Resources

Funding Resources

MainSpring has compiled a list of donors that provide funding to civil society organizations in various sectors. Although this list does not comprise all available funding opportunities, it can serve as a starting point for finding potential grants. If you would like to share additional funding resources ideas with civil society colleagues, please email info@mainspringinternational.com to contribute to this roster.

  1. S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
    USAID offers a variety of funding opportunities applicable to civil society organizations. The agency’s website includes links to Grants.govfor opportunities leading to grants or cooperative agreements and FedBizOpps.gov for opportunities leading to a contract award. Use this link http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/get-grant-or-contract/opportunities-funding to access a list of types of funding opportunities offered by the agency. You may also browse through this same website to access additional information regarding how to partner with USAID and how to respond to a solicitation. The USAID Global Development Lab (http://www.usaid.gov/div) also “holds a year-round grant competition for innovative ideas, pilots and tests using cutting-edge analytical methods and scales solutions that demonstrate widespread impact and cost-effectiveness.” These which USAID refers to as “development innovation ventures” are unique to the agency and fall outside USAID’s other grant and contract opportunities.
  2. Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) Program at the World Bank
    This grant program specially designed for civil society organizations and other entities working on social accountability issues calls for proposals aimed to address key governance issues (thematic areas) per country as defined by the GPSA partnership. Only organizations located in eligible countries can apply for these grants. More information regarding this program can be found using this link: https://www.thegpsa.org/sa/funding-0. In general, proposals for GPSA funding should demonstrate the following:

    • How an initiative will solve a problem for the citizens of your country
    • How results or findings from such initiative will be used by the public sector to affect change (e.g. who from the public sector will use the information and why)

    Proposals should also consider the different dimensions of social accountability including but not limited to accountability systems, political economy interventions, constructive engagement, coalition building and citizen trust.

  3. Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) Canada
    DFATD provides development assistance in specific countries or regions. The department currently lists 25 focus countries chosen based on needs, capacity to benefit from development assistance and their alignment with Canadian foreign policy priorities. Here is the list of the 25 focal countries: http://www.international.gc.ca/development-developpement/countries-pays/index.aspx?lang=engMore information about DFATD’s development funding can be found here: http://www.international.gc.ca/development-developpement/funding-financement/fun-fin.aspx?lang=eng
  4. Department for International Development (DFID) United Kingdom
    DFID has established a number of funds to provide international development assistance to organizations in the developing world. Different funds have their own eligibility criteria, guidelines and call for proposal schedules. Among these funds, the UK Aid Direct, the Global Innovation Fund, the Global Poverty Action Fund and the Governance and Transparency Fund are of particular interest to civil society organizations. A complete list of DFID’s international development funding is found here: https://www.gov.uk/international-development-funding.
  5. Lifeline Program
    As described on the website (https://freedomhouse.org/program/lifeline#.VVpGe1bbIdU), the Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund is a consortium of international partners providing emergency financial assistance to civil society organizations (CSOs) under threat or attack and advocacy support responding to broader threats to civil society.
  6. The Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF)
    GFCF is an independent fund to promote and support institutions of community philanthropy around the world. Their grants are aimed at strengthening the capacity of community foundations and institutions to increase their overall effectiveness. Community foundations are defined by GFCF as “local grant-making organizations, which seek to accumulate contributions from a variety of local sources and, where possible, to create a permanent asset base in the form of an endowment.” Through small grants, technical support and networking, GFCF “helps local institutions strengthen and grow so they can fulfil their potential as vehicles for local development and as part of the infrastructure for sustainable development, poverty alleviation and citizen participation.”More information about GFCF can be found here: http://www.globalfundcommunityfoundations.org/grantmaking/
  7. GlobalGiving
    This charity fundraising website allows NGOs to raise funds by expanding their network of donors and connecting to existing corporate giving campaigns. GlobalGiving also sponsors “open challenges” in which organizations can raise funds from a variety of unique donors. This crowdfunding platform also provides tools and resources to improve fundraising strategies. See: http://www.globalgiving.org/
  8. Ford Foundation
    The Ford Foundation provides grants aimed at: “reducing poverty and injustice; promoting democratic values; and advancing human knowledge, creativity and achievement.” On information on grant eligibility and application process, please see their website: http://www.fordfoundation.org/grants/organizations-seeking-grants
  9. Amplify Change
    Provides grants to directly fund local civil society organizations that advocate for better policy and action on neglected sexual and reproductive health and rights issues. Learn more: https://amplifychange.org/
  10. Open Society Foundations
    The Open Society Foundations are a family of offices and foundations created by philanthropist George Soros. Open Society provides development grants targeting challenges primarily in five focus sectors namely: education & youth, governance & accountability, health, media & information, and rights & justice. See: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants

Other Resources

  1. Ashoka ChangeMakers (https://www.changemakers.com/)
    This online platform for social entrepreneurs contains a learning resource for innovation and fundraising tools. Organizations can also join “challenges” to tap into partnerships and potential funding from institutions sponsoring social projects.
  2. MIT’s edX (https://www.edx.org/)
    edX offers free online courses developed by well renounced universities on a variety of topics. Civil society organizations can take full advantage of courses in topics like evaluating the impact of social programs, e-health opportunities and challenges, and international human rights among many others.
  3. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (http://www.oecd.org/ )
    OECD is a leader in conducting analysis on socioeconomic issues used to recommend policies for improvement at national levels. Their publications and extensive data on a plethora of issues can provide organizations with solid research information to inform advocacy calls.
  4. Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) (sida.se/English)
    In addition to providing development assistance, SIDA sponsors international training programs to support and strengthen participants own plans for change on organizational and sectorial levels. The programs cover areas of strategic importance to the social, environmental and economic development of co-operating countries and are based on identified priorities and needs. Information on this program can be found here: http://www.sida.se/English/Partners/courses-and-training/International-Training-Programmes/
  5. Funds for NGOs (http://www.fundsforngos.org/)
    This online initiative provides tools and resources for organizations on how to conduct fundraising and access information regarding different funding opportunities. It is a good source of information to better understand the international donor community.