In a development that signals a new direction for India’s social sector financing, Hyderabad-based Grace Cancer Foundation, a nearly 13-year-old non-profit founded by noted surgical oncologist Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli, announced that it is preparing to be listed on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE).
Dr Chinnababu said, “If successful, the Foundation will join a small but growing group of Indian non-profits leveraging India’s emerging social capital markets to raise transparent, impact-linked funding.”
The announcement was made at a knowledge session titled “CSR Meets the Social Stock Exchange: A Journey Ahead”, organised recently by Equippp Social Impact Technologies Limited (EQUIPPP) recently in the city.
Dr Chinnababu Sunkavalli, Founder of Grace Cancer Foundation, said the proposed SSE listing is not merely a fundraising exercise, but a strategic institutional transformation.
“Our objective is to build a stronger organisation with world-class governance, robust compliance systems, measurable impact and complete transparency. Every rupee entrusted to us must create measurable social outcomes,” he said.
He unveiled the Foundation’s next phase of growth, which includes establishing a Centre of Excellence for Preventive Oncology, deploying 100 per cent AI-enabled mobile cancer screening units, expanding cancer and non-communicable disease screening across India, developing digital health platforms for underserved communities and strengthening research collaborations in preventive oncology.
Industry observers said the Foundation’s move reflects a broader shift in India’s development sector—from traditional grant-based philanthropy towards outcome-driven social finance, where governance, transparency and measurable impact increasingly influence funding decisions.
“Unlike conventional stock exchanges where businesses raise investment capital, the Social Stock Exchange enables eligible non-profit organisations and social enterprises to mobilise funds from donors and impact investors through a SEBI-regulated framework built around transparency and measurable impact,” he explained.