about our refugee leadership fund

We have established the first-of-its-kind Refugee Leadership Fund—a fund for refugees by refugees—housed within Asylum Access. The fund aggregates contributions and redistributes them to RLOs around the world. Our US-based legally registered fund puts philanthropic power in the hands of refugees and offers donors a way to safely and smoothly fund RLOs.

The purpose of the Refugee Leadership Fund is to catalyze the growth and sustainability of community-led responses to forced displacement situations within key designated countries. We believe that when community-driven efforts are well-resourced, community wellbeing will grow. 

Furthermore, the Refugee Leadership Fund aims to facilitate greater involvement of RLOs and their leaders in strategizing and decision-making processes that impact community wellbeing, including those owned or facilitated by others, e.g. host community NGOs, INGOs, governments and donors. When RLOs are influencing and educating powerful institutions, we expect the resulting responses to displacement situations will be more impactful. In this way, our fund seeks broad systems change and challenges current power dynamics that exclude RLOs.

our types of grants

BOOST GRANTS

FUNDING: Up to $25,000 USD

PERIOD: One year with possibility of renewal 

​LOCATION: Lebanon

AIMED AT: RLOs that are smaller and/or newer

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Includes comprehensive support from the RRLI Coalition through the Strengthening RLOs Partnership Program.

ADVANCE GRANTS

FUNDING: $100,000 - $200,000 USD

PERIOD: One year with possibility of renewal

LOCATION: Lebanon

AIMED AT: RLOs that have an established structure and programming, as well as the ability to manage major funding, are encouraged to apply to this grant.

Includes comprehensive support from the RRLI Coalition through the Strengthening RLOs Partnership Program.

qualification

REFUGEE LED

Identify as a refugee-led organization (RLO), or “any formal or informal initiative/organization that is founded and run by people of forced displacement background and/or any formal or informal initiative/organization where people of forced displacement are in major leadership positions and able to influence the work of the organization.”

LOCATION

Be located in Lebanon

PRESENCE

Have a clear presence in their community, including having carried out services or programs in the past.

for BOOST GRANTS an organization or it’s leader(s) must also:

  • Demonstrate consideration of financial guidelines or policies for managing money

  • Demonstrate consideration of ethics when implementing programs and delivering services

  • Show interest in participating in the refugee leadership movement and working to increase the inclusion of refugees at all levels of response

  • Show interest in participating in the Strengthening RLOs Partnership Program, including some understanding of where support would be beneficial

for ADVANCE GRANTS an organization or it’s leader(s) must also:

  • Have financial guidelines, controls and systems in place

  • Have ethical guidelines in place specific to the workplace and programmatic implementation

  • Show interest in participating in the refugee leadership movement and working to increase the inclusion of refugees at all levels of response, including specific actions they would carry out to advance this mission

selection

Organizations that qualify will be selected on the following criteria:

BOOST GRANTS

  • Project design and feasibility: is the proposal clear, organized, and achievable?

  • Justification and significance of impact for communities: will the proposal bring important, on-the-ground change in lives?

  • Demonstrates the distinct role RLOs can play in refugee response, through showing potential to achieve one or more of the following:

    • “At scale” community reach in at least one program

    • Usage of a holistic lens that addresses multiple needs of the community in an intersectional way

    • Unlocking long-term, sustainable solutions

  • Readiness of organizational leaders: are organizational leaders prepared to take on the management of a large institution?

  • Interest and feasibility of organizational growth: do leaders have a plan for growth?

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion competency

  • Gender considerations integrated into the proposal and the organization's approach

ADVANCE GRANTS

  • Project design and feasibility: is the proposal clear, organized, and achievable?

  • Justification and significance of impact for communities: will the proposal bring important, on-the-ground change in lives?

  • Demonstrates the distinct role RLOs can play in refugee response, through achieving one or more of the following:

    • “At scale” community reach in at least one program

    • Usage of a holistic lens that addresses multiple needs of the community in an intersectional way

    • Unlocking long-term, sustainable solutions

  • Quality of proposal budget: is the budget clear, understandable, detailed, and does it reflect the priorities and needs of the project and organization?

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion competency

  • Gender considerations integrated into the proposal and the organization's approach

apply for funding

Applications for funding will open on 7th January 2025 for Refugee Led Organizations located in Lebanon.