Our application process

Oak’s application process begins with entry through one of two pathways: an invitation from Oak; and the submission of a Letter of Enquiry. Following on from that, if the organisation is invited to proceed, Oak will request the submission of a formal application. This will be followed by a due diligence phase, which may include: discussions with staff; a review of financial information; and site visits, where appropriate. A final decision will then be communicated to the applicant, in line with the timelines agreed during the process.

Our application timeline

When we formally invite an organisation to apply for a grant, we discuss the size of the grant and whether it will be project support or core support (i.e., flexible and unrestricted funding). We work with organisations to develop the application, ensuring we communicate consistently about when and who will decide on a grant, how the application process works, and how long it will take. We also discuss the possibilities of renewal well in advance of the end of a grant. We consider all renewals as distinct and separate grants. The timeline below is approximate.

For more information about the different steps in the grant-making process, please see our Grant application process and timeline guidelines.

Notes: At any stage, a grant may be declined. If this happens, we will inform the applicant as soon as possible. An invitation to submit a summary or full application materials does not guarantee that a grant will be awarded.

Our funding principles

We support organisations to help people and communities thrive in just societies, where everyone is safe and has the opportunities to succeed. This also includes safeguarding our natural environment for future generations. We support civil society as a pillar of democracy and believe in the power of collective action in achieving ambitious goals. We believe the best grant-making reflects both careful due diligence and a willingness to take risks. We support our grantees’ capacity to assess and measure progress. We invest in visionary leadership and provide resources to strengthen civil society organisations.

We fund initiatives that:

• address the root causes of problems
• are replicable either within a sector or across geographical locations
• include plans for long-term sustainability, including co-funding
• strive to collaborate with like-minded organisations
• demonstrate good financial and organisational management
• value the participation of people and communities

Creating long-lasting change

We believe in providing long-term support to our partners to help create long-lasting change. We also believe that our partners benefit from having diverse funding sources to promote resiliency and achieve the impact they desire. Therefore, we generally fund no more than 50 per cent of any project budget or 20 per cent of organisational budgets. Requests to fund higher levels should be discussed with the programme officer.

We do not provide support for:

• individuals
• scholarships or tuition assistance for undergraduate or postgraduate studies
• religious organisations for religious purposes
• election campaigns, political parties, or activities affiliated with political parties
• except in special circumstances, we generally do not provide programme grants under USD 25,000

Additional grant-making