59 Fundraising Options for Global Mental Health

Attention: Due to time constraints, I was forced to stop updating this list by June 2015. The information will be outdated soon. Sorry, I hope you will find your information elsewhere on the internet.

It is a challenge for all sectors in Global Mental Health to get or safeguard finance. Think of anti-stigma campaigns, advocacy agencies, rehabilitation/housing projects, mental health care facilities, educations and research.
And this may require thinking outside the box of mental health and partnering on projects for disability, children, other vulnerable groups, human rights, emergency relief, chronic disease, science and development. Or trying to get small (micro) loans, get finance for a business, or try to win an award for certain achievements.

Offered here is a list of 59 funding or grant organizations, from the very small funding initiatives to the big global donors, from conventional funding to innovative online fundraising and loans.
This list is random and not a ranking on reliability or usability in the field. I’m afraid you have to figure out these things yourselves by roaming through the websites or by actually applying and learning from the results.

The funding market is immense and quite complex. One can’t see the wood for the trees. Therefore, I’m sure the list is far from complete or even contains errors and maybe false hopes. Don’t hesitate to comment on this blog if you have additions or corrections, or send an email.
I will try to update this list regularly with new information and new deadlines.

    Few little ones:

  1. Britisch Medical Association, BMA Information Fund
    The BMA Information Fund, established in 2005, provides books, DVDs, CDs and articles to healthcare-related organizations in developing countries. Healthcare Institutions, Medical Schools, Libraries and health-focused NGO’s can apply. Individuals can not.
    Applications for 2014 are now closed, but the fund will announce new rounds on their website.
    The BMA is also a supporter of HIFA 2015 (Healthcare Information for All by 2015), the aim of which is to ensure everyone worldwide has access to an informed healthcare provider by 2015.

  2. Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness, UK
    The Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness is a Charity. Its objects are for the public benefit to promote and improve social scientific research, education and scholarship in the field of the sociology of health and illness. Much of the income goes into production of a journal. The remainder is used to support a range of other activities. As the journal has thrived, the income to the Foundation has increased and we are now able to promote and improve social scientific research, education and scholarship in the field of the sociology of health and illness through a number of award schemes.
    At present these include funding for symposia and workshops, postgraduate student travel to overseas conferences, research grant development awards, and post-doctoral fellowships.

  3. The Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator at Duke (SEAD)
    The Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator at Duke (SEAD) is a USAID-funded accelerator program to build the capacity of innovative global health enterprises to increase their effectiveness, sustainability and scale of impact. SEAD brings together interdisciplinary partners including the Center for Advancement of Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, the International Partnership for Innovative Healthcare Delivery (IPIHD), the Duke Institute for Health Innovation, Duke Global Health Institute, Investors’ Circle, and others.
    SEAD works closely with a select group of enterprises that seek to scale their impact through a rigorous global health accelerator program with a focus on data and evaluation (for enterprises operating in India or East Africa). Selections for SEAD occur once per year. Enterprises that join SEAD participate in a three-year program and receive tailored capacity building support.
    Everyone can nominate an organization. This year before August 15th 2014.

  4. The Dr. Guislain ‘Breaking the Chains of Stigma’ Award, Belgium
    The award refers to Joseph Guislain (1797-1860), the first Belgian psychiatrist and pioneer in the treatment of people with mental illness.
    The prize is awarded annually on World Mental Health Day, October 10th, to individuals, organizations or projects that: ‘have made an exceptional contribution to mental healthcare in the broadest sense on a cultural and/or social level, have provided a genuine contribution to getting rid of the stigma on mental health, have promoted attention for mental healthcare, have done all this with passion, creativity and innovation’. People can nominate persons and organizations for the award.
    The Indonesian Bagus Utomo from Komunitas Peduli Skizofrenia Indonesia (Indonesia Community Care for Schizophrenia) was the first winner in 2012. He received $50,000. In 2013 Matrika Devkota from the NGO Koshish in Nepal was the second winner. On the 9th of October 2014 Robin Hammond, a documentary photographer and filmmaker, has been selected as the 2014 winner of the award for ‘his striking photojournalism that exposes the mistreatment of mentally ill people in African nations in crisis’.

  5. the Janey Antoniou Award, UK
    Janey Antoniou was person who passed away tragically in 2010. For over 15 years she worked tirelessly to educate people on the realities of living with mental illness through campaigning, research and education in the UK.
    In partnership with her family, Rethink Mental Illness UK has set up this annual award of £1000 to someone who was as exceptional and inspiring as her.
    The award is for ‘a truly exceptional person living with mental illness or their carers who have, like Janey, dedicated their time to: •Raising awareness of the realities of living with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, •Combating stigma associated with mental illness including schizophrenia, •Campaigning for the better care for people affected by mental illness, including schizophrenia, both in and outside of healthcare’
    People working professionally in mental health will only be considered if they have made an exceptional contribution to these areas, in addition to their professional role.
    The first winner of the award (2013) was Jonny Benjamin. For the nominations for 2014 the deadline was 31st August 2014. They will be revealing the winners for 2014 at the National Members’ Day on 8 November 2014 in Manchester.

  6. The Jean Delay Prize of the World Psychiatric Association, Switzerland
    The Jean Delay Prize is a very prestigious and the most important award of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). It bears the name of Jean Delay, the President of the first World Congress of Psychiatry (Paris, 1950) and the first President of the Association.
    The Jean Delay Prize will be awarded every three years by an international jury to an individual who has made a major contribution in the biological, psychological or social aspects of Psychiatry or has built useful bridges between them. The prize consists of a diploma, a medal and a check for the amount of 40,000 Euros. The awardee is expected to deliver a plenary lecture at the World Congress of Psychiatry. Deadline for last nomination is December 31, 2013. Mitsumoto Sato, Professor of Psychiatry at the Tohoku Fukushi University, Sendai, Japan, is the recipient of the Jean Delay Prize 2014.

