Our organization has recently obtained 12A and 80G registration, and we are now planning to apply for CSR funding. However, most calls for proposals require a high annual turnover (e.g., ₹1 crore or more), whereas our organization’s current turnover is less than ₹2 lakh per annum.
Could you please guide us on how to identify and access small grants or funding opportunities that do not have such high turnover requirements?
Please get CSR-1 registration if not obtained still. Also, note besides 12A and 80G, you must have a track record of 3 years of activities for CSR registration. Use the new eCSR-1 form will be applicable effective from July 2025. Without CSR registration, no CSR funds can be mobilised by an NGO.
This Forum is not a fund raising platform. Our advise is to look for corporates who have CSR obligations in the vicinity of your area of operations, read their CSR policy which will help you understand the focus area of the corporate, local area preference and mode of implementation etc. Approach those corporates after due desk work where there is matching of expectations, that will click. The rationale for insisting on Rs.1 cr income by the corporate is for hedging risk to their CSR funds, corporate will typically take exposure not exceeding 25-35% of an NGOIs annual income meaning that if a grant size is Rs.25 lakhs the insistence on income being Rs.1 cr is not unjustified. Hope it clarifies.
CS Sharad Bhargava