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.
HF’s mission and values are rooted in the true spirit of partnership, and our trust-based funding approach is intentionally designed to center the voices, expertise, and leadership of the communities we serve.
About the Grant
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Honnold Foundation partner! We support solar energy access work through our Core Fund Grant Program. The Core Fund supports solar energy initiatives worldwide, with a special focus on projects that are innovative, grassroots, and community-driven.
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.
Grant 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
Applications for the Honnold Foundation’s 2024 Grant Cycle are now open, and close February 2nd, 2024.
You can apply for the grant here: Link
For more information, visit: Link
