To Apply

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Deadline: 1 July 2005

(This document is also available in French and Arabic)

Overview

The Fund for Global Human Rights serves as an intermediary to facilitate the support of human rights organizations in places where there is great need and access to funding is minimal. Its primary goals are as follows:

1. To identify, assess and provide funding to local, national, and regional human rights organizations addressing critical issues; and
2. To encourage the creation of fora and networks for exchange of ideas, strategies and mutual support among otherwise isolated human rights organizations.

The Fund will make grants in 2005 in a particular set of countries. Below you will find information on eligibility requirements, criteria for grant reviews, and other program information.

Program Focus

Proposed activities should contribute to the overall goal of advancing human rights. This includes activities focused on mobilizing popular opinion through human rights skills-building and organizing; exposing abuse through documentation; addressing violations through direct action, policy/legal reform and litigation; networking and coalition building to further the effectiveness of human rights work; and capacity building for organizations engaged in the above work, locally and regionally.

The grants will be for one year (January-December 2006) and may be renewed in 2007. The Fund will consider proposals seeking general support, as well as those seeking support for a particular project. Grants will range from $5,000 to $30,000. First-time applicants are strongly encouraged to apply in the $5,000 to $15,000 range.

PART A: Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for funding, you must be an organization that:

 

• Works to defend or promote human rights; and
• Is based in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and be working, in whole or in part, on human rights issues in the country in which the organization is based, OR
• Is based in Algeria, Tunisia, or Morocco, and be working, in whole or in part, on human rights issues in the country in which the organization is based.
  

 

The Fund encourages applications from organizations that:

• Demonstrate leadership, innovative approaches, and significant long-term potential to impact policy at the local or national level.
• Demonstrate organizational commitment to human rights.
• Contain significant community representation among board and staff.
• Are interested in building relationships with other human rights organizations.

Women-led human rights organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.

To Apply for a Grant from the Fund for Global Human Rights

Please submit the following:

• A proposal of NO MORE than ten (10) pages.
• Financial information for the PAST calendar or fiscal year :
  • What was your organization's total annual budget last year?
  • Please list the main categories of expenditures, give an amount for each, and indicate the currency.
  • Most recent audited financial statement (if available)
• Financial information for the CURRENT calendar or fiscal year :
  • What is your organization’s total annual budget?
  • Please list the main categories of expenditures, give an amount for each, and indicate the currency.
  • The organization’s funding sources and amounts (and indicate the currency). If you have received funding before from international donors, please provide us with contact information (individual’s name, title, institutional affiliation, e-mail address, telephone number) for all of them.

• A list of 3 individuals very familiar with, but not part of, the organization. Please include institutional affiliation(s), telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
• A list and brief biographies of board members and key staff. Please identify whether they are male or female.
• Number of staff at your organization
• Number of volunteers at your organization
• An organizational newsletter, brochure, or press clippings (if available).
• A completed questionnaire on your charitable/non-profit status (attached and available from the Fund for Global Human Rights).

Your proposal should describe:

• When your organization was formed and who started it.
• The organization’s mission, primary constituency, leadership, and current programs.
• What role the people who benefit from your organization's activities have in the work of your organization. And, how are these groups represented among your board and staff?
  A concise overview of your organization's plans for the next three to five years: please describe what you consider to be the most critical changes you seek in terms of human rights, and what contribution this organization makes towards achieving them.
• A concise statement of the human rights issues and challenges you propose to address, how you plan to address them, and a timeline of activities.
• The roles of staff, board, advisors, volunteers and/or members in implementing the work outlined in the proposal.
• What will tell you that your organization is having an impact on the environment in which it operates or within the communities it serves.

Your proposal should also provide the following information:

• Contact information: Name of organization, postal address, street address, telephone, fax, e-mail, website; contact person’s name and title; name or names of organization’s leaders; indicate your preferred method of communication.
• Grant request: The Fund for Global Human Rights makes grants from $5,000 to $30,000. How much money are you requesting and how will it be used? Requests for grants above $30,000 will NOT be considered. Organizations applying for the FIRST time are strongly encouraged to request support in the range of $5,000 to $15,000.
• Type of grant request: Organizations are invited to apply for a general support grant OR a project support grant.
  • If you are seeking support for a specific activity, project or initiative, please request a project support grant.
  • If you are seeking funds to support institutional costs that do not relate to a specific project – such as office rent, salaries, equipment, vehicle rental, capacity building of staff/volunteers, or an overall program of activities – please request a general support grant.
• Source of Information: How did you learn of the Fund for Global Human Rights grantmaking program?

Deadlines

Proposals must be received no later than July 1, 2005 in order to be considered. This deadline will be strictly enforced. The RFP can also be downloaded from the International Human Rights Funders Group website at http://www.hrfunders.org/fghr/index.html.

Please send proposals via email to: info@globalhumanrights.org. If your proposal is ready before July 1, please submit it early to reduce email traffic on our server on the day of the deadline.

An automatic-reply e-mail will be sent be sent to you when a proposal is received. PLEASE DO NOT E-MAIL A PROPOSAL MORE THAN ONCE UNLESS YOU RECEIVE AN E-MAIL RESPONSE THAT SAYS IT DID NOT GO THROUGH.

IF YOU ARE SENDING MULTIPLE FILES, PLEASE ATTACH THEM TO ONE E-MAIL.

Successful applicant organizations will be notified about grant awards on or about November 15, 2005.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO E-MAIL THE PROPOSAL, YOU MAY SEND IT VIA POST OR FAX TO:

The Fund for Global Human Rights
1634 “I” Street, NW, Suite 1001
Washington, DC 20006
Fax: 202-783-8499

If you have questions about any part of this Request for Proposals, please send an e-mail to info@globalhumanrights.org

Application Materials:

• Proposal Check List
• Application Cover Sheet
• Tax Questionnaire