CFH Foundation Grants
Types of Support
The foundation does not provide general operating support. It favors research, training, and technical assistance projects that:
- employ and/or train personnel from developing countries
are led by organizations with strong records of accomplishments in a particular field and have potential for replication - focus on regional or cross-boundary issues and opportunities
- feature collaborative partnerships embedded in strong networks
- strengthen local leadership and scientific capacity
- influence public discourse and policy
- focus on prevention rather than remediation
- attract additional support and hold promise for continuation or
- impact beyond the period of foundation support
Exclusions
The Conservation, Food & Health Foundation does not provide support for:
- buildings, land purchase, or vehicles
- quantity purchases of durable medical equipment
- endowments or fundraising activities
- famine or emergency relief
- direct medical care or treatment
- feeding or food distribution programs
- films, videos, or web-site production
- scholarships, fellowships, or travel grants
- conferences
- re-granting through intermediaries
- general operating support, or
- individuals
Eligibility
The foundation supports most types of non-governmental organizations that can provide evidence of their nongovernmental status or charitable purpose.
In general, the foundation will support:
- Non-governmental organizations (NGO)
- Nonprofit organizations
- Civil society organizations
- Community-based organizations
- Colleges, universities and academic institutions
- The foundation does not support businesses, government agencies, humanitarian relief organizations other foundations or churches.
Policies
Most grants are made on a one-time basis.
There is no policy concerning a minimum or maximum grant size. The average grant is approximately $20,000. Grants exceeding $25,000 are rarely awarded.
The foundation will not consider more than one proposal from an organization in any calendar year and will not fund an organization more than once in a funding year.
The foundation will not fund overhead or indirect costs of projects.
The foundation is very willing to cooperate with other funding sources with compatible interests to support a joint project or to provide matching funds. From time to time the foundation may also set matching requirements for grantees, particularly in cases where the foundation cannot provide full funding for the project.
The political beliefs of the applicants or the political relations of any state with the United States shall not be taken into account in making or not making any grant, except that the foundation will comply with any requirements imposed by law.
Grantees are expected to meet the foundation’s reporting requirements within one year of the previous proposal application. Returning applicants should submit an interim report with all copies of the proposal for renewal. A report outline will be sent with the initial grant letter. Reporting requirements are designed to maintain a reasonable balance between obtaining sufficient information for the foundation to assess expenditures, accomplishments and difficulties and avoiding burdensome work for grantees.
How to Apply On-Line for CFH Foundation Grants
The foundation receives many more applications than its $800,000 of funds can support annually.
To reduce the number of applicants turned down for lack of available funds and to save time loss and expense to applicants, the foundation has adopted an online, two-phase application system comprised of a short concept application, followed by a limited number of invited full proposals.
To create a more manageable pool of applications for a thorough review by the trustees, this system screens out projects at the concept application level which appear unlikely to be competitive for funding at the time.
Many of you may not wish to apply and go through on-line application process after studying the guidelines and frequently asked questions on the website. It is extremely competitive. Over 300 organizations apply each funding cycle and only a handful are invited to submit proposals.