SCALE aims to create an enabling environment for nonprofits, funders, and government leaders to work together to create population-level impact.
We work towards building a connected ecosystem for systemic change through 3 key levers:
Mobilising leading CSRs and philanthropists to increase their portfolio allocation towards systemic giving
Identifying and strengthening the ecosystem of System Support Organisations (SSOs) – organisations which provide strategic support to the government to drive population-level outcomes
Engaging government leaders to apply systemic lens in major sectors and enable high-impact government and SSO collaborations
India stands at a crucial inflection point in its development journey. While extraordinary progress has been made in developing and delivering solutions to improve social equity, complex challenges remain that continue to affect hundreds of millions of people. There is a clear need for more patient capital (both from Foundations and CSR) that invests in organisations acting as connectors and facilitators, bridging the gap between NGOs and government to strengthen collaboration and amplify impact.
At SCALE, we believe there is an opportunity to adopt a systemic approach to address the web of root causes of complex social issues and create enduring impact. A new cadre of non-profits needs to be nurtured – System Support Organisations (SSOs) – entities that seek to be the link between policymakers and communities and to fill in ‘the missing middle’ gap in our system.
By comparison, research shows that the overall philanthropic spend in India is ₹1.3 Lakh Crore, and is projected to reach ₹2.1 Lakh Crore by 2029. These streams of capital could reinforce each other, leading to an immense opportunity for philanthropy to be a catalytic force in driving systemic change by supporting SSOs
These SSOs will work alongside the government to drive large-scale impact by testing new ideas, building strong evidence, and advocating for the integration of these solutions into government policies.
SCALE is part of The Convergence Foundation network.
SCALE is incubated at The Convergence Foundation, which was founded by Ashish and Manisha Dhawan to consolidate their philanthropic initiatives. The Convergence Foundation seeks to be a powerful catalyst for India's development by creating momentum around pivotal ideas with the highest potential for systemic impact. TCF believes that systems change is key to effectively address India’s growth and developmental challenges.
