Application ProcessPrint

Application Process

NOTICE:  Applications are now open for projects to be implemented in 2019. There will be three rounds of funding for 2019 projects. The deadline for the first round was September 15, and the deadline for the second round was December 15. The third and final deadline for 2019 funding will be on April 15, 2019. For applications received by that date (note: in hard copy, including the original signature of the head of the organization), applicants will be notified of the result no later than July 2019. Applications received after April 15 will not be considered, unless the project will take place in 2020.

HOW AND WHEN TO APPLY

After reading the Project Categories described above and the Funding Rules below, organizations interested in applying for funding should complete the International Grant Application Form. In addition to the completed application form, required documents include detailed project plans and a separate budget statement, as well as the organization's proof of registration and most recent annual report or financial statement. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Applications should be sent by post in hard copy, with original signatures on the application form. Note that they should be received at the TFD office by the application deadline; therefore, applicants should allow adequate time for delivery.

The application should be submitted at least four months before the applicant plans to begin the proposed project, in order to allow sufficient time for the review process as well as sufficient prior notification of the review result. In any case, applicants should pay careful attention to the schedule of deadlines. For example, projects that are to begin in the first quarter of 2019 should apply by the September 15, 2018 deadline; projects that do not begin until April 2019 may apply under the second round; and projects that do not begin until August 2019 may apply under the third round.

EVALUATION

The proposals will enter a review process in which independent reviewers with relevant expertise will study the proposals. Based upon the reviewers' recommendations, a final decision will be made, and the amount awarded (if any) will be determined.

The following key points are borne in mind when reviewing applications:

• The relation of the proposed project to the mission and goals of the Foundation;
• The project's anticipated impact;
• The likelihood of successful execution of the proposed project, judging from such factors as the feasibility of the proposal, the soundness of its methodology, and the experience of the project's executors;
• The significance and innovativeness of the proposed topic(s) and subject(s) of the project;
• The reasonableness and clarity of the budget, and appropriateness of the requested funding in line with the project's goals;
• The integrity of the documents submitted for review.

FUNDING RULES

Since the Foundation normally does not provide full funding for any particular project, other sources of funding should also be sought, and these should be indicated on the application form. In terms of scale, the Foundation's guidelines do not permit grants to be awarded exceeding US$100,000. The majority of grants awarded by the Foundation fall within a range between US$3,000 and US$20,000, and the average grant size is approximately US$5,000. 

The Foundation's accounting rules also do not permit funding for certain types of budget items, notably capital expenditures (i.e. purchases of equipment, etc.), salaries for permanent staff, and fixed overhead costs. The general principle is that the Foundation's funding may only be spent on direct project costs, and not for institutional support of grantees. The following are examples of items that may or may not be covered (this list is not exhaustive, but for indication purposes):

Finally, please note that all projects must be completed within a single calendar year (which is also the Foundation's fiscal year). The Foundation may not undertake multi-year funding commitments, although a portion of a multi-year project may be considered.

After a grant has been approved, a contract between the Foundation and the Grantee will be signed, stipulating final conditions and mutual obligations.

AFTER PROJECT COMPLETION

Submitting a Final Report:

In addition to periodic reports as needed, all Grantees must submit a final project report stating the results of the project. This must be submitted within 30 days after the project's conclusion, unless otherwise provided for by the terms and conditions set out in the agreement between the Foundation and the Grantee.

The final report must include the following documents:

• A narrative report describing the implementation of the project and the extent to which the project achieved its objectives;
• Photographic, video, or other audiovisual documentation of the project, as appropriate;
• Final agendas of any meetings or events held during the project, as well as lists of participants;
• Copies of any publications produced during the project;
• A financial report, including an overall financial statement detailing the project's expenses and transactions, with variances from the approved budget explained as necessary;
• Original receipts for any expenditures covered by the Foundation's grant funds, grouped according to the approved budget categories, and accompanied by an itemized list of the receipts.

The TFD will review the outcomes of all sponsored projects at the end of each accounting year. Future funding may be denied to those organizations whose reports are incomplete (for example, if required supporting documents are missing), or whose project results are found to be unsatisfactory.