organisation: The Global Fund for Women, an international network of women and men committed to a world of equality and social justice, advocates for and defends women's human rights by making grants to support women's groups around the world.

They are part of a global women's movement that is rooted in a commitment to justice and an appreciation of the value of women's experience. The challenges women face vary widely across communities, cultures, religions, traditions, and countries. “We believe that women should have a full range of choices, and that women themselves know best how to determine their needs and propose solutions for lasting change. The way in which we do our work is as important as what we do. This philosophy is reflected in our flexible, respectful, and responsive style of grantmaking.”

funding: they strengthen women's groups based outside the United States by providing small, flexible, and timely grants ranging from $500 to $20,000 for operating and project expenses. They value local expertise and believe that women themselves know best how to determine their needs and propose solutions for lasting change. The groups they fund address issues that include but are not limited to:

Building Peace & Ending Gender-Based Violence
Advancing Health and Sexual & Reproductive Rights
Expanding Civic & Political Participation
Ensuring Economic & Environmental Justice
Increasing Access to Education
Fostering Social Change Philanthropy

The Global Fund supports organisations which:

demonstrate a clear commitment to women's equality and female human rights
show concern about the way women are viewed and view themselves in society
are governed and directed by women
consist of a group of women working together (they do not accept requests from individuals)
are based outside of the United States.

Please note that the Global Fund does not make grants to:

Individuals
Groups based and working primarily or solely in the USA
Groups whose main or only purpose is to generate income for individuals or welfare-oriented projects
Groups headed and managed by men, and without women in important management functions
Groups in the global north proposing partnerships with the global south
Groups that do not have any female human rights focus

The Global Fund accepts grant requests in any language; typed or hand written.
The Global Fund receives over 3,000 proposals each year and makes about 400 grants per year. Due to this volume, it takes 6 months to review a request. They accept applications throughout the year and award grants every 3 months. A notice of receipt of an application will be sent within 3 weeks of its arrival.