Global Fund for Women is an international grantmaking foundation established in 1987 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. It is a global champion of the human rights of women and girls, using its powerful networks to find, fund, and amplify the courageous work of women building social movements and challenging the status quo. Since 1988, the foundation has awarded over $169 million in grants to more than 5,000 organisations supporting progressive women’s rights in 176 countries. The organisation is guided by a vision for a world where movements for gender justice have transformed power and privilege for a few into equity and equality for all. Global Fund for Women’s movement-led approach embodies a new kind of philanthropy that shifts power into the hands of those working at the frontlines of gender justice. The organisation receives over 3,000 proposals annually and awards approximately 600 grants. The Global Fund for Women also provides seed money and technical expertise to women’s funds in countries such as South Africa, Nepal, and Mexico.
Funding Amount
- General Support Grants: US$500 to US$30,000 (typically US$1,000 to US$20,000)
- Travel Grants: Cover travel costs for international conferences and workshops
- Event Grants: Fund programmes organised by NGOs on issues prioritised by the Fund
Grant Types:
- Flexible, unrestricted core support grants for operating and programme expenses
- Multi-year grants are offered as often as possible
- Crisis funding for immediate support to organisations that are first responders in natural and human-made crises
- Grants can cover: office rent, utility bills, staff salaries, equipment, infrastructure, renovation, capacity building, and project costs
Target
- Women-led organisations or initiatives that prioritise women’s leadership and participation
- Local organisations initiated and led by women
- Groups of women working together (requests from individuals not accepted)
- Organisations governed, directed, and led by women (women must fill all or most leadership roles)
- Grassroots feminist movements and organisations
- Women’s groups based outside the United States (US-based organisations are not eligible)
- Organisations in developing countries, particularly low-income countries or marginalised communities
- Geographic priority: Global South and East regions
Closing Date
Rolling applications are accepted year-round. Grants are awarded every three months. The review process takes 7-9 months. The Foundation sends a receipt note within 3 weeks of receiving the application.
Focus Areas
- Ending gender-based violence and building peace
- Ensuring economic and environmental justice
- Advancing health, sexual and reproductive rights
- Expanding civic and political participation
- Increasing access to education
- Fostering social change philanthropy
- Women’s economic security
- Leadership development
Special Initiatives:
- Adolescent Girls Fund (multiyear collaboration and movement building)
- Seeds of Change (advancing women’s agriculture and leadership in Africa)
- Crisis response, recovery, and resilience efforts
- Ending Gender-Based Violence in the Garment Industry
- AmplifyChange (advancing sexual rights and health)
- Anti-corruption work
- Climate justice
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be women-led organisations or initiatives
- Women must govern, direct, and lead the organisation (fill all or most leadership roles)
- Must be based in a country outside the United States (US-based organisations not eligible)
- The primary focus must be on advancing women’s equality and human rights, clearly reflected in activities
- Must be a group of women working together (individual requests not accepted)
- Organisation should be legally registered or have a fiscal sponsor
- Financial transparency required
Application Process:
- First step: Submit organisational profile via online application platform
- Pass basic eligibility test (5 yes/no questions)
- Submitting a profile does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full grant proposal
- Due to funding limitations, not all groups were invited to submit full proposals
- Proposals accepted in any language and any format
- An online application system is available on the website
Project Requirements:
- Must demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing gender-based violence and promoting women’s rights
- Projects prioritised in regions where gender inequality is most pronounced
- Groups must lack access to traditional funding resources
- For Travel Grants: Apply at least 8 weeks before the beginning of the event (priority given to former grantees)
Additional Programme Support:
- Technical expertise and capacity building
- Knowledge-sharing and convenings
- Advocacy campaigns on critical global issues
- Investment facilitation for movements
- Gender Justice Data Hub for identifying emerging feminist movements
- Movement-led decision-making on priorities and success metrics
Grant Review Process:
- Applications reviewed based on criteria and priorities determined in partnership with women’s rights activists on the ground
- Proposals evaluated for potential impact on women’s human rights
- 8-10 weeks minimum review time requested
- Review period can take 7-9 months
- Grants awarded quarterly
