The/Nudge secures $250,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation

Nandan Nilekani and Tata Trusts-backed non-profit The/Nudge has received a $250,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation, one of the oldest foundations in global development philanthropy.
The/Nudge founder Atul Satija told The Times of India that this grant will allow them to significantly scale their projects and will bring "a lot more interest in the work they were doing".

The/Nudge’s flagship program is Gurukul, a 100-day residential program for underprivileged youth aimed at job and life-readiness.

At the gurukul, they are trained in driving, beautician services, office administration and sales management or plumbing. They will also learn communicative English, numeracy, digital literacy, financial literacy and life foundation. The organisation currently has 11 gurukuls, each sponsored by a corporate entity.

Satija said they plan to now expand these gurukuls to other states and to other areas of livelihood. Delhi and Mumbai are among the proposed cities and specialisations in electricals, retail sales, and BFSI (banking, financial services & insurance) sales are expected to be started.

The/Nudge also has an incubator exclusively for nonprofit startups called N/Core that was setup earlier this year. It offers an innovation grant of Rs 10 Lakhs to each selected nonprofit. In September, it selected 10 early stage nonprofits for a six-month incubation program.

"Intervention by The/Nudge Project of End Poverty attacks the root causes of unemployability among India’s youth and the team has an impressive track record in equipping and supporting the underprivileged youth in hard as well as soft skills that allow them to thrive," said Ashvin Dayal, MD for Asia in Rockefeller Foundation.

"With this grant, we are confident End Poverty through The/Nudge Project can make a tangible impact that shapes a better and brighter future for many deserving Indian youth" Dayal said.

New York-based The Rockefeller Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic foundation in the United States and has earlier backed impact investor Lok Capital.

The Rockefeller Foundation is also one of the core partners of the newly setup philanthropic venture Co-Impact that will invest $500 million in three critical areas – health, education and economic opportunity.

Other core partners include Bill and Melinda Gates, Richard Chandler, Jeff Skoll, Dr Romesh and Kathy Wadhwani. The EkStep Foundation, co-founded by Rohini and Nandan Nilekani, will be serving as Co-Impact's technical partner.