Fellowship Bulletin March 2009 CONTENTS: FELLOW NEWS AWARDS/ FUNDING INFORMATION FOR FELLOWS CHANGEMAKERS™ VOLUNTEERS/ INTERNS/ PARTNERS FELLOW NEWS The 2009 Sir Misha Black Medal for Distinguished Services to Design Education will be awarded to Indian Fellow Ms. Judy Frater, Project Director of Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya in the Tunda Vandh village area of Kutch, India—the first design school of its kind in the world. For full article, click here AWARDS/ FUNDING The Lien Centre for Social Innovation // Deadline: March 31, 2009 The Centre is offering $1 million for innovative ideas that can be implemented to create positive social impact in Asia. They invite a two-page write up on your new social idea. Early submissions may receive coaching on resubmission that enhances the chances of your project being shortlisted. Submit your proposals. For details, click here Disability Rights Fund (DRF) // Deadline: April 16, 2009 The 2009 “Raising Our Voice” grant cycle will consist of two grant making rounds: The first grant making round is directed toward activities in Mexico, India and Ukraine. The second grant making round will be publicized in July 2009 and will encompass grants to Ghana, Namibia, Uganda, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru and Bangladesh. For details, click here World of Children // Deadline: April 17, 2009 Through three distinct awards, the program seeks to honor and bring acclaim to outstanding children's advocates and the work they do, as well as to raise public awareness about the issues affecting the world's children. For details, click here Anita Borg Award for Social Impact // Deadline: April 30, 2009 This award identifies achievements by an individual or team who has increased the positive impact of technology on the lives of women. For details, click here The Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations // Deadline: April 30, 2009 1
Subject for 2009 prize: programs to develop agriculture through adoption of innovative technology. For details, click here The Goldman Environmental Prize // Deadline: Annually on April 30th This is the world's largest prize program honoring grassroots environmentalists. The Prize awards $125,000 annually to six environmental heroes from each of the inhabited continental regions. Recipients are chosen for their sustained and important environmental achievements. There is no application for the Goldman Prize, and unsolicited nominations are not accepted. For details, click here The Ivy Humanitarian Prize // Deadline: May 1, 2009 The Ivy Humanitarian Prize was established in 1996 to recognize those who have made a difference in alleviating the suffering of children in the Americas. It also strives to broaden support for humanitarian projects and to raise awareness of at-risk children in the hemisphere. The purpose of the Ivy Prize is to provide incentives for support groups, to develop positive leadership, and create awareness and goodwill among the Americas. Contact the IIAF at ivyinteram@aol.com for the application form. For details, click here The Aga Khan Foundation // Deadline: Rolling The Foundation has a sharply defined funding strategy. Grants are normally given to local organizations interested in testing new solutions, in learning from experience and in being agents of lasting change. These organizations must share the Foundation's and AKDN's goals in the fields of health, education, rural development and strengthening of civil society. With few exceptions, the Foundation funds programs in countries where it has offices and local professional staff to monitor implementation (South and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East). For details, click here EMpower, Enriching lives in emerging markets // Deadline: Rolling Founded in 2000 by financial professionals from the emerging markets community who were “doing well” and also wanted to “do good,” EMpower UK was formed in 2007 out of the interest of emerging markets professionals from London and Continental Europe to deploy resources in support of marginalized communities in Emerging (EM) countries. EMpower provides funding and some technical support to community-based organizations in EM countries that are working to improve the lives of young people in the priority areas of education, health, leadership and livelihoods. Countries of focus are Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, India (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal), Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. They support organizations with an annual budget that does not exceed US $1.5 million. For details, click here The IZUMI Foundation // Deadline: Rolling The IZUMI Foundation gives assistance to the world’s poorest people by supporting programs that improve health in developing countries. Created in 1998 by the lay Buddhist order Shinnyo-en, the foundation expresses Shinnyo-en’s values of compassion, concern for others, and altruism. The Foundation looks for promising, practical innovations that reduce the burden of infectious disease while also strengthening the ability of communities to keep children and families healthy. Its aim is to do as much as possible, with limited resources; to improve the health outcomes of people living in the most impoverished areas of Africa, Central America, and South America. For details, click here 2
