Call for expressions of interest - Grantmaking entities to sub-grant funds to grassroots women’s organizations

Call for expressions of interest 
Grantmaking entities to sub-grant funds to grassroots women’s organizations 

Spotlight Initiative is inviting women’s funds to join its campaign to raise funds for grassroots, women-led organizations working to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls around the world. 

Duration: 5 March 2020 – 31 December 2021
Objective: Grantmaking entity to sub-grant funds to women’s and feminist organizations, groups and service providers working on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. 
Deadline for submission of Concept Note: Ongoing

SCOPE OF WORK 
Donations received via the Spotlight Initiative campaign website should be channelled to support organizations, groups and service providers working on ending violence against women and girls.

The web-based donation platform will be available on spotlightinitiative.org on 5 March 2020. The platform will feature approximately one (1) women’s fund per month on an ongoing basis. Women’s funds from all countries and regions are eligible to apply. There is no geographical restriction on sub-granting funds received via the campaign.

REQUIREMENTS AND COMPETENCIES
Applicants should meet the following requirements and competencies:
a)    Be a non-profit and non-governmental women’s fund with a well-established grantmaking mechanism; 
b)    Have technical online and website analytics capacities to track, monitor and provide real-time reporting on Spotlight-attributable website entries, exits, donations, sessions and transaction amounts.
c)    Have a track record on sub-granting funds to local and grassroots women’s organizations, groups and service providers that work with the elimination of violence against women and girls;
d)    Demonstrate experience of capacity building and non-financial support to grantees; 
e)    Have a strong understanding of gender equality and women empowerment principles as well as violence against women and girls;
f)    Demonstrate strong skills in written communications in English, Spanish or French by at least one lead member of staff (staff fluent in other languages is desirable);
g)    Women’s funds who have never worked with the UN are strongly encouraged to apply; 
h)    Women’s funds are also encouraged to apply through a consortium or network.  
 

NON-ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS
The following are NOT eligible to apply:
•    Entities that lack a grantmaking mechanism 
•    Entities that do not have a registered legal status 
•    Government agencies or institutions
•    UN agencies 
•    Private individuals
•    Private sector entities

SUBMISSION DETAILS
Organizations wishing to apply shall submit a portfolio of the organization demonstrating the requirements and competencies listed above, including:
•    An expression of interest in the form of an online Concept Note (Available here: http://bit.ly/WithWomensFunds). 
Only one application per organization/consortium will be accepted. Multiple applications from the same organization or for the same proposal will be automatically disqualified. 
Concept notes only submitted in English, French and Spanish will be considered.
•    The application must include the following documents: 
Proof of legal registration issued by a competent national authority
Certified Financial Statements/Audit Reports for 2 previous fiscal years (2018, 2019)
Organizational documents providing evidence if the organization is a women’s rights or women-led organization (e.g. constitutions, by-laws, organigrammes, list of all staff and board members with gender and position).
An organizational resume or CV, showing, expertise and past experience

Please note that incomplete applications will be automatically disqualified.

DEADLINE
While the call for Expressions of Interest remains open indefinitely, submissions received before 21 February 2020 will be considered to be featured in the new online campaign, commencing on 5 March 2020. 
Only selected organizations will be contacted. 
This Expression of Interest does not entail any commitment on the part of the UN, either financial or otherwise. The UN reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Expressions of Interest without incurring any obligation to inform the affected applicant(s) of the reasons.
For questions/enquires, please contact info@spotlightinitiative.org with the subject title “EOI Women's funds campaign”.