VGIF’s Small Grants for Grassroots Projects

The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (VGIF)  is providing small grants for grassroots projects that empower women and girls in developing countries. It supports women’s organizations based outside of the United States by providing small grants for an array of community needs up to $7,500 USD.

The areas of support area:

• Community development
• Health and nutritional support
• Literacy and leadership training
• Educational seminars and workshops
• Women’s human rights
• Organizations that are governed and directed by women.

All interested applicants must complete a Letter of Intent (LOI). VGIF does not accept unsolicited LOIs or full proposals. The LOI process will open in May, 2012. At that time you will have access to our Letter Of Intent by creating an account, then completing and submitting your LOI to us electronically. After LOIs are reviewed, your organization may or may not be invited to move forward in our funding process, with the completion of our full application.

• The Letter of Intent must be submitted by a non-profit, non-political organization.
• The proposal addresses the empowerment of women and girls and will lead to action and sustainable change in the community.
• The proposal clearly reflects the participation of the community/target group in its development and design.
• The project addresses sustainability after VGIF funding with continued involvement in the larger community.
• Women are well represented in the leadership, staff and management of the organization and project.
• The organization can demonstrate its ability to manage resources and funding from external sources.
• The Letter of Intent provides reliable email addresses as well as phone numbers.
• The proposal must present a true budget with a clear explanation of all items. The budget amount requested from VGIF must not exceed $7,500 USD.
• Other sponsors or potential funding for this project must be clearly identified.
• The timeline of activities is realistic and achievable and the project can begin upon the awarding of grants by VGIF in mid-May.
• VGIF will consider inclusion of an amount, not to exceed 10% of the total grant, for administration of the project to the executing organization in the country where the project is located.

The deadline to submit LOI is 31 July 2012. For more information, visit this link.