Here are answers to some of the most common funding questions we are asked by prospective partners.

Currently, we are unable to accept unsolicited proposals. You can find more information about our process here.

Common types of funding we have provided in the past include: 

• Unrestricted and restricted grants, including fiscally sponsored grants
• Project funding through our LLC
• Contracts for specifically commissioned research.

We no longer provide equity investments or loans, except for potential follow-on investments to current partners.

We will need to be sure everything involved meets applicable legal requirements. We may look at the alignment between our organisations around mission and values. And we may assess the partner organisation in terms of:

• Financial and organisational health
• Leadership’s theory of change
• Team dynamics
• The broader market or ecosystem
• The organisation’s impact to date

We evaluate opportunities on a rolling basis. Any key dates that may affect the process, such as the prospective partner’s or our financial year-end, are communicated as part of the funding process.

We can't give a set timeline on the decision to fund a potential grantee, as it depends on many factors. However, when we decide to move a specific opportunity through our approvals process, our goal is to complete the process within three months. We may not always meet this goal if complications arise during diligence, but we will always keep applicants informed of their grant's progress.

Factors that influence timing include:

• Whether or not we have previously supported your organisation
• The degree of due diligence required
• Our internal funding deadlines
• Jurisdictional, legal, or regulatory aspects beyond our control
• Scheduling constraints for decision meetings

If you are involved in a funding process with us and funding is urgent, please tell your Luminate contact as soon as possible.

This depends on the characteristics of a grant. For large or complex transactions, we will hold a Funding Committee meeting. The Funding Committee may include our CEO and other Leadership Team members. In some cases, we will engage external advisers or seek approval from our Board.

We prefer to avoid organisations becoming financially dependent on one funder or funding stream. So, for most grants, we expect the organisation to have, or be seeking, support from other sources.

Our grant terms usually vary from one to three years, and we often tranche our funding into separate disbursements over each year. We will agree these terms with you before signing the grant agreement.

We never renew grants automatically. We approve a renewal depending on the merits of the opportunity, its continued alignment with our strategy and values, and its impact to date. Each opportunity must go through the full approval process.

We prefer to provide unrestricted grants, also known as general operating grants. However, in some cases, restricted grants are more suitable. For example, a restricted grant might be relevant if the alignment with our strategy is limited or the partner’s organisational structure limits the funding method. We evaluate each opportunity to determine the most appropriate grant type.

We evaluate each funding opportunity individually. Once we have approved a grant, we may tranche our funding into specific disbursements that are conditional on meeting certain goals or other criteria. We will always discuss these with you, both before and during the partnership.

We may consider an additional grant for a specific purpose but only under exceptional circumstances and for time-sensitive opportunities.

As a US-based private foundation, we evaluate each organisation and determine whether it is likely to get certified as a Foreign Public Charity Equivalent (FPCE) and whether this makes sense to pursue. If it does, we will have a third party conduct an Equivalency Determination that evaluates your organising documents, funding sources, and activities.

Having charitable status in your country of registration is a positive indicator but it does not ensure FPCE certification. Seeking FPCE certification can add time to the approval process yet it may also provide additional flexibility in structuring the grant, and it may help you attract funds from other US private foundations. Please note that not having charitable status in your country of registration does not preclude you from receiving FPCE certification.

If you cannot achieve FPCE certification, we can provide funding through our LLC. While LLC funding enables us to support non-charitable entities and activities, these agreements generally offer less flexibility and require more reporting than unrestricted Foundation support. In each case, we will work with an organisation to determine the best-fit funding structure. If you need more information on funding options, please ask your Luminate contact – they will be happy to help.

We will need information about both your organisation and your fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsorship is commonly used for organisations that have not yet acquired charitable status, or individuals or coalitions that have not yet incorporated as an entity. The sponsor is typically a well-known public charity that regularly engages in this practice. 

Under this arrangement the sponsor lends its non-profit status to the sponsored entity or project, is legally and financially responsible for the project, and has full discretion and control over the use of the funds. Communication between the funding’s end-recipient and ourselves will always go through the fiscal sponsor.

We can support for-profit companies or other non-charitable entities through our LLC.

You can read more about our privacy and data protection policies here. If you have any further questions about our practices and policies, please contact [email protected].

You can always get in touch with your Luminate contact. If you would like to speak to someone else, please email [email protected] and we’ll put you in touch with someone who can help.