RESOURCE CENTRE MANUAL
HEALTHLINK WORLDWIDE
2.4.2 Applying for grants
Another source of funds may be grants from institutions or organisations that
have money to finance development, charitable or educational activities.
Most funding organisations have specific requirements or conditions for
granting money. Some only give money for certain types of activities, such as
education, training or research. Some only give money for certain groups of
beneficiaries, such as children, poor people or elderly people. Some only give
money for certain locations, such as urban areas, rural areas, developing
countries or a specific continent or region. Some only give money for work
focusing on a certain topic or sector, such as HIV/AIDS, environment,
education or communicable diseases.
2.4.3 How to find out about funders
If you are starting out and don’t know any donor agencies (funding
organisations), start by making a list. To do this:
• Write to or visit government departments in your country, asking whether
they have any funds available for your sort of work.
• Write to or visit embassies in your country, asking for a list of donor
agencies in their country.
• Write to or visit the offices of international organisations, such as United
Nations agencies, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and
Development and the European Union, asking how to approach them for
funding.
• Approach local churches or other religious organisations and ask for the
names and addresses of their international donors.
• Ask other organisations for names and addresses of donors.
• Ask colleagues and friends.
• Look up donor agencies in your local library, British Council library or
other library.
Write to all the donor agencies you can, asking them for their funding criteria
and areas of interest. Type the letter on headed paper, explaining who you are
and what kind of work you do. Send them a leaflet about your organisation if
there is one.
2.4.4 How to apply for grants
Wherever possible, try to have personal contact with the donor agency. Ask for
guidelines for presenting proposals (funding applications) and ask what criteria
they use to make decisions, what areas of interest they have, and when and
12 SECTION 2: MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE