Deadline: 31-Oct-2024
The Initiative Sankofa d’Afrique de l’Ouest (ISDAO) has launched the Regional Grant Program, considers a group to be “led by lesbian, gay, bi, queer, intersex, and/or trans people” when at least 75% of the governance and operational team is led by lesbian, gay, bi, queer, intersex, and/or trans in decision-making roles, including in defining the organization’s strategic and financial priorities.
For ISDAO, leadership and direction issues include:
- Decision-making body: Members of the organization’s decision-making bodies must be lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex and/or trans people.
- If not, the group must be able to explain what mechanisms are in place to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex and/or trans people are involved in decision-making.
- Spokespersons: Spokespersons must be lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and/or trans people.
- If not, the group must be able to explain what mechanisms are in place to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex and/or trans people are the voice of the organization.
Priorities
- Priority will be given to associations, grassroots groups, or collectives of lesbians, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex, and trans people:
- With little or no access to funding from major donors;
- Dedicated to emerging issues that have not been previously funded;
- Located in rural, remote and/or underserved areas;
- Reflecting the diversity of communities and working with marginalized LGBTQI subgroups
- Using innovative and creative strategies in their activism (including art, music, culture, poetry, social networks, etc.)
Grant Categories
- ISDAO provides flexible funding to support the overall coordination, operations and strengthening of a group, organization or network and its members.
- Organizations can apply for core funding, project funding or a combination of both.
- Core and Project Funding
- ISDAO provides flexible funding to address the priorities identified within the movement, including core support. Groups and organizations can apply for both core and project support by indicating this on their application form. This funding can be used for project implementation as well as operational costs.
- Core Funding Only
- ISDAO provides funding aimed at strengthening the organizational structures and systems of community-led groups. Groups and organizations can apply for core funding only by indicating this on their application form. This funding is specifically for organizations already engaged in work aligned with the focus and goals of this call for proposals and who need support to enhance their overall capacity and advance their efforts.
- Core and Project Funding
Funding Information
- ISDAO’s grants are in three tiers depending on the organization’s needs, grant experience, and available funds.
- There are three grant tiers you can apply for, tailored to the diverse organizing in the region. They are:
- Tier 1: Up to 5,000 USD (per year) ⎯ This funding is designed to provide foundational seed support for informal groups or organizations working at the grassroots level that have existed for at least 2 years and can demonstrate work implemented during that time. These organizations may lack formal systems or structures and are likely to be volunteer-led. The annual budget of any group or organization applying for this grant must not exceed 85,000 USD. Under this funding level, applicants can apply for up to:
- 5,000 for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months
- 10,000 for a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of 24 months
- 15,000 for a minimum of 30 months and a maximum of 36 months
- Tier 2: up to USD 20,000 (per year) ⎯ This funding is designed to sustain existing work or support new initiatives by more formalized groups that have been active for at least four (4) years, working at local, sub-national, or national levels. These organizations should have basic systems and structures in place, particularly financial systems, and be consistently staffed by either paid employees (part-time or full-time) or volunteers. Under this funding level, applicants can apply for up to:
- 20,000 for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months
- 40,000 for a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of 24 months
- 60,000 for a minimum of 30 months and a maximum of 36 months
- Tier 3: Up to USD 30,000 (per year) ⎯ This funding is intended to support the consolidation or development of work by formal groups operating at sub-national, national, or regional levels, with at least 6 years of experience, functional organizational systems and structures, and full-time staff. Under this funding level, applicants can apply for up to:
- 30,000 for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months
- 60,000 for a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of 24 months
- 90,000 for a minimum of 30 months and a maximum of 36 months
- Tier 1: Up to 5,000 USD (per year) ⎯ This funding is designed to provide foundational seed support for informal groups or organizations working at the grassroots level that have existed for at least 2 years and can demonstrate work implemented during that time. These organizations may lack formal systems or structures and are likely to be volunteer-led. The annual budget of any group or organization applying for this grant must not exceed 85,000 USD. Under this funding level, applicants can apply for up to:
Duration
- ISDAO awards grants from 6 months (minimum) to 36 months (maximum). Organizations can determine the duration of the grant they require, but any grant request exceeding 36 months will not be considered.
Eligibility Criteria
- ISDAO grants are currently awarded to organizations, networks and groups that:
- Are led by lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex and trans* (LGBTQI) people. ISDAO considers a group to be “LGBTQI-led” when LGBTQI people are in decision-making positions, including setting the organization’s strategic and financial priorities and representing at least 75% of staff, spokespersons, and board members or other decision-making bodies;
- Are based in at least one of the current ISDAO focal countries, namely: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal or Togo.
- Are dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQI people at the local, state or national level.
- Are committed to engaging and strengthening the movement to promote the human rights and inclusion of LGBTQI people.
- Are open to collaborating with other LGBTQI organizations and allies and willing to share their experiences to strengthen the LGBTQI rights movement.
For more information, visit ISDAO.