We strengthen women’s groups based outside the United States by providing small, flexible, and timely grants ranging from $500 to $20,000 per year for operating and project expenses. First-time grant awards generally range from $3,000 to $9,000 per year. We value local expertise and believe that women themselves know best how to determine their needs and propose solutions for lasting change.
We welcome proposals that may fall into, but are not limited to, the following broad thematic areas:
- Building Peace & Ending Gender-Based Violence
- Advancing Health and Sexual & Reproductive Rights
- Expanding Civic & Political Participation
- Ensuring Economic & Environmental Justice
- Increasing Access to Education
- Fostering Social Change Philanthropy.
Application criteria
Please note that your group MUST meet all the following criteria to be eligible for a grant:
It is based in a country outside the United States. We do not fund US based organizations. Its primary focus is advancing women’s equality and human rights, with these goals clearly reflected in its activities.
It is a group of women working together. We do not accept requests from individuals.
It is governed, directed, and led by women. Women must fill all or most of the leadership roles.
Priorities:
The Global Fund receives over 3,500 proposals each year and awards about 600 grants annually. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to provide funding to all the groups that meet our criteria. We do, however, give priority to women’s groups that might particularly benefit from our support.
These include groups that:
1. Are in the first five years of existence. Groups do not need to be registered non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to qualify for funding.
2. Do not have access to funds from larger donor agencies.
3. Are located in a region or country that has extremely limited access to funding resources.
4. Are working on issues that are difficult or controversial for women to raise in their communities, yet are critical to the realization of women’s human rights.
5. Are organized and led by women from particularly marginalized populations, including but not limited to: refugees, rural women, economically disadvantaged women, women with disabilities, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQI) populations, sex workers, women affected by military occupation, women in conflict and post-conflict regions, girls and young women, and women from ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities.
6. Actively include the perspectives of those served by or benefiting from the group’s activities.
In addition, please note that the Global Fund does NOT fund the following:
1. Individuals
2. Scholarships
3. Government entities
4. Groups without a strong women’s rights focus
5. Groups based and working primarily or only in the US
6. International organizations proposing projects with local partners.
Groups whose sole purpose is to generate income or to provide charity to individuals
Groups headed and managed by men, without women in the majority of leadership positions
Political parties or election campaigns
Women’s branches/departments/projects of mixed gender organizations. Exceptions: Women-focused projects within mixed-gender organizations may occasionally receive support from the Global Fund if they work with particularly marginalized groups: for example, women within groups of people with disabilities or women within LGBTQI organizations.
Review process
You may submit a request in any language, by e-mail, fax, or post. We usually accept proposals all year, but grants are awarded only four times a year after approval by our international Board of Directors. After you submit a proposal, a notice of receipt will be sent within 3 weeks of its arrival at the Global Fund. You will receive a decision on your proposal or a request for additional information in approximately 4-5 months. Due to the large volume of requests we receive, final grant awards may not be made for up to 7 to 9 months. In addition, please note that the Global Fund is not able to award a grant to all the deserving groups that apply and that we are also often unable to award the total amount requested.
Urgent requests
The Global Fund for Women accepts urgent requests related to a crisis of some kind, or for requests that pertain to organizing or attending a conference, or other time-bound event. Such requests will be considered outside of our normal grant cycle due to their time-sensitive nature. Applications must be submitted by organizations, not individuals, and must be received at least 8 weeks before the event. Funding for such requests is extremely limited and preference will be given to past Global Fund grantees. To apply for an urgent request please follow the directions at
www.globalfundforwomen.org/3grant.
Application deadline: accept proposals all year
More information
E-mail:
ecis@globalfundforwomen.org (Angelika Arutyunova, Program Officer, Europe and the Former Soviet States)
Web:
www.globalfundforwomen.org