Melanesian Women Today Resilience Fund (MWTRF)
The Melanesian Women Today Resilience Fund (MWTRF) is an Indigenous-Led Fund (ILF) that serves as a vital resource for South Pacific Islanders, empowering communities to strengthen their resilience in the face of climate change, its escalating impacts, and the pressures of globalization. MWTRF focuses on enabling communities to preserve and adapt traditional practices while embracing innovative strategies to address current and future challenges.
At the heart of MWTRF’s operations is the Tangmarahi Advisory Council (TAC)—a council composed of the country coordinators of Melanesian Women Today (MWT) chapters in the Melanesian region and across the broader Pacific. These trusted leaders are deeply connected to grassroots efforts, ensuring that fund distribution and programming are culturally grounded and aligned with the unique needs of the communities they serve.
As an Indigenous-Led Fund, MWTRF upholds principles of self-determination, empowerment, and resurgence. The fund is designed to allow Pacific Islanders to take the lead in every stage of the process, including:
Designing projects and strategies that are culturally and environmentally appropriate.
Setting priorities that align with local values, community needs, and the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Implementing solutions that blend traditional knowledge with modern innovations.
Monitoring and evaluating progress to ensure accountability and long-term impact.
Distributing resources in ways that build capacity and foster self-reliance.
Submitted to MWTRF:
BACKGROUND ON MELANESUAN WOMEN TODAY RESILIENCE FUND (MWTRF)
The Melanesian Women Today Resilience Fund (MWTRF) exemplifies our mission by empowering communities to navigate the pressures of climate change and globalization while preserving cultural practices. This Indigenous-Led Fund (ILF) upholds principles of self-determination and sustainability, aligning with the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
FUNDING GUIDELINES AND APPLICATIONS
Through early fundraising initiatives and the generosity of our donors, we provide grants to small grassroots organizations in the Melanesian subregion and the wider Pacific. These grants support efforts addressing human rights, education, health, entrepreneurship, climate action, and environmental sustainability, targeting root causes to foster long-term systemic change. MWTRF is uniquely positioned to complement existing grassroots efforts by providing top-up funding for initiatives already underway. Whether it is bolstering traditional arts, enhancing cultural preservation projects, or scaling community-led development efforts, the fund ensures that these initiatives have the additional resources needed to thrive. Beyond financial support, MWTRF leverages the strength of Melanesian Women Today’s platforms to amplify voices, share stories, and connect projects to a global audience of supporters and advocates. We believe that by enabling Pacific Islanders to drive change in their communities, MWTRF embodies the spirit of Tangmarahi, fostering resilience and nurturing the collective strength and ingenuity of Pacific people as they navigate the intersecting challenges of climate, culture, and globalization.
This project proposal template is designed for initiatives that need top-up funding to strengthen their approach and implementation. In other words, to complement Existing Efforts. The project should already have a solid foundation or ongoing activities, such as traditional arts, cultural preservation, or community-led development initiatives. The purpose is to enable projects to get extra resources that existing and/or traditional funding does not cover. It can be the means to employ additional staff, strengthen internal capacity, get better equipment, or increase the output for relevant ongoing activities. We also aim to do this in a way that enables you to focus on your work most efficiently without adding too strenuous administration and monitoring.
In this application document, we want you to fill out the information on your cause:
What do you want to do?
Why do you need additional funds?
How you will utilize and follow up on them – based on the systems you already have in place?
WHEN FILLING IN THE APPLICATION, PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS:
The goal of the project should align with one or several of the biospheric Sustainable Development Goals:
o SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation o SDG 13, Climate Action
We will look at the connection between the base activities you already do and the intended use of funds received through MWTRF. Provide clear and coherent descriptions and explanations on how the funding will complement what you do in terms of qualitative and quantitative outputs and outcomes.
An approved project proposal does not mean that you automatically get the funding you need. It means that you will get access to MWT platforms as well as MWT's impactor services. These include a team solely dedicated to finding corporate partnerships, a content team that will help build your platform and content to promote your cause, and a marketing team that will actively promote you and MWT on external channels both organically and through our social media spaces. More information on how the funding system works can be found in the budget section of the application.
An integral part of having a project on our platform is to have a representative of your organization – an impactor – who is engaged in the project’s day-to-day activities. The impactor will need to provide regular updates on the activities and be the “face” of your project. This requires access to the internet and a smartphone. This project proposal will be available on the impactor profile on the platform for everyone to access. If there is anything unclear or if you need support in filling out the proposal, please contact contact@melanesianwomentoday.org.
1: HOW TO APPLY
Applications are submitted via our online grants system (see below). We ask about your organization or association’s purpose, main activities, governance structure, and annual revenue. Additionally, a description of the project that you’re seeking funding for is requested—along with an itemized budget, timeline, and how the project’s success will be measured.
