Funding Friday
Happy Saturday everyone,
Here’s your roundup of the latest funding opportunities, inspiring initiatives, and thoughtful insights from around the globe. Whether you’re looking for support, partnerships, or just fresh ideas—there’s something here for you.
Have a great weekend,
Jesse Orndorff
Global
🎬 RE: Focus Fund – Inside Out
📝 Inside Out has launched the RE: Focus Fund to address industry inequities by providing direct financial support to women, non-binary, and/or trans filmmakers telling 2SLGBTQ+ stories. Since its inception, the fund has distributed more than $300,000 in festival travel grants and professional development programs for filmmakers. The fund supports projects in the post-production stage, with grants available for both short and feature-length films.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Representation in Film: How can increased funding for underrepresented filmmakers impact the diversity of stories told in the film industry?
Post-Production Support: What are the challenges faced by filmmakers in the post-production phase, and how can targeted funding alleviate these issues?
Global Reach: How does supporting international filmmakers contribute to a more inclusive global film landscape?
🛡️ PSEA Outreach Fund 2025
📝 The International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) is inviting applications for the PSEA Outreach Fund 2025. This fund aims to provide rapid, targeted financial support to national and local NGOs to develop and disseminate Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) outreach and communication materials. The goal is to strengthen the capacity of local actors to prevent SEA by aid workers or individuals associated with humanitarian organizations.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Community Engagement: How can localized communication strategies enhance the effectiveness of PSEA initiatives in diverse cultural contexts?
Capacity Building: What are the best practices for building sustainable PSEA capacities within local NGOs and communities?
Measuring Impact: How can the impact of PSEA outreach materials be effectively measured to ensure continuous improvement?
🔗 PSEA Outreach Fund 2025 – International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
Asia Pacific
🎭 National Arts Council Major Company Scheme
📝 The National Arts Council (NAC) of Singapore is inviting applications for its Major Company Scheme, aimed at supporting the professional and artistic development of registered arts organisations that represent excellence in their core mission. The scheme seeks to build a sustainable pool of professional arts organisations that contribute to a vibrant arts and culture ecosystem, enhancing Singapore's creative economy and deepening its shared identity.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Sustainable Arts Ecosystem: How can long-term funding support contribute to the sustainability and growth of arts organisations in Singapore?
Artistic Excellence: What measures can be implemented to ensure continuous artistic and programme excellence among major arts companies?
Community Engagement: In what ways can arts organisations deepen their impact on different segments of Singaporean society through quality arts content and experiences?
🔗 National Arts Council Major Company Scheme
🔧 Shape the Next-Gen of Indigenous Technologies Initiative- India
📝 The TIH Foundation for IoT & IoE is inviting applications under the Technology Development Program to support breakthrough solutions in Cyber Physical Systems (CPS). This initiative aims to foster the commercialization of technologies and bridge the gap between academia and industry.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Indigenous Technology Development: How can fostering indigenous technologies contribute to self-reliance and innovation in India's tech ecosystem?
Academia-Industry Collaboration: What models of collaboration between academic institutions and industry can accelerate the development and deployment of indigenous technologies?
Cyber Physical Systems (CPS): In what ways can advancements in CPS impact various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing in India?
🔗 RFAs: Shape the Next-Gen of Indigenous Technologies Initiative
🏛️ HKEX Charity Partnership Programme
📝 The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) has launched a call for proposals for its Charity Partnership Programme to support impactful community projects run by local charitable institutions. The programme focuses on four key areas: Financial Literacy, Social Empowerment, Talent Development, and Environmental Sustainability. Eligible projects should aim to create structural and systemic changes that address various social and environmental challenges in Hong Kong.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Financial Literacy: How can financial education programs be tailored to effectively reach and benefit disadvantaged groups in Hong Kong?
Social Empowerment: What innovative approaches can be employed to support vulnerable populations in achieving self-sustainability and improved well-being?
Talent Development: In what ways can inclusive talent development initiatives bridge the gap for under-resourced groups in education and the workforce?
Environmental Sustainability: How can community projects promote environmental awareness and conservation effectively across different age groups?
