Request for Proposals: Innovative Advocacy Seed Grant (India)

The Innovative Advocacy Seed Grant 2026 provides up to INR 30,000 per project to support community-led advocacy initiatives that advance the socio-economic inclusion, rights, and participation of transgender and Hijra persons in India. The grant supports activities addressing discrimination, access to housing and education, employment, healthcare, identity documents, livelihood opportunities, public facilities, and community acceptance.

About the Innovative Advocacy Seed Grant

The grant is part of TRANScend, an initiative of The Humsafar Trust focused on strengthening the socio-economic inclusion, resilience, and community leadership of transgender persons in India.

The programme supports small, innovative, community-led advocacy projects that respond directly to the needs of transgender and Hijra communities.

The initiative encourages applicants to work with government institutions, educational and medical institutions, employers, families, community organizations, and other stakeholders to create practical improvements in inclusion and access to rights.

Grant Amount

Successful applicants can receive a maximum grant of INR 30,000 (approximately US$360) per project.

The funding is released in two installments:

• 50% advance payment at the beginning of the project.
• 50% final payment after submission of the required programmatic report and expenditure statement.

All project activities and expenses must be completed between 28 September 2026 and 30 November 2026.

No expenses incurred after 30 November 2026 will be eligible for support.

What the Grant Supports

The Innovative Advocacy Seed Grant is designed for projects that promote transgender rights, social inclusion, economic participation, equality, and community resilience.

Priority areas include:

• Advocacy for equal access to housing.
• Improving access to education and educational institutions.
• Promoting access to public facilities and services.
• Supporting access to transgender identity cards and relevant documentation.
• Advocacy for anti-discrimination laws, policies, and practices.
• Promoting parental and family acceptance.
• Increasing social acceptance of transgender and Hijra persons.
• Engagement with educational institutions.
• Engagement with medical and healthcare institutions.
• Advocacy with state and central government authorities.
• Supporting livelihood opportunities.
• Promoting financial literacy.
• Organizing transgender community visibility events.
• Developing visual arts-based awareness campaigns.
• Producing information, education and communication (IEC) materials.
• Promoting transgender health and human rights.
• Capacity building and skills development.
• Upskilling community-led organizations.
• Activities that improve the long-term sustainability of community organizations.

Who Is Eligible?

The grant is open to community-led applicants in India, including organizations, informal groups, and individual community leaders.

Eligible applicants include:

• Registered community-based organizations (CBOs).
• Informal transgender or Hijra community initiatives.
• Community groups.
• Individual community leaders.

The programme is particularly suited to applicants who understand local community needs and can implement practical advocacy activities within the short funding period.

Required Documentation

Documentation requirements depend on the applicant type.

Registered CBOs should provide:

• Registration documentation.
• PAN documentation.

Individuals and informal groups should provide:

• PAN.
• Aadhaar.

Applicants should ensure that the required documents are complete and consistent with the information provided in the proposal.

Priority Advocacy Themes

The programme recognizes that transgender inclusion requires action across multiple areas of social and economic life.

Housing and Public Services

Projects can advocate for equal access to housing, public facilities, and essential services while addressing discrimination faced by transgender and Hijra persons.

Education and Healthcare

Applicants can work with educational and medical institutions to improve awareness, accessibility, respectful treatment, and inclusion.

Government and Policy Advocacy

Projects may engage with state or central government bodies to advocate for better policies, implementation of existing protections, identity documentation, and anti-discrimination measures.

Employment and Livelihoods

The fund also supports initiatives promoting:

• Employment opportunities.
• Livelihood development.
• Financial literacy.
• Economic participation.
• Skills development.
• Greater access to income-generating opportunities.

Social and Family Acceptance

Community-led advocacy can address stigma and promote greater acceptance among families, parents, institutions, and wider society.

Innovative Approaches Are Encouraged

The grant places particular emphasis on innovative advocacy activities that address urgent community needs.

Potential approaches could include:

• Community awareness campaigns.
• Stakeholder meetings.
• Local advocacy campaigns.
• Visual storytelling and arts-based awareness.
• IEC material development.
• Community workshops.
• Engagement with institutions and policymakers.
• Financial literacy sessions.
• Rights-awareness activities.
• Community-led capacity-building programmes.

Projects should clearly explain the problem being addressed, the proposed solution, and how the activity will create measurable benefits for transgender or Hijra communities.

Why This Grant Matters

Transgender and Hijra communities can face barriers to employment, education, housing, healthcare, identity documentation, and public services. Community-led organizations and individuals often have direct knowledge of these challenges but may lack flexible funding for small advocacy interventions.

The Innovative Advocacy Seed Grant provides relatively small-scale funding that can be used to test practical solutions, strengthen community leadership, build partnerships, and advocate for changes at the local or institutional level.

Its short implementation period also makes it particularly suitable for focused advocacy activities with clearly defined outcomes.

