The Azim Premji Foundation Social Startups Programme 2026 is an opportunity for young development-sector professionals who want to establish a new grassroots civil society organisation in India. The programme combines an eight-month seeding phase, a monthly honorarium, organisational development support and the possibility of a subsequent two-year grant for participants who meet the required milestones.
Applications open on 1 November 2026 and close on 31 December 2026. The programme is particularly relevant to aspiring social entrepreneurs planning to work in Odisha, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bengaluru or North-East India.
About the Azim Premji Social Startups Programme
The programme aims to support development professionals who understand the challenges faced by communities and want to establish organisations to address those challenges.
Rather than providing an immediate grant to an existing NGO, the initiative helps selected participants establish a new civil society organisation, develop its programme approach and complete the necessary registration and compliance requirements.
Key Programme Benefits
Selected participants will receive support during an eight-month seeding phase, including:
- A monthly honorarium during the seeding phase.
- Guidance on registering a new civil society organisation.
- Support to constitute a governing board and open an organisational bank account.
- Guidance on statutory compliance and organisational development.
- Opportunities to understand community needs and develop a programme strategy.
- Peer learning and support from other development professionals.
Participants who successfully complete the seeding phase and meet the required organisational and compliance milestones will be considered for a grant to develop and strengthen their work over a subsequent two-year period.
The Foundation has not specified a fixed grant amount on the official programme page. Applicants should consult the official website for the applicable terms and conditions.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is intended for individual development-sector professionals who want to establish a new grassroots organisation.
Applicants must:
- Be below 40 years of age.
- Hold a graduate degree in any discipline.
- Have at least three years of experience in the development sector.
- Be willing to work at the grassroots level.
- Intend to establish a new civil society organisation.
- Not already have a registered organisation.
- Propose work in one of the programme’s specified geographies.
The programme is not intended as a general grant for existing registered NGOs. Established organisations should review other funding opportunities offered by the Foundation or other grant-makers.
Programme Locations and Focus Areas
The Foundation identifies four programme geographies.
Odisha: Rural livelihoods, youth, Adivasi communities, children and health.
Eastern Uttar Pradesh: Rural livelihoods, health, the urban informal sector and disability.
Bengaluru: Afterschool programmes, creches, community sanitation, food distribution, welfare rights and children.
North-East India: Rural livelihoods, youth and adolescent girls, health and mental health.
Applicants should ensure that their proposed work fits the relevant geography and focus areas.
Application Dates
Applications open: 1 November 2026
Last date to apply: 31 December 2026
Applicants should review the eligibility requirements and application instructions before submitting their details. The selection process includes application and document review, written responses from shortlisted candidates, an online interaction and an in-person panel interaction.
How to Apply
Visit the official Azim Premji Foundation Social Startups Programme page to review the complete eligibility criteria and application process:
Applications are scheduled to open on 1 November 2026. Interested candidates can review the official programme information in advance and prepare details of their development-sector experience, proposed area of work and plans for establishing a new organisation.
Related Funding Resource
For information about the Foundation’s broader grant-making initiatives for established nonprofit organisations, see our existing article:
Empowering Change: Azim Premji Foundation Grants Initiatives
https://ngoportal.org/empowering-change-azim-premji-foundation-grants-initiatives/
Disclaimer: NGOPortal shares funding information for informational purposes. Eligibility, programme conditions, application dates and selection decisions are determined by the Azim Premji Foundation. Applicants should verify the latest details on the official website before applying.