Open opportunities with 10 major private foundations

In recent years, new development funders have emerged to supplement traditional donor funding. From private charities to philanthropists, global development is getting a much-needed financial boost from some of the world’s largest corporations and affluent individuals. With more and more philanthropists getting involved, it has become increasingly clear that nontraditional donors will continue to play an important role in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. Currently, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation remains at the forefront of philanthropic giving, but there are many other foundations seeking qualified partners. While private and corporate foundations are notorious for stringently screening grant applicants, some of these charitable institutions leave room for engaging new partners by encouraging organizations to submit project ideas that will contribute to achieving the foundation’s mission and objectives. By advertising open opportunities — or grant opportunities that have no fixed application deadlines — foundations attract a multitude of prospective partners. Open opportunities are either scheduled to reopen after a specified timeframe or remain open indefinitely. Unlike requests for proposals, or RFPs, which outline specific requirements for a program, open opportunities are less structured, allowing organizations to design their own solutions for tackling development challenges. These open-ended grant opportunities typically follow a two-stage process beginning with the submission of a letter of inquiry, followed by a request for proposals from the grantmaking organization. The purpose of the LOI stage is to let the foundation know whether or not the organization applying for funding has the ability to carry it out, and if the proposed program is in line with the foundation’s strategic goals and overall vision. LOIs differ from proposals in that they serve as a concise overview of the organization applying for funding and a summary of its proposed program. This initial outreach is not expected or required to include many technical details as it is only used for the foundation’s initial screening process. While foundations usually have their own templates for LOIs, grant seekers are often required to provide the following information: 1. Organizational overview: This section contains all the basic details such as office addresses, the organization’s official website, and contact information, including the point of contact for the proposed program. Other pertinent details include a summary of past and current programs, the organization’s mission statement, staff size, leadership structure, current partners and key accomplishments. The general purpose of this section is to show the funding institution whether or not the organization applying for a grant works in areas that support its development objectives and has the capacity to implement the proposed program. 2. Summary of the proposed program: This section includes the statement of the problem, as well as the proposed methodology on how to address it. Applicants must clearly define the geographic scope and beneficiaries of the proposed program. A concise description of activities is usually included, along with a timetable and the foreseen milestones. A brief discussion of the resources needed, including the number of staff required and the total amount of funding requested, is also stated in this section. Applicants must also be able to establish how the proposed project ties into the foundation’s strategies and programs. Guidelines for writing LOIs Although LOIs are much shorter than proposals — usually only a few pages long — a well-written letter can mean the difference between rejection or an invitation to proceed to the next stage. Below are some guidelines for writing LOIs. Know the foundation Unlike traditional procurement opportunities, open opportunities typically offer few details to inform prospective grantees of what the foundations are looking for. In some cases, the foundation simply states that it is accepting LOIs or unsolicited proposals for some of the sectors it works in. Interested organizations are expected to devise their own innovative and cost-effective solutions to achieve the foundation’s development goals. Before designing a program to pitch in the LOI, organizations must first familiarize themselves with the foundation’s mission objectives. Work within the foundation’s funding priorities Most private and corporate foundations tend to have a limited scope when it comes to their program areas. Prospective grantees should learn about the foundation’s geographic and sector priorities. While most of these details can be readily found on the foundation’s website, it also pays to dig deeper by going over annual reports and letters from the heads of foundations to gain more insights on current and future funding priorities. Follow the rules Before sending requests for funding, it is important for organizations to read the application guidelines on the foundation’s website. Several foundations have online LOI forms and will not accept proposals through other mediums. Many foundations also discourage organizations from sending full proposals and will only accept LOIs during the first exchange. While these policies may vary across different foundations, organizations should familiarize themselves with these funding practices. Failure to adhere to these policies often leads to automatic disqualification. Open opportunities with 10 major private foundations Below are 10 foundations that currently have open opportunities and general guidelines on how to apply for funding from these organizations. 1. Carnegie Corporation of New York The Carnegie Corporation provides grants for strengthening democracy, education and research, as well as international peace and security. Outside the U.S., the organization is active in Eurasia and sub-Saharan Africa, and it awards grants to non-U.S. organizations that operate in countries that are either former or current members of the British Commonwealth. Interested grant seekers may submit letters of inquiry through the organization’s website and can expect a response within four to six weeks after submission. 2. Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation makes grants under its seven program areas, which include civic engagement and governance; creativity and free expression; equitable development; gender, racial and ethnic justice; inclusive economies; internet freedom; and youth opportunity and learning. Grant seekers are required to submit program proposals through the foundation’s online platform. Applicants that are considered for the next round of the selection process can expect a response within 45 days after the initial submission. 3. Open Society Foundations Open Society Foundations has multiple offices across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Its core offices are located in Belgium, Hungary, the United Kingdom and the United States, with its headquarters in New York. OSF’s grants are focused on five areas, namely: education and youth; governance and accountability; health; media and information; and rights and justice. The foundation employs different methods to award funding depending on the nature of the program. The solicitation type is usually detailed in their grant notices and typically varies between requests for proposals or invitations for letters of inquiry. Below are some of MSF’s active open opportunities. • Supporting women and youth in Burma • Supporting civil society in Hungary • Strengthening democratic governance in Latin America • Strengthening governance in Eastern Africa • Supporting universities providing higher education to refugees 4. MacArthur Foundation Headquartered in Chicago, the MacArthur Foundation operates in 50 countries and has offices in India, Mexico and Nigeria. Some of its priority areas include climate change, criminal justice, social development, and nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. Grant seekers may submit applications through the foundation’s online grants portal. After submitting a letter of inquiry, applicants can expect to receive a notice of acknowledgment from the foundation within five business days and must allow up to eight weeks for the review process to be completed. 5. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation The Hewlett Foundation supports energy and climate initiatives globally and is currently accepting letters of inquiry in these sectors. Specific areas of intervention include the reduction of carbon emissions, increasing the use of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and creating networks to support the foundation’s clean energy and climate initiatives. The Hewlett Foundation also supports initiatives for clean transportation in China, Mexico, Brazil and the United States. To apply, grant seekers must submit a letter of inquiry through the foundation’s LOI page. Applicants are also advised to review the program information page and grant guidelines before submitting an LOI. 6. W. K. Kellogg Foundation Outside the U.S., the W.K. Kellogg Foundation works in Haiti, Mexico, Northeastern Brazil and Southern Africa. The foundation’s initiatives are centered on child development, which has three main program areas: education for children, child health, and securing family incomes. WKKF is also involved in programs that espouse community and civic engagement, as well as racial equity. Applications are accepted through the foundation’s online grant application form. Grant seekers will receive an initial response within 45 days. 7. The Coca-Cola Foundation Headquartered in Atlanta, the Coca-Cola Company’s philanthropic branch works mainly in the areas of water, community development, education and the environment. Outside the U.S., the foundation has several regional offices across Eurasia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Pacific. Its regional priorities include HIV/AIDS and malaria in Africa and Latin America, youth development in Europe, and diversity programs in the United States. To apply, applicants must submit funding requests through the foundation’s online tool. An email confirmation will be sent once the application is received, while a response to the funding request can be expected within 60 days. 8. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Although the Mott Foundation focuses most of its resources on U.S.-based initiatives, the foundation also awards grants under its civil society program for projects in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as South Africa. The foundation’s European programs are geared toward strengthening democracy by providing institutional support and capacity building for civic organizations, while its efforts in South Africa aim to broaden access to social services, including legal assistance for poor and marginalized members of the community. Grantees may submit project ideas through the Mott Foundation’s online LOI form and can expect a response within 90 days. 9. Michael and Susan Dell Foundation The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation works in the U.S., India and South Africa, financing grants that support education, increase household incomes and improve children’s health. Before submitting an unsolicited proposal, prospective grantees are required to check their eligibility through the foundation’s online eligibility test. Once passed, the page will automatically lead to the grant request form. 10. Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation provides corporate sponsorship support for activities that are geared toward patient education, community health care, raising disease awareness, and broadening access to health care and medication. Eligible applicants include hospitals; community health centers; medical societies; patient support or advocacy organizations; and organizations that specialize in health and patient care. To apply, grant seekers must submit a letter of request through the foundation’s website. Check out more practical business and development advice online, and subscribe to Money Matters to receive the latest contract award and shortlist announcements, and procurement and fundraising news.