Project Period

Funded activities must take place within the specified implementation window:

• Start date: 28 September 2026
• End date: 30 November 2026
• Maximum funding: INR 30,000 per project
• Payment structure: 50% advance and 50% after reporting

Applicants should therefore propose activities that can realistically be planned, implemented, and documented within approximately two months.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare a concise one-page proposal explaining the proposed advocacy initiative.

The proposal should cover:

1. Background – Explain the community issue or challenge being addressed.
2. Need – Describe why the proposed intervention is necessary.
3. Proposed activities – Clearly explain what will be done.
4. Budget – Provide a realistic breakdown of how the INR 30,000 grant will be used.
5. Success metrics – Explain how the applicant will measure the project’s results.
6. Applicant information – Provide the relevant organizational or individual details.
7. Supporting documentation – Attach the required registration, PAN, Aadhaar, or other applicable documents.

Applicants should keep the proposal focused on a specific, achievable advocacy objective rather than attempting to address too many issues simultaneously.

How the Funding Works

The funding process follows a two-stage payment structure.

First Payment

Selected applicants receive 50% of the approved grant amount in advance to begin implementing the project.

Project Implementation

The applicant implements the approved activities between 28 September and 30 November 2026.

Applicants should maintain records of activities, participants, outputs, expenditures, and other evidence of implementation.

Final Payment

The remaining 50% is released after the applicant submits the required:

• Programmatic report.
• Expenditure statement.

All eligible expenses must fall within the approved project period.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can improve their proposals by focusing on specific community needs and measurable advocacy outcomes.

Key tips include:

• Clearly identify the problem affecting the transgender or Hijra community.
• Explain why the proposed intervention is needed now.
• Connect every activity to the identified problem.
• Keep the project achievable within the September–November 2026 timeframe.
• Provide a realistic and transparent budget.
• Include measurable success indicators.
• Demonstrate meaningful community participation.
• Highlight partnerships with institutions, government bodies, or other stakeholders where relevant.
• Explain how the project could contribute to longer-term community sustainability.
• Ensure all required documentation is submitted correctly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Proposing activities outside the eligible implementation period.
• Requesting more than INR 30,000.
• Providing a vague description of the community problem.
• Failing to explain how activities will create measurable change.
• Submitting incomplete documentation.
• Including expenses that cannot be completed within the project period.
• Designing a project that is too broad for the available funding and timeframe.
• Omitting expenditure records or the final reporting requirements.

Key Grant Details at a Glance

• Grant: Innovative Advocacy Seed Grant
• Initiative: TRANScend
• Implementing organization: The Humsafar Trust
• Country: India
• Maximum grant: INR 30,000 per project
• Approximate USD value: US$360
• Advance payment: 50%
• Final payment: 50% after reporting
• Implementation period: 28 September 2026 to 30 November 2026
• Eligible applicants: Registered CBOs, informal community initiatives/groups, and individual leaders
• Target communities: Transgender and Hijra persons in India
• Proposal length: One page
• Priority: Innovative, community-led advocacy and sustainability-focused initiatives

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the Innovative Advocacy Seed Grant?

Registered community-based organizations, informal community initiatives or groups, and individual community leaders can apply, subject to the programme’s documentation requirements.

How much funding is available?

Each successful project can receive up to INR 30,000. Half of the approved amount is paid in advance, while the remaining 50% is released after the required reporting and expenditure documentation is submitted.

What types of projects are supported?

Projects can address transgender and Hijra rights and inclusion, including housing, education, employment, healthcare, identity documentation, anti-discrimination advocacy, family acceptance, government engagement, livelihood development, financial literacy, visibility campaigns, IEC materials, and community capacity building.

When must funded activities take place?

All supported activities must be implemented between 28 September 2026 and 30 November 2026. Expenses incurred after 30 November 2026 are not eligible.

What should the proposal contain?

Applicants must submit a one-page proposal covering the background, identified need, proposed activities, budget, and success metrics. Required supporting documentation must also be provided according to the applicant category.

Are innovative community-led projects encouraged?

Yes. Preference is given to innovative activities that address urgent transgender community needs and strengthen the sustainability and capacity of community-led organizations.

What documents are required?

Registered CBOs must provide registration and PAN documentation. Individuals and informal groups must provide PAN and Aadhaar documentation. Applicants should ensure that all required supporting documents are complete before submission.

Conclusion

The Innovative Advocacy Seed Grant offers flexible small-scale funding for transgender and Hijra community-led initiatives in India. With grants of up to INR 30,000, the programme provides an opportunity to develop practical advocacy activities addressing discrimination, access to services, livelihoods, identity, healthcare, education, social acceptance, and human rights.

Applicants should focus on a clearly defined community need, propose achievable activities for the 28 September–30 November 2026 implementation period, provide measurable outcomes, and submit all required documentation with a concise one-page proposal.