Zendesk Tech for Good Impact Awards 2026
By Zendesk
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Quick Answer
Zendesk Foundation grants of US$10,000–50,000 (about ₹9.5–47.5 lakh) plus free Zendesk software for nonprofits worldwide. The 2026 round closed on 15 July 2026.
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 16 July 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Zendesk. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 2026 round of the Zendesk Tech for Good Impact Awards is closed. Applications were due by 11:59 pm ET on 15 July 2026, which was 9:29 am IST on 16 July. The official pages do not announce a 2027 round, so watch the Tech for Good help centre for the next call.
The awards are run by the Zendesk Foundation, the charitable arm of the customer-service software company Zendesk. They have been running since 2022 and give nonprofits around the world cash grants plus free access to Zendesk's AI-powered customer-service platform. Registered nonprofits outside the US can apply, and India is not on the excluded list. Organisations such as Magic Bus India and Red Dot Foundation were among the 2024 winners. This page is a guide for preparing the next application.
What the awards offer
Awards are between US$10,000 and US$50,000 per organisation (about ₹9.5 lakh to ₹47.5 lakh), and the Foundation reserves the right to change amounts at any time. The grants are unrestricted, with no time limit on when funds must be spent. Grants are paid within two months of the award announcement, which was expected in the last quarter of 2026. On top of the money, winners get free Zendesk software for as long as the project needs it, with an annual check that eligibility is still met, and collaboration on pro bono support.
Who can apply
Registered nonprofits can apply: US 501(c)(3) public charities and foreign organisations operating for charitable purposes. You must upload proof of nonprofit status, such as your registration certificate. Current Zendesk customers and current or past Zendesk grantees cannot apply. Organisations based in Belarus, the Central African Republic, Crimea, Congo, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Russia, Venezuela, Yemen or Zimbabwe are not accepted at present. Applications must be in English and sent through the online form; emailed applications are not accepted.
Your project needs to fit one of three focus areas: fostering community, promoting resilience in a time of crisis, or creating career pathways into tech. This suits an Indian charity that serves many people through a helpdesk, case-management or support channel. It does not suit a group that would use the software only for internal work such as HR or volunteer management.
How to apply
Read the FAQs, the evaluation criteria and the case studies first. A downloadable copy of the application lets your team draft answers offline, but it is not the real application. The online form asks about your organisation, your focus area, why you want the awards, your ability to adopt new technology, who will oversee the software, and what software and amount you are requesting. There is a separate form for the Agents of Change job-training track.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The Zendesk Social Impact review committee scores four things: programmatic fit with the focus areas, impact on the people you serve, scale, and tech readiness. Tech readiness means showing who will run the platform, how staff will adopt it and that you can invest time in setup. Most grantees install and configure the free software themselves with Zendesk's online help, which usually needs a dedicated IT staff member.
About the Zendesk Foundation
The Impact Awards are part of Zendesk's Tech for Good programme. The 2024 results page says the programme partners with nearly 200 organisations and has donated close to US$25 million in product since 2018. In 2024, 20 winners were chosen from nearly 500 applicants.
Things to check before you apply
- Reporting. Grants are unrestricted, but Tech for Good may ask for programme statistics, photos and quotes for joint marketing, storytelling, and a short annual survey.
- Software commitment. A named person must manage the platform.
- Conflicts of interest. You confirm you have not agreed to a business deal with Zendesk as a condition of the grant, and you declare any conflicts.
- A practical tip: show the number of people outside your organisation who will be helped, not the internal workflow.
- Foreign funds. Indian organisations receiving foreign grants should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Provider
ZendeskBenefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Each winning nonprofit receives a grant of US$10,000 to US$50,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh to ₹47.5 lakh), plus donated Zendesk software for as long as the project needs it and pro bono support from Zendesk teams. The Foundation describes its grants as unrestricted, with no time limit on spending; grantees share programme statistics, stories and a short annual survey. Grants are paid within two months of the award announcement.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
The Zendesk Social Impact review committee and the Zendesk Foundation score applications on programmatic fit, impact, scale and tech readiness. Applicants are told their status after review, and the award announcement was expected in the last quarter of 2026.
Application Process
- 1
Read FAQs and draft
Review the FAQs and criteria and draft answers offline.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
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
Can an Indian nonprofit apply for the Zendesk Tech for Good Impact Awards?
Yes. The awards are open to foreign organisations that operate for charitable purposes, and India is not on the list of excluded countries. You must upload proof of nonprofit status. Magic Bus India and Red Dot Foundation were among the 2024 winners.
How much can we get?
Awards are between US$10,000 and US$50,000 per organisation (about ₹9.5 lakh to ₹47.5 lakh), plus free Zendesk software. The Foundation can change award amounts at any time.
Is the grant restricted to certain costs?
No. The Zendesk Foundation says its grants are unrestricted and there is no time limit on spending. Recipients may be asked for some reporting and joint-marketing items.
How is the money paid?
Grants are paid to awardees within two months of the award announcement. The pages reviewed do not describe the payment method.
Who cannot apply?
Current Zendesk customers, current or past Zendesk grantees, and organisations based in the excluded countries listed on the eligibility page cannot apply. Emailed applications are also not accepted.
What documents do we need?
Proof of nonprofit status, uploaded in the attachment section of the online form, and answers in English about your mission, why you want the awards, your tech readiness and who will manage the software.
Can we use Zendesk only for internal work?
No. Projects that use Zendesk only for internal purposes such as HR, IT or volunteer management do not qualify. Successful applicants show how the software helps their external programmes.
What was the deadline and what if it has passed?
The deadline was 11:59 pm ET on 15 July 2026, which was 9:29 am IST on 16 July. The 2026 round is closed and no next round has been announced on the pages reviewed.
Do we have to travel or pay to apply?
The pages reviewed mention no application fee and no travel. The process is an online form.
When are the results announced?
The announcement of awards was expected in the last quarter of 2026. The pages give two other notification dates for application status, so check the help centre.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
