Grantmaking
What type of organizations can apply for grants?

The Deshpande Foundation accepts grant proposals from organizations:

  • Registered as 501(c)3 in the United States;
  • With documentation of 80-G certification and FCRA approval in India.

Non-US NGO's will be provided a checklist of required documents at the appropriate time in the grant application process.
What legal status must my organization in India have to be eligible for a grant?

Your organization must have 80G approval, FCRA approval or Section 25 company registration documents, as well as audited financial records and information about the Board of Trustees.
How do I apply for a Deshpande Foundation grant?

Please see our Grant Guidelines, but please note that the Deshpande Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. However, if you would like to partner with us or if you have questions, please send basic information about your organization to grants@dfmail.org. We will contact your organization directly if we are interested.
What are your deadlines for request submission?

We have two grant cycles per year, one in February and one in August. The application deadlines for each are approximately February 1st and August 1st. However, if you would like to be considered for a grant, you should contact the Foundation 2-3 months in advance.
How long does it take to review a proposal?

Due to staff limitations, it takes one to two months to review a proposal.
Do you fund individuals?

No.
What is the typical size of grants?

We make grants from $5,000 up to several million dollars. The amount that an organization is awarded depends upon their abilities and strengths in our stated criteria areas.
What is the duration of grants?

Grants are given for one year. However, if an organization shows the ability to successfully implement and scale their programs, we may enter into a multi-year partnership with them.
Does the DF accept donations?

No, but we urge interested parties to donate directly to our individual partners by either contacting the organizations directly or through Give2Asia.
How can I get involved with your NGO partners?

We have several opportunities for engagement: through our Global Exchange Program, the Deshpande Center for Social Entrepreneurship, or direct involvement with the organization itself. In the case of the latter, please visit their info page on this site and feel free to be in contact with the NGO directly.
What else does the DF provide its grantees?

We arrange workshops, seminars, and conferences for our grantees to facilitate partnerships, information sharing, and to help our grantees improve their programs. We also connect our grantees with partners across the world, including academics, industry professionals, or major development networks.
How do you evaluate your partners?

We evaluate our partners on several pre-determined criterion that assess each organization's progress in serving its beneficiaries, overall management, strategic planning, staffing, evaluation, and finances. Please see our evaluation philosophy page.