Introduction

Chhalaang Fund – a flagship initiative by the Dani Sports Foundation, initiated to support mission-driven not-for-profit organizations championing sports, physical activity and play as powerful tools for social transformation.

This fund opportunity is intended for committed not-for-profit organizations working across physical literacy (across age groups - early childhood to adolescents and youth), early talent nurturing, inclusive access to sports, and long-term athlete development.

Through this Request for Proposal (RFP), we want to find and support strong organizations that use sports, physical activity and play to create positive change. Our goal is to help them grow, strengthen their work, and make a lasting impact. By doing this, we aim to build a healthier, more active India and promote sports, physical activity and play as ways to drive inclusive growth and social transformation.

About Dani Sports Foundation

Dani Sports Foundation (DSF) is a philanthropic, not for profit initiative of the Dani family. At its core, DSF promotes sports, physical activity and play at the grassroots level, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to play and grow with confidence. This mission is brought to life through a diverse portfolio of programs—including in-school and after-school initiatives, sports nurseries, and fitness programs—delivered in partnership with leading organizations in the sector.

DSF also runs the Sports for Transformation Fellowship, a flagship full-time residential fellowship program that empowers passionate young professionals to explore, experience and experiment to drive change within the schools, community, and broader ecosystem. The fellowship is designed to nurture a generation of changemakers who will become key contributors to India’s socio-economic and sporting development in the years to come

Beyond grassroots engagement, DSF fuels sporting excellence by investing in cutting-edge High-Performance (HP) programs, enhancing leadership in sports administration, and supporting elite athlete development to elevate standards and expand opportunities across the sporting ecosystem. Through its integrated approach—spanning every stage of the Athlete Development Pyramid, from Foundation and Development to Performance, Excellence, and Elite—DSF aims to set new benchmarks in quality, inclusivity, and long-term impact.

By bridging grassroots inclusion with high-performance ambition, DSF is on a mission to redefine the role of sports in nation-building and establish a global benchmark for impactful sports philanthropy.

Target organizations

This opportunity is specifically intended for two categories of organizations:

 

A. Organizations leveraging Sports, Physical Activity and play based activitiesinterventions for social development — including but not limited to thoseorganizations implementing early childhood development programs, schoolbased interventions, community based interventions, programs specificallydesigned to address social or geographical vulnerabilities of a certainpopulation.

B. Organizations focused on athlete development — including but not limited to those engaged in early-stage talent identification, long-term athlete nurturing, and team-based sports programs geared toward competitive progression at the state, national, or international levels.

 

Nature of Fund

Fund Type

This funding opportunity is aimed at enhancing organizational capacity, enabling strategic growth, and strengthening program delivery. Funds may also support innovation, research, and time-bound experimental approaches, subject to alignment with DSF’s mission.

Primary focus remains on developing organizational capacity, efforts to bring in sustainability or scaling operationally piloted, impact-proven programs.

Fund Size

• Up to ₹25 lakhs per not-for-profit organization per year
• Determined by:

1. Budget proposal submitted by the organization
2. Proven track record of impact and performance
3. Proportion of the requested fund in the overall organizational budget
4. Strength and credibility of founding team and governance structure
5. Recommendations from past funders
6. IT returns, Audited financials and Annual reports of the last three years
7. Quality of impact assessments and strategic documentation
8. Media presence, public recognition, and awards
9. Financial Health: The organizations that demonstrate consistent growth in fundraising and annual budgets over the past 3 years will have an advantage. Specifically funds related to Sports for Development programs if the organizations work across multiple domains.

Fund Duration

• Duration: Up to 3 years subject to periodic reviews and alignment, with the initial agreement for 12 months.
• Renewal after the initial 12 months of the agreement will be subject to demonstrated performance, measurable impact and compliance
• DSF reserves the right to terminate or withhold the grant at any point during the grant period in case of misrepresentation, misconduct, or failure to meet agreed milestones.

Eligibility criteria

In addition to aligning with the defined programmatic categories, organizations must meet the following eligibility criteria to be considered for support under the Chhalaang Fund:

• Be a legally registered not-for-profit or Section 8 company in India with a minimum of 3 years of operations in the Sports for Development and/or Sports domain at the time of application.
• Hold relevant registrations such as 12A, 80G, and (if applicable) FCRA, along with up-to-date audited financial statements.
• Have a minimum of 3 full-time staff engaged in core operations or program implementation.
• Additionally, following indicators will also be considered while verifying the ability of the organization to be able to implement the proposed program;
• Have demonstrated experience in implementing programs related to sports, physical activity, athlete development, or social development through sports.
• A clear Theory of Change (ToC) and context specific problem solving approach.
• Show a track record of delivering measurable impact with the ability to articulate outcomes achieved through past initiatives.
• Possess well defined operational systems and SOPs for program delivery, reporting, and governance.
• Have prior experience managing grants or projects funded by foundations, CSR partners, government agencies, or multilateral institutions.
• Maintain the capacity to track program data, monitor progress, and submit periodic programmatic and financial reports.

Additional appreciative criteria (non-mandatory):

While not mandatory, organizations demonstrating the following attributes may receive added consideration during the selection process:

• A focus on system level outcomes, not just individual participation.
• Active presence or implementation experience in under-served geographies or with marginalized populations.
• A demonstrated commitment to gender inclusion, equity, and/or para-sports.
• Demonstrated    collaboration    with   schools,    sports    federations,    or local implementation partners.
• Potential and readiness to scale, replicate, or disseminate learnings across regions or programs.

How to Apply

1. Important Instructions for Applicants	Carefully read the Request for Proposal (RFP) document to fully understand the application requirements and eligibility criteria. Download the designated formats for project proposal and the budget from the links provided below and complete the documents with relevant details. Use the application link provided below to submit your application. Submission will be considered complete only if done through this link.
2. Designated Formats	Project Proposal Format 🔗 Project Budget Format 🔗
3. Application link	Link🔗

To download the full RFP, click here

Tags Adolescent Children and Childcare Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Education and Education Technology (edtech) Others