GrantStation International Insider - February 2021

COVID-19 | Global | Regional | Government | PathFinder | Online Education | Announcements | Subscribe

COVID-19 Related Funding

COVID-19 Relief Supports Organizations in the U.K.
National Lottery Community Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund supports people and communities most adversely impacted by COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. Support is provided to organizations: 1) to continue to deliver activity, whether they are responding to the immediate crisis or supporting recovery activity; and 2) to change and adapt, becoming more resilient in order to respond to new and future challenges. Applications may be submitted at any time.

Investments Aim to Address Critical Pandemic Needs Globally
Stop the Spread
Stop the Spread seeks to address the critical needs of the COVID-19 pandemic in four key ways: research, partnerships, investments, and hyperlocal support. Investments are provided in the form of grant or equity capital to nonprofit and for-profit organizations with novel solutions that uniquely address the needs of underserved communities. Organizations interested in exploring collaborations with Stop the Spread may contact them using the online form. There is no deadline for initial inquiries.

Funds for Organizations Assisting Vulnerable Groups
Volant Charitable Trust: COVID-19 Response Fund
Through the COVID-19 Response Fund, the Volant Trust accepts applications from charities in the U.K. and internationally that demonstrate a strong focus on alleviating social deprivation and helping vulnerable groups who have been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for medical equipment and the production or distribution of PPE will also be considered. Registered charities, community interest companies, community organizations, and social enterprises are eligible to apply. The application deadline is July 31, 2021.

For more grant opportunities, visit our COVID-19 Related Funding page.

Global Funding Opportunities

Awards Shine a Spotlight on Young Environmentalists
Action For Nature: International Young Eco-Hero Awards
Action For Nature (AFN) is a nonprofit organization that encourages young people to take personal action to nurture and protect a healthy environment on which all life depends. Action For Nature created the International Young Eco-Hero Awards to honor the work of young people between the ages of eight and 16 all over the globe who have done creative environmental projects. In order to be eligible, projects must concern environmental health, advocacy, research, or protection of the natural world; be action-based and self-initiated (not one assigned by a teacher or other adult); and be close to completion or have been completed within the last year. Preference is given to projects of two or more years and ongoing projects. Winners receive a cash prize of up to $500. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2021. Visit the AFN website to review the application guidelines and apply online.

Support for Civil Society Organizations Under Threat
Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund
The Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund was established in 2011 as a partnership between seven international NGOs and 19 donor governments to respond to closing civil space and advance fundamental freedoms. The Fund provides two types of financial assistance: 1) emergency assistance grants for at-risk civil society organizations (CSOs) that have experienced recent threats due to their human rights work; and 2) short-term advocacy and resiliency grants (maximum six months in length) for CSOs to launch advocacy efforts to push back against closing civic space or to proactively mitigate the threats they face and help them continue to work in high-risk environments. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and inquiries can be sent to consortium partners or info@csolifeline.org; more information can be found at www.csolifeline.org.

Competition Honors Excellence in Media Arts
Prix Ars Electronica
The Prix Ars Electronica, an initiative of Ars Electronica, is a global media arts competition. For the 2021 competition, prize categories consist of Computer Animation; Digital Musics and Sound Art; Artificial Intelligence and Life Art, focused on arts related to AI and life sciences; and u19 - Create Your World, which is aimed at children and youth. Winners in each category are awarded a cash prize of up to 10,000 euros, a statuette, and an opportunity to showcase their talents at the famed Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria. Individuals, groups, institutions, and companies are eligible to apply in all categories except for the u19 category, which is open to anyone who is 19 years of age or younger who lives in Austria. The submission deadline is March 3, 2021. Visit the Ars Electronica website to review the 2021 open call.

Grants Empower Women and Girls Through Education
Circle of Sisterhood Foundation
The mission of the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation is to remove barriers to education for girls and women facing poverty and oppression. The Foundation supports organizations that are implementing programs or services congruent with its mission. Areas of interest include the following: 1) ensuring opportunities for women and girls to achieve education, including enrichment and study groups, innovative approaches to education, providing tuition and materials, awareness of the importance of education, and parental involvement; and 2) improving the livelihood of girls and women, including business and vocational training. Funding is provided worldwide, with priority given to developing countries where girls are kept from school. U.S.-based nonprofit organizations operating domestically or internationally are eligible to apply. The application deadline is March 15, 2021. Visit the Foundation’s website to download a PDF preview of the application and apply online.

Regional Funding Opportunities

Renewable Energy Projects in Developing Countries Funded
EKOenergy: Climate Fund
EKOenergy, an international nonprofit ecolabel for energy, aims to empower clean energy consumers worldwide to help fight energy poverty. In order to achieve this, EKOenergy's Climate Fund accepts proposals annually to provide funding for solar and wind energy projects in developing countries where reliable, clean electricity connection can make the biggest impact. Applications should demonstrate the experience of the main applicant in the field of renewable energy, strong involvement by local organizations and NGOs, and links with several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Grants ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 euros will be provided. Project proposals must be submitted by March 7, 2021. Visit the EKOenergy website to review the call for proposals.

Awards Honor Climate Solutions in the U.K and Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Ashden Awards
The Ashden Awards seek to boost outstanding climate solutions. This year’s international award categories, which cover work in low- and middle-income countries, include the following: humanitarian energy; natural climate solutions (focused on the Amazon, Congo Basin, and South East Asian rainforest); energy access innovation; and cooling for informal settlements. 2021 U.K. award categories include the following: climate innovation, green skills, and green communities. Businesses, non-governmental organizations, government organizations, social enterprises, and community groups are all eligible for the Awards. Winners receive a prize of up to £20,000 as well as ongoing development support, from professional mentoring to pro-bono legal help. Entries close on March 3, 2021. Visit the Ashden Awards website to review the guidelines and apply in English using the online application portal.

Program Promotes African Entrepreneurship
Tony Elumelu Foundation
The Tony Elumelu Foundation believes the private sector holds the key to unlocking Africa's potential. The Foundation's Entrepreneurship Programme seeks to empower African entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship on the continent. Award recipients receive seed capital, business development training, mentoring, networking opportunities, and participation in the Elumelu Entrepreneurship Forum. The program is open to all citizens and legal residents of any one of the 54 African countries. The proposed business must be registered and operate in Africa. In addition, the Foundation and the European Union have launched a partnership to identify, train, mentor, and fund 2,500 young African women entrepreneurs in 2021. The partnership will be implemented under the 2021 Entrepreneurship Programme and will disburse €20 million in financial and technical support for women-owned businesses across Africa, in addition to providing increased access to market linkages, supply chains, and venture capital investments. All African women entrepreneurs living in any African country with the right to work and operate a business in that country are eligible to apply. The application deadline is March 31, 2021. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the FAQs and apply online.

Funds for Blindness Prevention Projects in Company Communities
Fondation L'OCCITANE (L'OCCITANE Foundation)
The Fondation L'OCCITANE (L'OCCITANE Foundation) has launched a call for projects to fight avoidable blindness in countries where there is a L’OCCITANE office. Grants are provided to local organizations implementing eye care projects, including but not limited to, screening sessions, the provision of spectacles, treatments, surgeries, optometrist or ophthalmologist training, and the purchase of machinery and equipment. Supported projects are co-financed by L’OCCITANE’s local offices and by the Foundation. Applications must be submitted with the support of the local L’OCCITANE subsidiary. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2021. Visit the Foundation’s website to download the application form, which includes a list of eligible countries.

Government Funding Opportunities

Competition Aims to Create Green Societies in the Developing World
International Climate Initiative
The German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) has launched a new funding round under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) aimed at addressing the theme of “Creating Green Societies in Challenging Times.” This competition is open to entrants worldwide with ideas about projects for climate action and biodiversity conservation in developing countries and countries in transition. Eligible applicants include non-governmental organizations, commercial enterprises, governmental implementing agencies, universities, research institutions from Germany and abroad, and international intergovernmental organizations. Project outlines can be submitted until March 10, 2021.

