Building a startup that tackles a real social or environmental problem? The Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK) Foundation supports early-stage social entrepreneurs with up to US$300,000 in funding over three years, alongside hands-on operational guidance, strategic support and access to a global community of impact-driven founders.

Unlike conventional startup grants, DRK focuses on organizations that have already tested their solutions and demonstrated early evidence of impact. It supports both nonprofit organizations and mission-driven for-profit social enterprises working to improve the lives of underserved communities.

The funding may be provided as an unrestricted grant or investment capital, depending on the organization and the final agreement. This is not a personal grant for individuals or funding for an idea that has not yet been tested.

The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation is a venture philanthropy organization that partners with early-stage social enterprises to help them build sustainable organizations and expand their impact.

Its approach combines capital with practical guidance. Rather than simply providing money and stepping away, DRK works closely with selected organizations over a three-year period to strengthen their leadership, operations, fundraising capabilities, financial sustainability and growth strategy.

The foundation looks for entrepreneurs who understand the communities they serve and have developed innovative solutions to significant social or environmental problems.

For founders, this means the opportunity is about more than securing funding. It is also about building an organization capable of delivering measurable impact at scale.

Yes. India is one of DRK’s priority operating regions.

Indian founders can be considered if their organizations meet the foundation’s social-impact, organizational, geographic and scalability criteria.

However, being based in India does not automatically make an organization eligible. DRK evaluates the problem being addressed, the solution’s demonstrated impact, the organization’s structure and its potential to scale.

For example, a startup improving access to education, healthcare, livelihoods or economic opportunity for underserved communities may be relevant if it has a functioning solution and evidence of impact.

A conventional commercial startup without a predominant social-impact focus would generally not fit the foundation’s funding thesis.

Meta Title: Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Grant

Meta Description: Explore DRK Foundation funding of up to $300,000 for early-stage social enterprises, eligibility and year-round applications.

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Tags: Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, DRK Foundation Grant, Social Enterprise Funding, Social Impact Grants, Startup Funding India, Social Entrepreneurs, Nonprofit Funding, Impact Investing

Funding Classification: Three-year social-impact funding of up to US$300,000, structured as a grant or investment capital depending on the organization. Additional in-kind operational support may be available. Not a personal grant.

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