5 NGOs from Assam selected for GROW Fund grant 

Guwahati, January 24: 100 NGOs doing important social work across the country have been selected to receive grants from GROW (Grassroots Resilience Ownership and Wellnes) Fund, which will be provided by EdelGive Foundation. Apart from the EdelGive Foundation, several other reputable funding partners are also involved. Out of the selected 100 NGOs, 5 NGOs are from Assam.

Each NGO selected to be a part of this initiative will receive Rs.80 lakh over two years to enhance its capabilities, flexibility and its resources for future readiness. With over 2300 organizations registered, each selected NGO will also be assisted in mentoring, networking and leadership building. This will enable organizations to overcome the immediate challenges posed by COVID-19 and sustain operations by covering significant costs and promote long-term sustainability and future readiness of the organization.

The NGOs selected from Assam include Aaranyak, North-East Research and Social Work Networking (NERSWN), Ashadeep, The Ant and Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SEsta). All these organizations are doing good work in diverse areas like Climate Ecology and Animal Welfare, Advocacy Governance and Research, Livelihood and Health and Sanitation.

For the first time in the since the outbreak of Covid-19, the grassroots organizations serving different communities of India faced many problems in terms of survival and growth and they were forced to close down with dwindling funds came to the brink. GROW Fund is a unique financial campaign that aims to redefine philanthropy by addressing the growth needs of organizations committed to creating a conducive environment for their sustainable growth and a brighter future.

For its mission to make Grow Fund more inclusive and more easily accessible to small and medium sized NGOs, Grow Fund has received a lot of appreciation and resources from Indian and international fund providers. These providers include charitable organizations and reputable philanthropists who are known for their individual charities. The main providers of this fund include Edelweiss Group along with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mann Trust, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, MacArthur Foundation, A.T.E. Chandra Foundation, Rain Matter Foundation, Dalyaan Foundation, Oak Foundation, a private philanthropic partner, Indus Foundation of Utah, Omidyar Network India and Ashish Kacholia. Apart from this, eminent businessmen and change agents like Sanjay Purohit, Rati Forbes, Bikhchandani Family, Helenka and Sunil Anand, Onward Foundation and Govind Iyer have also contributed to the Grow Fund.

Commenting on the announcement of the group, Vidya Shah, Executive Chairperson, EdelGive Foundation said, “We are delighted to see 5 NGOs from Assam joining the group for Grow Fund Grants, selected from 20 states across the country. These grassroots organizations working tirelessly with underprivileged communities across the state in diverse areas like like Climate Ecology and Animal Welfare, Advocacy Governance and Research, Livelihood and Health and Sanitation. Apart from the financial support, these selected NGOs in Assam are getting their rights in technology, finance, Training on Human Resources, Fundraising and Communication will be of great benefit. The entire program will be integrated with a special 12-14 month programme, Development Assessment Tool for the Organization and Grow-Hub Knowledge Gyan Dissemination Platform. We are determined to enable them to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19 and are determined to take their work forward at the grassroots level.”

Speaking about the objective of Grow Fund, Nagma Mulla, CEO, EdelGive Foundation said, “We believe that grassroots organizations working for the upliftment of underprivileged communities are most influential in developing sustainable solutions to various problems at the grassroots level. They are  with Grow Fund, we aim to present a collaborative philanthropy and strengthen India's NGOs by helping them. With generous support from our funders and philanthropists, the current grant will be of immense help to the 100 selected NGOs and will open the door to more such collaborations in the future.”

The 100  NGOs were selected through an open and transparent online application process. Each application was assessed on the basis of quantitative and quantitative information on parameters like financial strength, fundraising potential, expansion, impact on funding, and significant gaps. 
About the EdelGive Foundation
EdelGive Foundation is a grant-making organization. It is a natural partner for Indian and foreign funders who want to engage with the Indian development ecosystem. Our unique philanthropic model places EdelGive at the center of grant-making and provides initial grants to NGOs by managing funds from other organizations and corporate funders.