The Virtual Foundation - your donation makes it happen
How To Become a Member of the Virtual Foundation Consortium
(Please Note: These instructions apply only to organizations wishing to
become grant making members. The instructions are not for organizations
wishing to receive grant funds. For examples of Consortium Members, please
read about VF Consortium Members. The grant
application process is described under How to Apply for a Virtual Foundation grant.)
For the responsibilites of Consortium Members please see the
Letter of Agreement Between ECOLOGIA and Virtual
Foundation Consortium Members
Procedure for Becoming a Virtual Foundation Consortium Member
The Virtual Foundation works with a consortium of experienced grant making
organizations globally. These organizations work locally with NGOs in one
or more countries. In order to insure the credibility of the Virtual Foundation,
application to become a Virtual Foundation Consortium Member must follow
established procedures:
- A preliminary letter of interest is sent to the Virtual Foundation
by the potential consortium member.
- The Virtual Foundation supplies the applicant with information concerning
the criteria for Consortium Membership.
- The Consortium Member applicants submit a formal application documenting
that it meets all criteria.
- The Virtual Foundation reviews the application to determine if the
Consortium member applicant can make a specific contribution to the
Virtual Foundation, such as: working in a new region, supporting a previously
neglected segment of the population, or concentrating on a topic which
is currently not covered.
- The Virtual Foundation contacts references supplied by the applicant
and consults with other Consortium Members who work on similar issues
or in the same region.
- Before final approval of the application of a potential Consortium
Member, a Virtual Foundation staff member or representative of The Virtual
Foundation makes a site visit.
- The Virtual Foundation Board of Directors reviews the application
and notifies the applicant of the decision.
- A Letter of Agreement outlining the responsibilities
of a Member and the services provided by the Virtual Foundation is sent
to the new Consortium Member.
- After exchanging the signed Letter of Agreement,
Consortium Members must supply a minimum of three proposals to the Virtual
Foundation within three months in order to confirm their membership.
Meet the criteria for being a member of the Consortium. Applicants
must:
- Be a not-for-profit organization of any national origin. Consortium
Members need not be officially registered as non-profit organizations
as long as they can document their non-profit status. Under special
conditions a government entity may be considered for membership
- Function to support NGO work in the environmental, human health,
community and sustainable economic activity, and NGO capacity building
sectors. In all projects the Virtual Foundation is concerned with the
advancement and participation of women and minorities.
- Have an organizational structure, and financial and legal mechanisms
that provide for outside review of grant and financial decisions.
- Have a proven track record or demonstrate capacity in grant evaluation
and small grant making. Have experience working with the local NGO sector
in a specific geographic region.
- Work in a region approved by the Virtual Foundation Board, currently
(as of 8/97) the Baltics, former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe,
or Asia.
- Be willing and able to take on the responsibilities enumerated in
the Virtual Foundation partners agreement.
- Be able to contribute proposals focusing on needs not already addressed
by other Consortium Members.
- Be able to support part of the costs of administering the Virtual
Foundation grants either with matching funds or contributions of staff
time and support services.
- Provide equal and open access to services and funding for all qualified
organizations within the geographic region served, without reference
to ethnicity, religion, or gender.
Write a brief (one or two page) letter of application for membership
in the Virtual Foundation Consortium. Please include:
- Documentation that your organization meets the criteria outlined above.
- A paragraph explaining how your organization's membership in the Virtual
Foundation Consortium will increase the effectiveness of your work.
- A paragraph explaining how your organization's membership in the Virtual
Foundation Consortium will promote the goals of the Virtual Foundation
(outlined in the Virtual Foundation Mission Statement).
- Three references that we can contact. At least one of the references
should be an NGO that has received support, assistance, or guidance
from your organization.
You are welcome to include any additional materials that you believe will
support your application including annual reports, project reports to foundations
or agencies which have funded your organization's grant making work, and
letters of support or recommendation.
Send Applications to Giedre Donauskaite, Grants Coordinator, at:
The Virtual Foundation
c/o ECOLOGIA
Kalvariju 130-48
LT - 2042 Vilnius
Lithuania
e-mail: ecobalt@post.omnitel.net
voice: 011-(370)-2-765-609
fax: 011-(370)-2-766-737
Within the United States, you can always contact Randy Kritkausky, Virtual
Foundation Director, at voice: (888) 801-7101
Letter of Agreement Between ECOLOGIA and Virtual
Foundation Consortium Members
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