The Tibetan Civil Society Empowerment Program (TCSEP) supports Tibetan-led organizations making positive change in India and Nepal. By funding their projects with small grants and supporting their organizational development, the program addresses pressing needs and nurtures a growing ecosystem of Tibetan social entrepreneurs committed to tackling local challenges in their communities.

Established in 2017, the program supports initiatives in education, health, livelihoods, women empowerment, community development, language and culture preservation, and the arts. Grants range from $5,000 to $40,000 for project durations of up to one year, and multi-year partnerships are encouraged to enable partners to build capacity and impact over time. Click here to learn more about current and past grantees.

Call for Proposals

The Tibet Fund invites eligible social impact organizations to apply for the next TCSEP funding cycle. We encourage proposals from applicants working on social impact and cultural preservation challenges in South Asia that address a clearly identified community need, demonstrate measurable results, and show the capacity to carry out the proposed project.

Application period: October 5–December 31, 2026

Applicants should review the eligibility criteria and application instructions below before submitting a proposal.

How the Program Works

TCSEP offers two levels of grant support, based on an applicant’s existing partnership with The Tibet Fund: 

• Continuing partners: Grants of up to USD 40,000

• New applicants: Grants of up to USD 10,000

Funding decisions are based on the proposed project, demonstrated community need, anticipated results, organizational capacity, and available program resources.

Eligibility Applicant

Any Tibetan-led nonprofit organization engaged in social impact or cultural preservation work in South Asia may apply.

 Eligible Projects

Proposed projects should address community needs in one or more of the following areas: 

• Education

• Health

• Livelihoods

• Community development

• Women and girls’ empowerment

• Tibetan language and cultural preservation

• Arts

Priority Consideration

Priority consideration will be given to proposals that: 

• Present an evidence-based response to a clearly defined problem, need, or challenge that aligns with The Tibet Fund’s mission and is not adequately addressed by existing programs or service providers

• Clearly describe proposed activities, intended beneficiaries, expected outcomes, and measurable results

• Demonstrate the organization has the managerial and technical capacity to implement the proposed project and achieve the intended results

Ineligible Activities 

TCSEP grant funds may not be used for: 

• Scholarships or stipends

• Public events

• Advocacy

• Public media

• Political activities

• One-time activities

Application Instructions

To apply for the 2027 funding cycle:

1. Download and complete the TTF Proposal Form.
   [Download the TTF TCSEP Proposal Form]

2. Submit the completed proposal by email to tenchoe@tibetfund.org

3. Use the following email subject line:
   Tibetan Civil Society Empowerment Program – [Name of Organization]

4. Submit the application no later than December 31, 2026.

Applications must use the TTF Proposal Form and must be submitted by email. Proposals submitted by post or in other formats will not be accepted.