Official call published 12 October 2026 · Source checked 19 October 2026 · India eligible · Concept-note deadline 8 November 2026.
The Andrew Carnegie Foundation’s International Program is inviting proposals for peacebuilding and mediation projects. The programme offers grants ranging from US$500,000 to US$1.5 million for work lasting 12 to 36 months. The Foundation’s official eligibility annex expressly includes India among countries where eligible registered organisations can receive grants directly, subject to its other conditions.
This is a specialist international foundation grant, not an Indian corporate CSR call. It is intended for experienced organisations that can prevent or reduce armed conflict and political violence, strengthen dialogue, improve mediation, or translate action-oriented research into practical peacebuilding.
Deadline: Sunday, 8 November 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is Monday, 9 November 2026 at 10:29 AM IST. The application form confirms EST. Submit well before the cutoff.
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Carnegie peacebuilding grant 2026: key details
| Funder | Andrew Carnegie Foundation — International Program |
|---|---|
| Call | International Program Call for Proposals: Peacebuilding and Mediation |
| Funding | US$500,000–US$1.5 million per selected grant |
| Grant duration | 12–36 months; awards anticipated to start in the second half of 2027 |
| Geography | All regions for proposed work; direct award recipients must be registered in the US or a country in Annex A, which includes India |
| Focus | Conflict prevention, peacebuilding, mediation, political-violence reduction and action-oriented research linked to policy or practice |
| Deadline | 8 November 2026, 11:59 PM EST / 9 November 2026, 10:29 AM IST |
| First stage | Online concept note via the Foundation’s Google Form; Google Account required |
| Next stages | Shortlist notification February 2027; invited full proposals March 2027; initial grant decisions June 2027 |
| Official notice | Foundation announcement and Annex A |
| Direct application | Official concept-note Google Form |
Can Indian NGOs apply?
Yes, potentially. India is included in Annex A of the official call. However, the Foundation’s charter restricts which countries can receive direct awards. An applicant must be a legally established organisation meeting the funder’s conditions. Non-US organisations outside the listed countries are encouraged to work with a US partner or another eligible entity.
For an Indian society, trust or Section 8 nonprofit, legal registration alone does not guarantee selection. The Foundation wants an established organisation with a strong record of leadership and delivery, genuine relationships with people affected by conflict, and credible capacity to engage local or regional decision-makers.
Organisations without the required US nonprofit status may also be eligible through a compliant US fiscal-sponsorship arrangement, as described in the call. Indian applicants should not assume they need a US sponsor merely because the Foundation is based in the United States: India is specifically on the list of permitted direct-award countries.
Indian compliance: this is foreign philanthropic funding, not an Indian CSR grant. An Indian recipient must determine the applicable FCRA authorisation, banking and reporting requirements before accepting foreign contribution. The public call does not impose CSR-1, NGO DARPAN or DSIR certification as blanket conditions.
What kinds of projects will the Foundation fund?
The call supports credible diplomatic, community and institutional dialogue, mediation initiatives, innovative approaches to reducing conflict, and research that directly informs practitioners or policy decisions. It prioritises areas where conditions create a realistic opening for peacebuilding.
The Foundation welcomes pilots and new approaches, but expects applicants to have a proven track record and a clear theory of change: what conditions need to change, who can influence them, what the organisation will do, and what progress would look like.
For example, a qualifying project might bring trusted local actors into a structured mediation process, develop a practical early-warning and dialogue mechanism, or translate rigorous conflict analysis into negotiations or policy action. These are NGOGrant illustrations, not approved projects or guaranteed priorities for any particular state.
Exclusions: the call explicitly excludes standalone academic research and ordinary service delivery such as humanitarian assistance or direct legal aid without a mediation or dialogue component. It is not a general grant for shelters, schools, livelihood training or infrastructure.
How much funding is available?
The published range is US$500,000–US$1.5 million for projects lasting 12 to 36 months. The Foundation allows reasonable indirect costs, ordinarily capped at 15%; applicants requesting a higher rate must explain why.
The amount is a competitive grant range, not a guaranteed award. The concept note should propose an appropriate amount, implementation period and broad budget covering staffing, travel, events, research, partners and administration as relevant.
Information needed for the first-stage concept note
The official Google Form asks applicants to explain their organisation’s track record and relationships, collaborating partners, proposed project, duration, requested funding, high-level budget, problem and window of opportunity, planned activities and impact, target audience, innovative contribution and project risks.
The form sets strict character limits. The public guidance specifies 1,800 characters for the organisational background, 750 for collaborators, 700 for the high-level budget, 1,125 for the problem and opportunity, 3,000 for activities and impact, 1,500 for the target audience, and 1,125 each for differentiation and risks.
Applicants should prepare concise answers offline, verify partner commitments, and use factual examples of previous work. Do not invent mediation outcomes, government relationships or experience.
How to apply for the Carnegie Foundation grant
- Read the official call. Check the eligibility and Annex A list to confirm the applicant’s legal and geographical eligibility.
- Review the project fit. Explain why the proposed conflict context offers a genuine opportunity for peacebuilding, and how the work will contribute to mediation or durable peace.
- Prepare the concept note. Gather the organisation’s track record, partner roles, budget, objectives, approach, risks and evidence.
- Open the official Google Form. A Google Account is required. Complete each required field and review answers for character limits.
- Submit before the deadline. The first-stage concept note is due 8 November 2026, 11:59 PM EST. Retain the submission confirmation.
- Watch for shortlisting. Selected applicants are expected to be invited to submit full proposals in early 2027.
Official application — Carnegie concept-note form →
Separate official source: International Program Call for Proposals, published 12 October 2026. Questions can be sent to internationalprogram@carnegie.org.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Nagaland or Northeast India-based organisation apply?
India is expressly included in the eligible-country annex. A qualifying organisation based in Northeast India can therefore be considered, provided its project genuinely addresses peacebuilding or mediation and meets the Foundation’s other requirements.
Is US$500,000 guaranteed?
No. It is the lower end of the Foundation’s published grant range. Awards depend on eligibility, project quality, review and available funding.
Can an NGO apply for an ordinary community development project?
Not without a credible peacebuilding, mediation or dialogue purpose. Standalone service delivery is excluded.
Does the application need a US fiscal sponsor?
Not automatically for an eligible Indian organisation, because India is in Annex A. Review the official legal and award-recipient rules.
Can we submit multiple concepts?
The Foundation requests no more than one application per organisation.
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Editorial verification: 19 October 2026. Primary sources: Andrew Carnegie Foundation official 12 October announcement and official concept-note form. The form explicitly confirms 11:59 PM EST; India is listed in Annex A. NGOGrant is independent of the funder. Examples and compliance notes are editorial guidance, not additional funder requirements. No application has been submitted.