The Open Society Foundations give out thousands of grants every year for organizations working in different countries on important topics. They form a global network of entities and programs committed to local knowledge and national expertise. The network includes national and regional foundations, as well as programs with regional or global reach, active in more than 120 countries.
The focus of the work is on promoting justice, transparency, and open debate. The foundations also engage in strategic human rights litigation and impact investing, while incubating new ideas and engaging directly with governments and policymakers through advocacy to advance positive change.
There are regular calls for applications for specific regions and specific topics. Currently, the Open Society Foundations have an open call for Eastern Africa within the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa.
What can be funded?
The Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa wants to encourage an open, informed dialogue on issues of importance in Eastern Africa. They do not only fund projects, but also implement them themselves and have a strong focus on advocacy. OSIEA wants to support and amplify the voices of pro-democracy organizations and individuals in the region and to strengthen their capacity to hold their governments accountable. This includes efforts to defend and support rights activists and pro-democracy advocates who come under attack for their work.
OSIEA supports projects in the following programmatic areas:
Democratic governance and rule of law
Economic governance
Health and rights
Equality and non-discrimination
How to apply?
To apply, applicants need to fill out a concept note form that can be found for download on the website and summarize their project in under 500 words. The focus should be on the planned results and the changes that will happen for project participants. The concept note needs to be sent by email to the indicated address.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a full proposal.
The grants can range from a few thousand to several hundred thousand dollars.
The Concept Note – A Resource Guide is a must-have for everyone- Proposal writers, development organization managers and executive directors, Fundraising and development professionals for local and international development organizations, Academic Institutions, Non-profit consultants and consulting firms, and Students. There’s a lot more to the concept note than just writing one, all of which are chapterized here. This Guide is designed to help to apply for funding and see projects come to life.
This Guide aims to:
Provide a holistic understanding of the grant application process, the purpose of the concept notes and their parts, and tips on writing the concept note.
Assist international development workers in applying for grants from institutional donors, including private foundations, government embassies, and development agencies.
Increase the quality of grant applications for projects around the world.
proposalsforNGOs is an online community for global development professionals with the goal of increasing the sustainability of NGOs around the world. The enormous growth in funding opportunities, as well as NGOs over time, has made fundraising more competitive.