15+ Top International Foundations offering grants to NGOs working on Women Empowerment

(May 2020)

A list of various open funding opportunities for NGOs and individuals working to empower women and girls around the world.

SOLVE 2020 Learning for Girls & Women Challenge ($1 million in prize funding)
The MIT Solve community has announced the 2020 Global Challenge on the topic of “Learning for Girls & Women”. Compared to their male counterparts, girls and young women around the world have unequal access to quality education….[more]

UNESCO’s $50,000 Grants for NGOs working to advance Girls’ and Women’s Education
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is inviting individuals, institutions and organizations who have made strong, innovative contributions in favour of girls’ and women’s education.….[more]

IWA Women in Water Award 2020: Celebrating Female Leadership in the Field of Water
Nominations are now open for the IWA’s Women in Water Award 2020 to acknowledge and celebrate female leadership in the field of water. Through this award, the International Water Association (IWA) recognises those women working in the field of water who, through their demonstrated leadership, have had a significant positive impact on the development of the industry….[more]

IWMF seeking Applications for Journalism Relief Fund (Small grants of up to $2,000 USD per request)
The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is seeking applications for the Journalism Relief Fund. The IWMF’s Journalism Relief Fund is open to women-identifying journalists in dire straits – journalists who have faced significant financial hardship, lost work, were recently laid off or who urgently need assistance to avoid severe, irreversible outcomes….[more]

The Maypole Fund accepting Applications from Women Only (Grants of up to £750)
Do you have an imaginative project on anti-militarism; action against the arms trade; creating a culture of peace and nonviolence and preventing conflict and war; disarmament; or against nuclear weapons and weapons systems? If yes, the submit your applications to The Maypole Fund…[more]

USAID Funding Opportunity for MOMENTUM Call for Applications
The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) and Office of Population and Reproductive Health (PRH) are pleased to announce the Moving Integrated, Quality Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Family Planning and Reproductive Health (MNCH/FP/RH) Services to Scale (MOMENTUM) Annual Program Statement (APS)….[more]

2021 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards (€100,000 in funding)
Nominations are now open for the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards to support eminent women in science throughout the world. Each year, five Laureates are recognized for their contributions to the advancement of science, in Life Sciences or Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science in alternating years….[more]

CODE offering Research Grants of a maximum CAN $10,000 each (Africa)
CODE has announced the third annual Call for Proposals under its Context Matters Research Grants to foster Africa’s ability to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the areas of education and gender equality…[more]

USD120,000-USD180,000 UN Women-WHO Joint Programme on Violence against Women
The UN Women-WHO Joint Programme on Violence against Women (VAW) Data seeks to partner with an institution or consortium of institutions in the East and Southern Africa region to develop and implement the regional capacity development initiative on VAW data, with an aim at enhancing expertise and capacity of national stakeholders in the region on the measurement of VAW in alignment with globally agreed standards and principles….[more]

Nominations Open for EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ Program – North America
Applications are now open for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program to identifie ambitious women entrepreneurs and provides them with the advice, resources and access they need to unlock their full potential….[more]

USD120,000 – USD200,000 UN Women-WHO Joint Programme on Violence against Women (Arab States)
The UN Women-WHO Joint Programme on VAW Data seeks to partner with an institution or consortium of institutions in the Arab States region to develop and implement the regional capacity development initiative on VAW data, with an aim at enhancing expertise and capacity of national stakeholders in the region on the measurement of VAW in alignment with globally agreed standards and principles….[more]

Free Online Short Course 2020: Advocacy And Monitoring Of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity And Expression (SOGIE)
The AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) has announced a call for applications for 5 Week Online “Advocacy And Monitoring Of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity And Expression (SOGIE)” Course….[more]

Call for Proposals: Inter-Agency Community Outreach and Communications Fund on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
UNHCR and International Council of Voluntary Agencie (ICVA) have jointly launched the Inter-Agency Community Outreach and Communications Fund on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)…[more]

UN Peacebuilding Fund’s Gender and Youth Promotion Initiative 2020
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund’s (PBF) Gender and Youth Promotion Initiative (GYPI) is an expression of the Fund’s commitment to inclusive peacebuilding. The overarching goal of the GYPI is to promote the positive roles of women and youth (young women and men) in peacebuilding through new and innovative approaches….[more]

Call for Proposals: Content Development Partner for UN Women Second Chance Education and Vocational Training (SCE) Programme
UNWOMEN Second Chance Education and Vocational Learning (SCE) Programme is soliciting proposals from not-for profit institutions with education and content development expertise. The Second Chance Education and Vocational Learning (SCE) Programme (2018–2021) aims to develop context-specific, affordable and scalable learning and employment pathways for empowering the world’s most disadvantaged women and young women…[more]

ICNL announces CFPs on Countering Online Violence against Women Human Rights Defenders
The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law has announced a call for proposals to ensure that women human rights defenders can freely operate in online spaces. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to respond to online gender-based violence and smear campaigns against women human rights defenders, including organizations working in defense of women’s rights….[more]

Applications Open for 2020 Women Startup Challenge NYC at Google (Receive a $50,000 Cash Grant)
Applications are now open for the 10th Women Startup Challenge, cohosted by Google. Women Who Tech is on a mission to help fund and empower women founders building products to solve the biggest issues facing this world….[more]

U.S. Mission to India: Supporting Women Journalists in Countering Mis/Disinformation in the Indo-Pacific Region
The U.S. Consulate General, Public Affairs Section in Kolkata is soliciting proposals for a program entitled “Support for women journalists in countering mis/disinformation in the Indo-Pacific region”….[more]

Canada Fund for Local Initiatives – Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa
The High Commission of Canada in South Africa is pleased to launch its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The CFLI is a program designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries, which align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priority areas for engagement…[more]

$18,000 to $25,000 Grant Support for Small-Scale Projects in Comoros, Tanzania & Zambia
The High Commission of Canada in Tanzania has launched the annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The CFLI is a program designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries, which align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priority areas for engagement…[more]

Country Specific

United States