The Open Society Institute // Deadlines: Rolling OSI awards grants, scholarships, and fellowships on a regular basis throughout the year. Applicants can determine their eligibility and view relevant initiatives and application guidelines. For details, click here Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights // Deadline: Rolling (UAF) is a global women’s fund that exists to protect, strengthen and sustain women human rights defenders at critical moments in time. By intervening quickly when defenders are poised to make great gains or face serious threats to their lives and work, UAF provides an efficient and effective model of strategic philanthropy. Designed and led by women activists, UAF’s core programs are Rapid Response Grantmaking & Research, Publications, and Advocacy. For details, click here W. K. Kellogg Foundation // Deadline: Rolling Established in 1930 by the breakfast cereal pioneer W. K. Kellogg, the Foundation recently updated their program framework to concentrate on food systems and rural development, health, philanthropy and volunteerism. The Foundation works in the USA, Latin America and the Caribbean. The strategies differ regionally. There are no specific deadlines for proposal submission as the proposals are reviewed as received. A three months review period should be expected by the grant seeker for feedback on the proposal status. For details, click here INFORMATION FOR FELLOWS INTRAC is a non-profit organisation working in the international development and relief sector - supporting NGOs and civil society organisations by strengthening management and organisational effectiveness, and by exploring policy issues. It strengthens civil society by providing: Training, Consultancy, Research, Regional and Thematic Programmes, Conferences, and Publications. INTRAC seeks to increase the effectiveness of civil society organisations (CSOs) that are committed to international human development. For details, click here How We Got There: Lessons learned in building the partnership with McKinsey from Angela Lawaldt’s presentation, 2/4/09 Germany has formed a successful partnership with McKinsey & Company. Here is the strategy that enabled them to receive 3,600 pro-bono hours: Individual relationships are key: establish personal relations with McK staff, especially directors/partners, Alumni (inside/outside Ashoka) Start collaborating on small scale: ask for temporary office space, launch pilot projects in Fellow Coaching, Business plan competitions etc. Understand the special “culture“ of McK engagement: No cash but rather knowledge transfer or inkind contribution Philanthropic engagement mainly through core compentencies Prefer low profile over co-branding When talking to higher management, offer strategic value to them such as the following: We are an asset to McKinsey‘s staff recruiting / retention We help them build strategic knowledge on the public / social sector We contribute to client acquisition in the public, social and philanthropic sector We enhance McKinsey‘s general image: from charity to Social Entrepreneurship 3
The 2009 World Rural Forum // Udpiaur, India // August 23, 2009 The Forum will convene practitioners, policy makers, activists, company executives and scholars to focus on rural innovation in a global context. In small group workshops, panel groups, plenary sessions, and technical assistance clinics, delegates will share what they know about creating rural wealth, adapting to climate change and overcoming rural disadvantage and identify areas where they need technical support or advice. For details, click here CHANGEMAKERS™ Current Competitions – Enter, Nominate, Collaborate! Changemakers™ is collaborating with the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to launch a global search for “nudges” – innovative little pushes—that help people make better decisions regarding their own health and the health of others. Nominate someone you know who is designing choices for better health until April 1, 2009. Join National Geographic and Changemakers® in the global search for innovative ideas that help communities benefit from tourism while protecting the assets that make their places special. Our Geotourism Challenge 2009—Power of Place: Sustaining the Future of Destinations competition will offer you the opportunity to inspire people to care about the destinations you love! Deadline: May 20,2009 The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Changemakers® are partnering to find the most innovative educators in Africa beginning March 18th. We will look to local schools to find the best practices and the teachers that are changing lives. Those who do the unexpected in unlikely places. Those who do not even realize that they are innovators. Those who have the ability to make real change in education. And then we will help them take it to the next level. Deadline: TBA VOLUNTEERS/ INTERNS/ PARTNERS Volunteers Need help with Strategic Planning? Fundraising? Translation? Volunteers can help! In-person assistance? Virtual help? Volunteer teams? Let us know what you need, and we’ll help you find what you’re looking for! Please give specific details regarding your plans for using a volunteer and information about what type of work they’ll be doing, special skills required, time-frame, accommodations available, etc. Email Beth Inabinett at volunteers@ashoka.org Interns Would you like to advertise for a summer intern on the Ashoka Volunteer website? Many capable undergraduate and graduate students are visiting the website looking for a way to get involved and gain experience in their field of study over the summer. Contact Beth Inabinett for a Intern Request Form at binabinett@ashoka.org Partners Assistance to Ashoka Fellows is being offered by a small group of U.S. based professional business and banking analysts and statisticians with skills in model building, risk analysis, market assessment, and financial valuations. Secondary abilities include web design, product strategy, and marketing. Language skills include English, Spanish and Chinese. If interested, contact Ashoka Volunteer Coordinator, Beth Inabinett at binabinett@ashoka.org 4