Guidelines

The Conservation, Food and Health Foundation seeks to protect the environment, improve food production, and promote public health in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East. 

Types of Support

The Foundation supports projects and applied research that:

  • Generate local or regional solutions to problems affecting the quality of the environment and human life;
  • Advance local leadership and promote professional development in the conservation, agricultural, and health sciences;
  • Develop the capacity of local organizations and coalitions; and
  • Address challenges in the field. 

The Foundation prefers to support projects that address under-funded issues and geographic areas.

The Foundation funds applied research, pilot projects, new initiatives, training, and technical assistance, rather than ongoing support for programs that are already well underway.  An important goal for the Foundation is to provide seed money to help promising projects, organizations, and individuals develop the track record they need to attract major foundation funding in the future.

Fields of Interest

The following are examples of the Foundation’s areas of interest within the fields of conservation, food, and health, and are not meant to be exclusive.

Conservation

Conservation grants promote environmental conservation through field research, projects, and advocacy that:

  • Protect biodiversity and preserve natural resources.
  • Help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
  • Build the scientific and technical capacity of local conservation organizations and promote local, regional, and international partnerships.
  • Increase engagement between scientists, local communities and organizations, and decision-makers.
  • Partner with indigenous communities and local people.

Food

Grants in the food and agriculture program area focus on targeted demonstration, applied-research, and inquiry-based projects that support on-the-ground science and advocacy. Such efforts build capacity for self-sufficiency and resilience to climate change, enhance food security, strengthen local food systems, and support healthy nutrition through projects that: 

  • Develop and promote sustainable agricultural practices
  • Build the capacity of small-scale farmers.
  • Advance farmer research and research partnerships.
  • Develop environmentally sound and affordable approaches to control pests and diseases affecting important local food crops.
  • Promote indigenous food sovereignty and knowledge systems.
  • Address challenges of uptake and scalability through new methods of extension, education, and technology transfer.

Health

The Foundation supports efforts that test new ideas and approaches that promote public health, with a special emphasis on reproductive health and family planning and their integration with other health promotion activities.  It favors community-level disease prevention and health promotion projects and efforts that help strengthen regional and country public health systems over disease diagnosis, treatment, and care provided by clinics, hospitals, and humanitarian aid programs.

Activities that help increase capacity include applied research, program development, technical assistance, and training projects that:

  • Promote reproductive health and family planning.
  • Address issues related to mental and behavioral health.
  • Address issues relating to pollution and environmental health.
  • Increase the understanding of zoonotic and neglected tropical diseases.
  • Address issues relating to nutrition and health.

Key Priorities

In all of its areas of interest, the Foundation gives priority to projects that have the potential to advance the field, build local capacity, promote replication, influence public opinion and policy, affect systems change, and benefit people beyond the immediate project and its local context.

Eligibility

The Foundation supports local, state, and regional organizations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East in the countries where the projects are based.  It also supports organizations located in upper-income countries working with local partners in these areas.  It does not support projects in post-Soviet states or Balkan states.

Most types of organizations that can provide evidence of their non-governmental status or charitable purpose are eligible to apply, including non-governmental organizations, nonprofit organizations; civil society organizations; community-based organizations; and colleges, universities, and other academic institutions.

Government agencies and religious organizations may be included as project partners but are not eligible for direct funding.

The Foundation does not typically fund:

  • Overhead or indirect project costs
  • General operating support
  • Direct food, health or other humanitarian aid
  • Eco-tourism
  • Buildings and capital improvements
  • Projects ultimately intended for private gain.  All intellectual property developed with the grant should be public.
  • Salaries for Executive Directors of U.S. and European-based organizations.
  • Project expenses incurred before the grant is awarded.

Grant-Making Policies and Procedures

There is no minimum or maximum grant size. It is anticipated that most grants will fall in the $25,000-$50,000 per year range.

Grants are made for a one- or two-year period.  Second-year funding is conditional on the provision of a satisfactory progress report, interim financial report, and work plan.  Renewal requests for projects that were not originally approved as a multi-year project may be considered, but require a new application.

Grant awards are made twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, with applications due several months prior.  Timelines are publicized on the website in advance and may differ slightly from year to year.

The Foundation will consider only one proposal from an organization in any calendar year.

Reporting requirements are designed to avoid burdensome work for grantees while providing sufficient information for the Foundation to assess expenditures, accomplishments, and any unanticipated difficulties in performing as proposed.  Reporting is expected as follows:

  • Final reports are due within one year following the initial application or the beginning of the last year of funding, whichever is later. 
  • Interim progress reports, interim financial reports and second-year work plans for multi-year grants are due 30 days before the end of the recipient’s first grant period. 

Report templates and due dates will be sent with the initial grant letter.

Correspondence and inquiries should be directed to:

Conservation, Food & Health Foundation
c/o Prentice A. Zinn, Administrator
GMA Foundations
2 Liberty Square, Suite 500
Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Phone: 617-391-3091

pzinn@gmafoundations.com

c/o Prentice A. Zinn, Administrator                                          

Deadlines

Annual Grant Cycle Timeline 2025-2027
Application Process Grant Round 1. Grant Round 2..
Concept Application Deadlines January 1 June 15
Proposal Invitations January 15 July 15
Proposal Deadline February 15 August 15
Grant Awards July 1 December 1

How to Apply >>

January 01 2024 12:00 pm