🔗 HKEX Charity Partnership Programme
Africa
🏛️ Moses Mapesa Research Grant – African World Heritage Fund
📝 The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is inviting applications for the Moses Mapesa Research Grant, aimed at supporting African Doctoral and Masters students in the field of natural and cultural heritage. The grant focuses on research projects related to World Heritage or tentative listed sites in Africa, encompassing topics such as traditional management systems, risk management, heritage in conflict and post-conflict situations, conservation, climate change, economics, sustainable development, digital technologies, and legal frameworks.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Heritage and Climate Change: How can research on heritage sites contribute to our understanding of climate change impacts in Africa?
Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation: What role can digital tools play in preserving and promoting African heritage?
Sustainable Development and Heritage: How does the conservation of heritage sites align with the goals of sustainable development in African contexts?
🔗 Moses Mapesa Research Grant – African World Heritage Fund
🌿 Conservation Grants in Africa – African World Heritage Fund
📝 The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is inviting proposals for its Conservation Grants to support the effective conservation and promotion of cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value in Africa. The main objective is to address challenges faced by African State Parties in implementing the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, specifically the underrepresentation of African sites on the World Heritage List and the insufficient conservation and management of these sites.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Heritage Representation: How can increased representation of African sites on the World Heritage List impact cultural preservation and tourism?
Sustainability and Conservation: What innovative approaches can be employed to ensure the sustainability and effective conservation of World Heritage properties in Africa?
Community Engagement: How can local communities be more effectively engaged in the conservation and management of heritage sites?
🔗 Call for Proposals: Conservation Grants in Africa – African World Heritage Fund
🧬 HIV/AIDS Funding Programme for NPOs and CBOs in South Africa
📝 CHABAHIVA Trust is inviting applications for its HIV/AIDS Funding Programme, targeting Nonprofit Organisations (NPOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) operating in South Africa. The programme aims to support initiatives that address the HIV/AIDS crisis and strengthen NPOs through organisational development and financial contributions. The Trust emphasizes funding projects that align with its mission to create sustainable, impactful change in communities, without endorsing or promoting any specific religious practices or beliefs.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Community Impact: How can targeted funding enhance the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programmes in under-served South African communities?
Organisational Development: What strategies can NPOs and CBOs employ to ensure sustainable growth and impact in their HIV/AIDS initiatives?
Non-Religious Funding: How does the exclusion of religious content in funding criteria affect the scope and implementation of community health programmes?
🔗 Open Call: HIV/AIDS Funding Programme for NPOs and CBOs in South Africa – CHABAHIVA Trust
♻️ Circular Economy Demonstration
📝 The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), through Circular Innovation South Africa (CISA), has announced the 2025 Call for Proposals for the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund. This initiative aims to support the demonstration of proven circular economy interventions that have not yet achieved scale or impact in South Africa. The fund encourages partnerships between South African universities or science councils and private sector entities, NGOs, or CSOs to de-risk, scale, localize, or demonstrate circular interventions.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Scaling Circular Innovations: How can demonstration projects effectively de-risk and scale circular economy interventions in diverse sectors?
Cross-Sector Collaboration: What are the best practices for fostering successful partnerships between research institutions and private sector entities in circular economy projects?
Measuring Impact: Which indicators are most effective in assessing the environmental, economic, and social impacts of circular economy demonstrations?
🔗 Circular Economy Demonstration Fund 2025
🌱 Direct Aid Small Grant Program
📝 The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby is inviting applications for the Direct Aid Program (DAP), a flexible small grants initiative funded by the Australian Government. This program supports community-driven development projects that aim to foster sustainable growth and reduce poverty. DAP focuses on practical and tangible outcomes, encouraging initiatives that are inclusive, community-led, and sustainable.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Community Empowerment: How can small-scale funding initiatives like DAP empower local communities to drive their own development?
Sustainability: What strategies can ensure the sustainability of grassroots projects beyond the funding period?
Inclusivity: How can development programs be designed to be inclusive of women, indigenous groups, and people with disabilities?
🔗 Direct Aid Small Grant Program