Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – National Coalitions Applying for Grants between USD $30,000 and $70,000
Questions about Eligibility
- Who are the target grantees for the Disability Rights Fund National Coalition grants?
- What is a DPO?
- What types of organizations are eligible to be Coalition members?
- Do all members of the Coalition have to be DPOs?
- What do you mean by “managing partner” of the Coalition?
- What qualifications should a managing partner have?
- We are a national umbrella / federation comprising multiple DPOs. Are we eligible to apply as a National Coalition?
- What is the difference between a national umbrella / federation and a “National Coalition”?
- What countries are you accepting proposals from?
- Can organizations from anywhere in these countries apply?
- Why or how did you choose these countries?
- We are a National Coalition but are not based in one of these target countries. Will funds ever be available for organizations or groups in my country?
- Do you support regional coalitions or only country-specific coalitions?
- Can an international organization or an organization not based in the target countries be part of the Coalition application?
- We are a civil society/non-governmental organization or foundation that works with people with disabilities. Can we be part of the Coalition application?
- We are a school / university and we’d like to apply for funding as part of the Coalition. Are we eligible?
- Can one of the national coalition partners be a governmental entity? If so, can they receive funds? If so, do they count as one of three members required for eligibility?
- We are a business or company that serves PWDs. Can we apply?
- Does the managing organization have to be legally registered?
- We have filed for registration and are awaiting approval from relevant authorities. Can we apply as the managing partner of the Coalition?
- Is registration considered legitimate only if it is governmental registration (some organizations are registered with national non-profit NGO centers, for example)?
- We are an organization based in Bangladesh. Do we need an NGO Affairs Bureau registration to apply as the managing partner of the Coalition?
Questions about Application Procedures and Technical Issues
- Is there a letter of inquiry process?
- Do we need to use your grant application form and suggested proposal format?
- Do we need to complete all forms on the checklist?
- What is the deadline for proposals?
- What is the expected timeline for projects?
- In what languages can proposals be submitted?
- We are having trouble opening or saving the application forms from the website. What should we do?
- Can applications be mailed to the DRF office rather than submitted electronically, and if so, what is the deadline?
- Do you need copies of registration documents for all members of the Coalition? Does the registration need to be translated into English? How should we send this to you?
- When will decisions be made? When will organizations learn the results of the grants competition?
- Advocacy efforts take longer than one year. Can't we apply for multiple year funding?
Questions about Activities that DRF Supports
- What are the DRF priority areas for National Coalitions?
- What is the request for proposals and where can I find it?
- Can the Coalition submit a proposal that focuses on more than one priority area?
- Can an organization apply for both small grant and national coalition grants?
- We would like to do lobbying as part of our project. Will DRF fund National Coalitions doing lobbying work?
- Do you provide funds for general operating expenses?
- Do you provide funds for service provision, including income generation?
- What do you mean by “service provision”?
- Does the Fund support individuals with disabilities applying for travel or other fees related to attendance at international conferences, congresses, seminars, or gaining training in other countries?
- Where can I find more information about other funding sources and resources and tools on disability?
Questions about Financial Forms and Budget
- We are a new organization, and do not have financial statements for the past two years. Can we apply as the managing partner of the Coalition?
- We do not have access to much funding. Can we apply even if we do not have other funding at the moment or have never received a grant to implement a project?
- We need funding for activities in October-December 2009; will monies be disbursed in time?
- Can the budget be formulated in our local currency or should it be formulated in US dollars?
- In case our proposal is successful, do we need to create a specific bank account to manage the grant funds? Do we need to have a US dollars account?
Questions about Relationships with Grantees
- Once a grant is approved, will reporting need to be completed in English or can other languages be used for reporting?
- What are the reporting requirements?
- Is the support given by the Disability Rights Fund only financial or are other forms of support available, e.g. equipment, training?
Questions about Eligibility
Q: Who are the target grantees for the Disability Rights Fund National Coalition grants?
A: The Disability Rights Fund focuses all grantmaking on disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs) working within countries at the national and local level.
Q: What is a DPO?
A: In DRF’s understanding of the term “DPO,” DPOs are representative organizations or groups of PWDs, where PWDs constitute a majority of the overall staff and board, and are well-represented in all levels of the organization. It includes organizations of relatives of PWDs (representing children with disabilities, people with intellectual disabilities, or the deafblind) where a primary aim of these organizations is empowerment and the growth of self-advocacy of persons with disabilities. In addition, DPOs have an understanding of disability in accordance with the social model.
For National Coalition grants, applications are encouraged from coalitions of three or more organizations, where the majority of organizations within the coalition are DPOs. The organizations participating in the coalition may have national or local scope, but together the coalition must have national scope.