  7. 2014 Humanitarian Research and Innovation Grant Programme, OCHA/UN
    The OCHA Policy Development and Studies Branch invites applications to its 2014 Humanitarian Research and Innovation Grant Program. The program encourages and enables original research and writing on issues and trends relating to humanitarian needs and response.
    All research projects must be completed within five months and result in a 20 to 40-page paper and a possible presentation at an OCHA policy forum. The final papers will be published on the OCHA website. Field research in countries with humanitarian response activities is strongly encouraged.
    The maximum grant payable under this program is US$4,000. The exact disbursement will be determined by the nature of the work and the number of selected projects. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
    For 2014, research projects should fall under one of the following (three) themes: Humanitarian Innovation, Humanitarian Effectiveness (1. Different Response Systems, 2. Cultural Awareness and Perceptions), Risk and Vulnerability.
    Applications for 2014 are closed and the next application period will be in early 2015. You can find the 5 2014 winners on the website.

  8. THET health Partnership Scheme, project grants, UK
    These grants form part of the Health Partnership Scheme (HPS) which is a six-year program that funds health partnerships to carry out training and capacity-building projects in low-income countries. The Scheme is funded by the UK Department for International Development and managed by THET (partnership for global health).
    There are three tiers of funding: A – £10,000-£30,000 B – £30,000-£100,000 C – £100,000-£250,000.
    In order to be eligible for a funding you must be recognized as a health education, regulatory or healthcare delivery institution by an appropriate regulatory body. Some Professional Membership Associations are also eligible to apply. You can not apply if you are a NGO.

  9. Fund Storm Rehabilitation, the Netherlands (closed)
    Fund Storm Rehabilitation (FSR) was a nonprofit organization. It offered financial support to small innovative projects that aim to improve health care and services for people in vulnerable positions.
    The board of the Fund Storm Rehabilitation has decided to stop accepting new proposals in 2014. They decided to use the remaining of the budget for only two projects in order to focus more on sustainability. After the completion of these two projects the fund will end all the activities.
    Their website is already closed.

  10. The Awesome Foundation, USA
    The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is an ever-growing, worldwide network of people ‘devoted to forwarding the interest of awesomeness in the universe’. Created in the long hot summer days of 2009 in Boston, the Foundation distributes a series of monthly $1,000 grants to projects and their creators.
    Since its beginnings, many Awesome Foundation chapters have sprung up globally to conserve, sustain, and support the ‘worldwide ecosystem of awesomeness’. Projects have included efforts in a wide range of areas including technology, arts, social good, and beyond.

  11. UNESCO International Fund for the Promotion of Culture, based in France
    The International Fund for the Promotion of Culture (IFPC) is intended to promote: (a)cultures as sources of knowledge, meanings, values and identity; (b)the role of culture for sustainable development; (c)artistic creativity in all its forms, while respecting freedom of expression; (d)international and regional cultural cooperation.
    ‘Are you an artist? An NGO or non-profit private body, or a public body whose activities contribute to the promotion of culture and artistic creation?’ Priority will be given to young artists/creators (18-30 years) and to projects benefiting youth. Priority will also be given, as far as possible, to projects from or benefiting developing countries.
    New submissions (for 2014) are now closed and final decisions are taken in February 2015. There will be a new round in 2015.

  12. Children of War Foundation grants, based in Norway, Europe
    This Foundation was established to promote and support research concerning the short and long-term effects and the consequences of war, war-like situations and disasters on children and their families. Over the years, they have supported a number of projects (examples).
    They usually support 2 or 3 small projects and one large one. The maximum amount they give is US$20,000 to cover expenses of a project for up to three years long (a total of US$ 20,000, not for each year).

  13. African Women’s Development Fund, Ghana
    Over the past ten years, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has blazed a trail for women’s rights and philanthropy across the African continent. Since the start of operations in 2001, AWDF has provided US$17 million in grants to 800 women’s organizations in 42 African countries. AWDF’s grant making processes are designed to meet the needs of African women and include the provision of small grants ($1000-$5000) to community-based organizations, main grants (up to $50,000), capacity building support and a strong focus on movement building.
    AWDF provides grants in the following thematic areas: -Women’s Human Rights, -Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods, -Governance, Peace and Security, -Health and Reproductive Rights, -HIV/AIDS, -Arts, Culture and Sports. AWDF does not fund individuals neither do they provide scholarships.
    Who can apply? Organisations can be local, national, sub-regional or regional African women’s organizations, from any part of Africa. Local women’s organizations should send in the names of two referees, one of who should be a member of a women’s organization that operates nationally.

  14. Hearing Voices Resource Pack Fund (books, DVDs), Hywel Davies and the Hearing Voices Network Cymru, UK
    The Hearing Voices Resource Pack fund was established by Hywel Davies and the Hearing Voices Network Cymru in 2011. The Fund is intended to ensure information about the hearing voices approach is more widely available throughout the world. The main priority of the Fund is to encourage the development of active hearing voices initiatives at a national and local level.
    The fund is available to groups and individuals who support the work of the hearing voice movement. The fund will enable over 100 Resource Packs to be disseminated each year that the fund will run until 2015. You can find a list of successful applicants on their site.

