Seattle International Foundation
Seattle International Foundation SIF supports worldwide poverty alleviation efforts through grant-making and other activities, with a strategic focus on Central America. SIF was founded in 2008 as a supporting organization to Seattle Foundation for the purpose of increasing and enhancing international philanthropy and development from the Pacific Northwest. Since 2008, SIF has granted more than $20 million to 243 high impact organizations in 81 countries, including $12 million in grants to Central America.
Seattle International Foundation has issued an open call for concept notes to high-impact organizations in Central America working on the following three issues.
Strengthen good governance and rule of law. In spite of legal and institutional advances, young Central American democracies continue to face worrisome challenges, such as corruption or inequality, which pose an obstacle to social and democratic progress. SIF will continue working on strategies that strengthen the rule of law and help foster more transparent and effective governments and institutions, to lay the foundations for societies to develop the potential of their citizens.
Ensure equity. SIF will promote the participation of underrepresented sectors of the population, especially indigenous peoples, youth, and women. The foundation will promote equity, inclusion and representation in decision-making processes in the public and private sector.
Reduce displacement and forced migration. Forced migration and displacement from Central America to the United States has become one of the greatest challenges of today, on both sides of the border. The exodus of migrants has defined a generation in the region, and the large flows of capital in the form of remittances have altered the economic equation. SIF aims to reduce high levels of forced migration and impact the factors that push these youth and vulnerable populations to leave their countries, to protect the rights of migrants and deportees, to research the social phenomenon, to create an active network of local change agents focused on migration, and to bridge policymakers in the US with the migrant community.
SIF believes that a robust and organized civil society can serve as a powerful vehicle to express the demands of citizens and deliver their public policy agendas. In this 2018 call for proposals, priority will be given to civil society organizations.
Moreinfo:
http://www.seaif.org/sections/whatwesupport/whatwesupport_central_america_program.asp