Most grants issued range from $3,000 to a maximum of $15,000. You are invited to apply for what you need, however, it is rare to receive the maximum amount. Funding decisions are made democratically through our Tangmarahi Advisory Council (TAC)—a council composed of the country coordinators of Melanesian Women Today (MWT) chapters in the Melanesian region and across the broader Pacific. Together, panelists decide if a proposal is to be approved and if the grant will be issued at the full amount requested or a partial amount.
2: PLEASE READ OUR FUNDING GUIDELINES BELOW BEFORE APPLYING FOR A GRANT TO ENSURE YOUR ORGANIZATION MEETS OUR REQUIREMENTS.
OUR GRANTMAKING IMPACTOR APPROACH
We want to progress the way traditional philanthropy is done by being responsive to the needs of grassroots groups and organizations. We approach our grant by using The project’s “impactor” approach.
One of MWTRF’s core ideas is to let donors follow the development of the projects on our platform through the eyes of an impactor. An impactor to us is a person working within the project, with the ability to share and tell his or her story about the cause they are engaged in. If you already have an idea of who your impactor will be in this project, please give a short introduction and specify the role the person has within the project.
WE BELIEVE IN RELATIONSHIP-BASED PHILANTHROPY
We believe in relationship-based philanthropy and allow for flexible funding within a vetted project. This means we will build a connection with a group, determine if they are conducting projects or actions that align with our values and fit our funding guidelines, and then agree on a project that makes the most sense for MWT to fund. We trust groups to ask for what they need and spend the funding to best move their projects forward. We do, however, have a few ethical parameters that prevent us from including select items, detailed in our funding guidelines.
We use the word partnership when referring to our grantees because of our relationship-based funding practice and wish to remove the transactional feel of traditional corporate giving. We in no way expect our partners to do anything for us in return and they are not obligated to provide content for our benefit. Rather, we are partners in solidarity and advancing movements for change.
Organizations can apply for any grant amount up to a maximum of $15,000. The early fundraising and our generous donors determine the amount of funds available for monthly allocation, therefore we cannot commit to multi-year funding. We are happy to discuss the possibility of a subsequent grant after the completion of a group's one-year grant term, which includes a short report-back.
To shift the power dynamic and ensure democracy in decision making, we have implemented review panels for nearly all MWTF grants. This participatory approach is increasing accountability, transparency, and inclusion in grant making. Our Tangmarahi Advisory Council (TAC) contributes their lived and learned knowledge and experience to ensure grants will be disbursed to where they will have the greatest impact towards creating systemic change.
FUNDING GUIDELINES
1: What types of groups does MWTRF fund?
We look for projects that create long-term systemic change, address the root cause of the problem, and aim to challenge mainstream opinion and behavior by raising awareness of issues. This can include activism, campaigning, and holding governments accountable, as well as the implementation of rights, regeneration, or rewilding projects. Grants can be awarded to registered or unregistered organizations/charities, non-profits, or Indigenous and community groups with an annual revenue of $500,000 or less.
We acknowledge that regenerative paradigms, principles, and processes can be applied not just in land-based practices like plant-based farming and agriculture, but in other spaces such as climate adaptation, socially-regenerative programs, training, governance, and more.
We support non-violent direct action because we feel it plays an important part in bringing about social change. Non-violent direct action includes protests, demonstrations, and other non-violent interventions.
We believe we can make the most impact by funding causes that are often overlooked and underfunded.
We look for initiatives that are far reaching.
We look for projects that promote and implement viable, fair, and sustainable solutions.
We support organizations that are making the effort to be environmentally responsible (when accessible).
We believe in grassroots-led solutions, so we support community-led decision making.
We encourage applicants to explain how they are integrating rewilding and/or regeneration work into the community. For example, how the project was co-designed with local people, or if the work takes place on private or publicly accessible land.
Our international grants fund grassroots organizations where decision-making is held by local leaders and decisions are made by elders to young children. Organizations based in North America/Turtle Island as well as in the Pacific but working internationally will need to demonstrate how local knowledge and expertise are part of the decision making process and how local people implement projects.
2: What groups are MWTRF unable to support?
We’re passionate about our values and want to be sure the organizations we support match our ethics. As a result, our MWTRF funding does not provide grants to those who:
Promote or support violence, aggression, prejudice, oppression, or any infringement on human rights.
Influence others to change or adopt their religious beliefs, or exclude others based on religious practice.
Focus on projects that prioritize the empowerment of Pacific Islander women and girls and uphold the culture, beliefs, values, and traditions of Melanesian people and the broader Pacific. MWTRF does not support initiatives that fail to center these communities or that appropriate their cultural heritage for purposes misaligned with their principles and self-determined goals.
Are not making the effort to be environmentally responsible.
