Each regional office makes grants in fields that most effectively address problems in that region. In the Beijing office, we support efforts in nine key areas:
Civil Society
We help to strengthen the civic and political participation of people and groups in charting the future of their societies. Our grants concentrate on facilitating the growth and sustainability of community organizations, foundations and nonprofit service organizations, as well as on developing an enabling regulatory environment.
Economics and Development Finance
We assist China in expanding its already extensive expertise in economic analysis and its considerable capacity to analyze economic issues and articulate economic policies. Our grants also support efforts to increase opportunities for poor and vulnerable people to secure sustainable livelihoods.
Educational Reform and Cultural Diversity
We seek to reinforce the ability of educational and cultural institutions to develop the expertise, values and leadership skills that promote and sustain democratic, equitable, peaceful and creative societies. Current work focuses on access and equity issues for poor and disadvantaged groups.
Environment and Development
The goal of the Environment and Development program in China is to support innovative individuals and institutions to address needs and build assets in poor and marginalized resource-dependent communities. These assets include secure tenure rights, cultural values, shared knowledge, strong organizations and effective networks. Our grant making supports programs to build more secure livelihoods for rural residents; to contribute to environmental sustainability and social well-being; and to promote community development approaches that reduce poverty, protect resources and increase social and gender equity.
Gender
We support grantees committed to gender equity. Enhancing the status of women in society is central to the foundation’s mission to reduce poverty and injustice and to promote citizen participation.
Governance and Public Policy
The foundation supports the creation of effective and accountable public-sector institutions that promote social justice, enhance human well-being and enable the participation of all citizens in public affairs. Our work has centered around two main areas: the role of the state in addressing inequality, and institutionalizing innovation and transparency in local government.
International Governance
The foundation’s work in this area supports international relations, resolving conflicts, encouraging peacemaking and curbing nuclear proliferation. In China, we focus on efforts that strengthen the nation’s capacity to understand and interact with the world, particularly in the following areas: key international relations challenges; Asia regional relations; and arms control and security.
Law and Rights
We assist Chinese efforts to implement the rule of law through a strong and effective legal system that delivers justice and equity. Currently this work focuses on criminal justice reform, legal aid and clinical legal education, but we also encourage grant applications on a variety of related themes.
Sexuality and Reproductive Health
Our grants help communities and individuals build the human and social capacities they need to understand, articulate and address their sexual and reproductive health needs. We also support a comprehensive approach to addressing issues of quality of care in the family planning system and the role of community organizations in responding to HIV/AIDS issues in China.