Funding Friday
Happy Friday,
After a week off, we are thrilled to be back with some great opportunities for you. This week, we highlight key funding opportunities, initiatives, and programs from around the world designed to support innovation, conservation, and community development. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or advocate for social change, these opportunities could help drive your mission forward.
Let’s explore the programs and possibilities shaping positive change across the globe,
Jesse Orndorff
Global
🌱 Van Tienhoven Foundation Launches Small Grants Program 2025
The Van Tienhoven Foundation for International Nature Protection has announced its Small Grants Program for 2025, focusing on the protection and conservation of threatened species and ecosystems worldwide. The foundation is concerned about life on earth, the well-being and maintenance of the variety of living organisms, and their living environment. Human beings play a crucial role as actors and factors in biodiversity, and the foundation sees people as instrumental in mitigating the pressures of global change on the living environment and biodiversity.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Biodiversity Conservation: How can small grants catalyze significant impacts in the protection of threatened species and ecosystems?
Human Role in Biodiversity: In what ways can local communities be engaged to actively participate in biodiversity conservation efforts?
Mitigating Global Change: What strategies can be implemented to mitigate the pressures of global change on the environment and biodiversity?
🔗 Van Tienhoven Foundation Launches Small Grants Program 2025
📊 Global Index on Responsible AI Data Visualization Challenge
📝 The Global Index on Responsible AI has launched a Data Visualization Challenge to promote innovative visual representations of data related to responsible AI practices worldwide. Participants are invited to create impactful visualizations that explore the adoption, impact, and governance of AI technologies across sectors and regions.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Data Visualization for AI: How can visual storytelling improve public understanding and engagement with responsible AI practices?
Global Governance: What insights can data visualizations reveal about regional differences in AI governance and adoption?
Impactful Advocacy: How can innovative data visualizations influence policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize AI ethics?
🔗 Global Index on Responsible AI Data Visualization Challenge
🚀 Impact 4 Tomorrow
📝 Casa Sanremo invites startups worldwide, with total funding under €2 million, to apply for the "Impact 4 Tomorrow" Program. This one-day event offers an exclusive environment for networking among speakers, sponsors, guests, and participants, aiming to foster innovation in various sectors.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Global Collaboration: How can international networking events accelerate startup growth and innovation?
Sector Focus: In what ways can emerging technologies like Web3 and AI drive sustainable and social impact?
Startup Ecosystem: What are the benefits for early-stage startups participating in exclusive programs like "Impact 4 Tomorrow"?
🔗 Call for Projects: "Impact 4 Tomorrow" Program
Asia Pacific
👩💼 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Cohort II – Cambodia
📝 The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh announces the second cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Cambodia. This program empowers women entrepreneurs by providing them with the knowledge, networks, and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses. Participants will engage in a facilitated entrepreneurship program supplemented with localized content, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Entrepreneurial Education: How can targeted training programs enhance the success rates of women-led startups in emerging markets?
Networking Impact: In what ways does access to a supportive entrepreneurial community influence business growth for women entrepreneurs?
Localized Mentorship: How can mentorship tailored to the Cambodian business environment accelerate the development of women-owned enterprises?
🔗 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Cohort II – Cambodia
🫂 Submissions Open for Direct Aid Program – Kiribati
The Australian Government's Direct Aid Program (DAP) is accepting submissions for projects in Kiribati. DAP is a flexible small grants program managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) through its overseas posts. The program aims to support projects with a strong development focus that complement Australia's broader aid program, contributing to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Community Development: How can small grants be effectively utilized to address local development challenges in Kiribati?
Sustainable Growth: What types of projects can promote sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in island nations like Kiribati?
Aid Effectiveness: How does the flexibility of programs like DAP enhance the impact of foreign aid at the grassroots level?
🔗 Submissions Open for Direct Aid Program – Kiribati
🩺 Ensuring Women’s Health, Wellness, and Safety in Rural Spaces in the Tea Sector – India
UN Women is inviting proposals to design and implement a project aimed at building the capacities of key stakeholders—including women workers, management, government, small-scale farmers, associations, and the private sector—on enhancing women’s health, well-being, and safety in the tea sector in Assam, India.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Women's Health in Agriculture: How can capacity-building initiatives improve health and safety conditions for women in the tea sector?
Stakeholder Engagement: What role do various stakeholders play in promoting gender-responsive practices in agricultural sectors?
Sustainable Interventions: How can projects ensure the long-term well-being and safety of women workers in rural agricultural settings?
🔗 RFAs: Ensuring Women’s Health, Wellness, and Safety in Rural Spaces in the Tea Sector – India
🌐 Annual Program Statement to Strengthen U.S. and Japan Ties
📝 The U.S. Embassy Tokyo's Public Affairs Section (PAS) invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the United States and Japan through public engagement, highlighting shared values and promoting bilateral cooperation. This initiative seeks to foster mutual understanding and collaboration between the two nations.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Cultural Exchange: How can innovative public engagement programs enhance mutual understanding and strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Japan?
Shared Values: In what ways can programs highlight shared democratic values to promote bilateral cooperation?
Bilateral Cooperation: What collaborative initiatives can address common challenges and benefit both societies?
🔗 Annual Program Statement to Strengthen U.S. and Japan Ties
Africa
🎨 Crafting Change- Tanzania
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Alwaleed Philanthropies Global have launched the "Crafting Change" project to promote community-based development through culture-related capacity building and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Tanzania.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Cultural Heritage Preservation: How can traditional crafts be leveraged to drive sustainable economic development in local communities?
Skills Development: In what ways can TVET programs be tailored to enhance the craftsmanship and entrepreneurial skills of artisans in Tanzania?
Market Access: What strategies can be implemented to connect local artisans with broader markets, both domestically and internationally?
🔗 Crafting Change: UNESCO – Alwaleed Philanthropies Project in Tanzania
🛠️ Response and Resilience Strengthening Programme for CSOs – Ghana and Liberia
📝 The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) is inviting applications for the Response and Resilience Strengthening Programme. This initiative is designed to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Ghana and Liberia to respond effectively to emerging challenges while fostering long-term resilience in their communities.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Building Resilience: What strategies can CSOs adopt to strengthen their resilience in the face of global and regional challenges?
Capacity Development: How can targeted capacity-building programs enable CSOs to better serve their communities?
Community Impact: What innovative approaches can CSOs employ to achieve sustained community impact in West Africa?
🔗 Response and Resilience Strengthening Programme for CSOs – Ghana and Liberia
⚖️ Gender Equality Fund – Nigeria 2025
📝 The Global Network of Young People Living with HIV (Y+ Global) invites proposals for the Gender Equality Fund (GEF) – Nigeria 2025. This three-year consortium initiative, funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, GSK, and ViiV Healthcare, aims to collaborate with women and girls in all their diversity to design, deliver, influence, and advocate for gender-transformative and gender-affirmative health approaches. The overarching goal is to reduce HIV and TB incidences among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and contribute to ending HIV and TB by 2030.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Community Engagement: How can AGYW-led organizations effectively engage their communities to promote gender equality and improve health outcomes?
Sustainable Impact: What strategies can be implemented to ensure the sustainability of gender-transformative health initiatives beyond the funding period?
Advocacy and Policy Influence: In what ways can grassroots organizations influence policy to create a more supportive environment for AGYW health and rights?