  15. World Association for Social Psychiatry, Yves Pelicier Prize for Science and Humanism, UK
    Every 3 years the World Association for Social Psychiatry (WASP) honors one person/organization with this prize.
    Selection Criteria: ‘Distinguished and outstanding contributions in two or more categories: Basic sciences and somatic medicine; Intersecting with psychological medicine and The Social Sciences- philosophy, sociology, anthropology, history, literature; Integrated and manifest in research and/or therapeutic interventions; Psychotherapeutic, sychopharmacologic and medical; And the frontiers of neuroscience research and; A profound respect for the rights of and devotion to those whom care is given.’
    Prize: $10,000.00 award, Ceremonial Lecture at WASP Congress, Science and Humanism Prize Diploma, Every three years World Social Psychiatry Congress, Request for nominations one and a half years prior to Congress. Selection made and announced six months prior to Congress date and all expenses paid.
    Latest deadline for nominations was November 1, 2012. WPA President Pedro Ruiz was awarded the first prize during the 21st World Congress of Social Psychiatry at Lisbon in June 2013. Let’s hope there will be a new nomination in the future.

  16. MQ: Transforming Mental Health, Research Grants, London, UK
    MQ: Transforming Mental Health is a new UK charity formed to support much-needed research into mental health. They are committed to supporting research across all the sciences. The Program is open to researchers from all disciplines related to mental health research. Research can be based in the laboratory, clinic or field, and may involve experimental, theoretical or social science approaches. It must be relevant to the cause, treatment or prevention of mental illness. Applicants can come from any country.
    The MQ Fellows Programme will provide up to £75,000, per year for three years, or up to £225,000 in total funding.
    Please note that the award does not have to support the Applicant’s salary. If the Applicant’s salary is funded elsewhere, an MQ Fellows award could support experimental costs, and/or salary for a research assistant.
    Deadline for the 2014 round was April 2014 and September 2014 the Candidate Interviews.
    Another funding by MQ is the MQ Psy-IMPACT Programme launched in May 2014. MQ is making over £1million available to support three funding opportunities to stimulate innovation and advances in the field of psychological treatments. Teams from any country are eligible. First deadline June 2014. Check website.

    Few human rights funding organizations:

  17. The Prize of Geneva for Human Rights in Psychiatry, Switzerland
    The Geneva Prize for Human Rights in Psychiatry is intended to acknowledge an individual, or an institution or association for exceptional achievement at regional, national or international level in: Promoting equity and humane qualities of care for people with mental illness, Reducing negative discrimination of the mentally ill, Defending the rights of people with mental illness, and supporting the application of ethical principles in psychiatric services.
    The Prize, consisting of a diploma, a medal and a monetary award of 20,000 Swiss Francs, is awarded once every three years, usually during the World Congress of Psychiatry.
    The 2014 prize was awarded to Professor Ka Sunbaunat, from Cambodia. The next Prize will be awarded in 2017 with deadline for nominations March 31th 2017.

  18. The Open Society Foundations Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships, USA
    The Open Society Foundations work to build ‘vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people’. They implement initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. They build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information.
    For instance in 2010, the Open Society Foundations, through its New York, Budapest, and London offices alone, awarded more than 4,500 grants in the amount of $612 million. They award grants, scholarships and fellowships throughout the year. They predominantly fund preselected organizations. If you are interested in seeking a grant from the Open Society Foundations, they encourage you to explore their website to determine whether any of their programs or foundations correspond to the work you are pursuing.
    For organizations in in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, the Foundations runs a special Grants Mental Health Initiative.

  19. Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) grants, Eastern Africa
    OSIEA plays an active role in encouraging open, informed dialogue on issues of importance in Eastern Africa. Through a combination of grant making, advocacy and convening power, OSIEA is able to support and amplify the voices of pro-democracy organizations and individuals in the region and to strengthen their capacity to hold their governments accountable.
    OSIEA supports projects in the following programmatic areas: Media and Access to Information, Governance and Accountability, Health and Rights, Justice and Human Rights and Regional Programs. They do not fund travel to attend conferences, seminars or workshops, and have no scholarships for individual studies.
    Grant applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

  20. The Martín-Baró Fund for Mental Health and Human Rights, USA
    The Martín-Baró Fund was established to honor the memory of Father Ignacio Martín-Baró, a Jesuit priest and social psychologist who was murdered in El Salvador in 1989, and to further the goals to which he dedicated his life. Their grants support progressive, grassroots groups throughout the world who are challenging institutional repression and confronting the mental health consequences of violence and injustice in their communities. To give you an idea, you can find projects funded in 2013 here.
    Deadline for Letters of interest to solicit funding for the 2015 funding cycle is September 1, 2014. More news and info in their <a You can find examples of Spring 2013 newsletter.

  21. The Disability Rights Fund, Boston, USA
    The Disability Rights Fund (DRF) is a collaboration between donors and the disability community to advance the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
    With modest grants, DRF supports country-level DPOs (Disabled Persons Organizations) in the Global South, Middle East/North Africa and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union to participate in treaty ratification, implementation, and monitoring efforts. The total giving of the Fund to organizations in the Global South and Eastern Europe since 2008 exceeds $6.9 million.
    The 2014 ‘Our Voices. Our Rights. Our Future’ grant cycle consisted of two grantmaking rounds, which are both closed now: Round One: The first grantmaking round consisted of a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for DPOs in Haiti, Indonesia, Lebanon, and two new countries, Malawi and Myanmar. Selected applicants from India and Ukraine were also invited to apply. Round Two: The second grantmaking round consisted of a Letter of Interest (LoI) process for Bangladesh and Uganda and a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for remaining Round 2 countries (Pacific Island Countries and Rwanda). Selected applicants from Peru were also invited to apply. The expectation is that more rounds will follow in the future.

