The Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF) is a grassroots grantmaker working to promote and support institutions of community philanthropy around the world.
We work with individual community foundations and other local
grantmakers and their networks around the world, with a particular focus
on the global south and the emerging economies of Central and Eastern
Europe. Through small grants, technical support and networking, we help
these local institutions to strengthen and grow so that they can
fulfil their potential as vehicles for local development and as part of
the infrastructure for sustainable development, poverty alleviation
and citizen participation.
The GFCF is inviting concept notes for a grants programme aimed at
strengthening and supporting community philanthropy approaches that:
- Strengthen the efforts of CPOs to respond to, change mindsets around and build support for complex, sensitive or apparently intractable issues at the community level (e.g. social cohesion and other community divisions, environmental issues, women’s issues, youth, other minority rights, marginalized and vulnerable communities etc.).
- Strengthen the overall durability and effectiveness of CPOs as trusted and rooted vehicles for people-led, people-owned development (whether around grantmaking systems, governance and management structures, fund development and sustainability, communications platforms, etc.).
Specific activities could include:
- Strengthening the efforts of individual CPOs that are seeking to mobilize local resources and / or foster the growth of local philanthropy for progressive social change.
- Testing or piloting new strategies and approaches in their work (for example, a new resource mobilization strategy, a participatory grantmaking programme, etc.)
- Strengthening the evidence base for community philanthropy by documenting and demonstrating practice / outcomes etc.
Who should apply?
- CPOs (including community foundations, women’s funds, environmental funds, national public foundations, grassroots grantmakers, etc.). Applicants should be grantmakers who are mobilizing local resources and / or attempting to build a culture of philanthropy in their community.
- CPOs based in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, or Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Past grant recipients and applicants are welcome to apply.
About the grants
- Grants will be in the range of U.S. $10,000 - $20,000 (size will depend on annual budget, nature of activities and whether the organization is already known to the GFCF).
- Grants will be for an initial period of one year (follow-on funding may be possible).
- Participation in a learning network / grantee convening may be a condition of the grant.
