How NGOs Can Pitch for CSR Grants in India: Complete 2025 Guide

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May 14, 2025

Table of content

Introduction
Understand What CSR Donors Are Looking For
Get Your NGO Documentation in Place
Shortlist the Right Companies
Craft a Winning Pitch Proposal
How to Approach Companies for CSR
Be Pitch-Ready for the pitch meeting
Post-Pitch Follow-up and CSR Negotiations
Deliver Results and Build Long-Term Relationships
Outreach Mistakes to Avoid
FAQs
Conclusion

1: Introduction

Indian corporates spent ₹17,967 crore on CSR in FY 2023‑24, a 16 % YoY jump . Banking and energy giants such as HDFC Bank (₹945 crore) and Reliance Industries (₹900 crore) now outspend many bilateral aid agencies . Yet, thousands of NGOs struggle to access these funds—not because their work lacks impact, but because they don't pitch effectively.

This blog explains how your NGO can pitch for CSR funds/ grants in a way such that even small grassroots organizations can compete with the best.

Let’s get started.

1: Understand What CSR Donors Are Looking For

Corporates are not just giving money; they’re investing in outcomes that align with their values and CSR mandates.

What matters to them:

Alignment with Schedule VII of the Companies Act
Impact that supports SDG goals (e.g., education, health, environment)
Strong governance and financial transparency
Possibility of branding, employee engagement, or long-term partnerships

Tip: Read the company’s CSR Policy on their website or the MCA portal before approaching them.

Read this blog to get the list of CSR doners who can help you achieve your mission

2: Get Your NGO Documentation in Place

Before you pitch, ensure your NGO has the following ready:

Must‑Have	Why It Matters	Quick How‑To
Form CSR‑1 approval	MCA blocks CSR disbursal to unregistered implementers	File e‑form on MCA portal; receive CSR‑Reg‑No. in ~10 days
12A & 80G	Makes donations tax‑deductible	Verify validity; renew if expiring
PAN, TAN, FCRA registration (if foreign funds)	Mandatory under FCRA 2010	Apply via Form FC‑3
Audited financials (3 yrs)	Shows transparency	Highlight < 15 % admin cost

Tip: If you’re a newer NGO, include case studies, testimonials, and pilot outcomes to build trust.‍

3: Shortlist the Right Companies

Instead of cold mailing every company, shortlist 10–15 that are the best match.

Use these sources:

National CSR Portal
Company CSR pages (e.g., Infosys Foundation, SBI Foundation)
CSR partnerships seen in similar NGO domains
LinkedIn posts or sustainability reports

Look for:

Companies that fund your focus area
Companies with local presence or factory sites in your region
Companies with underspent CSR budgetsw

Tip: Focus first on companies mandated to spend but failing to meet the 2% mark. They’re actively looking for projects.

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4. Craft a Winning Pitch Proposal

Read this blog to get the detailed insight

For offline meetings, Your pitch must be impact-driven, data-backed, and CSR-aligned.

Slide	Content	Keyword
01 Problem & Opportunity	2 data points + one beneficiary story	CSR funding India
02 Our Solution	Visual flowchart of program model	NGO CSR proposal
03 Impact & Metrics	Baseline vs target; SDG link	CSR impact measurement
04 Budget & Governance	₹ line‑item; M&E cost ≤ 5 %	CSR due‑diligence
05 Partnership Ask	Amount, tenure, employee roles	how to pitch CSR grants

5: How to Approach Companies for CSR

5.1: Strategic Approaches to Corporate Entry Points

Choose the right entry path based on the company’s setup:

Website Forms: For big companies like ITC or Mahindra, check for CSR proposal forms on their site. Fill them out properly, then follow up personally.
Email: Found a CSR head’s email? Send a short, tailored message with a 2-page concept note. Keep it brief and impactful.
LinkedIn: No email? Connect with CSR heads or foundation leaders on LinkedIn. Send a one-liner note, then follow up with a one-pager—not spam.
Events & Forums: Attend CSR summits or local industry events. Prepare a 30-second pitch and carry brochures. Great for face-to-face leads.
Volunteering Routes: Invite company employees for volunteer activities. They can become internal champions for your proposal.
Board Connections: Use your board or network to get warm introductions. Even a single top-level reference can unlock hard-to-reach CSR doors.