  22. Fondation d’Harcourt, Switzerland
    Fondation d’Harcourt was established in 1964 upon the initiative of the d’Harcourt family as an independent non-profit foundation. Their grant program addresses poor and marginalized communities in the most disadvantaged regions of the world. To meaningfully improve their lives, they place a high priority on addressing key psychosocial needs and mental health along with material shortcoming.
    Organizations interested in submitting a proposal on the development of a possible collaboration with the Foundation can send a concept note (3 pages max.). The Foundation has an on-going decision-making process, so inquiries may be submitted at any time.

  23. The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women:
    The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) is a leading global grant-making mechanism exclusively dedicated to addressing violence against women and girls in all its forms. It supports effective initiatives that demonstrate that violence against women and girls can be systematically addressed, reduced and, with persistence, eliminated. Each year, the UN Trust Fund launches and widely publicizes its Call for Proposals, soliciting applications focusing on addressing all forms of violence against women and girls.
    Call for Proposals are available in six languages, and solicits applications in English, French and Spanish. To date, the UN Trust Fund has delivered more than 86 million to 351 initiatives in 128 countries and territories. Last deadline for submission of applications was 7 February 2014. Next rounds will follow.

  24. The United Nations Democracy Fund, UNDEF:
    UNDEF supports projects that strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes. UNDEF projects exist in developing countries, in societies in transition and in challenging environments, and are in six main areas: Community development; rule of law and human rights; tools for democratization; youth; empowering women; and media. UNDEF grants range from US$50,000 to US$400,000. So far, UNDEF has funded more than 400 projects in over 100 countries, bringing total disbursement to almost 140 million dollars. The large majority of funds go to local civil society groups.
    The ‘annual window’ for application is from November 15th to December 31st.

  25. Commonwealth Foundation Grants Programma:
    The Commonwealth Foundation is a development organization with an international remit and reach, uniquely situated at the interface between government and civil society. They disburse a million pounds in grant funding each year. The grants program contributes to sustainable development in the context of effective, responsive and accountable governance with civil society participation. Organization from all the Commonwealth countries can apply. They offer ‘Participatory governance grants’ and ‘Commonwealth Theme grants’.
    The new call for grants will open on 6 January 2015.

  26. Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, Europe:
    The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize is awarded each year by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation to reward outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights in Europe and beyond. This prize replaces the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Human Rights Prize, which was created in 2007 and awarded every two years, first in 2009 to “British Irish Human Rights Watch” and then, in 2011, to the Russian NGO “Committee against Torture”. In 2014 the prize was awarded to Anar Mammadli. As Mr Mammadli was still in prison, the prize was presented to his father, Asaf Mammadov.
    Nominations of any individual, non-governmental organisation or institution working to defend human rights are taken into consideration. The Prize consists of a sum of €60 000, a trophy and a diploma.
    The deadline for nominations for the 2015 prize is expected to be April 30, 2015.

  27. Mac Arthur Foundation grants, USA
    The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society.
    MacArthur has a global reach. They support organizations working in 50 countries and they maintain offices in India, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia. For example: In 2009, the Foundation paid out $298.5 million in grants and program-related investments to organizations and individuals in the United States and around the world.
    Individuals can not apply for a grant and in most areas of their grantmaking they do not accept unsolicited proposals. Check their grantmaking guidelines to assess whether your organization might be eligible for MacArthur support before you apply.
    The Mac Arthur Foundation has fellowship as well, but only for residents or citizens of the United States.

    Few online crowd-funding sites:

  28. Global Giving, USA
    ‘The world is full of problems. GlobalGiving is full of solutions.’ GlobalGiving is a charity fundraising website that gives social entrepreneurs and non-profits from anywhere in the world a chance to raise the money that they need to improve their communities. Since 2002, GlobalGiving has raised $150,461,398 from 404,794 donors who have supported 10,748 projects.
    One must nominate his/her organization to join GlobalGiving. After submitting a nomination form, GlobalGiving will request additional information and documentation about the organization. Organizations that successfully complete this ‘Due Diligence process’ will be invited to participate in GlobalGiving’s Open Challenge, which usually lasts about 4 weeks. Open Challenge participants that successfully raise at least $5,000 from 40 unique donors will be invited to become long-term members of the GlobalGiving community.

  29. Ashoka Changemakers®, USA
    ‘An ecosystem to Fund and Grow your innovation. Ashoka Changemakers® is a global community of action that grows the impact of changemaking, from dedicated individuals and community organizers to Fortune 500 companies and global foundations’.
    One can receive funding for a project, connect with peers, gain global attention, and be part of a community of innovative practice. One can ‘Keep ones changeshop and growth tracker up to date to make it visible to funders, submit an idea to competitions, join a community changeshop and participate in challenges hosted by the partners of Changemakers’.
    A wide array of funders are offering hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash prizes here—plus in-kind prizes—to accelerate the growth of innovative solutions. They are available to projects at all stages, from beginning to well-established, to help you reach the next level of success.
    Recently Ashoka launched an Ashoka Fellows connect2need platform as well, where you can directly fund an Ashoka Fellow, buy a gift card or start a giving group.

  30. Causes.com
    Causes is the world’s largest online platform for activism with 100 million installed users and $30 million raised for nonprofits. The platform enables users to create grassroots groups that take action on a social issue or support a specific non-profit organization. These groups, individually called a “cause,” are building blocks for most activity on the site. Until now 1 billion actions taken, by 186 Million registered users in 156 countries!
    When there is no money involved everyone can join and use the free tools. In order to fundraise, a cause must identify a registered nonprofit in the United States or Canada. This does not mean that this US or Canadian organization must manage the cause, but the money will be received by the US or Canadian organization.

