Practical Insights on Grant Funding

grant funding usaid

ICT4D Grant Funding

Do you want to use information and communication technologies to improve social and economic development? Do you need grant funding for your ICT4D startup business idea? Here are two popular international donors that provide seed funds for innovative humanitarian aid programs.

USAID Grant Funding

USAID generally undertakes direct assistance programs to benefit developing countries through competitive grants and cooperative agreements. This ensures that all activities are concentrated on specific objectives to maximize impact and that they are consistent, mutually reinforcing, and draw support from the best available sources.

Check to see if USAID and your organization are currently working in the same country and to ensure that your organization’s goals align with the USAID priorities for that country. Establish a relationship with the USAID Mission in the countries where you work; set up meetings with them and invite them to see your operation.

Gates Foundation Grant Funding

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation fosters innovation to solve key health and development problems. They offer two grant types: Seed Grants and Scale-Up Grants.

  • Seed Grants: $250,000 to be implemented up to 12 months. Seed Grants should leverage digital technology innovations with the potential to scale by utilizing a proven technology from another sector.
  • Scale-Up Grants: $1,500,000 to be implemented up to 24 months. Scale-Up Grants demonstrate ability and sufficient evidence to have positive impact by using digital technology innovations with demonstrated readiness to scale and proven ability to bundle with other services.

More Grant Funding Opportunities

Apply Now: USAID Digital Development Awards

Apply Now: USAID Digital Development Awards

Published on: Apr 24 2017 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now: USAID Digital Development Awards
USAID is delighted to announce the first-ever Digital Development Awards, part of the USAID Catalyst Awards. USAID has a long and rich tradition of transforming...
Your New Business Development Pipeline Toolkit

Your New Business Development Pipeline Toolkit

Published on: Apr 10 2017 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Your New Business Development Pipeline Toolkit
Dimagi has grown quickly in pursuit of our mission to help frontline programs around the world amplify their impact with digital technology. Over the last 15 years,...
Apply Now: 3.3 Million GBP for M4D Innovations in Access to Basic Utilities

Apply Now: 3.3 Million GBP for M4D Innovations in Access to Basic Utilities

Published on: Mar 20 2017 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now: 3.3 Million GBP for M4D Innovations in Access to Basic Utilities
Of the 1.2 billion people who lack basic energy access around the world, 772 million are covered by mobile networks. Similar figures exist for water and sanitation,...
Apply Now: $5 Million in Cash Grants for ICT4D Hardware Purchases

Apply Now: $5 Million in Cash Grants for ICT4D Hardware Purchases

Published on: Jan 18 2017 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now: $5 Million in Cash Grants for ICT4D Hardware Purchases
Guess what kids, there is a Hardware Santa Claus! Nethope has just announced its 2017 Device Challenge – $5 million dollars in cash grants for technology...
Apply Now: $100,000 in Grant Funding for Digital Financial Services Entrepreneurs

Apply Now: $100,000 in Grant Funding for Digital Financial Services Entrepreneurs

Published on: Sep 08 2016 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now: $100,000 in Grant Funding for Digital Financial Services Entrepreneurs
Do you have an inner flame that compels you to be a founder at a startup? Do you have deep expertise in fintech, payments, or retail finance? Do you dream of creating...
Apply Now for $312,000 in ICT4D Grants for Africa and Asia

Apply Now for $312,000 in ICT4D Grants for Africa and Asia

Published on: Aug 22 2016 by Wayan Vota - 2 Comments
Finding seed funding to launch ICT4D projects isn’t easy, and we’d like to help! Here’s three grant opportunities and one award program that can...
Apply Now for $240,000 in Grants for African ICT4D Projects

Apply Now for $240,000 in Grants for African ICT4D Projects

Published on: May 23 2016 by Wayan Vota - 24 Comments
The Fund for Internet Research and Development (FIRE Africa) has over US$240,000 in grant funding to support projects that use ICT to develop innovative solutions...
Apply Now: Harnessing Data for Resilience Recognition Award

Apply Now: Harnessing Data for Resilience Recognition Award

Published on: Mar 02 2016 by Josh Woodard - Comments Off on Apply Now: Harnessing Data for Resilience Recognition Award
Ending extreme poverty is one of the world’s biggest challenges. As we tackle this issue, it is critical to build resilience at all scales—individuals,...
Breaking News! USAID Grand Challenge for Development with Facebook

Breaking News! USAID Grand Challenge for Development with Facebook

Published on: Apr 01 2015 by Wayan Vota - 13 Comments
After extensive analysis, USAID has determined that poor people in the country of Africa suffer from a lack of things. According to the World Bank, 414 million...
Apply Now for $5 Million in GSMA mWASH Grants

Apply Now for $5 Million in GSMA mWASH Grants

Published on: Nov 28 2014 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Apply Now for $5 Million in GSMA mWASH Grants
Currently 10% of the world’s population does not have access to ‘improved’ water resources, nearly 20% are without access to energy, and almost 35% lack access...