Project DEEP

What Project DEEP does

Project DEEP, legally registered as One Step Forward Foundation (CIN – U88900MH2023NPL402559), is a Section 8 nonprofit organization incorporated in Maharashtra, India in 2023. It implements unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) by disbursing INR 65,000 lumpsum grants directly to vulnerable tribal, agrarian, and migrant families in Maharashtra and Rajasthan, with 3,500+ lives reached and INR 5.5 crore+ disbursed across 6 communities to date. Its operating model is a three-pronged approach: direct programming (community cash transfers), thought leadership (research publications including India's first landscape report analyzing 70+ UCT schemes), and policy engagement (advising state governments on welfare reform, including a formal MoU with MITRA, the Maharashtra Institute for Transformation).

The organization's core product is the Flagship Cash Transfer Program, which distinguishes itself from the 78% of government schemes that use monthly benefit mechanisms by providing unconditional seed capital — 89% of which beneficiaries deploy for livelihood enhancement and asset creation. Supporting products include the UCT Landscape Report, Policy Engagement Services (fiscal prudence, scheme rationalization, impact evaluation), and Ongoing Knowledge Creation (impact reports, baseline studies, spending analyses). The underlying technology is operationally light: direct field-based disbursement, Razorpay-powered online donation infrastructure, and survey-based econometric research — there is no proprietary software platform or AI component.

Revenue is exclusively philanthropic, sourced from individual donors (via tiered one-time and monthly donations of ₹5,000/₹10,000/₹15,000 or custom amounts) and institutional funders including Chintu Gudiya Foundation, Mariwala Health Initiative, K.V. Mariwala, Forbes Marshall, Spectrum Impact, BDO India, and GiveDirectly. The customer base is dual-sided: economically vulnerable communities as beneficiaries and philanthropists/policymakers as funders and decision-makers. A 15-20 person team, supported by a heavyweight advisory bench (Innovations for Poverty Action, Tata Consultancy Foundation, Venn Advisors, former RBI Board member), executes operations.

Name

Project DEEP

Legal name

One Step Forward Foundation

Website

https://project-deep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Project DEEP is an Indian nonprofit (One Step Forward Foundation, founded 2023) that delivers unconditional cash transfers of INR 65,000 to vulnerable tribal, agrarian, and migrant families in Maharashtra and Rajasthan, combined with welfare policy research and advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ)

Keywords

• Unconditional cash transfers
• Welfare policy research
• Poverty alleviation programs
• Direct cash aid
• Social policy reform

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Project DEEP operates as a Section 8 nonprofit organization (One Step Forward Foundation, CIN – U88900MH2023NPL402559) funded through donations. Website enables one-time and monthly donations at tiered amounts (₹5,000, ₹10,000, ₹15,000, and custom amounts). Revenue comes from individual donors and institutional funders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Project DEEP implements unconditional cash transfer programs providing INR 65,000 lumpsum payments directly to vulnerable tribal, agrarian, and migrant families in rural India for livelihood enhancement and asset creation. It complements direct programming with evidence-based research (India's first landscape report on 70+ UCT schemes) and policy engagement to influence welfare reform through partnerships with government bodies like MITRA and district administrations.

