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Supporting actions that accelerate change

Established in 2002 with an endownment from Mr. Sekhsaria, The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation enables non-profit organizations and social enterpreneurs to make a positive, lasting and sustainable impact on society. Inspired by the vision of a socially, culturally and economically vibrant India, the foundation strives to accelerate change by supporting committed individuals and organisations in sectors such as health, education, livelihoods, governance and civic issues, art and culture and youth and urbanisation.
Key Accelerators
  • Catalysing joint ownership and action among leaders representing a cross-section of society
  • Developing human capital with an unrelenting focus on leadership
  • Shifting mindsets and behaviours to enhance skills
  • Deploying new technology and translating innovation
  • Investing in inclusion
  • Engaging the private sector for social development
  • Empowering the youth with leadership skills to participate in development
Key Focus Areas
Health

The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation works towards providing better access to health care facilities to the marginalised and vulnerable sections of society. In order to accomplish this, the Foundation partners with Public and Private Institutions and Civil Society Organisations that carry out public health interventions.

Education

Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation promotes academic excellence by enabling deserving candidates across India to access quality higher education. The Foundation grants a wide array of scholarships to students who have demonstrated their academic excellence and all-round development. The Foundation supports educational institutions through a range of chairs and fellowships that enable research. Recognizing the role of civil society organizations in development of education, the Foundation supports NGO initiatives across the country.

Commitment to Enduring Change

The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation is among the leading funding agencies in India, committed to facilitating meaningful change in the country. It believes that the only way to ensure lasting change is to have an institutional framework that fosters economic and social development. Since the government’s role in establishing policy frameworks is crucial, the Foundation liaises with the state to enable it to deliver better results in education, health care and economic empowerment.

Approach to Grant Making

Through its grant making endeavours, the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation aims to transform the lives of socially and economically disadvantaged communities and to support civil society interventions.
The absence of a profit motive is not a sufficient explanation; hence, the Foundation seeks partners who are driven to deliver result-oriented outcomes. It collaborates with enterprising individuals and innovative organisations on projects that align with its priorities. As a step towards moving away from the narrow perspective of improving the delivery of goods and services in the social sector, it promotes symbiotic relationships between the public and private sectors to improve outcomes.

Livelihoods

The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation funds projects and programmes that work towards raising the proficiency levels and employability of people across the nation. The Foundation’s support empowers rural communities in vocational training, water management techniques, it by income generation, health, education, women’s empowerment, rural development and agro and skill-based livelihoods development.

Governance and Civic Issues

Considering that an open dialogue is imperative in ensuring good governance, the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation partners with organisations to support activities that promote citizen-inclusive platforms. This improves the quality of urban infrastructure and the role played by residents in actively engaging with the local decision-making bodies to enhance their quality of life.

Youth and Urbanisation

The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation and UN-Habitat have jointly founded the India Youth Fund to promote and assist youth-led organisations that are working towards sustainable development across cities and towns in India. Through its unique grants-cum-mentoring model, the Fund aims to increase the opportunities of young urban Indians in areas such as access to health, employment, affordable housing, secure land tenure, safer cities, and participation in decision-making and governance structures, thereby contributing towards sustainable urbanisation.

Art and Culture

With a strong commitment towards conservation, the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation ardently believes in promoting and encouraging young talent to pursue traditional art forms, thereby safeguarding the nation’s cultural inheritance for future generations. The Foundation funds various initiatives in the fields of performing and visual arts and crafts, supporting their restoration, conservation and archival endeavours.