Finding solutions to the climate problem needs a deep understanding of ground realities and committed local changemakers to engage with local stakeholders. We forge partnerships and provide support which may include but is not limited to direct funding to organisations, individuals and alliances working at different areas of an entire spectrum through grants, fellowships and investments.
We look at our work along the following thesis areas.
Conservation
The Foundation seeks to address India’s conservation and restoration opportunities and challenges through a collaborative approach. We are keen to partner with a range of individuals, institutions and community groups who are interested in these issues while working in a synergistic manner. Our approach is to explore the intricate interplay between ecological systems and social dynamics in the realm of conservation and restoration efforts.
Urban
India is urbanising rapidly, with the population in urban areas projected to rise to nearly 53% by 2050. India’s progress to USD 30 trillion GDP economy in 2047 is going to be led by cities that are expected to contribute 75% to the GDP by 2030. Urban agglomerations are engines of economy, labour and consequently consumption, waste generation and poor ‘Quality of Life’. In order to make climate friendly growth a reality for our national strategic objectives and improve ‘Quality of Life’, we need more actors to help embed a new green urban economy and a new green infrastructure into the solutions and policies that are laid out in the urban space. To do this we need to bring out new thinking that will overcome established path dependencies in growth and development.
Rural
At the Rainmatter Foundation, we work with partner organisations to learn how communities associate and relate with their places i.e. how do they understand the unique strengths, skills, resources, and needs through a place-lens. Enabling ownership of a place by tracking its assets, resources, incomes, livelihoods, local economy, waste, etc. form the basis of our core belief ‘Sense of the house’ or what you could call a positive sense of ownership towards the places we inhabit.
Energy and Materials
The understanding of solutions from an Energy and Material perspective is essential to finding lasting, decentralised and circular solutions to the energy crisis. In terms of energy, our focus is on working towards net zero emissions and Energy Transition Preparedness initiatives. From a Materials POV, promoting a circular economy with key chases around solutions for textile waste, awareness about materials and promoting reduction in consumption are the focus.
Ecosystem messaging
The goal of ecosystem messaging at the foundation is to reimagine how we talk about and understand the climate crisis. Moving beyond how climate is conventionally spoken about - in a doom and gloom, abstract manner that can often lead to indifference or guilt, what we need is storytelling that is accessible, relatable, place-based, intersectional, and non-technical.
Partnerships
We partner with organizations that are working towards the focus areas outlined above. We believe we need to create ecosystems that are focused on solving these challenges and look forward to supporting organizations that are contributing to such ecosystems. Our support can take many forms, including funding.
i. Grants
Grants typically extend over a three to five year period. Rainamtter typically provides unrestricted funding, giving the organisation and partners the freedom to make decisions important for their work, while our team works closely with them to align on a common vision.
ii. Fellowships
We also provide fellowships to individuals working in the climate space whose work aligns with our thesis.
iii. Investments
We believe that businesses will have to recognise that taking climate action is an urgent and critical need, and that there is an opportunity for smart entrepreneurs to create businesses that are profitable and have positive impacts on the planet.
We invest in startups working in this area via our investment company, Rainmatter Capital. If you are a startup or an organisation working in this area looking for funding, please send an application.