DIV Fund

DIV Fund — R&D Engine for Global Development

The DIV Fund is an independent nonprofit that continues the legacy of USAID's Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program, widely regarded as one of the most effective innovation-funding mechanisms in global development history. DIV was launched within USAID in 2010 and, over 15 years, supported more than 300 innovations across 54 countries. When the Trump administration dissolved USAID's innovation units in early 2025, DIV's leadership team — including former DIV head Sasha Gallant (CEO) and Nobel Prize–winning economist Michael Kremer as Chair — raised an emergency $20M round to keep the program alive, with total philanthropic commitments since reaching $48M.

What the DIV Fund Does

The DIV Fund functions as an evidence-driven R&D engine for global development. It backs innovations that have the potential to cost-effectively improve lives at scale in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including India. The fund is structured around a tiered, milestone-based grant model that mirrors the original USAID DIV framework:

• Stage 1 – Pilot Grants (up to USD 200,000 / ~₹1.8 Cr): Fund real-world pilots to test feasibility, user demand, and proof of concept for early-stage innovations.
• Stage 2 – Test & Position for Scale (up to USD 500,000–750,000 / ~₹4.5–6.8 Cr): Support rigorous randomised control trials or market validation studies to build a strong evidence base.
• Stage 3 – Scale Grants (up to USD 1.5 million / ~₹13.5 Cr): Accelerate adoption and scaling of validated innovations that have demonstrated both impact and cost-effectiveness.

All grants are non-dilutive — the DIV Fund takes no equity and provides no debt. Funding can be applied flexibly to program implementation, data collection, evaluation, and key personnel costs.

Sectors and Focus Areas

DIV Fund prioritises innovations in health, agriculture, education, financial inclusion, energy access, and climate adaptation — all with a focus on benefiting populations living in poverty. Indian organisations working in any of these domains on solutions targeting low-income communities are eligible and strongly encouraged to apply.

Who Should Apply

Eligible applicants include nonprofits, social enterprises, for-profit startups, universities, and research organisations legally incorporated in any country, provided their work benefits people in LMICs. Indian applicants qualify, as India is classified as a lower-middle-income country by the World Bank. Applicants must have at least a prototype-stage innovation and a credible theory of change for reaching over one million beneficiaries at scale. Government agencies and intermediaries (e.g., incubators) are not eligible as primary grantees.

Application Process

The DIV Fund operates on a rolling-application basis with no fixed deadline. Innovators can apply directly to the funding stage that best matches their maturity level. Applications are reviewed by expert panels against three core criteria: evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and the potential for durable scale. The full process from submission to decision typically takes several months.