Gulbenkian Foundation: Open Fund

Overview

They are looking for projects that:

• Scope a new idea to address a specified need or implement new approaches that are already successfully applied in other sectors or outside the UK;
• Are relevant to our programme of work and meet one or more of the objectives in our strategic aims;
• Have a clearly articulated vision of how the work will impact beyond the project lifetime
• Address and evidence a clearly identified need

What can I apply for?

• As a guide, grants are likely to average between £10,000 and £30,000.
• Funding is given for the specific activity proposed and not for general core costs.
• Although we may occasionally give further funding for projects that are developed as a result of the R&D support, we stress that we do not guarantee continued support.

They are open to co-funding projects but not where our contribution is a small part of a much larger budget.

Please note that the budget allocated for unsolicited proposals is modest and we approve only a small number of projects each year.

Who can apply?

They only accept proposals from not-for-profit organisations based in the UK or Republic of Ireland. If you are not a registered charity or a Community Interest Company, you must be able to demonstrate not-for-profit status and that your constituting document does not allow for any surplus to be distributed to members. We do not fund individuals.

They only fund projects that take place in the UK or Republic of Ireland and directly benefit people in those countries. However, we are particularly interested in proposals that may also involve international partners or that emulate good practice in other countries.

Cultural Understanding

To help improve people's perceptions of each other by providing opportunities through culture and between cultures.

Promotion of Portuguese Visual Art - to support strategic arts initiatives which promote new international arts practice, particularly work from Portugal that has had insufficient exposure in the UK.

In 2012, the focus of this strand is to consolidate the partnerships and projects that emerged under the aegis of the Foundation's Portuguese Visual Arts Strategy between 2009 and 2011 and to concentrate on its legacy. Completely new applications are unlikely to be considered.

Literature in Translation - to undertake initiatives to promote multilingualism and international literature in translation for adults and children, in collaboration with literary agencies.

This strand is focused on strategic initiatives that benefit international literature and translation as a whole and consciously avoids supporting any particular culture, language, author or work. Other art forms, such as theatre, film and music will not be considered under this strand, even where translation is involved. In 2012, priority will be given to organisations involved in the promotion of translation-related projects for children and young people.

Fulfilling Potential

To assist the most disadvantaged in society to fulfil their potential by building connections and developing opportunities.

Ageing and Social Cohesion - to support and develop more meaningful connections for older people and across generations.

We are interested in receiving proposals specifically for social innovations which have potential forsignificant impact in reducing loneliness in later life by building connections and relationships. In particular, ideas which engage hard-to-reach groups will be viewed favourably. At the moment we are unlikely to support any new intergenerational initiatives under this strand but please check our website later in the year.

Multiple Needs - to support coordinated, collaborative services for adults facing multiple needs and exclusions.

As this programme nears conclusion of its first phase, we are concentrating on reviewing our impact to date and developing plans for how to scale this impact in the next phase. As such, we will not be undertaking any new projects under this theme for the time being but please check our website later in the year.

Environment

To help in the development of a society which benefits from a more sustainable relationship with the natural world and understands the value of its resources.

Valuing nature - to identify strategies that have impact in promoting the value of the environment and help to drive change to more sustainable lifestyles, through a creative engagement with the natural world.

We are currently interested in supporting new ideas or approaches that will help to measure the impact of engagement with the natural world and/or promote a better understanding of the value of the marine environment.

Greening the economy - to identify and promote some effective strategies to help green the economy.

We may fund a small number of innovative initiatives to share the learning and/or maximise the impact of the work we have supported to promote 'green and decent' jobs for disadvantaged communities.