  31. Go Get Funding, UK, Europe
    GoGetFunding is a crowdfunding website, launched in December 2011, that lets you raise money for ‘anything that matters’, from personal causes and events to projects and more. They have helped people from all over the world raise millions online. They support crowdfunding in 22 currencies. You need to have a PayPal or Stripe account to receive the money. PayPal and Stripe charge a fee for receiving money, the standard is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
    They charge 4% on the money you raise and they have a keep-it-all funding method, which means you keep everything you raise.

  32. Crowdrise, USA
    CrowdRise’s fundraising model is dedicated to the idea that if you make giving back fun, that more people will do it and will raise more money that they would have otherwise. The platform uses gamification and a rewards point system to engage users to participate in fundraising and donating. This crowdfunding site started in 2009 when Edward Norton, Shauna Robertson and Robert and Jeffro Wolfe, created a campaign to raise money for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust during the New York City Marathon.
    Crowdrise is free to use. “Whether you’re running a marathon, volunteering in Haiti, pledging your birthday or raising money for a cause you’re super passionate about, create an online fundraising page and everyone will like you more”.
    Crowdrise has developed a system that not only ensures the money you raise gets to charities safely and quickly, but also complies with all the laws that protect donors, fundraisers and charities.
    The mental health NGO Basic Needs has been running a campaign via this platform as part of the 2013 Skoll Foundation Social Entrepreneurs Challenge.

  33. Indiegogo, USA
    A ‘crowdfunding solution that empowers ideas and enables people to donate funds easily’. Indiegogo started in 2008 in the independent film industry and it was a hit.
    Indiegogo is free to join. There is a fee on any money that is raised, which is 4% of the money you raise if you meet your goal or 9% if you do not meet your goal. If your campaign is set up as Flexible Funding, you will be able to keep the funds you raise, even if you don’t meet your goal. If your campaign is set up as Fixed Funding, all contributions will be returned to your funders if you do not meet your goal. Indiegogo is a so called merit-based platform where the most active campaigns are featured based on a unique algorithm called the gogofactor.
    Indiegogo is an international platform, so anyone with a bank account can start a campaign. They do not, however, allow campaigns from countries on the U.S. OFAC sanctions list.

  34. 1% Club, Tou Make It Work, the Netherlands
    The 1%CLUB is a online market place for individual development projects, to which individuals and businesses optimally give 1% of their time, expertise and money, in order to structurally solve poverty.
    Registered CBO’s (community based organizations) or NGO’s are allowed to register a project on 1%CLUB website in order to request for time, expertise or money. The project must be situated in a developing country and contributing to the realization of the millennium goals. The first project request must be under €5,000. The project must be a unique assignment, limited in time and means and closed with a clear project result.
    Until now 17,343 people crowdfunded €1,400,731 with the 1procentclub, to realize 544 campaigns in 69 countries.

  35. Catapult, Change for Girls and Women, USA
    Catapult is a crowd-funding site for supporting projects that improve the lives of girls and women. Organizations that work to do just that can use Catapult to post projects in need of funding, so anyone in the world can donate funds to launch the project.
    One can apply by writing a mail. Catapult takes several days to review the application. Once its been reviewed and approved, one is allowed to access project pages where you can easily input descriptions, photos, and videos to tell the project’s story. They offer gift cards and promote teamwork as well.

    Few micro-finance organizations:

  36. Kiva, Small Loans that change lives, USA
    Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 (or more) to help create opportunity around the world.
    Since Kiva was founded in 2005 it served and served 1,227,175 Kiva lenders with $621,608,700in loans and a 98.80% repayment rate. They work with 281 Field Partners and 450 volunteers around the world in 79 different countries.
    You can apply for a loan via one of Kiva’s 219 fieldpartners.

  37. Zidisha, Helping entrepreneurship take root, anywhere, USA
    Zidisha is the first peer-to-peer microlending service to offer direct interaction between lenders and borrowers across the international wealth divide. They ‘eliminate the middleman, ensuring that entrepreneurs’ profits stay right where they belong – in their communities’.
    Their impact: loans raised: USD 2,308,144, total members: 15,645 and countries represented by Zidisha members: 141.
    In order to become eligible for a loan through Zidisha, one must first have successfully repaid one or more loans through a local bank, community savings group, or other organization. Additionally, one must not hold any outstanding loans through other sources at the time of your application with Zidisha. Finally, one must have regular access to the Internet in order to communicate with Zidisha lenders.
    The current maximum loan size is USD 500 for the first Zidisha loan.

  38. MYC4 Loans for Small Business in Africa, Denmark
    MYC4 is ‘an internet marketplace where you and investors from around the world can lend money directly to entrepreneurs who are doing business in Africa and create growth together with them. That means when the African business makes money as a result of your loan, you can also make money. MYC4 is a business – a business that creates growth – growth created by you’.
    So far €23,694,604 crowdfunded to African entrepreneurs, 20,667 investors from 120 countries, 96,000+ people in Africa have been influenced, 19,436 loans have been disbursed and a 1.7% average return on investment (ROI)Last update 3Q 2013.
    When an African entrepreneur wants to apply for a loan in order to grow his small business, he goes to a local MYC4 partner to present his project, how much money he needs, and how much he can pay in interest. If the loan is approved by the MYC4 partner, it is uploaded to the MYC4 marketplace.

