Initially, the Society would be run with the funds available from the current project, i.e., from Sir Ratan Tata Trust. But, it is expected to raise some endowment funds towards ensuring long-term sustainability of the institution and its programmes. The institution would also expand its funding base for meeting the cost of various implementation activities. In the course of time, the society would also try and get FCRA registration so as to enable receiving contribution from some of the international donors, which are active in India’s water sector.

SOFILWM would work as a strategic player in the field of groundwater management in India. Unlike many other organizations working in the field of water management, which are into implementing some of the ideas that are being advocated by others, the new organization would continuously innovate, and come out with strategies and interventions based on the region’s hydrology, and changing socio-economic conditions and institutional and policy environment. It is a learning organization, rather than a pure implementer. It would undertake research to generate knowledge about the impacts of its interventions on the resource and society, particularly equity impacts, so as to bring in continuous refinements/changes in the strategies and approaches.

In order to emerge as a resource agency in the field of groundwater, SOFILWM would document and disseminate the learning and experiences gained while implementing the programme among wider community of developmental organizations, water resources policy makers, academicians and researchers.

The organization, apart from up-scaling the groundwater management interventions in north Gujarat, would also work towards evolving groundwater management strategies for other semi arid and arid regions of India. Towards this, it is planning to launch an action research project in western Rajasthan.