Are connected to political parties, specific endorsements, political rallies or otherwise partisan in their work.
Are government subsidiaries at any level..
Are social enterprises. We cannot fund any group designed with a for-profit model.
3: How long do application decisions take?
You will be notified about the status of your application within three months. To advance transparency, democracy, and inclusion in our grant making, we currently review applications via panels for each of our issue areas—human rights, education, health, entrepreneurship, and climate action -the environment. The final approval decision for grants averages one additional month. If your application is approved, payment remittance can take between three to four weeks.
4: What are the next steps if your application is approved?
If your application is approved, you’ll receive an email from our Tangmarahi Advisory Council (TAC) asking for the following:
The bank account information for your organization or fiscal sponsor (please note: we can’t send funds to a personal bank account).
To submit an image, logo, and description of your organization for potential use on our website or in other communications—with your permission. This is optional.
Some organizations will be featured in our quarterly newsletter and also our online magazine to increase their visibility and act as examples of the types of groups funded by MWTRF. If you would prefer that your organization not be promoted in any way through MWT communication channels, you are not obligated to provide these assets.
We’ll never ask that our MWTRF partners provide marketing or promotion of MWT. We prefer to keep the focus on the incredible work our partners are doing. If, at any time, a partner feels it would be beneficial to use our logo on a website or newsletter, we are happy to discuss this.
We’re excited about redefining the way corporations work with nonprofits and finding innovative ways to go beyond monetary donations. We’re open to new ideas and are continually evaluating the way we work with our partners.
5: Local/Community/Village ownership
Is there an awareness about the project in the area where it takes place? Have you made efforts to ensure involvement from people that might be affected by its activities? How?
6: Project monitoring
Describe how the project will be monitored throughout its implementation. What will you monitor and how? Please specify at least three indicators you will follow up on.
7: Risk management
Are there any potential risks associated with the project, external or internal? How will you manage these risks?
8: Project evaluation
Will the project be evaluated? Please describe how the project will be evaluated. Will there be an external evaluation of the “original” project?
9: Sustainability & Exit
Will the project results be sustainable and remain after the end of the project? Are there specific measures taken to ensure this? What is the exit plan?
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
1: Describe how the funds will be followed up on, accounted for, and audited within the project. (Describe systems/routines to avoid/counteract corruption.)
We believe in relationship-based philanthropy and allow for flexible funding within a vetted project. This means we will build a connection with a group, determine if they are conducting projects or actions that align with our values and fit our funding guidelines, and then agree on a project that makes the most sense for MWT to fund. We trust groups to ask for what they need and spend the funding to best move their projects forward. We do, however, have a few ethical parameters that prevent us from including select items, detailed in our funding guidelines.
We use the word partner when referring to our grantees because of our relationship-based funding practice and wish to remove the transactional feel of traditional corporate giving. We in no way expect our partners to do anything for us in return and they are not obligated to provide content for our benefit. Rather, we are partners in solidarity and advancing movements for change.
Organizations can apply for any grant up to a maximum of $15,000. The sales of Charity Pot Hand And Body Lotion determine the amount of funds available for monthly allocation, therefore we cannot commit to multi-year funding. We are happy to discuss the possibility of a subsequent grant after completing a group's one-year grant term, which includes a short report-back.
To shift the power dynamic and ensure democracy in decision-making, we have implemented review panels for nearly all Charity Pot-funded grants. This participatory approach is increasing accountability, transparency, and inclusion in grant-making. Panelists contribute their lived knowledge and experience to ensure grants are disbursed where they will impact on learned knowledge have the great creating systemic change.
2: Specify the main measurable outputs/outcomes of the project.
The project’s “impactor”
One of MWT’s core ideas is to let donors follow the development of the projects on our platform through the eyes of an impactor. An impactor to us is a person working within the project, with the ability to share and tell his or her story about the cause they are engaged in. If you already have an idea of who your impactor will be in this project, please give a short introduction and specify the role the person has within the project.
3: Local/Community/Village ownership
Is there an awareness about the project in the area where it takes place? Have you made efforts to ensure involvement from people who might be affected by its activities? How?
4: Project monitoring
Describe how the project will be monitored throughout its implementation. What will you monitor and how? Please specify at least three indicators you will follow up on.
5: Risk management
Are there any potential risks associated with the project, external or internal? How will you manage these risks?
6: Project evaluation
Will the project be evaluated? Please describe how the project will be evaluated. Will there be an external evaluation of the “original” project?
SUSTAINABLITIY & EXIT
Will the project results be sustainable and remain after the end of the project? Are there specific measures taken to ensure this? What is the exit plan?
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Describe how the funds will be followed up on, accounted for, and audited within the project. (Describe systems/routines to avoid/counteract corruption.)
If you feel you are ready to fill out an application, please click the button below and fill out the form: