NGOGrant guide
Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund FY2027: Grants of up to ¥20 Million
KNCF call page and FY2027 Guidelines last verified 22 Oct 2026
Short answer: Indian NGOs with at least 3 years of nature conservation work can apply to the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF), a Japanese charitable trust, for biodiversity projects. First-time applicants can seek a Basic A Grant of 1 million yen or less; the Standard Grant goes up to 10 million yen, and the Collaboration Grant for two or more NGOs up to 20 million yen a year. Apply online in KNCF’s Fund Management System by 1 Dec 2026, 1:30 PM IST (5 PM JST).
This is a competitive grant. Applying does not guarantee funding.
Practical answers
Who should apply
- NGOs in any Indian State or UT with incorporated status, or a voluntary organisation with equivalent credibility.
- Organisations with a record of nature conservation projects for 3 years or more, which can report activities, budgets and finances when KNCF asks.
- Projects that preserve biodiversity, solve a social issue that contributes to it, or build people’s skills to preserve it (including environmental education), in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Who should skip it
- Projects unrelated to biodiversity, or whose results benefit a particular organisation or individual.
- Indian NGOs looking at the Basic B Grant: it is only for groups in UN-designated Least Developed Countries.
- Applicants for the Collaboration Grant who cannot name the partner NGO: KNCF will not review such applications.
- Groups with no legal registration or equivalent standing. If you are still choosing a legal form, compare society, trust and Section 8 company.
Documents to prepare
- ☐ Financial statements or certified audits for the past 3 years (our audit readiness checklist helps).
- ☐ Proof of incorporation (not needed for Basic A).
- ☐ Project proposal on KNCF’s template (see our NGO project proposal guide).
- ☐ Evidence of cooperation from local government bodies, NGOs and residents.
- ☐ Names of experts with scientific knowledge on the team or advising it.
- ☐ An email address that is not Gmail: KNCF’s Japanese page says Gmail cannot receive its system emails.
What happens next
- KNCF’s Grant Review Committee screens applications in mid-March 2027 (tentative).
- Results appear in the system from 1 Apr 2027, 9:00 JST.
- Approved projects submit a revised plan and budget by 31 May 2027.
- Standard and Basic grants are paid 50% first and the rest after an Interim Report; the Collaboration Grant pays 100% of each year’s amount, in principle.
At a glance
| Item | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| Funder | Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (public trust; trustee: Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank) |
| Basic A Grant | 1 million yen or less; first-time applicants to KNCF; may continue up to 3 years |
| Standard Grant | Up to 10 million yen; may be applied for each year over 3 consecutive years |
| Collaboration Grant | Up to 20 million yen a year; two or more NGOs; three years |
| Basic B Grant | UN Least Developed Countries only; not open to Indian NGOs |
| Where | Developing countries mainly in the Asia-Pacific region, or inside Japan |
| Grant period | 1 Apr 2027 to 31 Mar 2028 (Collaboration Grant: to 31 Mar 2030) |
| Not covered | Labour costs for permanent staff; outsourcing the whole project (partial outsourcing capped at 10% of the grant) |
| Deadline | 1 Dec 2026, 1:30 PM IST (5 PM JST) |
How to apply, step by step
- Register on the KNCF Fund Management System (open since 1 Oct 2026, 9:00 JST).
- Read the FY2027 Guidelines, the documents list and the user manual on KNCF’s call page.
- Prepare the proposal and budget offline; the NGO project budget guide covers costing.
- Upload every document and press “Application Entry” before 1 Dec 2026, 1:30 PM IST. KNCF says the button stops working at the deadline.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting salaries of permanent staff, which KNCF does not fund.
- Registering with a Gmail address and missing system emails.
- Leaving the upload to the last hour: the entry button stops at 5 PM JST, which is 1:30 PM in India.
- Applying for Basic A after an earlier KNCF application: it is only for first-time applicants.
FCRA: check before you apply
Foreign grant: Indian NGOs normally need FCRA registration or prior permission (FCRA 2010) to receive these funds. General information only, not legal advice.
If your NGO has neither, see our FCRA registration and prior permission service before you commit to a project timeline.
FAQs
Can a first-time NGO apply?
Yes. The Basic A Grant (1 million yen or less) is for first-time applicants to KNCF and needs fewer documents.
Can an Indian NGO apply for the Basic B Grant?
No. Basic B is only for countries the UN designates as Least Developed Countries.
Is the deadline in Indian time?
KNCF sets it in Japan time: 5 PM JST on 1 Dec 2026, which is 1:30 PM IST.
Can we pay our permanent staff from the grant?
No. Labour costs for permanent staff cannot be charged. Temporary project staff and expert fees are allowed.
When will we know the result?
Results can be viewed in the system from 1 Apr 2027, 9:00 JST.
Official sources (last verified 22 Oct 2026)
- KNCF FY2027 call page (Japanese): https://www.keidanren.net/kncf/fund/project
- FY2027 Guidelines for Application (English, PDF): https://www.keidanren.net/kncf/pdf/en/project2027/3_Guideline.pdf
Funding details change; check KNCF’s pages before you apply. NGOGrant.in is independent and not connected to KNCF or Keidanren. Inclusion here does not mean any applicant will be funded.
View the KNCF funding-directory entry · Related: NGO grant application checklist · All funding opportunities
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