  39. BRAC Microfinance, Bangladesh
    BRAC is a development organization dedicated to alleviating poverty by empowering the poor to bring about change in their own lives. It started out in Bangladesh in 1972, but operates worldwide. In 2010 the world’s largest non-governmental development organization!
    BRAC’s Economic Development program includes micro-credit. It provides collateral-free credit using a solidarity lending methodology, as well as obligatory savings schemes through its Village Organizations. Reaching nearly 4 million borrowers, Village Organizations provide loans to poverty groups. Their borrowers, most of whom are women, use these loans to engage in various income generating activities to improve their socio-economic status.

    Few intermediaries:

  40. Acumen Fund, entrepreneurial approaches, USA
    The mission of Acumen Fund is to create a world beyond poverty by investing in social enterprises, emerging leaders, and breakthrough ideas in health, water, housing, energy and agriculture.
    Their ‘key is patient capital’. They use philanthropic capital to make disciplined investments, loans or equity, not grants, that yield both financial and social returns. Any financial returns they receive are recycled into new investments. Countries: India, Pakistan and in West and East Africa. Early-mid stage companies that are in the process of scaling can apply with a business plan. They rarely invest in pure start-up companies.
    Impact until now: 75 companies ‘providing choice not charity’, $83 million invested, 58,000 jobs created and supported.

  41. Trust Africa grant making
    The Trust Africa approach is unique in that they invite African thinkers, from civil society, academia, governments, regional organizations, and the private sector, to shape their program agenda. After weighing this advice, they request funding proposals from key organizations already working on the issues at hand. Their major grants for collaborative projects, which range from US$25,000 to more than US$500,000, typically combine multiple strategies (like research, advocacy, dialogue, or creativity) and connect institutions from different countries and regions.
    TrustAfrica also provides small grants for capacity building to help African organizations develop the institutional skills necessary to do their work effectively. Usually in the range of US$5,000 to US$10,000, this support is aimed at fostering sound management, transparent governance, fruitful collaboration, effective communication, and sustainable results. But do not send a request for funding. TrustAfrica does not accept unsolicited proposals.

    Few big global charities:

  42. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, grants program, USA
    Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. Total grant payments since inception: $26.1 billion and for instance in 2012 grant payments: a total of $3.4 billion. It’s the World’s largest private charity with 1,116 foundation employees.
    The foundation offers straightforward information for Grant Seekers. They offer no grants directly to individuals.
    Unfortunately global mental health is not one of the foundations’ priorities, but global libraries, education, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and financial services for the poor and Emergency Response are.
    Bill and Melinda Gates participate in the Grand Challenges of health as well. See below:

  43. The Grand Challenges in Global Health (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the NIH, National Institute of Health USA)
    The Grand Challenges in Global Health focuses on 16 major global health challenges with the aim of engaging creative minds across scientific disciplines — including those who have not traditionally taken part in health research — to work on solutions that could lead to breakthrough advances for those in the developing world. Grand Challenges in Global Health was launched in 2003, and several years later 45 grants totaling $458 million were awarded for research projects involving scientists in 33 countries. These projects were managed by teams working in partnership across disciplines, sectors, and countries, and many featured work from leaders in fields such as chemistry, engineering, statistics, and business, who had never before focused on global health.
    The latest Grant Opportunities have deadlines in October and November 2014. Few examples: New Interventions for Global Health, Making All Voices Count and Enable Universal Acceptance of Mobile Money Payments.

  44. Wellcome Trust funding opportunities, UK
    The Wellcome Trust is the world’s second largest private funder after Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It supports the ‘brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities, with the aim of improving human and animal health’. They offer a wide variety of funding schemes, including Investigator Awards, fellowships and Strategic Awards. In low- and middle-income countries they support research, capacity building and engagement activities. They fund research in public health (including communicable and chronic diseases) and tropical medicine (including clinical and biomedical). They fund a range of collaborative projects, including major international partnerships between higher-income countries, such as the International HapMap Project and the Structural Genomics Consortium. They play an important role in encouraging publication of research in open access repositories such as UK PubMed Central as well.
    They offer clear information on how to apply on their site and there is an extensive FAQ section.
    In 2015 the Wellcome Trust launched the Hub Award in order to support work at the interface of health and the wider arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. One can apply for funding of up to £1 million over two years.

  45. Rockefeller Foundation grants, USA
    The Rockefeller Foundation has a long history of giving. The Foundation began its work in 1913 with the founder’s 39-year-old son, John D. Rockefeller Jr., as its president. The first grant, of $100,000, went to the American Red Cross. Since then they have given more than $14 billion in current dollars to thousands of grantees worldwide.
    The Foundation works to achieve its goal of creating meaningful and measurable impact for poor and vulnerable communities through ‘smart globalization’. To accomplish this, they currently are funding a portfolio of work structured around five core issue areas (including global health) and focused on specific initiative strategies. To be successful, any funding inquiries must fit within both their core issue areas and one or more of our initiatives.
    Currently they are also running the 100 Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge, to enable 100 cities to better address major 21st century challenges, like natural and man-made shocks and stresses. In August 2013, cities can be nominated through a formal application process. Winning cities will be announced in three rounds over the next three years, with the final round of winners named in 2015.

