The Asia Foundation
Organizational profile: The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Working through their offices in 18 countries and informed by deep local expertise and six decades of experience, they address the critical issues affecting Asia in the 21st century by: strengthening governance, expanding economic opportunity, increasing environmental resilience, empowering women, and promoting international cooperation. Headquartered in San Francisco, the Asia Foundation works through a network of offices in 18 Asian countries and in Washington, DC. Working with public and private partners, the Foundation receives funding from a diverse group of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals. In 2019, they provided $84.9 million in direct program support and distributed textbooks and other educational materials valued at $7.3 million.
The Asia Foundation’s environmental program leads initiatives that help countries to improve the management of their natural resources, reduce risks from natural disasters, increase resilience to climate mitigation, and advance environmentally sustainable economic development strategies to support a safe, resilient, and prosperous Asia.
Financing Instrument: Grants, Technical Assistance
Project scale: The Asia Foundation expended US$84,875,000 on Programs, Grants, and Related Services in FY2019. Individual grant scale is unknown.
Recipient countries regions/country groups: Asia
Recipient categories: NPOs/NGOs, Businesses, Universities
Eligibility Criteria: The Foundation directs its support to activities that are within its current interests and are likely to have a wide effect. Most of the Foundation's grants are made to organizations in Asia. The Foundation does not make grants either to individuals or to U.S-based organizations.
Application guidelines: Before any request is made for a grant, the Foundation encourages prospective grantees to follow a three-phase process:
1. Review The Asia Foundation's program areas.
2. Submit to the appropriate office a brief letter of inquiry to determine whether the Foundation's present interests and funds permit consideration of the request. The letter of inquiry should include: a very brief introduction about the grant-seeking organization, a brief project description, and budget estimate.
3. After receiving the letter, Foundation staff may reply informing the grant seeker as to whether or not the project fits within the the Asia Foundation's interests. If it does, Foundation staff may ask the grant seeker to submit a formal proposal and/or raise questions for clarification of purposed project. There is no grant application form.