Foundations around the world fund billions of dollars each year on international projects. These projects are either brought to them as a proposal from an organization that is on the ground or arise because of the funder’s own initiative commitment to a specific area. (Of course, there are also identified needs by umbrella organizations which can interest potential funders in a specific project). Before deciding where to put their money funders often welcome grant applications or conduct a request for proposals but the ability of funding organizations to properly assess the merits or demerits of a specific project can be limited. This can be particularly difficult given the pressing need in a variety of areas and the limited co-operation that takes place amongst funding organizations in various countries.

For example, imagine the same funding organization being asked to provide a grant to conduct an environmental analysis of dolphin habitats in the South Pacific and to combat vitamin deficiencies of children in Asia. The expertise required to properly evaluate these widely disparate projects is unlikely to be in any single organization. The problem can be exacerbated when proposals are made to the funder by charities that make a case for funding a project that is really outside the expertise of the funding group.

The experts at Qualidi have been engaged in foreign grantmaking both at the funding and operational level for many years. Each have on the ground, and academic contacts that allow them to conduct a fulsome review of project proposals. They can suggest to you an expert that may work with other members of our council to prepare an analysis of a proposed project to ensure that charitable dollars are being used for the best purposes.