The Godrej Foundation views India’s development as the strengthening of the institutional and economic foundations that enable sustained, inclusive growth and shared prosperity. We believe philanthropy can play a role in building these foundations.

In the 20th century, industrialisation and sustained economic growth transformed living standards in what are now called developed countries, creating levels of health, security, and convenience unimaginable in earlier centuries. Yet this transition to broad-based prosperity is rare: only a small set of countries have moved from low median incomes to high-income status in the last century. Sustained growth requires persistent, pro-productivity policies and capable institutions.

We believe that India’s development requires a more productive economy supported by strong institutions and markets; a capable state that delivers public goods with integrity; citizens that hold power accountable; and a society that shifts from hierarchy to equality and dignity. These changes reinforce one another.

Philanthropy has historically evolved from immediate relief to broader strategies. The Foundation distinguishes four approaches. The first, “bounded excellence”, creates high-quality institutions serving defined beneficiaries. A well run school in Udaipur or a sufficiently resourced hospital in Bastar can be transformational for outcomes in the communities that they serve. They can be life-changing for a large number of individuals, but rarely contribute to shifting national outcomes.

The second involves substituting for public systems. Adding additional teachers to existing public schools can significantly improve learning outcomes. It may show strong pilot results but often fails to sustain impact once funding ends or when scaled. The third is partnering with governments to improve public systems. This may succeed in select cases, such as the institutionalization of the ASHA cadre of health care workers – but frequently struggles against weak incentives and accountability.

Finally, we believe that perhaps the highest-return philanthropic role is building enabling conditions for growth: strengthening knowledge, institutions, and policy capability that shape national trajectories.

History suggests philanthropy works best when it funds public goods like research and measurement systems, builds institutions that compound over decades, takes long-horizon high-risk bets that others cannot, and reframes problems in ways that shift incentives and public action. It struggles when attempting large-scale service delivery without systemic reform.

Guided by this belief, the Godrej Foundation advances two complementary strategies. Through our Catalysing Economic Growth workstream, we back long-horizon, high-conviction efforts that strengthen institutions and shape policy for inclusive economic growth.

In parallel, our shorter horizon work expands opportunity for exceptional talent from underprivileged backgrounds and strengthens livelihoods in disadvantaged communities, particularly for women and queer communities, with a focus on income security and long-term participation. Through our Tomorrow Grants, we support bold, time bound innovations designed to solve complex systemic challenges, from urban pollution to other pressing societal issues.

Across all our work, we prioritise sustained agency and economic mobility over short term relief, seeking durable change at scale.

You can read more about our theory of change here

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