Deadline:
Jul 31, 2026About Oak Foundation:
Oak Foundation is one of the world's largest independent grant-making foundations, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded by Alan Parker, Oak commits approximately $300 million annually across 10 programme areas. The Foundation's mission is to contribute to a safer, fairer, and more sustainable world through its grant-making. Oak works primarily through proactive identification of grantees but also accepts unsolicited Letters of Enquiry through its online portal. The Foundation is known for making substantial, multi-year grants that enable organisations to build capacity, sustain programmes, and achieve systemic change.
Issues Affecting Women Programme — Overview:
For more than 20 years, the Issues Affecting Women Programme (IAWP) has funded organisations and movements around the world. The programme's vision is that all women and girls should be safe, free, and have an equal chance to thrive. Yet every day, women experience violence and discrimination and are denied the freedom to decide how they will live — undermining their health, safety, dignity, and independence. The IAWP finds inspiration from strong and vibrant organisations and movements built and led by women — courageous people who transform lives and communities across the world. Supporting them with resources, organisational strengthening, and connections is at the heart of what Oak does.
The programme operates GLOBALLY — no geographic restriction is stated. This distinguishes it from Oak's Environment programme (which specifies Southern Africa, SE Asia, Europe). The IAWP explicitly funds "organisations and movements around the world."
Five Funding Areas:
Strengthening Women's Movements — Oak supports initiatives that strengthen connections within the movement ecosystem, support empowering leaders, resource strategies that build positive narratives, and enhance outreach, organising, and mobilisation efforts. Additionally, Oak supports efforts that create conditions to prevent crises, build resilience, and sustain peace, including support for community health and wellbeing.
Resourcing Women's Funds — Oak supports efforts that seed, strengthen, and support women's funds in underserved geographies; collaborate with larger international women's funds for learning and influence; nurture a diverse and connected ecosystem of women's funds; strengthen connections and collaborative capacities within the women's funds ecosystem and broader women's movements; and increase access to resources for women and girls in conflict, emergency, and crisis situations to meet their immediate needs and protect their rights.
Ending Domestic Violence — Oak supports efforts that develop services and programmes centred on the voice and dignity of survivors, help survivors achieve safety and justice, and increase young people's awareness to prevent domestic violence.
Stopping Psychological Violence — Oak supports efforts to improve understanding of abusers' tactics, support community and legal remedies that prioritise survivors' needs, help survivors achieve financial stability and access quality support services, and increase awareness of psychological violence to promote prevention.
Preventing Trafficking and Exploitation — Oak supports efforts to increase access to services and justice for women who have experienced trafficking and exploitation, promote community organising, leadership development, and civic engagement, ensure greater corporate accountability for safe and dignified working conditions across the supply chain, and support safe and informed migration for those who choose to migrate.
How to Apply — Letter of Enquiry:
Oak Foundation does NOT have open calls for proposals. The only pathway for unsolicited approaches is submitting a Letter of Enquiry (LOI) through the online form at https://oakfnd.org/submit-enquiry/. The LOI requires general information (organisation name, website, contact details), financial information (amount requested in USD, total project cost, co-funding status), and project information (programme selection, project location, purpose, alignment with programme strategy, and project proposal narrative). Select "Issues Affecting Women" as the programme when submitting.
Important process notes: The LOI is a preliminary screening — it is NOT a formal application. Oak's formal grant process begins only after Oak requests a formal proposal following LOI review. Only a few LOI submissions are approved each year despite high volume. Programme budgets are allocated approximately one year in advance. Misaligned applications will not be considered — ensure your submission aligns with specific programme strategy. Do NOT contact Oak Foundation staff directly to discuss submissions — no phone calls or office visits. Response within 2 months if interested.
Nepal Eligibility and Relevance:
Nepal is ELIGIBLE — the IAWP operates globally with no stated geographic restriction. Nepal presents exceptionally strong alignment across all five funding areas.
Strengthening Women's Movements in Nepal: Nepal has a vibrant but chronically underfunded women's rights movement. Feminist organisations, women's cooperatives, advocacy networks, and women's political participation initiatives all need sustained support. Nepal's transition to federalism has created new spaces for women's organising at provincial and local levels. Post-conflict gender justice (legacy of the 1996–2006 Maoist insurgency) remains an active area of women's advocacy. Movement-building around issues like menstrual health rights (chhaupadi), citizenship in mothers' names, and women's land rights is ongoing.
Resourcing Women's Funds in Nepal: South Asia is significantly underserved in terms of women's funds. Tewa — the Nepal Women's Fund — is one of the region's few dedicated women's funds and has been operating since 1996, providing small grants to grassroots women's organisations across Nepal. Supporting and strengthening Tewa or seeding new women's funds in Nepal fits directly with Oak's priority of "seeding, strengthening, and supporting women's funds in underserved geographies." Nepal's women's fund ecosystem is nascent and would benefit enormously from Oak's support.
Ending Domestic Violence in Nepal: Approximately 26% of Nepali women have experienced physical violence. Domestic violence services in Nepal include shelters, helplines, legal aid, and community mediation — but coverage is inadequate, particularly in rural areas. Nepal's Domestic Violence (Crime and Punishment) Act 2009 provides a legal framework, but implementation and access to justice remain weak. Survivor-centred services, youth prevention education, and access to justice all align with Oak's DV funding priorities.
Stopping Psychological Violence in Nepal: Psychological and economic abuse within intimate partnerships is prevalent but under-recognised in Nepal. Dowry-related abuse, coercive control, emotional abuse, and economic dependence affect millions of Nepali women. Legal and community remedies for psychological violence are underdeveloped. Raising awareness and building response capacity aligns directly with Oak's priorities.
Preventing Trafficking and Exploitation in Nepal: Nepal is one of the world's most significant source countries for human trafficking — both labour trafficking (primarily men and women to Gulf states, Malaysia, and other destinations) and sex trafficking (internal and cross-border to India). Oak's explicit mention of "safe and informed migration for those who choose to migrate" directly connects to Nepal's labour migration context. Corporate accountability for supply chain conditions is relevant to Nepali workers in global supply chains. Survivor-led organisations like Shakti Samuha (the world's first organisation founded and run by trafficking survivors) operate in Nepal. Community organising for trafficking prevention, especially in high-risk districts, is an active area of work.
Potential Nepal Applicants: WOREC (Women's Rehabilitation Centre) — national women's rights organisation working on GBV, trafficking, and women's rights. FWLD (Forum for Women, Law and Development) — legal advocacy for women's rights. Tewa — Nepal Women's Fund (resourcing women's grassroots organisations). Maiti Nepal — anti-trafficking (rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration). Shakti Samuha — survivor-led anti-trafficking organisation. Women for Human Rights (WHR) — single women's rights. Pourakhi — migrant women workers' rights. National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders. Provincial and local women's rights coalitions. Feminist movement-building networks.
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