Overview
The DIV Fund provides tiered, non-dilutive grants to test, validate, and scale innovations that improve lives in low- and middle-income countries. Proposals from nonprofits, social enterprises, and for-profit startups are evaluated on evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and potential for large-scale implementation, with Stage 1 up to $200,000, Stage 2 up to $500,000, and Stage 3 up to $1.5 million, plus technical assistance. It differentiates itself by pairing non-dilutive, staged funding with rigorous evidence and hands-on support, drawing on the USAID DIV legacy and an open, venture-capital–style approach. Its goal is to accelerate the development and scale-up of affordable, high-impact solutions across health, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, and other sectors in LMICs, achieving durable, large-scale social benefits.
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Simplify's take
What believers are saying
- February 2026 launch secured $48 million, including $20 million emergency rescue funding.
- GiveWell added $5 million in October 2026 for water-quality innovations.
- Applications opened April 2026, and the fund now has a live pipeline.
What critics are saying
- DIV Fund depends on philanthropy; one donor shock can freeze 2027 grantmaking.
- USAID's dissolution already killed DIV's original pipeline, proving political risk is existential.
- Evidence-heavy screening slows disbursement, risking competitors outpacing DIV on urgent climate and health needs.
What makes The DIV Fund unique
- Michael Kremer and Sasha Gallant rebuilt DIV Fund after USAID's 2025 dissolution.
- Its tiered grants reward evidence, moving from $200,000 pilots to $1.5 million scale-ups.
- June 2026 launches preserved DIV's RCT discipline inside an independent nonprofit.
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