Who can apply

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Who Can Apply?

The Grant is applicable for NGOs working in the field of Education, Health and Environment with experience of implementing projects in rural India. We encourage organisations from all over India to apply with innovative, replicable and sustainable models, which can make significant contribution towards rural development.

How to Apply

Applicants fulfilling defined eligibility criteria are required to fill the online application form which includes Organisational Profile and Project Abstract along with some mandatory documents.

Registration

Register your organisation by filling in the following details – your name, your organisation’s name, a unique username, a valid email address, address including state and city, valid mobile number, relevant thematic areas in which your organisation is working and a password on HCL Grant website. To register, click here.

Organisation Profile

Fill the Organisational Profile, review, save and submit. The Organisational Profile cannot be edited after submission. Please make sure to save your page every time before you leave the website.

Project Abstract

Fill the Project Abstract, review, save and submit. (Refer to instructions on the top of the page of project abstract form)

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Steps

Documents

Under the ‘Documents’ tab, download Declaration Form by clicking on ‘Format Attached’, fill it by hand and upload it.

Mandatory Documents

Mandatory Documents to be uploaded to complete the application

Registration Certificate
Audited financials for Financial Year 2018-19
Audited financials for Financial Year 2019-20
Audited financials for Financial Year 2020-21
PAN Card
80G Certificate
80G Renewal Application / Provisional Certificate
12A Certificate
12A Renewal Application / Provisional Certificate
CSR Form 1
Declaration Form (format attached)

Review

Review and submit the form.

Acknowledgement

You will receive an e-mail acknowledging the submission of your application on the registered e-mail ID.

Pre Requisites

APPLICANT ORGANISATION

The applicant organization must be a registered entity and qualify the defined eligibility criteria. Further, the name on the application form must match with the registration certificate and other regulatory documents such as PAN, Audited Financials, 80G, 12A, FCRA, etc.

The organization must have adequate experience of working in rural areas in India.

The by-laws of the organization must allow it to undertake a project in the proposed thematic category.

The organization must have a good rapport with the local administration in the proposed project’s location.

The organization, including its governing body members, must not have any pending litigations.

The organization must not be blacklisted by any government agency/department/ministry, donor, or international agency.

The organization must not have faced cancellation of its license/registration/membership, etc., from the regulatory and/or statutory body. These shall cover (but not be limited to) FCRA, EPF, PT, Income Tax, 12A, 80G, GST, PAN, etc.

The organization, including governing board members, must not have any negative media coverage or any other controversy associated with it.

The organization or its board members or employees must not have any political or religious affiliations.

The organization (if announced as winner or runners-up) must open a separate and new bank account for HCL Grant Funds.

PROPOSED PROJECT

The proposed project must be in line with the provisions of Schedule VII of Section 135 of The Companies Act, 2013 and the CSR Rules 2014, and its amendments/clarifications.

The proposed project must be in rural area/s.

The proposed project must be designed for direct implementation by the applicant organization. Sub-granting of HCL funds is not allowed.

The proposed project must be designed for a grant amount of ₹ 5 Crores (to be received from HCL Foundation) for a period of 3 years. It can be co-funded by a suitable donor that the applicant organization can bring onboard for any additional amount. However, HCL Foundation must be apprised of all funders and stakeholders in advance. Additionally, the organization must report the utilization, outreach, and impact explicitly achieved through the HCL Grant fund.

The grant amount must not be used solely for infrastructure development such as construction, renovation, purchase of fixed assets like land, buildings, and vehicles, among others. Further, proposed infrastructure development costs must be spent in line with project objectives and activities defined.

HCL Grant funds can be used to scale-up an existing project or for a new project where co-funding is involved. However, HCL Foundation must be apprised of all funders and stakeholders in advance. Additionally, the organisation must be able to report the utilization, outreach and impact achieved specifically through the HCL Grant fund.

Eligibility Criteria

Not for profit entity

The organization must be a registered not for profit entity in India i.e. either a Society or a Trust or a Section 8 (previously Section 25) company or any other organization (as prescribed under Section 135 of The Companies Act, 2013, the CSR Rules 2014, and its amendments).

Functional Existance

The organization must have registered u/s 80G of The Income-tax, 1961. (including organizations who have successfully submitted application for renewal of 80G certificate, subject to further scrutiny).

Working experience in rural areas

The organization must have the below-mentioned functional existence (as per their registration certificate) in India on or before 31st March 2022:

If applying under Education, Health and Environment category – minimum 5 years or above

Not blacklisted by government

The organization must be in full compliance with applicable regulatory rules and must have valid documents for registration, audited financial reports, etc. Further, the organization must have valid and timely submissions for requisite statutory and regulatory compliances (wherever applicable). These shall cover (but not limited to) income tax, employee provident fund, professional tax, minimum wages, employee state insurance, goods and service tax and FCRA and / or other relevant regulation depending on the nature of funding/donations it receives.

Register With Income Tax

The organization must have registered u/s 12A of The Income-tax, 1961. (including organizations who have successfully submitted application for renewal of 12A certificate, subject to further scrutiny.)

Ministry of Corporate Affairs

The organization must have registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as CSR Implementing Agency through Form No. CSR-1. (including organizations who have successfully submitted application, subject to further scrutiny)

Average Expenditure

The organization must have the below mentioned average expenditure (as per income & expenditure account) for the last three financial years viz. 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21:

If applying under Education and Health category – minimum ₹ 1 Crores or above
If applying under Environment category – minimum ₹ 0.50 Crores or above

If at any point in time, during the entire evaluation process, any organisation is noted to have furnished false or wrong information, the organisation will get disqualified from HCL Grant.