Applications invited for Honnold Foundation Core Fund Grant

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About the Organization

The Honnold Foundation envisions a world where marginalized communities lead the transition to renewable energy, with the resources they need to adapt and thrive. We believe in solar as a proven, environmentally sound solution to global energy poverty, and we award grants to community organizations whose projects are innovative, equity-focused, and have the potential to shift the narrative on what’s possible for energy access worldwide.

About the Grant

The Honnold Foundation partners with marginalized communities to expand equitable solar energy access. We believe that solar energy access improves lives and reduces environmental impact, and we provide unrestricted grant funding to organizations across the globe whose work increases social and economic equity in the communities they serve. Though our funds are unrestricted, we tend to select organizations that are directing funds towards a specific project or initiative.

The Honnold Foundation awards funding in two rounds. Round 1 awardees receive their funding in the Spring, and Round 2 awardees receive their funding in the Fall of the same year. Regardless of the timing of their disbursement, all awardees are notified in the Spring.

Size

Core Grant awards typically range from $25,000 to $150,000.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for Core Grant funding.

• The organization is community-based and/or has a clear community connection
• The organization has a charitable status in its country of origin or has a fiscal sponsor; U.S. Tribes and tribally-led organizations are also welcome to apply
• The majority of the funding will be used for the construction of new solar infrastructure and/or the improvement of existing solar infrastructure (ie: grid-tied solar, solar home systems, solar water pump, etc.)
• The organization has identified a technical partner (installer) to develop new and/or improve existing solar infrastructure
• The funding will be used to increase social and economic equity for underserved/marginalized communities
• The funding will be used to limit environmental impact by reducing dependence on or  usage of fossil fuels or other energy sources known to be highly pollutive (diesel oil, wood, kerosene, coal-powered utility grids, etc.)
• The funding will be used to support work in a single community or a small cohort of communities
• The community served is involved in the creation, maintenance and management of the work the funding supports

HF is particularly invested in and will prioritize organizations that:

• Are led by and serve Indigenous and/or Black-majority communities
• Have at least 50% of leadership positions held by womxn (staff and/or Board members). If an organization does not have this, HF will ask for a written plan detailing how they might achieve 50% womxn leadership during our time working together. HF is happy to assist in this plan development whenever requested.
• Organizations located in the Americas (North, Central, South) and Island-nations anywhere in the world that are highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change (e.g. Caribbean, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Madagascar, etc.)

How to Apply

Round 1:

Organization and Project Summary — determines basic project eligibility and fit. If a project is determined to be both eligible and a good fit for HF funding, the organization will be invited to complete the full grant application. Preview the round one application here.

Round 2:

Grant Application — provides additional detail about the work the grant would support, the organization’s past accomplishments in their community, and other relevant information. Applicants will receive an invitation to complete the full application, or a declination letter, approximately four weeks after the submission of an Organization and Project Summary. Preview the round two application here.

Applications for the Honnold Foundation’s 2025 Grant Cycle will be open from Tuesday, January 21st through Thursday, February 13th.

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Tags Environment and Sustainability Financial Inclusion Others