Support for Projects Empowering LGBTI Communities in East Asia and the Pacific
Department of State
The Global Equality Fund Programs in East Asia initiative supports projects targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) communities in the East Asia and Pacific region, with a focus on Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Funding is provided for projects that provide LGBTI communities with the tools to empower local movements and communities; prevent, mitigate, and recover from violence, discrimination, stigma, and human rights abuses; promote full social inclusion; or address critical issues of justice. Applications must be submitted by February 26, 2021.

PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional

Cain Nonprofit Solutions Blog
Do you work in the arts and culture sector? Are you looking for a bit of inspiration to help guide your organization during the coming year? If so, you might want to visit the Cain Nonprofit Solutions Blog. This blog is a resource for great articles, interviews, trends, and free tools for arts and culture nonprofits. Recent articles have covered topics such as the next round of Paycheck Protection Program relief, trends in grantwriting for 2021, and SEO optimization for arts and culture websites.

Upcoming Online Education Trainings
Live Webinars

Unless otherwise noted, all Online Education Trainings are webinars,
are 90 minutes in duration, and are scheduled to begin at 2 PM Eastern Time.

FREE Tour of the GrantStation Website
Join Jeremy Smith, Communications and Technology Director, and Kerry Glauser, Research Specialist, for a quick tour of the GrantStation website. This tour will cover all of the features in GrantStation.com, including navigation, search interfaces, and charitable database search criteria. This tour will provide tips on the most effective way to use all of the valuable resources the website offers, including the extensive funder databases that can help you identify the grantmakers most likely to fund your programs or projects. By using GrantStation's databases and resource tools, you can begin to develop a successful grantseeking strategy for the next 12 to 18 months. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2021.

Fundraising for the Future: Get Grants (NEW)
In this 90-minute training, Stephanie Sample, Founder and CEO of Sample Consulting Studio, will introduce a concept called futures thinking and explore how it can directly increase grant revenue streams. She will also identify how COVID-19 has changed funding practices and demonstrate how your grant proposal writing, nonprofit storytelling, and communication with funders can evolve to attract and retain funding. The following topics will be covered: how to examine potential outcomes by identifying trends and new funding patterns, increasing your ability to adapt quickly in the present; how futures thinking applies to increasing grant revenue streams; a quick checklist to identify where your organization spends its mental energy: past, present, or future; and communication with funders in the COVID-19 era. You will walk away with real time exercises to expand innovative thinking, examples of nonprofits that pivoted and attracted more grant revenue during the pandemic, examples of current open RFPs that indicate a new culture of funding, an increased ability to identify nascent trends and be the first to respond, and examples of scenario-based grant projections to present to leadership teams. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

Nonprofit Leadership in the Digital Age (NEW)
Have you ever asked yourself why you choose every day to spend less time interacting with people in person and more time sending and receiving brief digital messages while sitting alone behind a pixilated screen? As we furiously type into our keypads in search of the Holy Grail—an empty inbox—our happiness dissolves. On a team level, our cohesion and team unity has also decayed as we engage in “efficient” online team dialogues that serve mostly to generate reduced morale, polarization, and silos. Never in human history have we been in contact with so many people and connected with so few. In this session, Dr. Anthony Silard will help you identify the inner motivations stimulated in our technology age that often steer you away from meaningful connections with others and toward an empty, isolated existence. Emphasizing the role of nonprofit leaders as attachment figures, Anthony will then help you design strategies to leverage the benefits of technology while not allowing it to continue distracting you from what you most value. The webinar will be held on Thursday, February 18, 2021.

GrantStation Announcements
The latest updates from GrantStation

Funding Alerts
More funding opportunities are featured on the GrantStation homepage. Click here to see the grantmakers spotlighted this week!

Information contained in the GrantStation International Insider may not be
posted, reprinted, redistributed, or sold without permission.

Editor: Diana Holder
Contributing Writer: Ashlyn Simmons