Grant Guidelines
Our grantmaking process
The Asia Foundation undertakes grantmaking with organizations as a collaborative process of problem identification and strategic planning within our areas of programming interest. Informed by 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, our work is focused on governance, climate action, gender equality, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. Please review our country programs highlights and recent news items to see if your project falls within the scope of the Foundation’s current programs. The Foundation directs its support to activities that are within its current interests and are likely to have a wide effect. Most of the Foundation’s grants are made to organizations in Asia and the Pacific.
The Foundation does not make grants either to individuals or to U.S-based organizations.
Before any request is made for a grant, the Foundation encourages prospective grantees to follow a three-phase process:
- Review The Asia Foundation’s program areas.
- Submit to the appropriate office a brief letter of inquiry to determine whether the Foundation’s present interests and funds permit consideration of the request. The letter of inquiry should include: a very brief introduction about the grant-seeking organization, a brief project description, and budget estimate.
- After receiving the letter, Foundation staff may reply informing the grant seeker as to whether or not the project fits within the The Asia Foundation’s interests. If it does, Foundation staff may ask the grant seeker to submit a formal proposal or raise questions for clarification of purposed project. There is no grant application form.