Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Global Fund for Children

1. When was The Global Fund for Children founded?
2. What does The Global Fund for Children do?
3. How can my organization apply for a grant?
4. How does The Global Fund for Children find its grantee partners?
5. Where can I learn more about some of the issues The Global Fund for Children works on, like child labor or human trafficking?
6. Will The Global Fund for Children support me as an individual to further my studies, or cover other personal expenses?
7. How can I help?
8. How can I purchase The Global Fund for Children’s multicultural children’s books or get information about new and upcoming titles?
9. Does The Global Fund for Children accept or place volunteers?
10. Are there employment opportunities or internships available?

1. When was The Global Fund for Children founded?

Founded in 1994, The Global Fund for Children identifies and invests in local nongovernmental organizations around the world that enhance the lives of children and youth by providing essential healthcare, educational and social opportunities, and alternatives to situations that compromise children’s health, safety, or integrity. Complementing this work is GFC’s Global Media Ventures, which utilizes vibrant children’s books, documentary photography, and films to help children and adults understand and appreciate their place in a multicultural world.

GFC made its first grants in 1997 with royalties from its children’s books. Since then, GFC’s grantmaking capacity has grown dramatically, from $3,000 in 1997 to approximately $2 million during the current 2005–2006 fiscal year. From 1997 through 2005, GFC distributed more than $5 million in grants to more than 180 groups in sixty countries.

2. What does The Global Fund for Children do?

The Global Fund for Children’s mission is to advance the dignity of children and youth around the world. We pursue this mission through two primary strategies:

• Our grantmaking program supports and strengthens innovative community-based organizations working to transform the lives of vulnerable children and youth throughout the world.
• Our Global Media Ventures creates and promotes books, films, and documentary photography that help children and adults understand and appreciate the multicultural world in which we live.

3. How can my organization apply for a grant?

Please carefully review our grantmaking priorities and selection criteria. If your organization qualifies, you may submit an online letter of inquiry to be reviewed by the grantmaking team. No emails or phone calls, please.

4. How does The Global Fund for Children find its grantee partners?

The Global Fund for Children finds its grantee partners in many ways. In some cases, we receive referrals from like-minded funders, existing grantee partners, and others within our network of contacts. We also identify new organizations through in-country scouting and site visits. In addition, any organization can submit a letter of inquiry to be considered for funding. Click here to learn more about our selection criteria.

5. Where can I learn more about some of the issues The Global Fund for Children works on, like child labor or human trafficking?

The Global Fund for Children has published papers on some of our focus issues: hazardous child labor, the commercial sexual exploitation of children, the distinctive needs of vulnerable boys, and schools and scholarships.

6. Will The Global Fund for Children support me as an individual to further my studies, or cover other personal expenses?

The Global Fund for Children is unable to make grants to individuals. GFC supports only registered nongovernmental organizations.

7. How can I help?

You can help by making a financial contribution to The Global Fund for Children. Your gift helps to strengthen and expand our support of small grassroots organizations around the world that improve educational opportunities for children who would otherwise be left behind. You can also support GFC by purchasing one of our books.

8. How can I purchase The Global Fund for Children’s multicultural children’s books or get information about new and upcoming titles?

You can sign up for The Global Fund for Children newsletter or visit the books section of our website.

9. Does the Global Fund for Children accept or place volunteers?

At this time, The Global Fund for Children does not accept volunteers and does not help to place volunteers with any of our grantee partner organizations. Those looking to volunteer internationally are encouraged to visit www.one-world.net and www.interaction.org, both of which list hundreds of international NGOs. Information on international volunteer programs can be found at www.idealist.org.

10. Are there employment opportunities or internships available?

Our employment opportunities page lists all currently available positions. The Global Fund for Children typically has a limited number of one-semester and summer internships available to undergraduate and graduate students.