The Keepers of the Earth provide grants to grassroots organizations, groups, societies, associations, consortiums, Tribes, or First Nations for the projects empowering Indigenous communities around the world. Grants are provided to the projects that seek to control, utilize, leverage, retain, create, and increase the assets of Indigenous communities. Among these assets are land, culture, language, kinship networks, subsistence activities and personal efficacy.
The Foundation focuses on cultural development as well as works to connect grantees with each other providing new ways to share their learning with a broader community. The grant making process of the foundation builds a collaborative network of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities around the world.
The largest possible grant award is US$20,000. Grant amount range from $500 to $5,000.
Priority Areas
- Food security
- Securing rights to ancestral lands
- Mitigating the effects of climate change
- Preserving and renewing cultural values and traditional knowledge
Past Projects
- US$32,600 to A World Institute for a Sustainable Humanity (AWISH) in Sierra Leone.
- $32,925 (three grants of $9,925, $16,000 and $7,000) to Ogiek Peoples Development Program in Kenya.
- $19,248 (two grants of $5,000 and $14,248) to Literacy Action and Development Agency in Uganda.
Eligibility Criteria
- All applicants must
- Be Indigenous-led or represent an Indigenous-led project
- Be a grassroots/local organization or group
- Have an organizational bank account or access to a fiscal sponsor
- Must have not-for-profit certification (IRS letter, registration certificate).
- Projects will not be funded
- that do not originate from or are not led by an Indigenous community
- Travel to the United States
- Disaster relief
- Missionary Projects
- Fees associated with lawsuit proceedings or representation
- Electoral campaign activities
- Conference registration fees
- Work being done by an individual
- Scholarships or school application fees
- Event fundraising, fundraising campaigns, costs associated with the soliciting of endowment funds, or deficit funding.
- Projects that incorporate social, environmental, economic, and cultural concerns equally while addressing the immediate needs of the community will be preferred.
- Proposals must demonstrate an approach based on the interconnectedness of people, assets and environment.
How to apply?
The annual funding cycle of the foundation runs from 1 January to 31 October. In special circumstances application after October 31st can also be considered.
Proposals can either be sent, filling the application form, through email or by uploading proposal video online on the website. It can take up to eight weeks to review and process the application and the foundation may contact during this time for additional information.
More information about this Foundations is available in the PDF version. If you are a FundsforNGOs Premium Member, you can instantly download this PDF version. Not a Premium Member? Click here to Sign up! Not interested? Continue reading…