Product overview

Project DEEP operates as a Section 8 nonprofit organization focused on unconditional cash transfers in India. The organization offers a unified portfolio consisting of its Flagship Cash Transfer Program (providing INR 65,000 lumpsum transfers to families), Policy Engagement Services (fiscal prudence, scheme rationalization, and impact evaluation), Knowledge Creation (research publications and impact reports), and Community Programs (implementing cash transfers across 6 communities in Maharashtra and Rajasthan). The organization has produced the Unconditional Cash Transfers in India Landscape Report analyzing 70+ schemes. These offerings work together through a three-pronged approach: direct programming, thought leadership, and policy engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flagship Cash Transfer Program Direct cash transfer program providing INR 65,000 lumpsum transfers to vulnerable tribal, agrarian, and migrant families in rural India with no conditions attached, enabling asset creation and livelihood enhancement. 89% of funds are used for livelihood enhancement and asset creation, with 68% of families reinvesting in income-generating assets.
• Unconditional Cash Transfers in India Landscape Report Comprehensive analysis of 70+ unconditional cash transfer schemes in India providing insights from 21 experts and recommendations for streamlined welfare delivery. Targeted at policymakers, government bodies, and researchers.
• Policy Engagement Services Policy reform services focusing on fiscal prudence, scheme rationalization, design and reform of welfare programs, and impact evaluation to enhance welfare system effectiveness. Delivered to government bodies and policy stakeholders in partnership with organizations like MITRA (Maharashtra Institute for Transformation).
• Knowledge Creation Research Evidence-based research and publications on cash transfers and welfare policies, including impact reports, baseline studies, and spending pattern analyses across program communities. Available to policymakers, researchers, and the public via the Resources page.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,500+ lives transformed through asset creation and livelihood enhancement
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• MITRA (Maharashtra Institute for Transformation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2025Signed MoU with MITRA for collaborating on enabling Maharashtra's transformation through strategic policy work. Partnership focuses on policy engagement and welfare reform in Maharashtra.
• District Administration, Gadchiroli, Government of MaharashtracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for implementing community programs and policy engagement in Maharashtra, working with district-level administration for welfare reform.
• India Basic Income CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity of practitioners, researchers and activists with pan-India and global experience working on building unconditional cash transfers as a transformative tool of social policy. Project DEEP is part of this coalition.
• Innovations for Poverty ActionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory partner with Miriam Laker-Oketta as Country Director. Global research organization focused on poverty alleviation through evidence-based interventions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Haqdarshak: India-based social enterprise enabling citizens to access government welfare schemes and entitlements. Several Project DEEP team members previously worked at Haqdarshak; both organizations focus on improving welfare delivery to vulnerable Indian populations.
• GiveDirectly: Global nonprofit pioneer in unconditional direct cash transfers, operating across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and now India. Listed as a Project DEEP project partner; the most direct comparable in mission, mechanism, and beneficiary profile.
• The Nudge Foundation: India-based nonprofit working on poverty alleviation through livelihood, life-skills, and economic access programs. Listed as a Project DEEP project partner, with overlapping focus on evidence-based interventions for vulnerable Indian populations.
• Basic Income Earth Network: Global advocacy network promoting unconditional basic income and cash transfers. Project DEEP's Sarath Davala serves as President of BIEN; deep alignment on UCT philosophy and policy advocacy.

Emerging players

• Dasra: India's leading strategic philanthropy foundation, providing capacity building and collaborative platforms for nonprofits. Co-founder Pankhuri Shah previously worked at Dasra; comparable as a nonprofit ecosystem builder in India's social sector.
• GiveIndia: India's largest online donation platform connecting donors to verified nonprofits. Comparable as a fundraising and donor-engagement infrastructure that Project DEEP could leverage or that donors compare it against for Indian philanthropy.
• SELCO Foundation: India-based sustainable development foundation focused on energy access and livelihoods for underserved communities. Team member Swathi Murali previously worked at SELCO; comparable as an Indian evidence-based nonprofit combining field programs and policy engagement.

Broad incumbents

• Pratham Education Foundation: One of India's largest NGOs, focused on education and livelihood programs for underprivileged children and youth. Comparable as a scaled Indian nonprofit that combines direct programming with policy advocacy and research-driven approaches.
• Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA): Global research and policy nonprofit that generates evidence on poverty solutions through randomized evaluations. Project DEEP advisor Miriam Laker-Oketta serves as IPA's India Country Director; deep methodological overlap in evidence-based poverty research.
• UNICEF India: UN agency implementing large-scale child welfare and social protection programs across India. Team member Priyanka Parle previously served as a State Consultant in UNICEF's Social Policy and Social Protection team; overlap in social protection policy work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ProjectDeepUCT
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@project-deep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/onestep-forward
• Instagraminstagram.com/project_deep_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Project DEEP