Proposals which specifically strengthen the voice of marginalized sectors of the disability community will be viewed favorably.
Q: What types of organizations are eligible to be Coalition members?
A: In the request for proposals, available online, we indicate that all members of the Coalition must be based in and conduct the majority of their activities in Ghana, Namibia, Uganda, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, and Bangladesh. The organizations participating in the coalition may have national or local scope, but together the coalition must have national scope.
The following Coalitions are eligible for funding: National Coalitions of three or more organizations where the majority of organizations are DPOs.
National umbrella organizations or federations are considered one organization for the purposes of this application and therefore, must form a coalition with at least two other organizations to be eligible.
Q: Do all members of the Coalition have to be DPOs?
A: No, the managing partner of the Coalition should be a DPO, and the majority of organizations in the Coalition should be DPOs. However, we strongly encourage partnerships with mainstream human rights organizations or other entities.
Q: What do you mean by “managing partner” of the Coalition?
A: Applications from National Coalitions must be submitted by one managing DPO on behalf of the coalition. Applicant organizations will take overall responsibility for coordinating the Coalition, submitting the application and managing the grant. Any DPO with legal status can be the Applicant organization, including umbrella organizations or federations. However, umbrella organizations or federations are considered one organization for the purposes of this application and therefore, must form a coalition with other organizations to be eligible.
Q: What qualifications should a managing partner have?
A: The managing partner can be situated in any locality within Ghana, Namibia, Uganda, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, or Bangladesh, but must have national scope. The managing partner must also have all registration necessary to operate legally as a civil society organization within these target countries (including any registration necessary to enable receipt of foreign funds). Further, as the organization responsible for financial management and reporting to DRF, the managing partner must be able to provide organizational income and expense statements for the past two years as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by all Coalition partners.
Q: We are a national umbrella / federation comprising multiple DPOs. Are we eligible to apply as a National Coalition?
A: If the umbrella / federation has legal status as an organization, then you must partner with at least two more organizations that are not members of your umbrella / federation, in order to be eligible for consideration.
Q: What is the difference between a national umbrella or federation of DPOs and a “National Coalition”?
A: An umbrella / federation of DPOs is a membership organization with legal status. For the purposes of this application, a “National Coalition” may include an umbrella or federation organization, but it must include at least two additional distinct organizations.
We are requiring this because we believe that encouraging broad partnership is critical to the advancement of human rights of all persons with disabilities.
Q: What countries are you accepting proposals from?
A: In this second round of 2009, the Disability Rights Fund is accepting proposals from National Coalitions based in the following countries only:
In Latin America: Ecuador, Nicaragua and Peru
In Asia: Bangladesh
In Africa: Ghana, Namibia and Uganda
As the Fund grows, we hope to expand our geographic scope. Organizations not based in current target countries are welcome to check back on the DRF website to see what additional countries may be added in future years.
Q: Can organizations from anywhere in these countries apply?
A: Members of the National Coalition can be based in any locality within the above target countries. The managing partner of the Coalition must have national scope.
Q: Why or how did you choose the target countries?
A: The selection of these countries was completed after a lengthy process, which included conversations with our Global Advisory Panel, who recommended the criteria for country selection, and our Steering Committee, who approved specific countries recommended by staff.
Q: We are a National Coalition but are not based in one of these target countries. Will funds ever be available for organizations or groups in my country?
A: The Disability Rights Fund foresees a continued expansion in terms of geographical coverage. The rate and extent of this expansion depend on our resources and ability to make substantive grants in the selected countries.
Q: Do you support regional coalitions or only country-specific coalitions?
A: We only support country-specific coalitions in the target countries. We don’t support regional activities. Coalition members must be based in the target countries and develop their activities there.
Q: Can an international organization or an organization not based in the target countries be part of the Coalition application?
A: No, we do not fund international organizations, nor do we fund organizations not based in our target countries.
We understand that there are strong organizations all over the world and that you may be doing good work, and we applaud your efforts. While we cannot support international organizations or organizations in other countries financially through grantmaking, our resource page is designed to provide information to a broader audience interested in disability rights promotion across the globe.
Q: We are a civil society/non-governmental organization or foundation that works with people with disabilities. Can we be part of the Coalition application?
A: The Disability Rights Fund is primarily interested in direct funding to organizations and groups of people with disabilities.
If your organization partners with organizations or groups of people with disabilities (DPO), joint applications would be welcome as long as groups or organizations of people with disabilities are in the majority and a DPO is the lead applicant (meaning that they are responsible for managing the project and the finances).
Please send an email to us at info@disabilityrightsfund.org if you are unsure if your organization or group qualifies.
