Resilience Fund for Women 2026
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Quick Answer
Unrestricted two-year grants of US$15,000-50,000 (about ₹14.25-47.5 lakh) for women-led community NGOs in India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam. Phase 1 of the 2026 round closed 25 October.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- United Nations Foundation
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 25 October 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by United Nations Foundation. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 2026 round of the Resilience Fund for Women in Global Value Chains is closed to new applicants: Phase 1 shut on 25 October 2026, and only organisations already invited are completing Phase 2, which ends in mid-November. The Fund's page does not commit to another round, so Indian NGOs should watch resiliencefundforwomen.org for any future announcement.
The Fund is a pooled corporate and philanthropic fund housed within the United Nations Foundation in the United States. It gives flexible, unrestricted money to women- and non-binary-led community-based NGOs in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India and Vietnam. It is open to Indian organisations and is not India-only. It is for registered NGOs, not for-profit startups.
What the Fund offers
Selected organisations receive US$15,000 to 50,000 in total (about ₹14.25 lakh to ₹47.5 lakh) over two years, plus a place in the Fund's Learning Hub. The money is unrestricted, meaning you do not need a new or standalone project; you can strengthen or adapt your existing work, for example by bringing climate adaptation into current programmes. You briefly explain how you plan to use the funds and may adjust as needs change. You can request up to 150% of your annual revenue, but never more than US$50,000: an organisation with a US$20,000 budget could ask for up to US$30,000. All grants run for two years and are not meant for short-term emergency relief. The Learning Hub means three or four virtual meetings over the two years with other grantees, investors and Fund stakeholders, with translation support.
Who can apply
You must be a women- or non-binary-led, community-based, non-governmental organisation, formally registered and authorised to receive foreign funding, with an annual income of at least US$10,000 (income from 2024, 2025 or 2026 is the baseline). You should be embedded in and representative of the communities you serve. Women-led is defined in the FAQ as a woman or non-binary Executive Director or CEO and at least 50% of staff who are women or non-binary. Your work should connect to three areas: women's health, safety and resilience; community-led climate adaptation; and women's connection to global value chains, meaning work with women in or near factories and farms producing apparel, food, technology and other exports, including migrant, informal and gig workers. You need not be equally experienced in all three, and early-stage climate organisations may apply. Previous grantees can apply again, with no guarantee. It does not suit for-profit companies, individuals or organisations without registration.
For Indian applicants, FCRA matters. Organisations must have the legal approvals to receive foreign funds. As a special case for India, an applicant without FCRA registration may apply, and if it is selected and chooses to submit a prior-permission request to the Government of India, the Fund's team will support it. Check FCRA and tax treatment with an adviser.
How to apply
Applications are online only, with no email or paper. Phase 1 must be in English, but free translation and application support was offered in Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Odia, Marathi, Khmer and Vietnamese, and reviewers do not consider whether you used it. You can save progress with an email address and resume. A practical tip: draft answers in a separate document and paste them in, since unsaved progress is lost if there is a technical problem. Submit only one application.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Phase 1 screened applications against eligibility and selection criteria. Phase 2 was by invitation, asking for detailed information about the organisation, its work and its plan for the money, and closes in mid-November 2026. Final decisions are due by 31 January 2027. Selected organisations provide extra information and go through a short due diligence review with reference checks, then sign a grant agreement. The Fund cannot answer status questions until the process ends.
About the Fund
The Fund pools corporate and philanthropic money and is housed within the United Nations Foundation. It focuses on women workers in global value chains and on the community organisations that support them.
Things to check before you apply next time
- Restrictions. Funds cannot be used for lobbying, electioneering, political campaigning or microcredit.
- Women-led wording. The site gives two slightly different wordings of the definition; organisations that think they qualify but fall short can submit supporting information.
- Reporting. Reporting is described as light-touch, with fund-level measures built together with grantees.
- Timing. Grant processes and timelines depend on the requirements in each country.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Selected organisations receive US$15,000 to US$50,000 (about ₹14.25 lakh to ₹47.5 lakh) over two years in flexible, unrestricted funding. You may request up to 150% of your annual income, up to the US$50,000 cap. The money can go to programmes or to the organisation itself. Reporting is kept light, and grantees join the Learning Hub with 3–4 virtual meetings and translation support.
- Disbursement
- Tranched
- Duration
- 24 months
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Phase 1 screens each application against the Fund's eligibility and selection criteria. Invited organisations complete a Phase 2 with more detail on their work and plans for the money. Final decisions are due by 31 January 2027, followed by due diligence including reference checks and a grant agreement.
Application Process
- 1
Phase 1 application
Submit the short online application in English.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Resilience Fund for Women still open?
No new applications. Phase 1 closed on 25 October 2026, and only invited organisations are completing Phase 2 until mid-November. The page does not promise a future round, so check the website.
Can Indian NGOs apply for the Resilience Fund?
Yes. India is one of four eligible countries with Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam. The organisation must be a women- or non-binary-led, community-based NGO that is registered and authorised to receive foreign funding.
How much funding is offered?
Between US$15,000 and US$50,000 in total over two years (about ₹14.25 lakh to ₹47.5 lakh). You can request up to 150% of your annual revenue, capped at US$50,000.
Do we need FCRA registration?
Organisations must be authorised to receive foreign funding. As a special case for India, an applicant without FCRA may apply, and if selected and it chooses to seek prior permission, the Fund's team will support that request. Get advice on FCRA and tax.
What counts as women-led?
The FAQ defines it as a woman or non-binary Executive Director or CEO and at least 50% of staff who are women or non-binary. If you think you qualify but do not meet this exactly, you can submit supporting information.
Can we apply in Hindi?
The application itself must be in English. Free translation and application support was available in Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Odia, Marathi, Khmer and Vietnamese, and reviewers did not take it into account.
Is this grant restricted to a specific project?
No. The grants are unrestricted, so you can strengthen existing work instead of starting a new project. Funds cannot be used for lobbying, electioneering, political campaigning or microcredit.
Is it free to apply?
The pages we read do not mention an application fee. Applications are online only; email and paper are not accepted.
What do grantees have to do after being selected?
They join the Learning Hub, with an orientation and three or four virtual meetings over two years with other grantees and funders. Reporting is described as light-touch.
When will results be announced?
Final decisions are due by 31 January 2027, and invited Phase 2 applicants submit by mid-November 2026. Status enquiries are not answered until the process ends.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
