Each year, the Julia Taft Fund awards grants of up to $25,000 USD with the intent of meeting gaps in refugee assistance by issuing grants to local nonprofit organizations for quick-impact projects that aim to address one-time needs or interventions, and/or respond to needs that are not addressed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The activities of the proposed project should not be directed to sustained programs. We encourage civil society organizations (CSOs/NGOs) to submit proposals that would provide assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons, vulnerable migrants, and/or stateless persons as the Taft Refugee Fund is intended for projects that include a target beneficiary base of at least 50 percent refugees or returnees.
We also encourage organizations to include in their proposals quick-impact projects that include an advocacy angle to help encourage further positive policy changes at the local level. For example, proposed quick-impact projects, in addition to focusing on needs and interventions, could also include a roundtable to which government representatives are invited, or could result in a report or publication that is shared with government officials with recommendations. Projects that duplicate the work or services provided by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees or other multilateral refugee programs will not be considered.
This year, the U.S. Consulate General is introducing a new application process designed to reduce the burden of proposal-writing on CSOs/NGOs:
First Phase: Organizations interested in applying for the Julia Taft Grant should submit a Concept Note with a limit of 400 words (2-3 paragraphs recommended) providing a brief description of the organization and its goals, stating the main objective and activities of the project to be implemented, and providing an estimated budget. The deadline to submit the concept note is 11:59pm (Hong Kong time), Friday, January 15, 2021. Proposals must be sent via e-mail to the addresses provided below.
Second Phase: The U.S. Consulate General will then review all concept notes and select those that best meet the goals of the Julia Taft Grant program. The U.S. Consulate General will then directly contact the selected organization(s), no later than Friday, January 22, 2021, to request a more detailed proposal. Please note that during the second phase of the application process the selected organization(s) should submit more detailed information about the organization, its program and project history, a detailed project narrative that would support how the proposed project would benefit the targeted community, a detailed budget, a project timeline, and detailed description of the goals and activities. Additional details will be provided to the selected organization(s) during the second phase. The deadline to submit detailed proposals will be 11:59pm (Hong Kong time), Friday, January 29, 2020.
Please be aware that in most cases the Julia Taft Fund money cannot be used to pay for salaries or perishables (such as food).
When submitting the Concept Note, please consider that for monitoring purposes, all final proposals will require measurable results and indicators.
The organization(s) selected will be required to submit registration documents to demonstrate status as a nonprofit organization authorized to operate in Hong Kong. NOTE: Concept notes and detailed proposals must be submitted by a registered local community group (CBO/NGO), and not by government officials or private individuals. Groups must have diverse membership (no single families) and must be already established and operating.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Friday, January 15, 2021 is the deadline for submitting the initial concept note. All concept notes must be sent via e-mail to the address HKEPGrants@state.gov. Organizations that submit a concept note will receive a confirmation of receipt via email; if the submitting organization does not receive this notification within 72 hours of the submission, please re-contact the U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau via the email address HKEPGrants@state.gov.
The Consulate General will review the concept notes and will contact the organization(s) invited to participate in the second phase no later than Friday, January 22, 2021.
The organization(s) invited to participate of the second phase of this application process should submit a final and complete proposal by Friday, January 29, 2021.
U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau, in coordination with the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration of the U.S. Department of State, will consider the final proposals and will seek to inform organizations about funding decisions by Friday, April 30, 2021. Please note that more than one proposal may be funded, up to a combined total of $25,000.
PLEASE NOTE
- Projects that duplicate the work or services provided by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees or other multilateral refugee programs will not be funded.
- Organizations that receive other U.S. Government funding will not be considered.
- Project proposals must be submitted by a registered local community group and not by government officials or private individuals. Groups must have diverse membership (no single families) and must be already established and operating legally in Hong Kong.
- Ongoing administrative or operating costs, such as stipends or rent, may be included in the request, but should only account for a small portion of a comprehensive grant proposal.
- Proposals mailed to the Julia Taft Fund will not be returned.
