Honnold Foundation Core Fund Grant

The Honnold Foundation Core Fund provides unrestricted funding for global solar energy access initiatives, aiming to reduce environmental impact while enhancing social and economic equity. By partnering with community-based organizations, the foundation focuses on supporting projects that improve solar infrastructure and empower marginalized communities. Priority is given to those led by Indigenous and Black-majority individuals, as well as organizations demonstrating a commitment to gender equity in leadership roles. Funding will particularly target regions vulnerable to climate change.

Providing unrestricted funding to global solar energy access initiatives that reduce environmental impact and increase social and economic equity.
The Honnold Foundation partners with marginalized communities to expand equitable solar energy access. We believe that solar energy access improves lives and reduces environmental impact, and we provide unrestricted grant funding to organizations across the globe whose work increases social and economic equity in the communities they serve. Though our funds are unrestricted, we tend to select organizations that are directing funds towards a specific project or initiative.
As described in our  Strategic Plan, the majority of the Honnold Foundation’s 2024 funding will be distributed to the Americas and Island Nations affected by intensifying storms and our rapidly changing climate.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for Core Grant funding.The organization is community-based and/or has a clear community connectionThe organization has a charitable status in its country of origin or has a fiscal sponsor; U.S. Tribes and tribally-led organizations are also welcome to apply
The majority of the funding will be used for the construction of new solar infrastructure and/or the improvement of existing solar infrastructure (ie: grid-tied solar, solar home systems, solar water pump, etc.)
The organization has identified a technical partner (installer) to develop new and/or improve existing solar infrastructure
The funding will be used to increase social and economic equity for underserved/marginalized communities
The funding will be used to limit environmental impact by reducing dependence on or usage of fossil fuels or other energy sources known to be highly pollutive (diesel oil, wood, kerosene, coal-powered utility grids, etc.)
The funding will be used to support work in a single community or a small cohort of communities
The community served is involved in the creation, maintenance and management of the work the funding supports