Call for Funding for Trans and Gender Diverse Communities

RFSL, the Swedish Federation for LGBTQI rights,  is currently accepting grant applications to support initiatives, groups and organizations, focusing on the unique needs of trans, non-binary and gender-diverse rights movements from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

The call aims to ensure that activists, initiative groups and organizations representing and advocating for the needs of historically under-resourced and often-excluded movements within LGBTQI organizing have access to resources addressing the unique and specific needs of the communities they represent and are able to influence the LGBTQI agenda on national, regional and international scale.

The funding is available through the program “Just and resilient LGBTQI movements in Eastern Partnership: 2022-2024,” implemented by RFSL, the Swedish Federation for LGBTQI Rights.

Please note, that the scope of this call reaches beyond the present funding opportunity. By entering into a partnership with RFSL, activists/initiatives/groups/organizations will be offered individual capacity-strengthening opportunities, advocacy mentorship and assistance in organizational development tailored to their specific needs. In addition, the groups will be able to engage in regional strategizing and experience exchange and gain access to international relevant platforms.

Maximum grant amount for this call is 80 000 SEK (7 300 Euros)

Who you are

We are inviting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse groups/initiatives/organizations that are:

• Trans, non-binary and gender diverse-led and/or where trans, gender diverse and non-binary people have meaningful representation;
• Able to demonstrate strong ties to the trans, non-binary and gender-diverse communities by, for example, being membership based, have annual general meetings, strategic meetings involving the community, etc;
• Guided demonstrably by trans, non-binary and gender-diverse community feedback in your work;
• Based in and/or working in one of the following countries: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine;
  • Note:  Groups, initiatives and organizations from the 4 countries mentioned above, that have been displaced/had to relocate due to the conflict/wars and/or other security risks are eligible to apply as well so long they can demonstrate other criteria mentioned in this call;

• Not solely focused on service provision (while we understand that service provision is a significant part of many organizations’ work  the application should demonstrate other aspects of the project/initiative/group/organization).

While preference will be given to autonomous community-led organizing, we also strongly encourage community-led initiatives and groups organized within other/broader LGBTQI NGOs to apply.

To be eligible for funding these projects/groups/initiatives should:

• Be led by trans, non-binary and gender diverse activists with deep ties to the community;
• Mobilise within a rights-based LGBTQI rights NGO that has a demonstrated track record of working on specific issues and with trans, non-binary and gender diverse communities;
• Able to demonstrate strong ties to the communities;
• Based in and/or working in one of the following countries: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine;
  • Note:  Groups, initiatives and organizations from the 4 countries mentioned above, that have been displaced/had to relocate due to the conflict/wars and/or other security risks are eligible to apply as well so long they can demonstrate other criteria mentioned in this call;
• Not solely focused on service provision (while we understand that service provision is a significant part of many organizations’ work  the application should demonstrate other aspects of the project/initiative/group/organization).

For all the applicants, the project/activities should:

• Be planned with input from the community you want to reach;
• Be relevant for the community you want to reach;
• Be time bound, have a start and end date;
• Fall in line with activities that can be funded;
• Be focused on work with trans, non-binary and gender-diverse communities.

The proposal should:

• Follow instructions;
• Show how the activities are relevant to the communities you represent;
• Show how the activities are relevant in your country and/or region;
• Show what the aim of the activity/activities is;
• Clearly mention what the goal is and how you will know if you have reached your goal;
• Include contact information from 2 persons who know the group/initiative/organisation professionally and are ready to provide a reference

Activities that can be funded under this call

Examples of activities that can be funded (please, note that this is not an exhaustive list, and you are free to suggest activities not included in the list):

• Community mobilizing and organizing;
• Activities to strengthen the capacity in the own organization, including activities focused on security, sustainability, well-being, and burn-out prevention;
• Direct psychological and legal support to community members;
• Creating and maintaining safe spaces for the community members;
• External and internal cultural events such as music events, sport events, etc.;
• Campaigns and/or advocacy work aimed at the general public and decision makers;
• Other activities, assessed as relevant by the communities.

Example of eligible costs (please, note that this is not an exhaustive list, and you are free to propose costs not included in this list):

• Meeting spaces, venues
• Facilitators, trainers
• Salaries and other staff costs (including insurance)
• Development of campaign materials
• Transport and accommodation for participants
• Administration related to the activities
• Security costs (risk assessment and development of security plans, emergency buttons, physical and digital security solutions)
• Expenses related gender-affirming care

Activities we do not fund under this call:

• Humanitarian and emergency support
• Personal rent payment, food packages, insurance for community members or other personal expenses
• Evacuation and/or re-location
• Costs related to migration and asylum
• Participation in international conferences or Pride events

If you have an idea and are not sure if it could be funded, please contact us at grants_eap@rfsl.se and we will be happy to discuss it with you. If you prefer to communicate through another  channel, please contact us in order to agree on a channel of communication.

How to apply

The deadline for the application submission is January 8, 2023, 23.59 CET.

The Head of Program and the Programme Manager responsible for the EaP Program at RFSL will review the proposals.

Decisions on grants awarded will be communicated in February 2023.

The proposal, together with the budget, should be submitted to grants_eap@rfsl.se. Please, use the templates provided. In the subject of the letter, please, indicate the name of your organization/initiative and country.

The templates for proposal and budget are sent together with this informational letter. If you are missing any of these templates, please, contact us at grants_eap@rfsl.se

Information Meetings

In order to address questions and comments that potential applicants may have before applying, as well as go through the application and budget forms, RFSL will hold several information meetings. The meetings are scheduled between December 9-16 2022 and will be conducted in the following languages: Armenian, Georgian, English, Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian.

Please register here if you want to participate. 

Activity period direction

The maximum duration of projects cannot exceed 12 months and projects shall be completed on or before May 31, 2024. Proposed minimum duration of projects is 8 months. The earliest start date is April 1, 2023.

When you are ready to submit your proposal, please, make sure to re-name the templates, so they would include the title of your organization/group/initiative: “Your Organization Proposal” and “Your Organization Budget”.

Budget direction

The budget should not exceed 80 000 SEK (approximately 7 300 EUR).

The budget should be specified, meaning that you will need to specify which costs you want to include in the project. Do not use lump sums: budget lines should be clarified and explained. Please add an explanation in the comments column, if needed. If you include staff costs, please add % of working time for the different positions.

Follow-up and Reporting

RFSL will make a preliminary assessment of applications during January and February 2023. Shortlisted applicants will be notified over e-mail and will continue their work with RFSL on the applications before entering into the agreements in March-April 2023. This timeline might be revised depending on the number of proposals received.

When a grant is approved, an agreement will be set up between RFSL and the organisation/group/initiative that receives support. Conditions for how the funding should be used will be clarified in the said agreement.

The responsible unit at RFSL will monitor the implementation through 3-4 meetings during the project period. A narrative and financial report should be submitted to RFSL no later than two months after the activity period has run out. Templates for reporting will be provided.

Language direction:

RFSL receives grant applications and project reports in English. However, if you are not able to provide all the requested information in English, please notify us at grants_eap@rfsl.se and we can agree on a tailored solution. For reporting purposes, if you are not able to provide reports in English, please include translation expenses in your budget.

You can read more about our grantmaking principles here.