Eligibility

Any individual or legally constituted organization is eligible to apply for a Foundation grant. Grants are available solely for educational, scientific, literary and charitable activities, as stipulated by United States tax laws regulating the operations of private philanthropies.

Types of Grants

The Brazil Office gives the majority of grants to organizations, both private and public, that propose to undertake creative and innovative work related to important problems in the thematic program areas described in the preceding pages. There is no organized program of scholarships or individual grants as the office prefers to channel these through grantee organizations.

As a policy, Foundation funds are not granted for purely personal needs, for routine recurring costs of institutions, or for the construction or maintenance of buildings. To insure the best use of limited resources, the Brazil Office does not support social assistance programs, direct governmental actions or the supply of basic services. In all cases, grantees are selected on the basis of the merit of the proposal and upon an assessment of the proposal's potential contribution to the advancement of Foundation program objectives.

Application Procedure

The Ford Foundation does not have standard application forms. A letter of inquiry is advisable to determine whether the Office's present program priorities and available funds permit consideration of a specific proposal. If the initial reaction is favorable, a detailed proposal may be invited. A proposal should contain:

• Background information of the organization (names, history, legal status, principal officers, principal sources of funding and current activities);

• Brief narrative of the background and context of the problems or opportunities addressed by the proposal;

• Overall goal and specific objectives of the project;

• Description of the activities to be funded, including staff, activities and timetable;

• Anticipated outcomes and achievements, including impact projected on the target group, and how that impact will be evaluated;

• Detailed budget, including proposed Foundation contribution and funds from other sources;

• Statement on how the project promotes diversity and equal opportunity.