    Few big government funded grants:

  46. Grand Challenges Canada in Global Mental Health
    ‘Bold Ideas for Humanity’. Grant Challenges Canada (CGC) in Global Mental Health is seeking innovative solutions for improving treatments and expanding access to mental health care in low- and middle-income countries.
    On October 10 2012, World Mental Health Day, the Grand Challenges Canada announced the winners of this first round: A total of $19.4 million in support of 15 innovative, pioneering projects. The projects were selected through competitive scientific peer review from among 97 ideas submitted.
    Round 3 of the Global Mental Health program is now closed, the application deadline was
    January 9, 2014 (note that this Program will not be launching a Request for Proposal in 2014). On World Mental Health Day 2014 (October 10) Grand Challenges Canada announced the 11 2014 seed grants totaling $2.9 million.
    A lot of mental health projects will have applied for the Grand Challenges Canada Stars in Global Health program, Round 7 as well, with the deadline for applications February 11, 2014.
    Total investment to date: $31.5 million in 49 projects throughout Africa, Asia, and South and
    Latin America/the Caribbean. They support the mental health innovation network as well.

  47. Development and Cooperation, EuropeAid
    EuropeAid Grants are awarded as donations to third parties that are engaged in external aid activities. Grants fall into two categories: Grants for actions: aim to achieve an objective that forms part of an external aid program. Operating grants: finance the operating expenditure of an EU body that is pursuing an aim of general European interest or an objective that forms part of an EU policy.
    Further information can be find in their Practical Guide to Contract Procedures for EU External Actions.

  48. The USAID/DFID Humanitarian Innovation Initiative, Scaling breakthrough solutions to humanitarian challenges
    This initiative is funded by The U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) and run through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
    Entrepreneurs, businesses, non-governmental organizations, academics, local partners, and others from around the world may propose solutions for cost-saving approaches to humanitarian challenges that have demonstrated success at a pilot level.
    Solutions offering strong evidence of successful pilot implementation may apply for grants of up to $1 million. The fund will invest up to $15 million in solutions that have already been successfully tested at scale. Select winners will receive technical assistance from The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Said Business School, Oxford University, for implementation and scale-up activities.
    The latest deadline for applications was April 15, 2014.

    Few funding organizations for academic research:

  49. The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, USA
    The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation is the largest philanthropic organization dedicated to research across all brain and behavior disorders (not disease specific). Recipients of NARSAD Grants represent an extraordinary variety of disciplines from inside and outside the USA, mostly universities.
    Funding is focused on four priority areas to better understand and treat mental illness: basic research, new technologies, diagnostic tools/early intervention and next generation therapies.
    In the last 25 years they have awarded nearly $300 million worldwide to more than 3,300 scientists.
    The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation honors NARSAD Grantees for various achievements at two events each year: In the summer, the Klerman and Freedman Prizes are given to NARSAD Young Investigators for their outstanding contributions to mental health research. In the fall, the Foundation recognizes researchers with five Outstanding Achievement Prizes: The Lieber Prize for Schizophrenia Research, the Bipolar Mood Disorders Prize for Mood Disorder Research, the Ruane Prize for Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research, the Goldman-Rakic Prize for Cognitive Neuroscience Research, and the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Prize for Innovative Schizophrenia Research.
    Also in the fall, the Productive Lives Awards are given to those living with mental illness who have shown success in defying the odds to become highly accomplished and fully contributing individuals.

  50. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funding, USA
    The NIDA is part of the of the USA National Institutes of Health (NIH). International research can be supported by the NIDA through several types of grants, including these two options: Domestic Grants With a Foreign Component, or Direct Foreign Grants. For a grant to be awarded to a foreign institution, the principal investigator must demonstrate a special opportunity to further drug abuse research through use of expertise, resources, populations, or environmental conditions not readily available in the United States.
    The NIDA gives several awards as well, ‘to recognize outstanding contributions in international drug abuse and addiction research’.

  51. University College London (UCL) Grand Challenge of Global Health small grants
    The UCL Grand Challenge of Global Health ‘brings together UCL’s immense multidisciplinary wealth of intellectual capital and international collaborations to provide innovative, workable solutions to global health at scale’.
    At this moment there is not much information about their ‘small grants’, except examples of grants in 2013 and 3 previous years.
    They also run a ‘Living with Chronic Disease’ photography competition.

  52. The Fogarty International Center (FIC), USA
    The John E. Fogarty International Center (FIC) is part of the federal government of the United States and is the only arm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) whose sole mission is to support global health. It addresses global health challenges through innovative and collaborative research and training programs and supports and advances the NIH mission through international partnerships. It offers training and research grants and funding.
    Info about these opportunities you can find on their website, with clear deadlines.
    They offer extensive information about other NIH Funding Opportunities and Non-NIH Funding Opportunities, Grants and Fellowships as well. Lots of info here; take your time.

  53. The MQ Fellows Programme, Transforming Mental Health, UK
    ‘MQ: Transforming Mental Health’ is a new initiative focused on identifying and funding research key to solving global issues in mental health. The first initiative of the MQ Research Programme is the MQ Fellows Award. This award is designed to support the most promising early career investigators as they complete their transition to independent investigator status.
    MQ is not accepting unsolicited funding proposals at this time, but was open to researchers from all sciences and the proposed research must address a question relevant to mental health. It provided £75,000 (or $110,000 or €85,000) per year for up to three years. These awards were open to individuals from any country.
    They expect new rounds to come. Check their news page.

  54. Alexander Gralnick, M.D. Award for Research in Schizophrenia, APA, USA
    Named after the late Alexander Gralnick, M.D., the award acknowledges research achievements in the treatment of schizophrenia, emphasizing early diagnosis and treatment and psychosocial aspects of the disease process. Additional preference will be given to researchers working in a psychiatric facility. The amount of the award is $3,000.
    The award is based upon a bi-annual competition; resubmission is permitted and encouraged. Last deadline: August 1, 2014.
    The foundation ahs several other awards; check the website.

