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SIF’s grantmaking has the goal of creating conditions for just, peaceful and prosperous societies in Central America. The Foundation directs its funding to four interconnected focus areas:

Good governance
and rule of law

Despite legal and institutional advances, young Central American democracies continue to face worrisome challenges, such as corruption and inequality. SIF pursues strategies that strengthen rule of law and foster more transparent and effective governments and institutions to lay the groundwork for societies to develop people’s potential within the country.

Equity

SIF promotes the participation of underrepresented sectors of the population, especially indigenous peoples, women, and youth. Using an intersectional approach, SIF promotes equity, inclusion, and representation of these groups in decision-making processes in the public and private sectors.

Displacement and
forced migration

Forced migration and displacement from Central America to the United States has become one of the greatest challenges of today, on all sides of the borders. SIF seeks to reduce high levels of forced migration and the impact of push factors on populations living under vulnerable circumstances. We aim to protect the rights of migrants and deportees, to research the social phenomenon of migration, to create an active network of local change agents focused on migration, and to connect policymakers in the US with the migrant community.

Strengthen civil
society

A robust and organized civil society can serve as a powerful vehicle to express the demands of the people and deliver their public policy agendas. SIF provides grants, promotes capacity building for social leaders in the region, and enables environments for civil society organizations to establish alliances with the public and private sectors and their peers in other countries of the region. A robust civil society, often representing the most marginalized in society, is vital to achieve a more equitable socio-political balance in the region.

Due to our commitment to strengthening civil society, we ask that all projects and programs supported by SIF reinforce this goal.

How to Apply

SIF generally has an invitation-only application process and does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals. However, occasionally SIF may issue an open call for proposals for specific program areas – relevant information on how to apply will be posted here. If you were invited to submit a grant application, please follow this link to access our grantmaking portal.

We regret that we do not have the resources to respond to unsolicited inquiries regarding potential funding.

FAQ

How do I apply for a grant?

Visit How to Apply for information.

How does the grant application process work?

The application process generally follows the following sequence:

  1. SIF first issues a call for proposals.
  2. Prospective grantee partners then submit proposals via our online grants portal, Foundant.
  3. SIF staff review proposals.
  4. Selected organizations are invited to submit a formal grant application via Foundant; organizations not picked for this round are notified.
  5. Formal grant applications are reviewed and approved by SIF’s Board.
  6. SIF sends formal grant agreements to selected grantees.
  7. Grant funds are awarded.
Who qualifies to apply?

Legally registered civil society organizations. Preference is given to organizations based in Central America.

What is the access code to apply for a grant or submit a proposal?

Visit How to Apply for the access code and information

Do you accept unsolicited proposals?

No. SIF generally has an invitation-only application process and does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals. However, occasionally SIF may issue an open call for proposals for specific program areas – relevant information on how to apply will be posted in the How to Apply section.

What kind of work does SIF fund?

Please visit Issues to learn more about what types of work SIF funds and visit How to Apply to learn about application criteria.

What is the average grant size?

The average grant size is about US$30,000. Prospective grantees can apply for grants up to US$50,000.

When will I get a decision on my proposal?

Please visit How to Apply for information about the application and decision timeline.