Eligibility and Scope

Who can apply?

hbf is a low-threshold funding organization and welcomes initiatives and associations that are still in the process of establishing themselves. However, some minimal requirements exist: besides the capacity to actually implement the project, partners are required to set aside time and personal capacity to prepare proper documentation for funds spent and to draft a detailed financial report once the cooperation is concluded, as well as a narrative report describing the actual implementation of the project.

What kind of projects qualify?

Projects should relate to at least one of our main program areas: Statehood and Participation, Power and Identity, War and Peace and Sustainable Development. However, our mandate as a political foundation provides for empowering people to work for change and improvement in these areas rather than effecting these changes ourselves. E.g., we will not fund equipment for sustainable agriculture, but we may support projects designed to develop production and marketing skills. We will not fund artistic productions, but we may support networking that increases artists' presence in and influence on the public sphere. We will not buy books for public libraries, but we may support initiatives to turn libraries into vivid public spaces. We will not send European experts to lecture about parliamentary representation, but we may support efforts by Arab civil society organizations to push for changes in the electoral system of their countries.

How to design a successful application?

A successful application describes a problem or an issue that needs to be addressed, suggests concrete measures with achievable objectives and explains convincingly how these will work to address the issue and push for the desired change, and why the applying organization is well-placed to implement the intended measures. Finally, an application should name indicators by which success or failure of a project/activity can be measured, and come up with a realistic budget that allows for a meaningful contribution by hbf (we are unlikely to support a project already underwritten by a large number of funding organizations, or with a budget so huge that our contribution would be negligible).

What is the scope of hbf funding?

Any first-time cooperation will be typically over an activity or event that is clearly limited in scope, time and cost, with funding mostly remaining significantly below $ 10,000. Partial funding of events/activities with a larger budget can also be an option. Funding may cover cost for travel, venue and equipment rent, publications and honorary fees for trainers or coordinators. Expenses for equipment and institutional expenses (office rent, staff salaries, administrative overheads) are not eligible.

I. Talk to us

Reading the left column on  this page carefully, and scanning through the descriptions of activities and projects that we have supported thus far (available on the pages projects and activities) should give potential applicants a sense whether a specific project/activity may be eligible under our mandate and our program areas. If there is further need for clarification, do not hesitate to contact us under the numbers or email address available at the contact page. Inquiries may be in English or Arabic language.

II. Write a Proposal

The proposal should be in English and include the following elements:

• Name and contact details of the proposing organization

• brief description of the organization

• Title and synopsis of the activity

• Background explaining the context/ rationale and need for the activity

• Project description (containing the following details):

• Intended measures

• Objectives

• Indicators to measure success or failure  (in accordance with objectives)

• Beneficiaries/ target groups

• Format of the project (workshop, training, lobbying public awareness)

• Location

• Time frame  (anticipated dates for event, duration of the work to be completed, etc.)

• Potential Follow-up

• Amount of funding sought from hbf

III. Draft a Budget

Draw up a realistic budget of what the intended activity will cost in its totality (please state clearly whether amounts quoted include VAT). If you expect hbf to only fund a part of the budget and/or there are other funding organizations involved, spell this out clearly in the proposal, and indicate which budget items will likely be funded from other sources.