STAY CONNECTED

WHERE & WHAT WE FUND

OVERALL FUNDING STRATEGY

Firelight strives to increase the resources available to grassroots organizations that are strengthening the capacity of families and communities to care for children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS and poverty.

Every child, regardless of race, creed, or country, deserves the promise of a future. We currently give initial one-year grants of between $1,000 and $10,000 to community-based initiatives that work directly and effectively to support the fundamental needs and rights of children affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty. We believe that grassroots programs arising in direct response to needs within the local community are often the most effective. Firelight supports this vital work with initial one-year grants and renewal grants based on funding needs and opportunities for shared learning.

ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES
Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

The primary geographic focus of our grantmaking is eastern and southern Sub-Saharan Africa. In order for us to focus our efforts in an effective and sustained manner, we only accept letters of inquiry from seven countries: Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. We are not able to accept inquiries from other countries unless an organization has already received a Firelight grant or we have asked an organization for a proposal.

FUNDING CRITERIA

Each year, Firelight receives many more requests for funding from our focus countries than the number of grants we are able to award. We regret that we are not able to offer funding to all groups meeting the below criteria.

In selecting programs to support, Firelight looks for:

Programs that directly serve the needs of vulnerable children and families
Grassroots initiatives that build upon existing resources within the community
Programs that demonstrate strong leadership and community ownership
Organizations with a history of effective community action and results for children
Programs based on local knowledge of the problems facing children, families, and the community
Innovative responses to the situations of children affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty
Programs where children take part in decision-making, advocacy, and leadership
Groups with limited annual budgets and/or access to other donors
Organizations that actively collaborate with local leadership, government, and other stakeholders.

Areas of interest include the following programs supporting vulnerable children:

Programs to enhance or create a supportive environment for children’s growth and development
Primary and secondary education with a holistic approach to children’s needs
Vocational education and skills development
Income-generating activities for caregivers and youth
Programs that contribute to social and behavioral change
Recreational activities/counseling/programs focusing on psychosocial support
Sexual abuse prevention and treatment
Programs that provide leadership opportunities for children and youth
Respite or residential care/medical treatment for HIV-infected children, including palliative and hospice care/home-based programs
Reintegration of children into the community
Permanency planning and related legal aid advocacy
Programs that reach marginalized populations, especially vulnerable children, including street children, child-headed households, disabled children, adolescent girls, or HIV-positive children.

WHAT WE DON’T FUND

Firelight does NOT fund: individuals; scholarships for individual use; government entities; organizations or programs designed to influence legislation or elect public officials; organizations or programs solely intended to generate income or provide charity to individuals; academic or medical research; fundraising drives; or endowments.

Firelight believes strongly in non-discrimination and does not fund programs that limit participation based on race, religion, gender, or nationality. We very rarely fund US-based organizations or branches of international nongovernmental organizations.

The Firelight Foundation believes that children develop best when raised within families and communities; therefore, we rarely fund orphanages. In exceptional cases, there may be compelling reasons why institutional care is in the best interest of a child. If you believe this, please explain why.

We are often asked for food aid, medical care, and housing. We understand the urgency of these needs, but we are not a relief agency. If you request such assistance, please explain how the planned activities will be undertaken in a sustainable and holistic way.

Similarly, we receive many requests for school fees. Firelight rarely funds requests for school fees alone. If your organization seeks such assistance, please describe how your group plans to address the other needs of children, and what will happen when one year of funding for basic schooling is completed.

^ Back to Top