Conservation, Food & Health Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Conservation, Food and Health Foundation makes grants to organizations working in food security, public health and conservation issues in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
IP TAKE: This funder tends to award project-specific grants rather than those for general operating support. The supportive foundation geographically focuses on low- and lower-middle income countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. It only supports organizations located in upper-income countries whose activities are of direct benefit low- and middle-income countries. It does not support organizations that work in the former Soviet Union or former Eastern Bloc countries. Make sure to provide clear research, where necessary. As well, this foundation requires a report on how funds were used within one year of dispersal.
PROFILE: Based in Boston, the Conservation, Food & Health Foundation was founded in 1985, and seeks to "promote the conservation of natural resources, improve the production and distribution of food, and improve health in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East." It prioritizes projects that address underfunded issues and geographic areas in food, conservation and health. According to the foundation, it helps "build the capacity of organizations and coalitions with grants that support research or improve the learning and generation of local solutions to complex problems."
Grants for Animals and Wildlife
The foundation's conservation efforts tend to address issues surrounding habitats themselves, including animals, and the indigenous populations who reside there. The foundation supports projects that support field research, training and technical assistance efforts that "help conserve viable ecosystems and protect biological diversity in developing countries" and "train local leaders in conservation and protection of resources, with an emphasis on technical and scientific training."
In addition, the foundation heavily emphasizes research. As a result, organizations that seek to secure funding from this foundation must include researchers with Ph.D.s that can carry out a project that brings scientific understanding to the species or habitat in question. Groups working with local populations to address an environmental or conservation concern may not need such credentials, but having a history of successful advocacy and public policy work will certainly help them get in the door.
Past grantees include EarthRights International, Amazon Watch, Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program, and Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. Grant seekers can view more previous grantees here.
Grants for Global Development, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
The foundation's grantmaking for food-related projects supports increasing access to consumable food in developing countries. The foundation supports projects that "promote or develop specific sustainable agriculture practices with potential to advance science and practice in other countries." It also supports projects that explore and refine innovative training and education for small-scale farmers, as well as new approaches to food pest control and diseases.
Grant seekers should consider that this foundation is primarily concerned with food consumption, not farming productivity to strengthen economic security.
Past grantees include the Ecological Development Fund for its work increasing the types of agricultural crops and nitrogen-fixing trees in Guatemala, and the Seed Guardian Network for its project developing former networks to promote native seed varieties and traditional food crops in Ecuador. Grant seekers can view more previous grantees here.
Grants for Global Health
In the global health field, the foundation conducts work that is “preventative rather than curative in nature.” The foundation supports improving health in disease prevention, family planning and reproductive health. The foundation also makes grants to organizations that work toward a better understanding and treatment of tropical diseases. The foundation’s global health investments prioritize food and health all over the world, except in Russia and former Eastern Europe. Geographically, the foundation focuses Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Previous grantees include Hispaniola Health Partners, Action for Development, and St. Boniface Haiti Foundation. Grant seekers can view more previous grantees here.
Important Grant Details:
Grant amounts typically range from $10,000 to $30,000. The foundation has a two-phase application process and accepts submissions until January 1 for its first grant round, and July 1 for its second grant round. New grant seekers can apply here.
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