5.2 Outreach Cadence (Relationship‑First)

Warm‑up: share impact stories, invite CSR heads to webinars (4–6 weeks pre‑ask).
Multi‑touch: Email → Call → Deck Demo → Site Visit.

Keep notes in a CRM or simple spreadsheet; log every touchpoint.
Tip: Carry business cards, brochures, and a 30-second elevator pitch wherever you go

See what goes into a great CSR report

6: Be Pitch-Ready for the pitch meeting

Use real stories. Open with a relatable case to hook them emotionally.

Phase	Time	What to Do
Research audience	Beforehand	Know if CSR, HR, or BU head is present; tailor value points accordingly
Story‑hook opener	1 min	“When we first met Rani, a mother who walks 5 km for water…”
Slide deck delivery	10 min	8‑slide max; crisp visuals; time‑box yourself
Interactive discussion	10 min	Invite questions; admit “let me check” instead of guessing
Close with Impact + Ask	2 min	“With ₹40 lakh, 1,000 youths will gain jobs—aligning with your skilling priority.”

Framework: Problem → Solution → Impact → Ask. Always state the exact ask (₹ + duration + any in‑kind support).

‍ 7: Post-Pitch Follow-up and CSR Negotiations

If they show interest:

Send a thank-you + summary email
Provide more data or revise proposal if asked

1. What Happens: Due Diligence Deep-Dive
How to Respond: Cooperate fully. Be ready to share documents, financials, and even host site visits. Show your work honestly and transparently.

2. What Happens: MoU Drafting
How to Respond: Carefully review the Memorandum of Understanding. Pay special attention to disbursement schedules, reporting timelines, and clauses around unspent funds.

3. What Happens: Budget Tweaks
How to Respond: Justify your cost estimates clearly. Be open to minor adjustments, but flag anything that could harm project quality or outcomes.

4. What Happens: Co-Creation Requests
How to Respond: Stay flexible. If a corporate wants to incorporate their methods or modules, consider it—joint planning increases ownership and partnership value.

5. What Happens: Financial-Year Pressure
How to Respond: Companies often want outcomes before March 31. Plan some early-stage deliverables or visible progress they can report internally.

6. What Happens: Multi-Year Support
How to Respond: Try to secure a written or email-based commitment for multi-year funding. Be prepared for annual reviews and strong performance reporting.

7. What Happens: Ongoing Professionalism
How to Respond: Treat every meeting and mail like a formal engagement. Send agendas before, summaries after, and always deliver data on time. It builds long-term trust.

Need funding for your CSR project? Learn how to write a compelling proposal that stands out

8: Deliver Results and Build Long-Term Relationships

Meet timelines and budget
Share monthly or quarterly reports
Offer PR, volunteering, or event participation
Keep funders updated even when you don’t need money

Tip: Treat CSR partnerships as long-term relationships, not one-time grants.

9: Outreach Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Fix
One-size-fits-all pitch	Customize for each company
Long, generic emails	Keep it short, specific, and relevant
Ignoring application process	Respect submission formats
Overpromising outcomes	Be realistic and grounded
No follow-up	Send polite reminders after 2–3 weeks
No clarity on the ask	Always state what you want, and why

FAQs

Q1. Do all NGOs qualify for CSR grants?
A1. Only NGOs registered under CSR-1 and having 12A/80G are eligible.

Q2. Can small NGOs with limited experience get CSR funding?
A2. Yes, especially from smaller corporates or through pilot grants. Build a strong story and show scalability.

Q3. How much should I ask for in the first pitch?
A3. Start with ₹5–50 lakhs depending on project size. Don’t overquote in your first proposal.

Q4. Can CSR fund salaries or overheads?
A4. Yes, if they’re essential to the project. Justify them transparently in your budget.

11. Conclusion

Companies are not doing you a favor—they are legally mandated to deploy CSR funds. If your NGO brings professionalism, credibility, and passion, you’re not just pitching a project—you’re offering them a solution.

“Pitching is part storytelling, part strategy, and mostly relationship-building.”

Stay persistent, customize every approach, and remember: even a "no" today can become a "yes" tomorrow.

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