Omidyar Network India (ONI) has announced a core grant of Rs 14.5 crore ($2 million) to The/Nudge Foundation to support the organization’s efforts to catalyse large-scale social transformation.

The/Nudge Foundation has been working to catalyse large-scale social transformation through its three centers of action. The Centre for Rural Development concentrates on alleviating ‘extreme poverty’ in rural areas, enabling sustainable livelihoods, food security and access to government welfare nets for the vulnerable.

The Centre for Social Innovation aspires to draw talent, capital and resources into the development sector through incubation or acceleration of non-profit start-ups and other social enterprises, pioneering projects in public-private partnerships such as Indian Administrative Fellowship, etc. The Centre for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is focused on developing the employability of youth in service sector jobs.

With India accounting for 60% of the global increase in poverty, there is an urgent need for innovation and a strong bias for action towards protecting and ensuring equitable access to gainful and dignified opportunities for the most vulnerable.

Shilpa Kumar, a Partner, Omidyar Network India, said, “At ONI, we believe in supporting bold entrepreneurs who are attempting to drive social transformation at scale. We think core unrestricted funding enables them to build out their vision by strengthening organisational foundations through early investments in talent & technology. We do hope this grant supports The/Nudge Foundation to catalyse innovation in the developmental sector & for their work to flourish at scale”.

Atul Satija, Founder and CEO of The/Nudge Foundation added, “We’re growing fast, with several large-scale, high impact projects in the pipeline, systemically addressing national developmental priorities. Our way forward is founded on strong partnerships, with the government, private sector organizations and with civil society. We are happy to welcome Shilpa Kumar and ONI on board, to support us. The strategic counsel, capital and capabilities that they bring will be invaluable in the design and implementation of our most ambitious programs.”

The/Nudge Foundation is an Indian non-profit organization. It was established in July 2015 in Bengaluru. The/Nudge exists to alleviate poverty, sustainably and scalably.

Omidyar Network India invests in bold entrepreneurs who help create a meaningful life for every Indian, especially the hundreds of millions of Indians in low-income and lower-middle-income populations, ranging from the poorest among us to the existing middle class.