FIRELIGHT FOUND ATION

Firelight Foundation uses the following funding guidelines and review process to solicit proposals from and award grants to
organizations that address the needs of children orphaned and affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each year, our
Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and staff members review and revise these guidelines to ensure that they accurately reflect
Firelight’s goals.
Please visit www.firelightfoundation.org for the most updated guidelines and application forms.
PROGRAMS
FUNDING CRITERIA
Every child—regardless of race, creed, or country of origin—deserves the promise of a future.
The mission of Firelight Foundation is to support and advocate for the needs and rights of children who are orphaned or
affected by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Firelight strives to increase the resources available to grassroots organizations
that are strengthening the capacity of families and communities to care for children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.
We believe that grassroots programs directly responding to the needs of local communities are often the most effective.
Firelight supports this vital work with initial one-year grants and subsequent renewal grants based on funding needs and
opportunities for shared learning.
We give one-year, first-time grants of between US$1,000 and US$10,000 to community-based initiatives that work directly
and effectively to support the fundamental needs and rights of children (from birth to age 21) who are orphaned or otherwise
affected by HIV/AIDS. We will subsequently give organizations renewal grants of up to US$15,000.
Eligible Countries:
Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
The geographic focus of our grantmaking is eastern and southern Sub-Saharan Africa. In order for us to focus our efforts in an
effective and sustained manner, we only accept Letters of Inquiry from seven countries: Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa,
Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. From other countries, Firelight only accepts renewal requests and solicited proposals.
Firelight receives hundreds of requests for funding from seven focus countries and awards approximately 40 new grants each year.
In selecting programs to support, Firelight Foundation uses the following criteria:
• Programs that directly serve the needs of vulnerable children
• Grassroots responses to needs that raise resources within the community
• Programs that demonstrate strong leadership and community ownership
• Organizations with a history of effective community action
• Programs in which youth take part in decision-making, advocacy, and leadership activities
• Innovative responses to the situations of children affected by HIV/AIDS