Grassroots Excellence Award
Honours community-led organisations driving meaningful, measurable learning change at the local level, often with limited resources and strong community ownership.
Eligibility Criteria
Organisations applying for the award must meet the following eligibility requirements.
Eligible Entities
Community-based organisations (CBOs), grassroots NGOs, or community collectives registered as a trust, society, or Section 8 company.
Scale Ceiling
Annual operating budget not exceeding ₹1 crore in the preceding financial year. This ceiling is intended to distinguish grassroots entries from larger, better-resourced organisations; the jury reserves the right to review the true organisational scale of any nominee.
Tenure
Minimum 2 years of continuous, on-ground operation in the nominated geography.
Community Rootedness
The organisation should demonstrate substantial local leadership — through community volunteers, local staff, parent/community committees, or comparable ownership structures.
Geography
Priority given to rural, tribal, urban-informal-settlement, or other underserved and low-resource communities.
Nomination Route
Self-nomination is encouraged; nominations by district- or state-level partners, donors, or CSR partners are also accepted.
Exclusions
A single branch or chapter of a large national NGO nominated specifically to meet the budget ceiling; organisations without any community-facing presence.
Evaluation Criteria
Every nomination is independently reviewed by the jury using the weighted evaluation framework below.
Learning Outcomes
Assesses improvements in learning outcomes relative to the resources available.
Community Ownership
Evaluates local participation, engagement, and long-term community ownership.
Innovation & Resourcefulness
Recognizes creative and effective solutions developed within resource constraints.
Sustainability
Measures the programme's ability to continue beyond external funding.
Replicability
Assesses the potential to replicate the model in similar low-resource settings.