Q: We are a school / university and we’d like to apply for funding as part of the Coalition. Are we eligible?
A: No, we cannot provide funds to schools / universities.
A school or university can be a partner to the Coalition application; however no DRF funds can go towards that school/university. In addition, a partner school / university does not count as one of the three partner organizations necessary to meet eligibility requirements for a National Coalition application.
Q: Can one of the National Coalition partners be a governmental entity? If so, can they receive funds? If so, do they count as one of three members required for eligibility?
A: Yes, a governmental entity can be a partner to the Coalition application; however no DRF funds can go towards that governmental entity. In addition, governmental entities do not count as one of the three partner organizations necessary to meet eligibility requirements for a National Coalition application.
Q: We are a business or company that serves PWDs. Can we apply?
A: No, we are unable to provide funds to businesses or companies. In addition we don’t support service provision.
Q: Does the managing organization have to be legally registered?
A: Yes, to apply, an organization needs to have completed all registration, including any registration necessary to enable receipt of funds from foreign entities.
Q: We have filed for registration and are awaiting approval from the relevant authorities. Can we apply as the managing partner of the Coalition?
A: To apply, an organization needs to have completed all registration, including any registration necessary to enable receipt of funds from foreign entities. For instance, organizations in Bangladesh must provide their NGO Affairs Bureau registration in addition to their registration as a civil society organization.
If your organization has not completed its registration, then you cannot be the managing partner of the Coalition. You can, however, be a member of the Coalition.
Q: Is registration considered legitimate only if it is governmental registration (some organizations are registered with national non-profit NGO centers, for example)?
A: Yes; only governmental registration (at community or national levels) is legitimate.
Q: We are an organization based in Bangladesh. Do we need an NGO Affairs Bureau registration to apply as the managing partner of the Coalition?
A: Yes. If you do not have a NGO Affairs Bureau registration, you cannot be the managing partner of the Coalition.
Questions about Application Procedures and Technical Issues
Q: Is there a letter of inquiry process?
A: No, there isn’t a letter of inquiry process.
Q: Do we need to use your grant application form and suggested proposal format?
A: Yes, you do.
Q: Do we need to complete all forms on the checklist?
A: You must submit the following documentation (all this information is on the checklist in the grant application form available online):
I. Project and Applicant Summary Information |
II. Narrative Request for Support (Content described in Part II of the Application Form), including |
III. Project Budget |
IV. Organizational Information for Applicant Organization, including |
V. Financial Information for Applicant Organization |
Q: What is the deadline for proposals?
A: The deadline for all proposals is 15 September 2009.
Q: What is the expected timeline for projects?
A: Projects are expected to begin 1st January 2010 and end 31 December 2010.
Q: In what languages can proposals be submitted?
A: Applications can be submitted in English or Spanish. Applications in those languages will be considered equally. Please use the application form which is in the same language in which you are applying.
Q: We are having trouble opening or saving the application forms from the website. What should we do?
A: Please send us an email and we will send you the application forms as attachments or fax them to you, whichever you prefer.
Q: Can applications be mailed to the DRF office rather than submitted electronically, and if so, what is the deadline?
A: The proposal can be sent by mail, fax or email.
Our mailing address is:
Disability Rights Fund
89 South Street, Suite 203
Boston MA, 02111
USA
Our fax number is: 1-617-261-1977
Our email address is: grants@disabilityrightsfund.org
Application packages (with all supporting documentation) must be received by 15 September 2009.
Q: Do you need copies of registration documents for all members of the Coalition? Does the registration need to be translated into English? How should we send this to you?
A: We only need registration documents from the managing partner of the Coalition. From that organization, we need documentation which shows that the organization is legally registered as a civil society/nonprofit organization in your country. The documentation does not have to be translated into English. If you are able to send a translation, though, it would be appreciated. The copy of the registration can be sent by fax, scanned and sent via email, or sent by mail. The deadline for all application materials is 15 September 2009. If you are sending material by mail close to the deadline, please let us know.
Q: When will decisions be made? When will organizations learn the results of the grants competition?
A: Organizations will learn about the decisions by mid-December.
Q: Advocacy efforts take longer than one year. Can't we apply for multiple year funding?
A: No, at the moment we are not able to provide multiple year grants.
Questions about Activities that DRF Supports
Q: What are the DRF priority areas for National Coalitions?
A: Coalitions may apply for grants aimed at developing a national platform to work on:
- Ratification of the CRPD and/or the Optional Protocol (where not ratified),
- Passage of specific legislation to accord with the CRPD, or
Production of a shadow or alternative report (in all countries except Ghana)
All proposals should explicitly reference and promote the CRPD. Cross-disability and other partnerships are encouraged. Proposals which specifically strengthen the voice of marginalized sectors of the disability community will be viewed favorably.
