Christensen Fund
Grants to support biological and cultural diversity in world bio-regions
Principal Office: USA
The Christensen Fund focuses on the interface between natural environments and human cultures. It makes grants that promote the benefits of integrated biological and cultural diversity in selected bio-cultural regions of the world.
The Fund engages in grant making, capacity building, networking, and other interventions to increase the power of combined biological and cultural diversity. It primarily works with projects that assist peoples and communities identified as indigenous, tribal, and minority.
Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources
Rights-based Approach to Bio-Cultural Diversity. The Fund’s grantmaking strategy centers on supporting and strengthening Indigenous Peoples’ efforts to secure and exercise their rights to their land, territories, resources, and sovereign systems of governance – in line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
About the grantmaking strategy
Grant-seeking organizations are development NGOs, community-based organizations, government units, universities, museums, and other types of non-profit organizations worldwide.
Grants within the bio-cultural regions are to organizations based within those regions or, where appropriate, to internationally-based organizations outside those regions working in support of the people and institutions within them.
Most grants range from US$50 thousand to US$100 thousand for one or two years. Note: Christensen makes larger grants, and over longer periods, by invitation only — and to previous grantees.
APPLICATION: The Fund uses a two-stage application process, beginning with a pre-proposal. Christensen encourages grant seekers to submit pre-proposals and inquiries during the calendar period posted on its website.
Following the review of pre-proposals, Christensen invites a limited number of applicants to submit full proposals.
In some programs, Christensen makes grants by invitation only.
About how to apply
(Note: The Christensen Fund is currently reviewing its strategy. Information regarding new funding opportunities is planned for 2021.)
Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries
The Fund’s long-term relationships in bio-cultural regions include all or parts of the developing countries below.
Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands: Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu
Eurasia and Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
Sub-Saharan Africa: Kenya
Latin America and Caribbean: Mexico
The Fund supports a grants database that can be searched by years, programs, and themes.
The Fund identifies its program staff, and it provides contact information.