focused areas supporting atleast 20 organisations across India.

Focus Country: India

Areas of Interest

1. Health
2. Education
3. Disability
4. Shelter
5. Other social development activities

Priority Regions

• The states covered will be Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.
• In addition to these states certain culturally identifiable regions such as Vidharbha, (Maharashtra), Dangs (Gujarat), Telangana (Andhra Pradesh), Bundelkhand (Uttar Pradesh), and and Mewar and Hadoti (Rajasthan), which are worse off than other parts in those states, will be given priority.

Size & duration of grant

• There is no minimum or maximum grant size. The amount you request should be the amount you need.
• The costs can include running costs such as staff salaries and overheads such as stationary, rent, rates, utilities.
• The foundation accepts proposal for up to three years.

Who can Apply

• Organisations supported within the India programme have to be local Indian NGOs with Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration.
• Non-Indian organisations or locally registered branches of non-Indian organizations and organisations without FCRA registration will not be supported.
• Political or religious institutions will not be supported.
• Other Exclusions
  • Individuals or proposals for the benefit of one individual
  • Retrospective funding for work that has already started
  • General circulars/appeals
  • Proposals that solely concentrate on the purchasing of property, equipment or other capital items
  • Overseas activities, including travel, expeditions, adventure and residential courses

Application Process

Applications can be made at any time. To apply, fill in the online application form available on the website.

For more information, please visit Paul Hamlyn Foundation grants to India

Asia Foundation Grants: Funding Various Issues Across Asia

Deadline: throughout the year

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. The Foundation educates women on their legal rights, safety, and personal health, protects the basic rights of women to counter human trafficking, fight gender-based violence, increase political participation and strengthen legal systems. It also reduces violence through peace building efforts in some of the most entrenched conflict zones by conducting empirical surveys.

The foundation’s peace programs support local initiatives in the following areas:

• Peace building in Asia
• Governance in Fragile Conditions
• Security and Conflict Mitigation
• Aid Policy and Practice in Fragile and Conflict-affected Areas

Other Areas of interest

1. Democracy & Good Governance
2. Economic Development, Environment
3. Narcotics, Drugs & Crime
4. Women & Gender
5. Law Enforcement

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant must be organisation or group from Asian countries only.
• The Foundation does not make grants to individuals and to U.S-based organizations.

How to Apply

Submit a brief letter of inquiry for the funds request which should include: introduction about the grantseeking organization, brief project description, and budget estimate. After receiving the letter, foundation staff may reply informing the grant seeker as to whether or not the project fits within the foundation interests. If it does, foundation staff may ask the grant seeker to submit a formal proposal.

For more information, please visit Asia Foundation for Peace.

Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Grants to NGOs working on Various Issues in India

Deadline: throughout the year

The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation is committed to supporting worthy initiatives that drive constructive social and individual development. With a focus on quality of life for those at the edge of society, the Foundation works with philanthropic and charitable organizations, as well as government and private enterprises.

The foundation is a non-profit initiative created to support enterprising individuals and innovative organisations with a goal to promote excellence among individuals, improve the quality of life of those living on the edges of the society, promote and protect traditions, culture and art forms.

Focus Areas

1. Health
2. Education
3. Livelihood
4. Art & Culture
5. Governance

Thematic Areas

• Funding for Livelihood projects, Funding for Art and Culture, Funding for Public Health Projects
• Nurture meritorious students through the scholarship program.
• Support mid-career professionals through the fellowship program.
• Foundation for grants, funding organizations in Mumbai, Grants for NGOs Support initiatives of mass learning and innovative education models.
• Funding agencies in Maharashtra, Funding agencies in education, Funding agencies in health
• Support community health initiatives.
• Grants for NGOs, Funding to NGOs, NGOs grants Strengthen public-health infrastructure and institutions.
• Funding agencies in India, NGO grants, Foundations in India Encourage private, charitable initiatives in health care.
• Tobacco control awards, Education Grants, Art and Culture Grants Partner with initiatives that provide opportunities for capacity building and skill training for employment.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply for grants via given website.

For more information, please visit Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation.

The Coca-Cola India Foundation Grants for Sustainable Development in India

Deadline: throughout the calendar year

The Coca-Cola India Foundation through its grants contributes to a strong and resolute India enabling the common man to better his or her life.

The foundation is committed to sustainable development and inclusive growth by focusing on issues relating to water, the environment, healthy living and social advance.

The Foundation seeks to ensure project execution, maintenance and sustainability through the active involvement and direct participation of the beneficiary community at the grass-root level.

Focus Areas

1. Water Sustainability
2. Climate Control/Environment
3. Healthy Living
4. Inclusive Social Development

Eligibility Criteria

For Organization

• The organization should have been in existence for a minimum of 5 years.
• The organization should be registered as a Trust/Society/not-for-profit company under applicable law that implements social development projects in India.
• The organization should have a Governing Board/ Council and should disclose the profile of the
• Board Members including the Chairperson, Directors and key employees of the organization.
• The organization should have a proven track record in the delivery of quality services in specific fields, good implementation history, capacity of personnel to manage the project on prescribed schedules and targets.
• The organization should have a good working relationship and contacts with the communities.
• The organization should not be affiliated with any political party.
• The organization should ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
• The organization should follow transparent accounting practices. It should provide signed audited statements along with the statutory auditor's reports.

For Project

• As a part of their grant application, the organization must develop a concrete plan of action towards long-term sustainability of the projects and possible replication.
• The objective of the project/program should be consistent with the objectives of the Coca-Cola India Foundation.
• The beneficiaries of the projects must primarily be the poor, the backward/ the tribals, the underprivileged, the physically challenged, and the socially deprived.
• The project should have defined indicators / milestones, which will monitor the performance against stated objectives.

For more information, please visit Coca-Cola India Foundation.

The Vijay Amritraj Foundation: Funding Smaller Charities of India

Deadline: throughout the year

The Vijay Amritraj Foundation brings hope, help and healing to the defenseless and innocent victims of disease, tragedy and circumstance in India.

The foundation pledges to make a real difference for those who are most in need of the helping hand of humanity.

Focus Areas

Charities serving children and adults who face extreme challenges in life; HIV/AIDS, Family Abandonment, and Individuals Ostracized by society for their illness are supported by the Foundation.

Eligibility Criteria

• The VAF will accept proposals from charitable organizations in India who are referred by existing grantees and/or VAF Ambassadors.
• The VAF accepts unsolicited requests from charitable organizations in India for projects that fall within Foundation’s program priorities and guidelines.
• The VAF observes the following limitations:
  • No grants or loans to individuals.
  • No grants for capital development, research, project replication or endowment unless these activities grow out of work already being funded by the VAF.
  • The Foundation does not support political activities or attempts to influence action on specific legislation.
  • No grants for religious activities or programs serving specific religious groups or denominations.
  • However, faith-based organizations may submit inquiries if the project falls within our guidelines and serves a broad segment of the population.
  • Film and video projects, books, scholarships, and fellowships are rarely funded.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can send letters of inquiry at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit Vijay Amritraj Foundation.