GRANTMAKING
OUR PROCESS
The Sfaira Foundation funding models runs in one and five-year cycles, meaning that we offer one and five year period grants.
We organize the cycle into six parts, each with its own series of steps and processes, described below:
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Connect & Inquire
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Apply
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Plan & Implement
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Monitor & Measure
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Learn & Adapt
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Grow
1.
CONNECT & INQUIRE
We connect with like-minded communities to build relationships. We start by inviting an organization to submit a grant inquiry by email. Once the inquiry has been received and reviewed, the Sfaira Team will reach out to let you know how to proceed.
If the organization and project meet our criteria we may invite the organization to submit a full grant application. Unsolicited grant applications will not be considered for a grant.
Funding Cycle: Sfaira completes two grant cycles per year. Inquiries are due by March 15 to be considered for the Fall, and September 15 for the Spring. If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a Canadian federal holiday, the submission deadline is the next business day.
SUBMIT YOUR INQUIRY
To get started, answer all Grant Inquiry questions fully. Questions can
be downloaded from the attached document.
A program officer may contact you to discuss your project in more
detail if necessary.
OUR CRITERIA
We fund and invest in partner communities and organizations that are transforming the way they live, work and play. To us, this means identifying organizations and policies, plans and projects that meet the following criteria:
GEOGRAPHY: Countries and / or regions that meet the below criteria are eligible for a Sfaira Foundation grant.
PRIORITIES: Address one or more of our ten priority areas with every project considering social equity, environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation.
STAGE: Be an early- or mid-stage policy, plan, program or project.
DURATION: Be seeking support and funding for a one or 5-year period.
FUNDING SIZE: Be seeking small grants or investment capital from $500 to $5,000 CAD per year.
PROJECT TYPE: Be seeking funding for short term humanitarian aid in response to an incident or longer term development in response to systemic problems.
STRONG MANAGEMENT TEAM: Have a strong, dependable and experienced leadership and management team with the skills, will, and vision to execute their plans, a commitment to serve their community, and unyielding ethics.
POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT IMPACT: Aim to create positive social impact and drive environmental performance improvements.
POTENTIAL FOR LONGEVITY: Have a clear model that demonstrates the potential for financial sustainability beyond the five year funding cycle, including the ability to cover operating expenses with operating revenues.