Karuna
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Don't spend time on an approach; the similar funders below support the same kind of work.
Key takeaways
- Karuna does not invite or consider unsolicited applications, so a cold request is unlikely to be considered and you should not send one.
- Its stated geographic focus is India, Nepal and Bangladesh, and its themes are education, gender equality, sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience, so your work needs to sit clearly within those to be a fit.
- It selects partners for the calibre of their work serving communities severely affected by discrimination, and trustees check whether a new partner's aims and objectives fit its strategic aims, so make those clear in any contact.
- Its published information gives no grant range, so do not assume a particular amount, and note that it visits and regularly assesses projects, including their financial structures and registration.
Overview
Karuna is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 327461).
Created as Aid for India, now known as Karuna, the charity was begun by a small group of Buddhists from the UK who fundraised while living together in a community. It exists to overcome poverty and discrimination in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. It works alongside the world's most vulnerable people through locally-led projects in gender equality, education, livelihoods and climate resilience. It is supporting 30 projects across South Asia.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Karuna makes grants to locally led partner civil society organisations in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. It works alongside the most excluded people in South Asia, addressing poverty and discrimination through locally led projects in education, gender equality, livelihoods and climate resilience. Its partnerships are developed with grassroots organisations rooted in affected communities, supporting self-reliance and sustainability through financial support and capacity building. The organisation also builds networks between partners so their work can reach more people. It selects partners for the calibre of their work serving communities severely affected by discrimination, and considers whether a new partner’s aims and objectives fit its strategic aims.
Themes
- Education
- Gender equality
- Sustainable livelihoods
- Climate resilience
Geographic Focus
India; Nepal; Bangladesh.
What they don't fund
- Karuna does not invite or consider unsolicited applications for funding
How to apply
Karuna does not invite or consider unsolicited applications for funding.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Karuna selects partner organisations for the calibre of their work serving communities severely affected by discrimination.
- Trustees approve new projects and partners based on whether their aims and objectives fit Karuna’s strategic aims.
- Karuna visits and regularly assesses projects, including their financial structures and registration.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- Bangladesh
- India
- Nepal
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Karuna.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 March 2022 | £2,296,485 | £2,157,761 | £1,101,914 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2022 |
| year to 31 March 2023 | £2,198,853 | £2,209,936 | £1,081,790 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2023 |
| year to 31 March 2024 | £2,182,784 | £2,231,425 | £1,011,300 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2024 |
| year to 31 March 2025 | £2,100,568 | £2,209,906 | £983,948 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2025 |
| year to 31 March 2026 | £2,165,276 | £2,126,255 | £896,241 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2026 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2022; year to 31 March 2023; year to 31 March 2024; year to 31 March 2025: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2026: grants awarded in the year, as reported in the accounts.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- karuna.org
- karuna.org/our-work · read on 30 October 2026
- karuna.org/about-us · read on 30 October 2026
- karuna.org/faqs · read on 30 October 2026
- karuna.org/contact · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 March 2026)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Karuna?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0207 700 3434source
- info@karuna.orgsource
- Karuna Trust 72 Holloway Road London N7 8JG United Kingdomsource
- karuna.org
- Contact form
Applying to Karuna?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0207 700 3434source
- info@karuna.orgsource
- Karuna Trust 72 Holloway Road London N7 8JG United Kingdomsource
- karuna.org
- Contact form