IHEU invites applications for funding in the IHEU-HIVOS Humanist Network and Development programme for 2009. Update (1 September 2009): APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED. We are unable to consider any new applications.

Not sure if you can apply? Click here for a quick checklist.

About IHEU & HIVOS
The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is the world union of Humanist, rationalist, secularist and atheist organisations with over 100 member organizations in more than 40 countries. IHEU promotes and defends freedom of conscience and expression, and advocates for the separation of religion and state. IHEU co-ordinates the activities of its member organisations and offers them advice and guidance on policy issues and strategy. It fosters the growth of new Humanist groups, and represents Humanist interests at the UN, UNESCO, UNICEF and the Council of Europe. More information can be found on the website www.iheu.org.

HIVOS is the renowned Dutch Humanist funding agency, and a Specialist Member of IHEU, with headquarters in The Hague in the Netherlands, and regional offices in Bangalore, Harare and Costa Rica. More information can be found on the website www.hivos.nl.

IHEU and HIVOS have been collaborating since 1988 to promote a Humanist oriented development, through human rights and Humanist networking oriented projects. All applications regarding this program should be directed to IHEU as specified below.

Who can apply for funding?
Humanist organizations in developing countries (according to the DAC list) can apply for grants. The organization does not necessarily have to be a member of IHEU, but must have objects that align with those required for membership of IHEU. A group of individuals who are seeking to establish a Humanist organization in those countries may also apply.

Grant criteria
The project should achieve specified goals in one or more of the following areas:

• promoting Humanism,
• promoting secularism,
• promoting human rights,
• promoting scientific method, or
• building competence and capacity of the organization itself.

Promoting Humanism: The project is promoting Humanism as a life-stance to politicians, media or the general public. The activities of such a project could include public meetings, seminars, advertizing, media coverage, publishing, articles in printed media, etc. The project will have to include an assessment of the effect of the activities on the target audience.

Promoting secularism: The project is promoting separation of state and religion and/or equal treatment of secular and religious life-stances to politicians, media or the general public. The activities of such a project could include public meetings, seminars, advertizing, media coverage, publishing, articles in printed media, etc. The project will have to include an assessment of the effect of the activities on the target audience.

Promoting Human Rights: The project is promoting the human rights of people with a secular life-stance, and/or supporting human rights of other specific groups suffering from discrimination based on religion, caste, descent, work or gender. The activities of such a project could include promotion of new legislature, exposing human rights violations of the government and advocacy towards politicians, media or the general public.

Promoting scientific method: The project is promoting critical thinking and scientific method as opposed to pseudo-science, superstition and alternative religions. The activities of such a project could include means to popularize science, propagating scientific method, producing information material, skeptical activities towards witchcraft, sorcery, astrology, etc.

Building organizational capacity: The project is strengthening the organization’s ability to reach out to new potential members, to grow and prosper. The activities of such a project could include training of staff, elected officers and other volunteers, sending representatives to meetings or conferences organized by IHEU or one of its Member Organizations, improving fundraising capabilities, or improving gender equality or youth participation in the organization.

Funding availability
Budgets in applications must be made in Euros and also indicate the local currency equivalent. Projects should preferably be completed within the year of 2010, but projects lasting up to three years can apply for funding for all three years from the start. A total of Euros 75,000 is available in 2009 and the maximum funding for a single project is Euro 10,000 per year. However, IHEU encourages smaller proposals from new Humanist groups. The project should be partly funded by the Humanist organization applying for grant, and not be solely reliant upon external funding.

Where travel funding is allocated, the cheapest economy class air fare / Apex air fare / cheapest train travel along with minimum living expenses only will be paid. The purpose of travel must be consistent with the projects that IHEU would normally support under this funding programme. The grant cannot be used for capital costs, e.g. equipment, computer, etc.

When approved, funding is guaranteed for only one year at a time. IHEU may increase or decrease the level of funding requested. Renewal of funding will depend on project performance, applicants’ compliance with IHEU's reporting and performance criteria (which will be strictly monitored), and of course, on other funding applications that IHEU is evaluating in that year. Where appropriate, IHEU will also consult with other Humanist organizations which may also be funding Humanist activities, to ensure there is no overlap in funding allocations.

All funding recipients will have to provide an interim report on the project by 31 July 2010 and a full report with detailed accounts by March 2011. Recipients who have received grants from IHEU for other projects in the last five years will have to have completed their reporting and accounting for those projects.

Funding recipients will be expected to acknowledge IHEU's assistance in their publications and project material.

Application Form
The application form, available here, must provide sufficient detail for your proposal to be evaluated without further reference to you.

The proposal must be realistic and clearly state the project activities and the practical results that are expected. It must clearly show the financial participation of the applicant, and specify if funding will be required for more than one year. Individuals applying for funding should state reasons why their proposal is not routed through a Humanist organisation.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to check their own eligibility and local legal position for receiving IHEU's funds. Usually, a Chartered Accountant, an advocate or your local Government Charity Commissioner's office can give you written advice on this matter. Please include such a certificate where such laws exist in your country.

Project Assessment and Monitoring
Once funds are allocated, disbursement will take place after IHEU enters into a contract with the recipient organisation. IHEU will monitor the project’s progress closely, and an external evaluation will be conducted in 2010. All fund recipients are expected to fully cooperate with IHEU and HIVOS and their representatives by providing information and ready access to records to enable evaluation of the projects.

Schedule
Funding applications for 2009 must arrive at IHEU’s London office by email by 1 September 2009. All applicants will be informed about the result of their application in November 2009. Please do not ask for information about how your application is being processed before these dates.

Please read carefully:

• To download the form, right-click the link "IHEU-HIVOS 2009 Application Form.doc" below. A context menu should appear. Choose "Save Link As..." (Firefox) or "Save Target As..." (Internet Explorer).
• To view the form, left-click the link below.