Practical Insights on Grant Funding

grant funding usaid

ICT4D Grant Funding

Do you want to use information and communication technologies to improve social and economic development? Do you need grant funding for your ICT4D startup business idea? Here are two popular international donors that provide seed funds for innovative humanitarian aid programs.

USAID Grant Funding

USAID generally undertakes direct assistance programs to benefit developing countries through competitive grants and cooperative agreements. This ensures that all activities are concentrated on specific objectives to maximize impact and that they are consistent, mutually reinforcing, and draw support from the best available sources.

Check to see if USAID and your organization are currently working in the same country and to ensure that your organization’s goals align with the USAID priorities for that country. Establish a relationship with the USAID Mission in the countries where you work; set up meetings with them and invite them to see your operation.

Gates Foundation Grant Funding

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation fosters innovation to solve key health and development problems. They offer two grant types: Seed Grants and Scale-Up Grants.

  • Seed Grants: $250,000 to be implemented up to 12 months. Seed Grants should leverage digital technology innovations with the potential to scale by utilizing a proven technology from another sector.
  • Scale-Up Grants: $1,500,000 to be implemented up to 24 months. Scale-Up Grants demonstrate ability and sufficient evidence to have positive impact by using digital technology innovations with demonstrated readiness to scale and proven ability to bundle with other services.

More Grant Funding Opportunities

Apply Now for the 2013 ISIF Asia Awards

Apply Now for the 2013 ISIF Asia Awards

Published on: Apr 17 2013 by Aaron Mason - Comments Off on Apply Now for the 2013 ISIF Asia Awards
Are you or your partners using the Internet to promote social causes in Asia? Could you use several thousand dollars to help move your cause forward? If so, the...
Can Your Tech Idea Change the World? Submit it to the USAID / Humanity United Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention

Can Your Tech Idea Change the World? Submit it to the USAID / Humanity United Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention

Published on: Mar 22 2013 by Michael Kleinman - 3 Comments
On April 23rd, 2012, President Obama declared: “Preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of...
Apply Now for TechWomen: a Professional Mentorship and Exchange Program

Apply Now for TechWomen: a Professional Mentorship and Exchange Program

Published on: Dec 19 2012 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now for TechWomen: a Professional Mentorship and Exchange Program
Harnessing the power of business, technology and innovation, TechWomen brings emerging women leaders in technology sectors from the Middle East and Africa together...
We Should Celebrate Geographic Codes 935 and 937 in USAID Procurement

We Should Celebrate Geographic Codes 935 and 937 in USAID Procurement

Published on: Jan 27 2012 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
When working with USAID donor funding, the purchase of ICT can be a little complicated. USAID would always ask for the source, origin and nationality of all equipment....
Four Challenges with USAID’s Grand Challenges for Development

Four Challenges with USAID’s Grand Challenges for Development

Published on: Dec 14 2011 by Wayan Vota - 2 Comments
. USAID recently launched its second Grand Challenge for Development, All Children Reading, that follows on the earlier Saving Lives at Birth. Both of these endeavors...
USAID Request for Proposals: All Children Reading Grand Challenge for Development

USAID Request for Proposals: All Children Reading Grand Challenge for Development

Published on: Nov 18 2011 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and World Vision (collectively referred...
Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development

Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development

Published on: Apr 06 2011 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development
Every two minutes, a woman dies in childbirth – 150,000 maternal deaths, 1.6 million neonatal deaths, and 1.2 million stillbirths occur each year. And in...
Apply Now: Global Social Benefit Incubator 2011

Apply Now: Global Social Benefit Incubator 2011

Published on: Feb 21 2011 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now: Global Social Benefit Incubator 2011
Back in 2007, I was fortunate enough to attend the 5th annual Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI), a capacity-building program for up to 20 social ventures ready...
Apply Now: 2010 Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship

Apply Now: 2010 Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship

Published on: Aug 24 2010 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now: 2010 Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship
Does your company demonstrate visionary leadership, innovation, and strong growth? Does it have revenues of between US$ 2-25 million? And does it impact the community...