Conservation, Food & Health Foundation

Request For Proposal

Version: 1/28/08

 

 

This RFP is intended for applicants who have submitted preliminary concept applications and have been requested by the foundation to submit full proposals.  If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments about these instructions, even minor ones, contact the foundation at pzinn@grantsmanagement.com or 617-426-4080 x307.

 

Application Timeline for 2008

 

Grant Round 1.

 

January 1                     Concept Application Deadline

 

March 1                        Proposal Deadline

 

May 25                          Foundation Grant Review Meeting

 

June 15                        Grant Notification Deadline

 

 

 

Grant Round 2.

 

July 1                           Concept Application Deadline

 

September 1                Proposal Deadline

 

November 25               Foundation Grant Review Meeting

 

December 15               Grant Notification Deadline


Section 1.  Guidelines

 

Overview

 

Incorporated in 1985, the Conservation, Food and Health Foundation seeks to promote the conservation of natural resources, improve the production and distribution of food, and improve health in the developing world.  The foundation helps build capacity within developing countries in its three areas of interest with grants that support research or projects that solve specific problems.

 

The foundation supports projects that demonstrate strong local leadership, promote professional development in the conservation, agricultural, and health sciences, develop the capacity of local organizations, and address a particular problem in the field.  It prefers to support projects addressing under-funded issues and geographic areas.

 

Geographic Focus

 

The foundation’s geographic focus is the developing world.  It prefers to support organizations located in developing countries or to developed country organizations whose activities are of direct and immediate benefit to developing countries.  The foundation does not consider the states of the former Soviet Union or former Eastern Bloc countries as within its geographic focus.

 

Fields of Interest

 

The Conservation, Food, and Health Foundation supports special projects and programs of nonprofit organizations in three primary fields of interest:  conservation, food, and health.  Examples of areas of interest within these fields follow, but are not meant to be exclusive.

 

Conservation

 

Conservation grants help improve ecological and environmental conditions in the developing world.  The foundation supports field research and related research activities, training, and technical assistance efforts that:

 

Ø       help conserve viable ecosystems and protect biological diversity in developing countries

Ø       train local leaders in conservation and protection of resources, with an emphasis on technical and scientific training

 

Food

           

Food grants support focused efforts to improve access to food for consumption in developing countries.  Areas of interest include projects that:

 

Ø       promote or develop specific sustainable agriculture practices that have potential to advance science and practice in other countries;

Ø       develop new approaches that address fuel and resource problems related to food production and preparation in developing countries;

Ø       offer targeted education and training to small scale food producers and farmers; and

Ø       advance new approaches to control pests and diseases affecting important food crops of developing countries

 

Health

 

The foundation supports public health programs that are preventive rather than curative in nature.  It supports research, technical assistance, and training projects that:

 

Ø       improve public health through community-based efforts that address health promotion, disease prevention, and family planning; and

Ø       increase the understanding and treatment of tropical diseases

 

Types of Support

 

The foundation does not provide general operating support.  It favors the following types of project grants:

 

Ø       grants for research, technical assistance, and training projects that employ and/or train personnel from developing countries

Ø       grants for pilot projects and special programs that have potential for replication led by organizations with strong records of accomplishments in a particular field;

 

Exclusions

 

The Conservation, Food & Health Foundation does not provide support for:

 

Ø       buildings or land purchase;

Ø       quantity purchases of durable medical equipment;

Ø       endowments or fundraising activities;

Ø       famine or emergency relief;

Ø       feeding or food distribution programs;

Ø       films, videos, or web-site production;

Ø       scholarships, fellowships, or travel grants;

Ø       conferences;

Ø       re-granting through intermediaries;

Ø       general operating support; or

Ø       individuals

 

How To Apply

 

The foundation receives an excessive number of applications considering the $800,000 of funds annually available. To reduce the number of applicants turned down for lack of available funds and to save time loss and expense to applicants, the foundation has adopted a two-phase application system composed of a short concept application, followed by a limited number of full proposals at our invitation.  This system is screens out projects at the concept application level, which appear unlikely to receive funding to create a more manageable pool of applications for a thorough review from the trustees.  Full proposals requested have a fair chance of success.  We must stress, however, that an invitation to submit a full proposal should not be taken as assurance that a grant will be made.

 

Requirements for a Concept Application

 

Submit a copy of the concept application available below or via e-mail or regular mail.  When using e-mail, cut and paste the application into the body of the email and identify your organization in the subject line.  The concept application should be no longer than two pages, plus a preliminary budget of no more than one page. The concept application must be submitted in English, and the budget information must be translated into U.S. dollars.

 

Deadlines for Concept Applications

 

Concept application may be submitted at any time, but must be received in the office for the FY 2008 grants cycle by January 1 and July 1 in order to be reviewed for the foundation's May and November meetings. In case of a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day. All applications will be acknowledged as soon as possible by e-mail, and applicants will be informed of the foundation's decision regarding the concept application within 30 days of the deadline.

 

This time frame is designed to give each invited applicant adequate time to prepare the full proposal. Applicants should submit only one application per review cycle.

 

Requirements for A Full Proposal

 

After the foundation has reviewed a concept application, proposals may be submitted at the at the invitation of the board.  A full proposal application format will be sent with notification from the foundation inviting a full proposal.

 

Eligibility

 

Ordinarily the foundation limits its support to those organizations that have received a letter of determination of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and are "not a private foundation" under section 509(a).  However, the directors wish to remain open to the possibility of supporting certain equivalents, such as a domestic or foreign governmental unit or agency, or non-governmental, foreign organization determined to be the equivalent of a 501(c)(3) organization, which can provide secure evidence of its nonprofit status and charitable purpose.