Can Indian startups and social enterprises apply to the DIV Fund?

Yes. India is classified as a lower-middle-income country per the World Bank, so Indian nonprofits, social enterprises, for-profit startups, universities, and research organizations are all eligible. Government agencies and intermediaries such as incubators and accelerators are not eligible.

Is the grant equity-free and non-repayable?

Yes. All DIV Fund grants are fully non-dilutive — no equity is taken. The fund also does not provide debt or any other financial instruments. Grants are tied to milestones but used flexibly.

Do I need to start at Stage 1, or can I apply directly to Stage 2 or 3?

You can apply directly to the stage that matches your innovation's maturity. Stage 1 (up to ₹1.86 crore) is for pilots; Stage 2 (up to ₹4.65–6.98 crore) is for rigorous evaluations or market validation; Stage 3 (up to ₹13.95 crore) is for scaling validated innovations with proven impact evidence.

What sectors and problem areas does the DIV Fund support?

Health, agriculture, education, financial inclusion, energy, and climate adaptation are the primary focus areas. The innovation must demonstrably improve lives of people in low- or middle-income countries and show a credible pathway to reaching over 1 million people at scale.

Is there a fixed application deadline?

No. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year with no fixed deadline. Funding decisions are made by expert panels convened several times per year, and the overall process typically takes several months from submission to final decision.

What kind of evaluation support does the fund provide?

Beyond capital, the DIV Fund pairs grantees with rigorous evaluation expertise and connects them to a global network of researchers, evaluators, and scaling partners to help build evidence of impact and cost-effectiveness.

DIV Fund Grant for Global Development Innovations

By DIV Fund

₹1.8Cr – ₹13.5CrRolling Applications

Quick Answer

Up to ₹13.5 Cr non-dilutive grant for innovations improving lives in low/middle-income countries.

Funding amount: ₹1.8 Cr – ₹13.5 Cr
Funding type: Grant
Provider: DIV Fund
Application deadline: Rolling
Location: International

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Provider

DIV Fund

Washington · DC · United States

How to apply

Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.

1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.

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DIV Fund Grant for Global Development Innovations

DIV Fund Grant for Global Development Innovations

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