Grantmaking

Since 2003, Pangea Giving has partnered with over 50 community-based grassroots organizations. Through our grant program, we support grassroots efforts rooted in and defined by local communities that address a range of social, economic, and environmental issues and improve people’s lives.

In 2020 we are continuing this global support by awarding nearly $110,000 to 15 non-governmental organizations in Southeast Asia, Latin America and East Africa. Our financial support addresses critical issues which are identified by local communities such as developing sustainable agricultural methods, strengthening access to education, increasing economic opportunities, and ensuring human rights. What originally brought Pangea’s founders  together remains true today: a common desire to learn about the issues in the Global South and to promote a direct and positive international engagement at the community level.

Because we believe that lasting social change does not happen during a typical one-year grant cycle, we aim to partner with grantees over a number of years by providing financial assistance and building supportive relationships. Each year Pangea members consider applications for two different types of grants: project and general operating support grants.

Grantmaking Pods

Advancing our mission of supporting our grant partners while also maintaining our volunteer-led organizational structure requires our members to contribute not only their financial resources but also their time and talents.

Members have the opportunity become involved in the grantmaking process firsthand by joining a regional grant committee or Pod. Pods provide an opportunity for members to gain deep knowledge of the regional context, develop relationships with grant partners, and join an intimate group of likeminded members.

Pangea Giving currently has three regional pods:

Latin America (Guatemala and Mexico)
East Africa (Kenya and Uganda)
Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos)

Grantmaking Principles

  • We support our partner’s projects based on the needs and goals they define.
  • We seek out small community based organizations that have not had access to large amounts of international donor funding.
  • We foster long term relationships with our partners based on trust, openness, and a desire to learn.
  • We believe that strong local leadership, community support and participation are keys to success.
  • We encourage gender balanced leadership and participation.
  • Our proposal process is based on dialogue to increase understanding and clarity.
  • We support efforts to achieve long-term sustainability for our partners, for beneficiaries, and for specific projects, as they are realistic and appropriate.
  • We monitor our partner’s projects to ensure that funds are used for their intended purposes through mid-year and annual reports, liaison relationships, and direct visits when possible.
  • We are a learning organization. In the context of partnership, this means we are willing to learn from missteps as well as successes and keep moving forward.

Grantmaking Pillars

Our pillars represent areas of our grant making expertise thanks to years of working alongside grassroots organizations that are champions of this work. These pillars don’t represent the sole focus of our work, but rather the issues that have been central to our work over the years and today.

  • Climate and Environmental Justice
  • Educating Future Generations
  • Gender Equity
  • Indigenous Rights

Learn more about our Grantmaking Pillars.

For Potential Partners

Grant proposals are by invitation only at this time. Grant awards are between $1,000 – $10,000. First year grants are limited to a maximum award of $5,000.

Our typical grant cycle runs from March–March with applications requested from invitation only in December of the prior year.