Grants to Foster Community Philanthropy

The Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF) offers small grants aimed at stimulating and supporting the development of community philanthropy organizations around the world. Their grantmaking strategy goes beyond financial assistance, seeking to build relationships with grantee organizations, understand and support their work, and integrate them into the growing global community philanthropy movement. GFCF maintains a balance between continuing to fund longer-term grant partners and welcoming new organizations into their network. Their annual grantmaking is highly dependent on the financial resources they are able to mobilize from donors. The organization does not operate an open call for applications each year; however, eligible organizations are encouraged to submit inquiries throughout the year. From 2020 to 2022, GFCF dedicated much of its grantmaking efforts to support its global network of partners in responding to COVID-19. The funding helped partners address immediate community needs and plan for long-term development efforts aligned with the “Build Back Better” initiative. Their approach focused on supporting short-term resilience and enabling long-term change at the community level. The grant opportunity is primarily intended for organizations that are community-driven and involved in philanthropy, capacity building, or related fields. Although specifics regarding eligibility requirements are not fully detailed, the emphasis is clearly placed on organizations that align with community philanthropy principles. Applicants interested in these grants can contact the GFCF directly via email or their online inquiry form. While there is no fixed timeline or deadline for grant submissions, as the process is inquiry-based, organizations are encouraged to stay updated through the GFCF’s website and newsletters. Specifics regarding evaluation criteria and the full application process were not fully detailed in the provided information, highlighting the need for prospective applicants to engage directly with GFCF.