Sir Ratan Tata Trust came into being in 1919 with a sum capital of Rs 8 million. Established in accordance with the will of Sir Ratan Tata, the Trust is now one of the oldest grant bestowing foundations in India[1]
The Trust has, for more than a century, been instrumental in development processes, providing grants to institutions in the areas of Education, Enhancing Civil Society and Governance, Health and Arts, Rural Livelihoods and Communities and Culture.[2][3]
The Trust provides grants and partner with organisations that engage in innovative and sustainable initiatives and with the potential to make a visible difference. It also provides grants for endowments, has a separate programme for small grants and gives grants to individuals for education and medical relief.
The grants offered by the Trust can be broadly classified as [4]:
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The bulk of these grants are in the areas of Rural Livelihoods and Communities and Education. Within Rural Livelihoods and Communities the Trust focuses on key initiatives within two broad areas:
The Trust has developed and used endowments to sustain mission-driven institutions that influence positive change in society. It has a formal endowment strategy with well-set norms and clearly defined criteria that enable it to identify and appraise deserving institutions. The endowment portfolio includes: Professional Assistance for Development Action (New Delhi), National Council of Applied Economic Research (New Delhi). Child Relief and You (Mumbai), Centre for Science and Environment (New Delhi) and Children's Book Trust (New Delhi).[5]
The Sir Ratan Tata Small Grant Programme (SGP) was launched in 1998-99. These cater to the needs of small, welfare-oriented organisations, and those needing support to implement innovative ideas. It was later amended to accommodate the worthy larger organisations that needed funding for strategic planning, focused research activities, or strengthening internal systems.[6][7]
The Individual Grants Programme of the Trust provides financial help for: