What is the HCLTech Grant?

The HCLTech Grant is a CSR initiative by HCLTech, through HCLFoundation, to strengthen and empower NGOs in India by providing financial grants for impactful rural development projects across Water, Biodiversity, Health, and Education.

Who is eligible to apply for the HCLTech Grant?

Eligible applicants include registered not-for-profit entities in India (Societies, Trusts, Section 8 Companies) with at least 5 years of functional existence by March 31, 2026, and an average annual expenditure of ₹50 Lakhs or more over the last three financial years. They must be fully compliant with all relevant regulatory and statutory requirements.

What are the funding amounts available?

The winning NGO in each of the four thematic categories receives a grant of ₹5 Crore for a 4-year project. Additionally, eight runners-up NGOs receive ₹50 Lakhs each for a two-year project.

Which sectors and regions are covered by the grant?

The grant supports projects in Water, Biodiversity, Health, and Education, focusing on rural India. It is a pan-India initiative with no state-specific restrictions, emphasizing organizations with experience in rural areas.

What kind of projects does the HCLTech Grant support?

The grant supports innovative, replicable, and sustainable projects that significantly contribute to socio-economic and environmental development in rural communities. Inclusive and gender-transformative approaches are particularly encouraged.

What is the application process for the HCLTech Grant?

Applicants must first fulfill the detailed eligibility criteria. The process involves an online application form submission, followed by multiple stages including application screening, abstract review, detailed proposal review, field audit, sub-jury review, due diligence, and a final jury review to select winners and runners-up.

HCLTech Grant — Edition XII (2026): Results & Updates

The HCLTech Grant, launched in 2015 by HCLTech through its HCLFoundation, is a significant Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment aimed at empowering and recognizing Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in India. This prestigious initiative identifies NGOs as the 'Fifth Estate', acknowledging their crucial role as catalysts for social change, particularly in transforming rural India. The grant specifically supports award-winning projects by NGOs that demonstrate a proven track record of impactful work, high credibility, and a distinct ability to deliver sustainable socio-economic and environmental development. The focus is on reaching marginalized, isolated, underserved, and underdeveloped rural communities across the country. Through this grant, HCLFoundation seeks to foster innovative, replicable, and sustainable models that align with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals, driving comprehensive rural upliftment in India. The total committed funds for Edition XII stand at ₹24 Crores, reflecting HCLTech's deep commitment to rural development.

The HCLTech Grant employs a rigorous, multi-stage jury process to ensure the selection of the most impactful and credible NGO projects. Initially, applications undergo a thorough screening against predefined eligibility criteria and submitted documents. Subsequently, the organizational profile and project abstract are reviewed by independent domain experts, HCLFoundation sector experts, and a Governance Partner, assessing aspects like problem relevance, solution innovation, and potential impact. Shortlisted organizations then submit detailed proposals for review, focusing on their capacity to deliver, financial modeling, sustainability, inclusive approach, and scalability. This is followed by a field audit conducted by the HCLFoundation team and domain experts, along with diligence by the governance partner. A 12-member Sub-jury panel reviews further shortlisted applications, with the top three per category progressing. The final stage involves detailed due diligence by the Governance Partner, including background checks and site visits, culminating in a 6-member eminent Jury panel selecting one winner (₹5 Crore) and two runners-up (₹50 Lakhs each) per thematic category.

HCLTech Grant — Edition XII

HCLTech Grant — Edition XII

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