China
For Grant Seekers
The China office supports organizations and projects that contribute to the implementation of seven foundation initiatives.
Initiatives
Strengthening Civil Society and Philanthropy
What We Fund
We fund projects that help to develop regulatory infrastructure and support systems for the lawful development of civil society in China, chiefly through technical assistance, research, exchange and communications, and capacity building. This work is undertaken in close cooperation with other initiatives to develop support mechanisms that serve all of our work.
Additional Selection Criteria
We do not support grassroots organizations, nor do we directly fund small-scale projects or services undertaken by civil society organizations.
Expanding Community Rights over Natural Resources
What We Fund
We support government, researchers, and civil society groups to develop, implement and publicize sustainable and participatory natural resource management strategies in the uplands and grasslands of West China. This work links community-based learning and practice with national-level research and innovation to promote China's goals for sustainable development and rural poverty reduction.
Additional Selection Criteria
We do not support projects that solely provide physical infrastructure. We also do not fund environmental education, sanitation and waste management, irrigation, afforestation, pollution control, or renewable energy activities, except in rare cases where these are incidental to the larger aims of sustainable and participatory natural resource management.
Transforming Secondary Education
What We Fund
We fund projects that help schools enhance access and equity for disadvantaged students, especially those from poor rural western regions and among ethnic minorities. We support research, dialogue and communications leading to innovations in educational policy.
We also support efforts to build requisite knowledge and skill levels among national and local authorities responsible for providing quality education to underprivileged groups.
Additional Selection Criteria
We do not fund individual student education, or pre-school and special education programs.
Advancing Higher Education Access and Success
What We Fund
We provide support for innovative individuals and institutions to develop mechanisms that expand opportunities for quality higher education among disadvantaged groups, including rural communities, women and ethnic minorities. Activities could include action-oriented research, pilot projects, participatory management reforms or policy innovations, and development of leadership skills.
Additional Selection Criteria
We do not offer scholarships or fellowships for higher education nor do we support purely theoretical studies in this field.
Youth Sexuality, Reproductive Health, and Rights
What We Fund
We support organizations and projects that promote sexuality and reproductive health and rights for young people. We invest in a variety of communications, research, capacity-building and pilot projects, as well as efforts to take successful projects to scale.
Special attention is focused on marginalized and vulnerable youth populations.
Additional Selection Criteria
We do not support medical or health projects, research or services.
Reforming Civil and Criminal Justice Systems
What We Fund
We support efforts by the Chinese government and non-governmental organizations to improve the civil and criminal justice systems through the use of innovative and scientific research methodology, especially empirical and pilot-project research that focuses on experimenting with Chinese solutions that fit actual conditions in China.
We also support the efforts of Chinese organizations, including government and non-government actors, to use innovative methods to enhance access to justice for poor and marginalized groups and individuals.
Additional Selection Criteria
We do not fund work in the following areas: commercial law, anti-corruption, law enforcement.
Promoting Transparent, Effective and Accountable Government
What We Fund
We fund projects by government agencies, research institutions and civil society that focus on helping governments at all levels to heighten their transparency, increase their effectiveness, and institute accountability mechanisms. We concentrate, though not exclusively, on public finance, public goods, or public services affecting disadvantaged groups. Projects may include research, public education, pilot experiments, education and training, and/or networking.
Additional Selection Criteria
We do not fund routine operating costs of agencies or organizations, large-scale surveys, projects emphasizing corporate social responsibility or governance of economic or civil society organizations.
To Apply for a Grant
Follow these steps:
- Review the Initiatives most relevant to your work.
- Read our Grant Application Guide, in English (PDF) or Chinese (PDF), which describes our grant-making process.
- If you determine that your work aligns with our priorities, submit a Grant Inquiry. (While we welcome submissions, please keep in mind that our funds are limited in relation to the large number of worthwhile inquiries we receive. In a typical year, less than 1 percent of unsolicited inquiries result in a grant.)
Please Note:
It is important that you use our grant inquiry form—and refrain from contacting program officers directly. Given the volume of inquiries we receive, this allows us to log, track and respond quickly to your application.
Fellowships
The vast majority of foundation grants go to organizations. Historically, we have provided a very limited number of fellowship opportunities for individuals, including the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP).
Unfortunately, IFP is no longer accepting applications. The final cohort of fellows has been selected.
The foundation does not have any other active regional fellowship opportunities at this time.
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