The Dignity and Development Project
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Our vision is a future where every person's intrinsic moral worth and human dignity is universally acknowledged, respected and protected. We are propelled toward this future by decisions, actions and outcomes that uplift, honor and enhance individual capacity and autonomy, and by organizations throughout the world that seek to ensure inclusion, especially from communities most likely to be disenfranchised, and who are likely to live in our world’s most tragic or seemingly insurmountable conditions.
Enhancing lives for those living in our world's most challenging conditions.
About the Project
The Dignity and Development Project supports programs and projects consistent with the DaDP Vision, Mission and Values. Grants are intended to serve individuals and communities who are underrepresented in the power structure of mainstream society because of economic, social, financial or other constraints or prejudices. Preference may be given toward proposals outside of the United States and those that impact children, families and women; but these parameters are not meant to be exclusive.
Mission
The mission of the DaDP is to support programs and activities that recognize the potential of all individuals and actively seek to remove barriers to inclusion, particularly for those at the greatest risk of exclusion.
We seek to cultivate communities globally that build the capacities of those living in conditions of extreme poverty, who may have voices that often are ignored. Through financial support, partnership, collaboration and engagement, the DaDP aims to amplify voices, broaden choices, increase access, and enhance personal autonomy, representation and human dignity, so that individual fundamental human rights are safeguarded more effectively. (For values, click here.)
Values
The Dignity and Development Project seeks to partner with programs that:
- Identify problems and responses in partnership and solidarity with their affected population – those who are impacted by the challenges and will be impacted by the proposed activity.
- Invest in self-reliance and sustainability by utilizing resources already present in the community as much as possible. Where this is not possible, consider building community capacity as part of the proposed program and / or prior to seeking external resources.
- Design and create programs that are rooted in people’s needs while honoring their expectations of what is respectful and culturally appropriate.
Enhancing lives for those living in our world's most challenging conditions.
For Grant Applicants
A grant from the Dignity and Development Project may be a good fit for your organization if:
- You are a US 501c3 nonprofit entity
- Your work has an impact beyond the United States
- A grant of $5,000 - $10,000 will make a difference in / have an impact on the lives of your intended population and you will be able to demonstrate that impact
- Your organization mission is aligned with the vision, mission and values of the DaDP
More information below.
Please consider the following additional important information about Dignity and Development Project grants and the application process:
- DaDP grants generally range from $5,000 to $10,000, though exceptions may be made in extraordinary circumstances.
- Since grants are not intended to provide long-term funding, proposals are granted only for a single year at a time.
- While organizations may apply for additional grants in consecutive years, no more than three grants within a five-year period typically will be awarded.
- Please click here to review the reporting requirements or scroll down.
to download grant application
Post-Award
The DaDP chooses to contribute grant funds to organizations that are doing inspiring, effective and deeply valuable work - work that has the potential to change and even save human lives. While we have a responsibility to steward our funds in a diligent manner and to track the impact of proposed activities, we certainly do not want reporting requirements to be distracting or burdensome.
Though we require a brief mid-year update and a final report, we work with grantees not only to remain flexible in terms of the format and content of these reports but also to ensure these reports serve grantees’ other obligations or development goals. Therefore, no specific format is mandated.
The mid-year update shall include:
- Description of activities to date, including 2 photos
- Financial report
The final report shall include:
- Description of all project activities, including lessons learned
- 2 impact stories, including at least 4 photos
- Financial report, including verification of expenditures
In addition to these reports, you are welcome to submit any supplemental materials or photos that demonstrate impact.
Depending on the project involved, location, timeline and other factors, the DaDP may visit the program site visit prior to any grant award or during the funding period. Any site visits will be coordinated in advance with the organization.
Administration
LAURA HARTMAN
Project Director
With a background in both law and business, Laura’s experience spans over 35 years in both nonprofit and education environments. She has served as Executive Director of an international philanthropy with $1M+ in assets; has spearheaded initiatives to effect positive change on a global scale; and spent 29 years as a university professor. Her skillset includes expertise in leadership, strategy, compliance, program assessment (metrics, monitoring and outcome evaluation), project management and logistics, business ethics and sustainability, communication, and social justice; and she has field training certification in disaster relief and recovery, and crisis management.
Ione cassens
Associate Project Director
Ione has extensive on-the-ground experience in Haiti, one of the most challenging working environments globally due to its tumultuous social, political and economic conditions. She served as Campus Director of a high quality leadership development-based academic program, where she had responsibility for grant writing and reporting, human resource management, budget oversight, environmental health and safety protocols, community engagement, federal compliance, as well as implementation of the academic program.
Contact us
Please feel free to connect with the Dignity and Development Project if you have any questions about our funding priorities or process.
Enhancing lives for those living in our world's most challenging conditions.