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Concordia Action Alliance Fund

To achieve the Convene-Connect-Create goals of the Alliance, Concordia is launching an Action Alliance Fund designed to spur innovation and collaboration through catalytic capital. The goal of the Fund is to financially support the development and scale of intra-Alliance cross-sector partnerships in the disaster and pandemic space.

Overview

The Action Alliance Fund aspires to support partnership formation in response to natural disaster and global health matters. Its goal is to support organizations as they overcome operational hurdles to partnership, and it will be measured by its ability to catalyze or launch impact-based partnerships in this space.

The Fund is not designed to support impact projects themselves, but to cover costs associated with launching or scaling a partnership.

Possible uses of the Fund include:

      • Hiring a grant writer
      • Conducting a feasibility study and/or development plan
      • Launching a pilot project
      • Staff time and overhead costs (e.g. partner travel) specific to the design or management of a partnership
      • Securing software licenses essential to partnership implementation

Potential Award Amount

The Action Alliance Fund will be dispersed via small, catalytic grants amounting between $5,000 to $20,000 USD. Global Impact will also provide selected applicants 1 hour of pro-bono consulting and a set of written recommendations designed to support partners to identify and secure ongoing project funding.

Timeline

The aim of the Action Alliance Fund is to rapidly deploy catalytic funding to support the formation of partnerships responding to natural disaster and global health issues. Given the rapid nature of these challenges and the importance of initial support to quickly move an idea into action, Action Alliance Grants will be rapidly deployed. We aspire to provide insight into the award decision within 72 hours of receiving a grant application to support your planning and impact goals. In some instances, additional decision-making time may be required. There is also the possibility for grant applicants to leverage the pro-bono consulting of Global Impact to refine their partnership concept and build a strong on-ramp of additional philanthropic, government, and corporate funding, which may further influence the timeline.

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FAQs

Who decides which grant applications to fund?

Concordia holds sole decision-making authority pertaining to the amount and the partnership concept funded.

When is the grant application due?

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Can I start my application, take a break, and return to it, or do I have to do it all in one sitting?

Jotform allows you to save your application process and revisit at a later date.

How much can we request?

Action Alliance Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000 and are intended to support the formation of the partnership but not the project cost itself. Concordia has partnered with Global Impact to unlock pro-bono consulting*, which will support Alliance Members in rightsizing their grant request as well as developing a strong onramp to additional philanthropic, government, and corporate funding. 

What if my organization does not use all of the funds for the approved project?

Unused project funds should be returned to Concordia to support future grantee partnerships.

Are grants ever awarded for a different amount than the amount requested?

Requested amounts are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Any adjustments to the requested amount will be discussed with the applicant prior to final decision.

Do you fund salaries and operating expenses?

In some instances. Action Alliance Grants are intended to strengthen partnership capacity, which can include supporting project time, short-term staff expenses (e.g. hiring a grant writer), or covering technical expenses (e.g. software licenses).

Does it matter how many people will be affected by a grant?

As Action Alliance Grants are intended to be catalytic in nature, applications will be evaluated based on the perceived impact potential of the partnership, as well as the likelihood that the concept will access required follow-on funding. The ultimate goal of the Action Fund is to support impact-based partnerships that would not otherwise have taken shape. Given the focus of the Fund on partnership formation, the estimated number of people who stand to benefit from the partnership is included in the consideration but is not the primary decision factor.

What are my obligations as a grantee?

Grantees are required to use the funding as stated in the application and in support of previously agreed-upon partnership goals. Any alterations must be agreed upon with Concordia in writing at least 72 hours prior to taking effect. Grantees are expected to provide quarterly project reports of no more than 500 words detailing the status of the partnership, progress achieved, and additional areas where new and/or current partnerships might scale or strengthen impact. Grantees are also requested to provide 1 visual (chart, photo, etc.) showcasing the partnership in action, and 1 testimonial regarding the specific way the Fund supported the partnership for use on Concordia’s website and other public materials.

What impact reporting is requested and how will Concordia discuss the project?

Grantees are expected to provide quarterly project reports of no more than 500 words detailing the status of the partnership, progress achieved, and additional areas where new and/or current partnerships might scale or strengthen impact. Grantees are also requested to provide 1 visual (chart, photo, etc.) showcasing the partnership in action, and 1 testimonial regarding the specific way the Fund supported the partnership for use on our website and other public materials.

Who should I contact in case of questions?

All questions should be directed to the Partnership Development Department (partnerships@concordia.net). Questions will be responded to within 72 hours.

All questions should be directed to the Partnership Development Department (partnerships@concordia.net). Questions will be responded to within 72 hours.