Nearly a decade ago, HCLTech (India) Grant was launched through HCLFoundation to enable cross-sector collaboration and empower not-for-profit organizations in the fields of health, education and environment to play a decisive role in building a stronger, future-ready India. Today, the HCLTech Grant has invested nearly $16 million towards groundbreaking projects and is recognized as one of the largest grant programs in India, impacting over 27,000 villages across 22 states. HCLFoundation which delivers the corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda of HCLTech in India has impacted more than 5.5 million lives, harvested 57.9 billion litres of water runoff, greened and brought under community management around 66,000+ acres of land, planted 1.45+ million saplings, treated and protected 70,000 animals, through a cumulative investment of ~$150 million over a decade. Moreover, in Americas, 100,000 native saplings have been planted across US, Canada, Mexico and Brazil.
We’re proud to bring our cross-sector learnings and innovations from India to the Americas in the space of climate action. To further its commitments as enshrined in its Global CSR Policy, HCLTech will be granting $5 million over five years to impact-focused, Americas-based not-for-profit organizations to supercharge their replicable, scalable and sustainable projects focused on climate action. Three organizations will be selected each year—first place will receive $500,000 and two runners-up will receive $250,000 each for a one-year project.
At HCLTech, we recognize the urgency of climate change as one of today's most critical crises. We have committed to ambitious sustainability goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. We recognize the critical significance of fostering innovative approaches to address climate challenges. Consequently, our climate action strategy is firmly centered on cultivating environmental capital.
We are dedicated to addressing the pressing calls to action set forth by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This commitment involves adopting strategies for climate action that encompass various aspects, including environmental adaptation, mitigation, and resilience, among others.
The climate action solutions that we at HCLTech focus on are centered around creating environmental capital, through investing in efficient and effective green solutions that nurture and conserve our planet.
It is imperative that our climate solutions not only work to manage and reduce our vulnerability and forecast adverse effects, but also formulate appropriate minimizing strategies, as well as build social capacity to withstand and recover from the effects of climate change.
The Americas region is a fertile ground for climate solutions—and we are taking urgent action to bring them to life.
Grant duration and scope: We are accepting proposals for one-year climate action-focused projects that contribute to one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For the grant cycle spanning from 2023 to 2024, the HCLTech Grant - Climate Action (Americas) will allocate a sum of $1 million among three select climate action-oriented organizations.
Proposal scope: Proposals are inclusive of both new projects, from the idea or inception stage, as well as ongoing climate action-focused projects that the applicant organization is currently engaged in.
The proposal’s approach to climate action is inclusive of, but not limited to, indicative focus areas such as wildlife and biodiversity conservation; land and ocean action; clean energy; climate advocacy; campaigns; and climate risk reduction. The proposed project can encompass approaches to climate action through adaptation, mitigation and resilience, amongst others.
Applicant organization must be registered where the proposed project will be implemented in one of the following countries:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Canada
- Columbia
- Costa Rica
- Guatemala
- Mexico
- Panama
- Peru
- United States of America
Click here to learn more.
The HCLTech Grant selection process will take place in six distinct steps, which have been outlined as follows:
Step 1 - Call for abstracts: Announcement of the HCLTech Grant – Climate Action (Americas) through online portal and outreach through virtual townhalls/symposiums (hybrid mode).
Step 2 - Abstracts screening & review: Abstracts will be screened based on predefined eligibility criteria and selection matrix, by the governance partner, internal domain experts & CSR council members. The review will include a mix of objective and subjective parameters such as governance, relevance of the problem and solution, potential impact and innovation, and others.
Step 3 - Call for detailed proposals: Organizations selected in step 2, will be requested to submit a detailed organization profile and proposal. These applications will go through the next level review process with a few additional parameters such as capacity to deliver, financial modelling, sustainability, use of inclusive approach, potential for partnership and scalability, and others. Upon completion of this assessment, the top 10 NPOs will be selected to move to step 4.
Step 4 - Field level validation & detailed due diligence: The top 10 NPOs would undergo detailed due diligence including field visits by members of local CSR Councils. At this stage, four NPOs will be recommended for employee voting & Selection Committee review.
Step 5 - Employee voting: HCLTech employees from the 10 countries will get an opportunity to cast their vote for the top four NPOs. The ‘employee voting’ scores will also be presented by governance partner to the Selection Committee as part of the case presentation. Weightage will be applied.
Step 6 - Selection Committee proceedings: It will comprise a high-level panel of five members from the HCLTech leadership, one client representative & one external domain expert, who will review shortlisted applications based on case presentations. The winner and two runners-up organizations will be selected.
Yes. An inability to fulfill either of the prerequisite and eligibility guidelines or presentation of inaccurate and/or false information for the same will disqualify the applicant organization from the HCLTech Grant, rendering them ineligible to apply for further rounds.
Organizations may submit only one application per login ID. You may submit multiple applications for various climate action solutions. However, the applicant organization would require unique login IDs for each application submission.
The abstract submission window will remain open for 60 days, from the day of registrations going live.
No. It is recommended to review your abstract multiple times before submission. You will receive an email including a PDF file of your submitted abstract for reference.
Yes, a confirmation will be sent to your registered email address. If not received within 24 hours, please check your spam folder or reach out to HCLTech Grant PMO team: americasgrant@hcl.com
If your abstract is shortlisted, you will receive email updates to your registered email on your abstract status from the HCLTech Grant PMO team.
All winners (first place and two runners-up) will be announced in March/April 2024. Official date coming soon.
Projects will begin in April/May 2024.
This is a CSR initiative by HCLTech. The company has set up an independent and robust methodology for the selection of grantees. A strategic collaboration has been established with a preeminent third-party technical advisory firm, renowned for its industry expertise. This partnership will ensure an impartial and comprehensive advisory framework that encompasses the entire selection process, including meticulous application screening, judicious Selection Committee nominations and the eventual identification of awardees.
Furthermore, a dedicated internal Selection Committee, composed of professionals possessing sector-specific acumen, will meticulously assess the submitted applications. This dual-layered evaluation process underscores our unwavering commitment to fairness and integrity in the grant selection procedure.
Not necessarily. However, HCLTech embraces the use of technology towards combating climate change as an innovative element.
Yes. There are no application restrictions for past or current partners.
Yes, HCLTech Grant – Climate Action (Americas) is open to projects that involve funding from other sources. Details will be requested during the application process.
No. Funds must be utilized only by the winning organizations for their one-year projects outlined in the application.
HCLFoundation has impacted over 5.5 million lives, planted over 1.45 million tree saplings, and harvested approximately 57.9 billion liters of water throughout India. Click here to learn more.
Click here to learn more about our global CSR mission, strategy and initiatives.
There is NO fee for registration and application for this grant. HCLTech Grant accepts applications, free of charge, only through its official website: http://americas-grant.hcltech.com
Further, HCLFoundation and HCLTech Grant have not authorized any individual or agency or organization to accept the application or fee on their behalf.
The information provided by the applicant organization across the grant application process may be used by HCLTech for marketing or compendium publishing purposes.
No. HCLTech Grant only accepts applications submitted through its online form.
For further questions regarding your application or technical issues, please contact our HCLTech Grant PMO Team: americasgrant@hcl.com