  55. The Janssen/IMHRO Rising Star Translational Research Awards and the IMHRO Rising Star Basic Research Awards, USA
    The International Mental Health Research Organization (IMHRO) offers two sets of Rising Star Awards. The first: In collaboration with Janssen Research and Development the 2 Janssen/IMHRO Rising Star Translational Research Awards, for research toward novel therapies for psychiatric illness. The objective of these awards is to advance the translation of scientific knowledge of underlying disease mechanisms in bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression toward benefits to patients and the healthcare system. Each award in this round is for $150,000 in direct program costs. Eligibility: Candidates should be leaders of an independent research program. Both early career and established investigators are eligible. However, the proposal must not overlap with existing funding.
    The second: The IMHRO Rising Star Basic Research Awards. IMHRO solicits proposals from the best and brightest young brain scientists to do basic research into the nature of the “Big 3” brain diseases: schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. The awards emphasize innovative strategies and technologies for illuminating basic mechanisms of psychiatric illness. Winners of the selection process receive an award of $250,000 to fund their project, given over up to 3 years.
    The 2014 winners are: Jean-Martin Beaulieu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Laval University and Stephanie Dulawa, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the University of Chicago.

  56. ICMR-MRC joint initiative: aetiology and life-course of substance misuse and relationship with mental illness, India and UK
    The UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) invite proposals for collaborative research projects, primarily for the development of longitudinal and clinical studies of substance misuse and associated consequences. This call is open for joint proposals from high quality research teams based in the UK and India. The UK component of this initiative will be funded under the Newton Fund (up to £2million).
    The deadline for submission will be 9th January 2015 (17:00 IST; 11:30 GMT).

  57. IDRC/CRDI research funding, Canada
    The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a Canadian Crown corporation established by an act of Parliament in 1970 to help developing countries find solutions to their problems.
    IDRC supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development. They pursue that goal by funding research focused on reducing poverty and creating equitable access to resources and services. They support work that promotes good governance and builds strong policies. The applied research they back directly addresses existing or emerging problems in developing countries.
    They also offer expert advice and support to our grantees. And through their fellowships and awards, they’re helping to train a new generation of developing-country and Canadian researchers.
    The process for submitting proposals to IDRC is in 5 steps.

  58. The Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) programme, UK
    The Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) programme aims to improve health outcomes by strengthening the evidence base for public health interventions in humanitarian crises. The programme is the product of a strategic partnership between the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Wellcome Trust, with ELRHA overseeing the programme’s execution and management. A total of £6.5 million will be available over three years
    The programme was launched on 4th June 2013 and will facilitate research collaborations between public health researchers and operational humanitarian agencies.
    R2HC’s second call for proposals will open for Expressions of Interest on 26th May 2014, and is closed on 10 July 2014.
    Proposals may be concerned with mental health and psychosocial support as well.

  59. Research Partnerships for Scaling Up Mental Health Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (U19), NIMH, USA
    This NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) Funding Opportunity Announcement (RFA-MH-16-350) solicits grant applications to address implementation questions facing World Bank designated low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in their efforts to scale up sustainable, evidence-based mental health interventions and thereby eliminate the mental health care treatment gap for children, women, and men.
    Each awarded project is to conduct implementation research and research capacity-building activities in one or more LMICs in any one of six geographical regions (i.e., East Asia and the Pacific; Europe and Central Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East and North Africa; South Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa).
    Letter of Intent Due Date(s): 15 June 2015.

    Few other useful resources:

    International Directories of Foundations, Foundation Center, USA
    The Foundation Center specializes in collecting and disseminating authoritative information on American foundations. Other organizations and publishers have compiled directories of foundations and philanthropies for other regions and countries. Listed here are international, regional, and country-specific directories, and information about their contents.

    Online Fundraising for Nonprofits, Learning Center, Network for Good
    Take your online fundraising to the next level. Create an online fundraising program or revise your current fundraising strategy with our how-to articles, tools and tips. Jump-start your online fundraising to get more donors, raise more money and reach your goals. Free online tools!

    Fundsforngos.org, Grants and Resources for Sustainability
    Fundsforngos.org is a great online initiative, working for the sustainability of NGOs by increasing their access to donors, resources, and skills. It uses technology to spread knowledge and increase capacity.
    They offer information and regular updates/alerts about funds, webinars, blogs with advices and more. You can subscribe for their email alerts but you can follow them on twitter or Facebook as well.
    When you pay for a Premium Membership you get access to additional tailor made services which can save a lot of time searching their database.

    Blog post: Five Online Fundraising Best Practices for Small NGOs in Developing Countries
    1) Launch a new website that is mobile-optimized
    2) Launch an e-newsletter
    3) Accept donations online
    4) Study and mimic large NGOs
    5) Create a Facebook Page
    On this ‘Nonprofit Tech for Good’ website you will find (free) webinars on fundraising as well.

    Roos Korste, psychologist, training, blogger

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Comments

  • Augustine  On October 27, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    great work roos

    • in2mentalhealth  On October 28, 2012 at 4:04 pm

      Thanks Augustine. Hope it’s useful for projects in Tanzania as well. Please send comments and own experiences.

  • suzen  On January 7, 2013 at 10:05 am

    Unusually sadistic US feds, cops and psychiatrists have been brutally and sadistically torturing sane, law abiding, peaceful, and pleasant Natural Mental Health activists in order to railroad them into mental hospital

    • in2mentalhealth  On January 7, 2013 at 4:03 pm

      You must be very angry about something happening in the US. Hope 2013 brings you and other people involved more peace. Good luck.

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