Request for Applications: GINGKO Encounter Grants

The encounters can be but need not be academic in nature. They must aim to improve mutual understanding between MENA and the West.

Funding Information

• GINGKO awards up to three Encounter Grants per year, normally up to a maximum of £3,000 for each grant.

Expected Outcomes

• Applicants should indicate their expected outcomes in their application. Outcomes should be specific and clearly defined.
• If the encounter is written about, either by the grant recipient or a third party, GINGKO’s support must be acknowledged, wherever possible, in any published outcome.
• Grant recipients must submit a brief report (750 to 1000 words) to GINGKO no later than two months after the completion of the project, detailing how the project turned out, assessing how well the project achieved its expected outcomes and providing final accounts for the project. Where possible, grant recipients should conduct a brief survey of the impact of their project on its participants and include the results in their final report. Photos taken during the course of the project should also be included.

Eligible Costs 

• GINGKO Encounter Grants can cover direct costs of organising encounters, including event and technology costs, travel, accommodation, marketing and general expenses. The grant can be used to pay small fees to the organisers and/or others involved in delivering the encounters but these fees should normally total a third or less of the grant requested.

Eligible Projects

• Projects for the Encounter Grant must bring together people from both MENA and the West in a direct and meaningful way. The encounter should be impactful – in other words, designed with the aim of creating real change in all participants. The encounter must be mutual – in other words, the encounter should be designed so that both sides are learning and growing. The encounter can be intercultural or interfaith or both.
• Examples of possible encounters might include: a season of scriptural reasoning gatherings for participants of the three Abrahamic faiths, from MENA and the West; an educational project bringing together students from MENA or of MENA heritage with students from the West; a workshop, which encourages dialogue across ethnic and religious groups from MENA and the West, to build mutual understanding and prevent future conflict.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Encounter Grants are open to anyone who can demonstrate the value of their project and their suitability to lead it. Previous experience organising and/or leading similar projects or events is welcome but not essential. Applicants must be committed to improving mutual understanding between MENA and the West and have an openness to encountering the Other.
• GINGKO particularly welcomes:
  • applications from people in the MENA region and/or with MENA heritage;
  • applications for projects led by people from both the MENA region (and/or with MENA heritage) and the West;
  •  applications for projects in regions and countries where there is limited financial support available for interfaith and/or intercultural encounters.

For more information, visit GINGKO.