Grant Guidelines

Funding Approach

We provide grants annually, with most partnerships involving multi-year commitments. We fund organizations, initiatives, and collaborative efforts that align with our strategic priorities and demonstrate potential for significant impact.

Priority Considerations

- Scale Potential: Interventions that can influence policy, practice, or systems beyond immediate beneficiaries

- Innovation: Novel approaches or adaptations of proven models to new contexts

- Leadership: Strong leadership teams with demonstrated expertise and cultural competency

- Collaboration: Projects that foster cross-sector or cross-border cooperation

- Sustainability: Clear pathways to financial sustainability and institutional permanence

Application Process

Given our strategic focus and relationship-based approach, most grants emerge from ongoing dialogue with potential partners. We encourage organizations aligned with our mission to engage with our program officers through:

- Regional convenings and conferences

- Introduction through existing partners

- Response to specific Requests for Proposals

- Participation in our research and policy initiatives

Geographic and Organizational Requirements

We fund organizations with legal status in their home countries and demonstrated capacity for international work. Projects must align with local development priorities and demonstrate meaningful community engagement.

Impact Measurement

We employ sophisticated evaluation frameworks developed with leading research institutions to assess both immediate outcomes and long-term systemic change.

Evaluation Approach:

- Mixed-methods research combining quantitative metrics and qualitative assessment

- External evaluation by independent research institutions/experts

- Participatory evaluation involving beneficiaries and local stakeholders

- Long-term tracking of policy adoptions and institutional changes

- Network analysis measuring relationship building and collaboration

Application Process

Our grantmaking follows a two-stage process designed to be respectful of applicant time while ensuring thorough evaluation:

Letter of Inquiry (LOI): A brief 2-page summary outlining your organization, project, and funding request. LOIs are accepted quarterly and reviewed within 30 days.

Full Proposal: Organizations invited to submit full proposals receive detailed guidelines and have 60 days to complete their application.

What We Don’t Fund

- Individual scholarships or direct aid to individuals

- Political campaigns or lobbying activities

- Religious organizations for sectarian purposes

- Events, conferences, or general fundraising activities

- Organizations without 501(c)(3) status