AI for Transformative Social Impact Grant — Up to ₹50L from RAFT

The AI for Transformative Social Impact Grant is a funding programme from the Rao Family Trust (RAFT), run through the trust's TechForGood initiative. It exists to back organisations that place artificial intelligence at the centre of their work on India's hardest social problems — not as a bolt-on feature, but as the mechanism that makes the outcome achievable at all.

The programme's premise is that some problems are impractical, inefficient or simply impossible to solve with conventional methods, and that AI can close that gap: analysing complex data, generating personalised recommendations, or automating analysis at a scale humans cannot match. RAFT is looking for interventions built on that premise, and expects them to be measurable, responsibly designed and capable of scaling beyond a pilot.

Sectors are deliberately broad. Proposals have been invited across agriculture, conservation, disability inclusion, healthcare, frontline worker decision support, social services and community development. What ties them together is the requirement for significant, demonstrable social impact rather than technological novelty for its own sake.

Funding of up to ₹50 lakh is available to nonprofits, Section 8 companies and Private Limited Companies operating in India, and strong projects may be considered for multi-year backing. Proposals are submitted by email to contact@raft.org.in, and the deadline is 30 September 2026.

• Grants of up to ₹50 lakh from the Rao Family Trust (RAFT)
• Non-repayable funding — no repayment and no equity taken
• AI must be native to the solution, not an add-on feature
• Open to nonprofits, Section 8 companies, and Private Limited Companies with a nonprofit deployment partner
• Multi-year support possible for projects with strong long-term potential
• Proposals due by 30 September 2026; submit by email to contact@raft.org.in

Applications are invited from nonprofits and Section 8 companies, and from Private Limited Companies, all based in India.

• Private Limited Companies are eligible only if they are working in active partnership with a nonprofit that will deploy the AI solution, with roles and responsibilities clearly defined between the two.
• The proposed solution must be AI-native — artificial intelligence has to be fundamental to how the intervention produces its social outcomes, not an added feature.
• The project must take on a significant social or development challenge and offer impact that is transformative, measurable and scalable.
• Organisations from anywhere in India may apply. Solutions working in Maharashtra are particularly encouraged.
• Not eligible: proposals limited to training people on public generative AI tools, or built around everyday AI productivity applications.

If your work sits at the intersection of AI and social impact — agriculture, conservation, disability inclusion, healthcare, frontline worker decision support, social services or community development — you are in the intended applicant pool.

AI for Transformative Social Impact Grant — Up to ₹50L from RAFT is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Applications for AI for Transformative Social Impact Grant — Up to ₹50L from RAFT are open and the current deadline is Closes in 14d (30 Sept 2026). Applications are closing soon, so prepare your documents early. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.

Selected organisations receive a grant of up to ₹50 lakh. The funding is non-repayable: it is not a loan and no equity or ownership stake is taken in the organisation.

• The grant is intended to cover project-related activities and the implementation plan, enabling the organisation to reach the outcomes it has defined.
• Projects with a strong long-term vision and demonstrated potential may be considered for multi-year support rather than a single funding round.
• The programme looks for returns in social terms: transformative impact that is measurable, responsibly designed and scalable.

In short, this is patient, milestone-oriented capital for teams whose AI solution needs room to be built, deployed and proven.

AI for Transformative Social Impact Grant — Up to ₹50L from RAFT is offered by Rao Family Trust (RAFT). It is delivered directly by Rao Family Trust (RAFT) as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Proposals go through a multi-stage evaluation by a selection committee made up of experts from the Rao Family Trust and its partners.

• Initial screening: each proposal is assessed for eligibility and for alignment with the programme's focus on AI-native social impact solutions.
• Shortlisting and deep dive: organisations that clear screening may be invited for further discussions, presentations, or interviews to elaborate on the proposed solution, the team's capabilities, and the plan for measuring impact.
• Final selection: the committee makes its decisions on the basis of transformative potential, scalability, measurability, responsible AI considerations, and the overall feasibility of the project.

Before you apply to AI for Transformative Social Impact Grant — Up to ₹50L from RAFT, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

AI for Transformative Social Impact Grant — Up to ₹50L from RAFT is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹50L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.