At The Global Fund for Children, we give small grants to innovative community-based organizations working with the world’s most vulnerable children and youth. We also help our grassroots partners improve their sustainability, develop their networks, increase their visibility, and grow and deepen their capacity to positively affect children’s lives.We believe the best way to reach vulnerable children is through grassroots organizations. Embedded in their communities, these organizations are well placed to reach children where they live, play, and work—on the streets, in markets, in remote areas—and to create opportunities for them to learn, grow, and thrive. Our grassroots partners frequently provide comprehensive care to meet children’s needs, use local resources and networks, and pioneer innovative solutions to old problems.
SCOUT
We put our feet on the ground, seeking out organizations that work under the radar to serve some of the most marginalized, hard-to-reach children in the world. We look for true grassroots: local leadership, community and youth involvement, creativity, and sustainability.
By bringing to light these organizations and the issues they address, we are a pipeline for innovative ideas to reach the broader philanthropic community.
SUPPORT
Our investments are small and powerful. We give grants to grassroots organizations that serve vulnerable children where they live and work—on the streets, in markets, in remote areas—and create opportunities for them to learn, grow, and thrive.
The programs and services we fund give children access to education (Learning Portfolio); health services and psychosocial support (Healthy Minds and Bodies Portfolio); and ensure their protection from violence and exploitation (Safety Portfolio). Our partners also work to create positive economic opportunities for youth (Enterprise Portfolio), and a small number of our grantees provide creative enrichment programs (Creative Opportunities Portfolio). In other words, our grassroots partners do everything they can to let kids be kids.
STRENGTHEN
We believe that money alone is not enough—for lasting change, you need strong leadership, a solid community, and healthy organizational development. We support our partners through management assistance, capacity building, and networking opportunities. From leveraging new sources of funding to hosting regional Knowledge Exchange workshops, our value-added services maximize our financial investment and increase our grantees’ sustainability.