NGOGrant guide

Paul Hamlyn Foundation India Fund: ₹10–40 Lakh Grants for FCRA-Registered NGOs

By Vekho P. Ringa · Published October 21, 2026

PHF India Fund page checked 21 Oct 2026

Short answer: The Paul Hamlyn Foundation India Fund gives grants of ₹10 lakh to ₹40 lakh over 1 to 2 years. It accepts applications all year, but only from Indian NGOs that already hold FCRA registration.

Looking for other funding opportunities? See the Fish Welfare Initiative farmed fish welfare call (brief proposals by 18 Nov 2026, 6:00 pm IST), the SBI Foundation NGO Capacity Building RFP (for training partners). SBIF RFP document and website listing: 4 November 2026; no closing time published. Checked 30 Oct 2026. Our advice: apply early, as no closing time is given. See also our funding directory.

This is not guaranteed funding. PHF runs its own selection, and many good proposals are turned down. So read the eligibility check below before you spend days on a proposal.

PHF India Fund at a glance

Paul Hamlyn Foundation India Fund (rolling, FCRA required)

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF) is based in London. Its India Fund backs community-centred work with vulnerable communities: people with little access to education or health services, Dalit communities, disabled people (especially children), people in extreme poverty, tribal communities and women. It also values links with panchayats and municipalities, the environment and gender equality.

The unusual thing here is timing. PHF says its applications are “open year-round” and it does “not issue calls for proposals”. Applications are assessed twice a year, in March and October.

That means no last-minute rush. Take the time to prepare properly, and apply when your proposal is genuinely ready.

Grant size: ₹10,00,000 to ₹40,00,000 (₹10 lakh to ₹40 lakh), for 1 to 2 years.

Micro or meso/macro: which level fits you?

• Micro level: for small to medium NGOs that work directly with communities. PHF says these are “probably” organisations with an annual outlay of less than ₹1.5 crore, and that they will already have implemented, or be implementing, work in the area.
• Meso/macro level: for larger organisations working on learning, policy advocacy or NGO capacity building. These can be located outside the priority area listed below.

Which states and regions are covered?

Micro grants are given only in these places:

If your state or region is not in this table, you are outside the micro-grant area. Larger organisations working on learning, policy advocacy or NGO capacity building can still look at the meso/macro level: PHF says these organisations “could be located outside the geographical priority area”.

For NGOs in Nagaland and other Northeast states: Assam is the only Northeast state in the micro-grant list. NGOs elsewhere in the Northeast are not in the micro-grant area, though a larger organisation could look at the meso/macro level, which may be located outside the priority states.

Can your NGO apply? A quick check

• ☐ We are a local Indian NGO (not a foreign organisation or the Indian branch of one).
• ☐ We hold FCRA registration. PHF clearly says it does “not work on prior permission”. If you only have FCRA prior permission, or no FCRA at all, you cannot apply.
• ☐ For a micro grant: we work directly with communities, in one of the listed states or regions, and our annual outlay is roughly under ₹1.5 crore.
• ☐ For a meso/macro grant: our work is mainly learning, policy advocacy or NGO capacity building.
• ☐ Our work is with one or more of the vulnerable groups PHF names.
• ☐ We are not a political or religious institution.
• ☐ We will apply ourselves, not through a consultant or fundraiser. PHF does not accept applications made through consultants or fundraisers.

Applying, step by step

1. Read the official India Fund page and the India Fund Strategic Plan 2023–33 linked there.
2. Take the eligibility quiz on the same page (available in English and Hindi).
3. Register on PHF’s online portal. You will answer eligibility questions when you log in.
4. Choose the correct form: micro level or meso/macro level.
5. Submit your written application through the portal. PHF does not list a fixed document set on the page, so keep your registration papers, FCRA certificate, audited accounts and project budget ready in case they are asked for.

How long will a decision take? PHF gives a general UK decision time of four to six months on its other funding pages; it does not state a decision time specifically for the India Fund. Plan your project dates with that uncertainty in mind.

Common mistake to avoid: applying while your FCRA registration is still under process, or using prior permission. Sort out FCRA first. Our FCRA registration and prior permission guide explains the difference.

View the Paul Hamlyn India Fund funding-directory entry.

Is the PHF India Fund right for your NGO?

Start with PHF’s hard rule: no FCRA registration, no application. Prior permission will not do. Then check location (micro grants are limited to the listed states and regions) and size (PHF’s rough ₹1.5 crore annual outlay guide for micro grants). Only then start writing.

A worked example: a small society in Odisha with FCRA registration, working with tribal women on livelihoods, would fit PHF’s micro-grant description on paper. (Hypothetical illustration, not a real applicant.)

Documents to keep ready

Most funders ask for a familiar core set. Keep these scanned and up to date:
– Registration certificate and PAN
– 12A and 80G certificates
– FCRA certificate (required by PHF)
– Audited accounts for recent years
– A clear project budget

Our documents checklist for NGO funding applications and NGO due diligence checklist go through each item. Before you hit submit, run your draft through the NGO grant application checklist and the proposal review checklist. New to proposal writing? Our NGO project proposal format is a good place to begin.

Need ready formats? The NGO Project Proposal & Budget Templates help with a written proposal. These are templates you fill in yourself. They do not guarantee selection, and PHF does not accept applications made through consultants or fundraisers, so your NGO must apply in its own name.

Questions about the templates? Message us on WhatsApp

FAQs

Is the Paul Hamlyn India Fund open now?

Yes. PHF says applications are open year-round on a rolling basis and are assessed in March and October each year (checked 21 Oct 2026).

Can an NGO with FCRA prior permission apply to PHF?

No. PHF says it does not work on prior permission. You need FCRA registration.

Can NGOs in Nagaland apply to the PHF India Fund?

Not for micro grants, because Nagaland is not in the listed states. Assam is the only Northeast state listed. Larger organisations may look at the meso/macro level, which can be located outside the priority area.

Official source (checked 21 Oct 2026)

• Paul Hamlyn Foundation, India Fund: https://www.phf.org.uk/funding/india-fund

Funding details change. Always check the funder’s official page before you apply. NGOGrant.in is an independent directory and is not connected to Paul Hamlyn Foundation. FCRA points are general information, not legal advice. Inclusion here does not mean any NGO will be funded.

Related reading: NGO funding sources in India · CSR proposal format · NGO project budget guide · NGO grant verification toolkit · All funding opportunities