From our time on the ground we’ve discovered that funding and resources are major threats to charities’ operations, so we conducted an exercise to determine the process of acquiring grant funding.

Success of such a pursuit, lies in the charities’ ability to create a well written proposal. Charities applying for grants should focus on improving the quality of their proposal by:

1. Providing detailed background information

2. Writing a thorough project scope

3. Explaining the intended impact of project

4. Providing a budget for project

5. Specifying what they are asking for

Additionally, charities should present supporting documents such as:

1. Registration documents

2. Articles of incorporation

3. Copies of audited financial statements

Some corporations require an additional and integral step which is the completion of a due diligence questionnaire. This questionnaire allows both parties to enter into a contract and protects the corporation from any liabilities such as bribery and corruption. Corporations reported that the grant approval process goes through various committees and sub-committees, therefore charities that are thorough and able to properly articulate who they are and what they want are guaranteed a high chance of grant approval.

The US Embassy is one of the institutions doing notable work and providing monetary and other support for entities to fulfil projects with community impact. Covidcohesive is an example of one of the projects that were accomplished because of the US Embassy’s support. Featured on the embassy’s website is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) document which provides detailed guidelines on how to apply for grants and be approved.