Fontana Foundation supports practical, community-based projects in developing countries that create livelihoods and durable local capacity. Its giving is centered on social entrepreneurship, vocational training, and basic infrastructure, with a clear preference for initiatives that are tied to local markets, skills systems, or essential services and that can show long-term social and environmental impact. The foundation appears especially interested in rural and indigenous communities, agriculture and value chains, and projects that combine economic opportunity with conservation or resource protection.
Focus Areas
Social Entrepreneurship in Developing CountriesVocational and Apprenticeship TrainingAgriculture and Rural Value ChainsIndigenous and Rural Community InfrastructureSustainable Livelihoods and Job CreationEnvironmentally Responsible Basic Infrastructure
Giving Approach
Mix of equity/investment-style support and project grants. It favors seed or early-growth social businesses, mid-term vocational programs that can run multi-year, and well-defined infrastructure projects with clear community benefits; funding seems program-specific and likely selective rather than open-call, with support often accompanied by technical assistance or capacity building.
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How to approach this funder
Align proposals tightly to one of the three program areas and show concrete, measurable outcomes for jobs, skills, access, or conservation. Emphasize how the project fits local systems and demonstrates sustainability, and if applying for vocational or infrastructure support, be ready to show implementation readiness, community need, and environmental safeguards. Geo-focus on developing-country settings, especially rural or indigenous communities, is important.
Notable grantees:
• Sarvaguna
• Bridges in the Rainforest
• COMMUNAUTS
• Tong-Len
• Nob Bhutan
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Fontana Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intake
Vocational Training
vocational trainingskills developmentincome generation+2 more
Who can apply: Local ownership and strong local program management; relevance to the local population and sustainable development; economic inclusion of disadvantaged people; professionally managed curriculum, admissions, qualifications and reporting; integration into local/national systems; financial sustainability and exit strategy; no short-term projects, crisis relief, medical aid, loans, pure donations, or intermediary organizations.
Deadline: No fixed deadline stated; applications are accepted by email.
Who can apply: Projects must be innovative, benefit communities in developing countries, and involve active participation from the community. Projects should be well-defined, sustainable, and aligned with the foundation's principles.
Deadline: No public deadline stated; contact by email for proposals.
Social entrepreneurshipAgriculture/value chainsJob creation+2 more
Who can apply: Must be legally registered at minimum in a development country; impact-oriented (poverty reduction/social inclusion); SME in seed or early growth stage with tested product and 2-3 existing investors (founder + angel investor); transparent investment need; willing to share business information and accept Fontana Foundation's investor role.
Vocational trainingSkills developmentEconomic inclusion+1 more
Who can apply: Local ownership/anchoring by a local organisation with professional project management and reporting; relevance to local population and national qualification systems; focus on economic inclusion and sustainable income; clear curricula, selection criteria, certificates; plan for economic efficiency, financial sustainability and exit strategy. No support for short-term projects, private individuals, humanitarian/medical aid, loans, pure donations, intermediary organisations' administration/fundraising.
Basic infrastructureRural infrastructureEnvironmental protection+1 more
Who can apply: Projects must be clearly defined, implemented with locally established partners, demonstrate sustainable outcomes, and align with the foundation's principles. The foundation does not fund short-term emergency/humanitarian/medical projects or loans, and avoids funding intermediaries' administration/fundraising.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.