More detailed information is on the National Coalition Request for Proposals available online.
Q: What is the Request for Proposals and where can I find it?
A: The Request for Proposals is a document that provides information about the objectives of the Disability Rights Fund and guidance for organizations interested in applying for funds from DRF.
The Request for Proposals is available at this link on the DRF website.
Q: Can the Coalition submit a proposal that focuses on more than one priority area?
A: No, you should focus on only one of the three priorities listed: Ratification of the CRPD and/or the Optional Protocol (where not ratified), Passage of specific legislation to accord with the CRPD, or Production of a shadow or alternative report (in all countries except Ghana).
Please note: our selection of proposals will be based on the quality of the proposal, not the number of priority areas included in the proposal. Thus, proposals focusing thoroughly on one component of one priority area are more likely to receive funding than proposals addressing multiple components and all priority areas.
Q: Can an organization apply for both a small grant and a National Coalition grant?
A: Yes you can submit a proposal in both categories. However, it is very unlikely that DRF will support 2 proposals from the same organization.
Q: We would like to do lobbying as part of our project. Will DRF fund National Coalitions doing lobbying work?
A: Yes, we will fund certain lobbying work conducted by a National Coalition.
In US law, lobbying is defined as distinct from advocacy:
Lobbying occurs when an individual or group expresses their views on a specific legislation to a legislator or when an individual or group asks members of the public to speak to legislators about specific legislation or when activities are based on supporting a candidate for office. (DRF does not support activities to promote a specific candidate for office.)
Advocacy is a more general term that describes awareness raising activities, research or analysis, convening of public fora to discuss policy issues, and activities directed at enforcement of existing legislation.
Q: Do you provide funds for general operating expenses?
A: While a small portion of the funds can be used to cover general operating expenses, the majority of the funds need to be used for the specific activities of your proposed project.
Q: Do you provide funds for service provision, including income generation?
A: No, we do not provide grants for these types of activities.
Q: What do you mean by "service provision"?
A: Service provision is a term used to describe a wide range of activities, including the provision of assistive devices, rehabilitation services, occupational therapy and health services.
If you have a question about whether the activities you would like to implement constitute service provision, please email us at info@disabilityrightsfund.org
Q: Does the Fund support individuals with disabilities applying for travel or other fees related to attendance at international conferences, congresses, seminars, or gaining training in other countries?
A: No.
Q: Where can I find more information about other funding sources, and resources and tools on disability?
A: Our resource page on our website has this kind of information. If you have a specific question, please let us know and we will try to direct you to an appropriate place.
Questions about Financial Forms and Budget
Q: We are a new organization, and do not have financial statements for the past two years. Can we apply as the managing partner of the Coalition?
A: No, to apply as the managing partner of the Coalition, you must be able to provide DRF with income and expense statements for at least the last two years.
Q: We do not have access to much funding. Can we apply even if we do not have funding at the moment or if we have never received a grant to implement a project?
A: Yes, you can apply. In your proposal you need to show DRF that your organization has been able to manage funds in the past. If you are unable to demonstrate this, we recommend that you do not apply as the managing partner of the Coalition.
Q: We need funding for activities in October – December 2009; will monies be disbursed in time?
A: No, the funds will be disbursed by mid-December 2009 for a start date of January 2010.
Q: Can the budget be formulated in our local currency or should it be formulated in US dollars?
A: We strongly recommend that organizations formulate their budget in USD. However, if this is not possible, the budget can be formulated in your local currency. Please note that if you submit the budget proposal in your local currency, you will have to provide us with official documentation of the currency exchange rate at the time your budget was formulated. That rate will be the reference we use to determine the exact amount of USD your organization is requesting from DRF.
Q: In case our proposal is successful, do we need to create a specific bank account to manage the grant funds? Do we need to have a US dollars account?
A: No, you can use your regular bank account as long as it allows international wire transfers.
No, you don’t need to have an account in US Dollars.
Questions about Relationships with Grantees
Q: Once a grant is approved, will reporting need to be completed in English or can other languages be used for reporting?
A: Reporting can be done in English or Spanish.
Q: What are the reporting requirements?
A: We require a midterm and final narrative and financial report, and we make site visits during the grant year to grantees. More detail about these requirements will be provided to organizations that have been selected as grantees.
Q: Is the support given by the Disability Rights Fund only financial or are other forms of support available, e.g. equipment, training?
A: We provide financial support only. We do, however, see grantees as partners and aim to support grantees with information, advice, referrals and other such aid during the course of the relationship.