We accept grant proposals 365 days a year.
We invest in community-led development projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. We partner with local organizations that identify innovative, yet viable solutions to local development challenges—particularly in disadvantaged or excluded communities.
We do not suggest projects or identify problems ourselves. Instead we respond to project proposals sent to us by community-led organizations.
We decide which projects to fund based on merit, not sector. Our grantee partners promote more prosperous, peaceful, and democratic communities across a wide range of sectors.
We invite your organization to apply for a grant from us. To ensure we consider your application, please read through the following steps.
Step 1. Check if your organization can apply
We only support projects submitted by community-led groups that are based in independent countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
You will need to show that your organization has a history of working together as a group and is capable of effectively using grants funds.
We are currently unable to fund organizations located in:
- Cuba
Venezuela
Because Puerto Rico is part of the United States, we also do not fund projects there.
We do NOT fund proposals submitted or directed by:
- Government entities (including municipal governments and public universities)
- Individuals
- For-profit organizations
- Organizations outside the country in which the project is located
Groups that do not contribute financial or in-kind resources to the proposed activities
Common eligibility questions
Step 2. Check if your project qualifies for funding
Currently, we fund requests for amounts between US $25,000 and $400,000.
Tips for a successful proposal
Be inclusive
- Involve many community voices in developing, carrying out, and evaluating the project, including those who will benefit from the project
- Engage partners in local government, the business community, and other civil society organizations
Use community resources
- Include counterpart resources like money, land, supplies, infrastructure, labor, and office, storage, and meeting space. These resources can come from your organization, those who will participate in the project, and other sources.
- Identify a path to become sustainable after the IAF grant ends
Focus on results
- Impact the community in a positive and measurable way
- Show potential for strengthening all participating organizations
- Enhance participants’ capacity to govern themselves
We do NOT fund proposals for:
purely religious activities
research activities exclusively
- only construction and equipment
charity or welfare projects of any kind
projects associated with political parties or partisan movements
Step 3. Fill out the application
You can apply for a grant in Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, or Haitian Creole at any time throughout the year. There is no cost to apply and no application deadline.
Your organization can submit multiple proposals. However, we rarely fund more than one project at a time by the same organization.
Application Format
Our application has three required parts:
- Cover Sheet. Complete with the requested information.
- Narrative. Keep your responses no longer than 10 pages (total for all questions) double-spaced, and in 12-point Arial font.
- Budget. Follow the model in the application.
Common application questions
Step 4. Send in your application
Please send completed applications via email to proposals@iaf.gov. Include your country’s name in the subject line.
We review proposals as we receive them. We only consider the proposals that follow all of the guidelines on this page and that include all three parts of the application.
Step 5. Wait as we review your proposal
Immediately
You will automatically receive a response from proposals@iaf.gov after you send in your proposal. If you do not receive this response, check your spam folder. If you still cannot find the response, email proposals@iaf.gov again for confirmation.
After we review your proposal
Over the next several months (average: 6-9), we will notify you of your proposal’s status. If you have not heard from us, we have not yet decided about funding.
- If we have not selected your organization for funding, we will notify you.
- If we determine that your organization may be funded, we will visit you either virtually or in-person to gather more information and start a dialogue about the activities you have proposed. Most organizations adjust their original proposals during this process.
- If nine months have passed since you submitted your proposal and you have not heard about its status, please email proposals@iaf.gov. Include the date you sent it to us, your organization’s name and acronym, and your country.
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