Many development sector professionals spend years working closely with communities and understanding their challenges but face financial and institutional barriers when attempting to establish independent organisations. The new programme seeks to bridge this gap by helping them develop locally rooted organisations with a long-term commitment to addressing community needs.
Rajib Ghosh, Head - Philanthropy, Azim Premji Foundation, said, “We need more organisations working at the grassroots, especially in underserved areas. Many experienced professionals understand the challenges communities face and want to contribute more. This programme aims to help them take that step and build organisations of their own. This is distinct from the Foundation’s regular grants programme that supports existing, registered organisations (both mature and more recently early-stage).”
The first cohort will include approximately 100 participants across four geographies: Odisha, North-East India, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bengaluru Urban. The programme will support initiatives in areas including rural livelihoods, health, youth, mental health, disability, children's welfare, the well-being of Adivasi communities, and welfare rights. It will also cover work in urban informal settlements, including creches and community sanitation.
Applicants must be below 40 years of age, hold a graduate degree and have at least three years of ground-level experience in the development sector. They must intend to establish and lead a new civil society organisation, be willing to relocate and make a long-term commitment to their chosen geography. Individuals who have already registered an organisation will not be eligible to apply.
The programme will be implemented in two phases. The first will be an eight-month seeding phase, during which selected participants will receive financial support to work with communities, understand local needs and develop their organisations. They will also receive guidance on organisational registration, governance and statutory compliances.
At the end of the seeding phase, participants are expected to have registered their organisations. They will then be eligible to submit grant proposals for evaluation. Participants who meet the programme's criteria may receive a two-year seed grant to establish and strengthen their organisations.
Applications for the programme will remain open from 1 November to 31 December 2026. The selection process will involve eligibility screening, document review, submission of a statement of purpose, an online interview and an in-person panel discussion.
The eight-month seeding phase is scheduled to begin on 1 April 2027. Participants will undergo an assessment in November–December 2027 to determine their progression to the grant phase.
Further details about the programme, eligibility requirements and application process are available on the Azim Premji Foundation's official website at https://azimpremjifoundation.org/who-we-are/how-we-are-organised/grants/social-startups-programme/.
The Azim Premji Foundation works towards building a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society. Its work spans education, health and other areas of social development, with partnerships involving governments, institutions, civil society organisations and communities across India.
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