About: WHEAT is a South African Trust born in 1998. The funding members of WHEAT are feminists active in South Africa who thought necessary to create a Fund helping grassroots women’s organisations after the end of the apartheid. The main goal of WHEAT is to develop projects aiming to empower women in South Africa. WHEAT supports organisations and individuals challenging the current discrimination of women in society by supporting projects enhancing women’s political roles and economic impendence. WHEAT mainly sponsors organisations that cannot access other funding schemes (because they are not yet registered or because they do not have a track record history to access major funding schemes).
Geographical Areas of Intervention: South Africa
Themes: WHEAT sponsors community-led projects showing the potential to make contribution to at least 1 of the following thematic areas:
- HIV and AIDS prevention and access to treatment
- To create a sustainable income for women
- To end gender based violence
- To enforce refugee (or migrant) women’s rights
- To empower lesbian groups
- To improve environmental sustainability
Types of Grant: WHEAT has 3 types of grants
- Basic Grant is given to women’s organisations with low income to help them setting up a small and sustainable business enterprise (from R 1,000 to R 5,000)
- Seed Funding Grant is given to community-based organisations developing projects to end violence against women. In particular, this Grant could cover the costs to register an organisation or to provide technical assistance to build effective fundraising strategies (R 5,000 to R 20,000).
- Women in leadership Grant helps grassroots organisation to develop educational programmes and trainings aiming to enhance women’s leadership and also to help women achieving more visible roles in politics and society (R 5,000 to R. 20,000).
Additional grants could be made available throughout the year. These special calls are advertised through the website of the organisation, see
Eligibility: WHEAT does not fund organisations affiliated to political or religious parties; academic institutions, organisations not led by women, governmental bodies and terrorist activities.
Although all women organisations based in South Africa are welcome to apply for funding, WHEAT gives preference to women from rural areas; women organisations that cannot access other funding; women organisations whose core goal is to enhance human rights; organisations that clearly explain how their proposed projects are sustainable and part of a long-term engagement with the issue of women’s rights in South Africa.
How to Apply: Relevant Application Forms could be downloaded here
Applications are accepted only in English. Applicants can send their proposals via e-mail, fax or post. Applicants will receive a confirmation receipt within 30 days and the results of the selection process will be advertised within 3 months from the deadline of the call.
Deadlines: Applications could be sent at any time although WHEAT makes grants 3 times a year. For 2013, decisions will be taken at the end of February, at the end of June and at the end of September.
