Paul Hamlyn Foundation India Fund
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Quick Answer
Grants of ₹10 lakh to ₹40 lakh for local Indian NGOs with FCRA registration working with the most vulnerable communities in central and eastern India. Open all year.
- Funding amount
- ₹10L – ₹40L
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
About this grant
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation India Fund gives grants of ₹10 lakh to ₹40 lakh (₹10,00,000 to ₹40,00,000) to small Indian NGOs that work with the most vulnerable communities. It is run by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, a London-based UK charity. This is an NGO fund, not a startup or company grant: only local Indian NGOs with FCRA registration can apply, and work at the community level must be in priority areas of central and eastern India. There is no deadline; applications are open all year and assessed in March and October.
What the program offers
Grants run from ₹10 lakh to ₹40 lakh, for one to two years. The fund's aims are to encourage community-centred development programmes, help communities take charge of their own development, encourage funding that addresses systemic change, and build the capacity of the organisations and people who make this happen. The foundation's India strategy covers 2023 to 2033.
There are two funding levels. The micro level is for small to medium NGOs that work directly with communities in the priority area, usually with an annual outlay under about ₹1.5 crore (roughly £150,000). Most of the fund, about 70 to 80 per cent, goes here. The meso or macro level is for larger organisations that pull together learning from many local efforts, argue for policy change, help policies work in practice and strengthen other NGOs. These organisations can be outside the priority area, and about 10 to 15 per cent of the fund goes here.
Who can apply
Only local Indian NGOs with registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) can apply. The foundation says it does not work on prior permission, so an NGO with only prior permission is not eligible. Non-Indian organisations and locally registered branches of non-Indian organisations cannot apply, and neither can political or religious institutions. Applications sent through consultants or fundraisers are not accepted; you must apply directly.
The foundation looks for NGOs that develop ideas together with communities, aim for long-term wellbeing rather than quick results, link their work with panchayats in rural areas or municipalities in cities, think about their environmental impact and try to improve the local ecology, and promote gender equality. The communities it focuses on include those with little or no access to education or health services, Dalit communities (especially those in dangerous or harmful work), disabled people (particularly children), families in extreme poverty, tribal communities fighting for or dispossessed of their land and resources, and women. This list is not complete.
For micro-level grants the work must be in the priority area. This covers Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Telangana, plus Mewar and Hadoti in Rajasthan, Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the Dangs in Gujarat, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, and certain poorer regions of Andhra Pradesh. If your NGO works elsewhere in India at the community level, this fund is not a fit. A for-profit startup is not eligible either.
How to apply
Before you apply, you can log in to the foundation's online system and answer a short set of eligibility questions. A preview of these questions is available to download in English and Hindi, which helps you check readiness. Then submit a written application through the online portal. Applications can be sent at any time and the foundation does not run calls for proposals. Because most of the fund is at the micro level, organisations applying at the meso or macro level should complete the meso or macro form. A practical tip: download the preview questions first and gather your FCRA registration details and a clear description of the communities and area you work in.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The foundation assesses applications twice a year, in March and October. The source does not publish scoring criteria or give a result date beyond these two assessment months, so expect to wait for the next round after you submit. It judges fit against the fund's aims: community-centred work, long-term and systemic change, and location in the priority area for micro-level work.
About the Paul Hamlyn Foundation
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is a UK charity based in London. The India Fund is one of its funding streams, set up to support small NGOs working with the most vulnerable communities in priority areas of India. Questions can be sent to the India Fund team through the contact form on the foundation's website.
Things to check before you apply
- FCRA registration is compulsory. Check that yours is valid before you start.
- Micro-level work must be in the listed priority states and regions.
- You cannot use a consultant or fundraiser to submit the application.
- The source does not say how payment is made or whether grants can be renewed.
- Foreign funding rules are for you and your adviser to check; this page does not give legal guidance.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Amount
- ₹10L – ₹40L
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Selected NGOs receive a grant of ₹10,00,000 to ₹40,00,000. Most of the fund (about 70–80%) goes to micro-level work by NGOs working directly with communities in the priority area; about 10–15% goes to larger meso- or macro-level organisations working on learning, policy and capacity building.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
The foundation reviews applications twice a year, in March and October, against the fund's aims of community-centred, long-term and systemic development work in its priority geography. The source does not publish scoring details or a result date.
Application Process
- 1
Eligibility quiz
Answer the eligibility questions in the online system.
You - 2
- 3
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation India Fund?
Local Indian NGOs with FCRA registration can apply. Non-Indian organisations, local branches of non-Indian organisations, NGOs without FCRA registration, and political or religious institutions cannot.
Can Indian startups apply for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation India Fund?
This is a fund for NGOs, not for for-profit startups. An Indian NGO with FCRA registration can apply, but the source does not describe any route for a company. Social enterprises should check whether they are a registered NGO with FCRA.
How much is the India Fund grant?
Grants are ₹10 lakh to ₹40 lakh, for one to two years. Most of the fund goes to micro-level grants for small and medium NGOs working directly with communities.
How is the grant paid?
The source does not say how or when payments are made. Ask the foundation after you are shortlisted. Because it works only with FCRA-registered NGOs, funds are expected to come through the NGO's FCRA account, but check this with the foundation.
What is the deadline for the India Fund, and what if I miss it?
There is no deadline. Applications are accepted at any time and there are no calls for proposals. The foundation assesses applications in March and October each year, so a late application simply waits for the next assessment.
Where must my NGO work to get a micro-level grant?
The work must be in the priority area: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Telangana, plus listed regions of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Meso or macro organisations can be outside this area.
What is the difference between micro-level and meso or macro-level grants?
Micro-level grants go to small to medium NGOs that work directly with communities in the priority area. Meso or macro grants go to larger organisations that collect learning from local work, push for policy change and strengthen other NGOs. About 70 to 80 per cent of the fund is micro level and 10 to 15 per cent is meso or macro.
What documents or information do I need?
You need to answer the foundation's eligibility questions online and submit a written application. Have your FCRA registration details ready. The source does not list other documents.
Can a consultant or fundraiser apply for us?
No. Applications that come through consultants or fundraisers are not accepted, so your organisation must apply directly.
Is it free to apply?
The source mentions no application fee. It also does not give a result date, only that applications are assessed in March and October.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
