Spark Fund

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Groups led by women, girls, or trans people or intersex people. The people whose rights are at stake are the decision makers in the project. 

Example: If a group is working on trans rights, trans people should decide on the group’s activities and how the funds are allocated. The spokespersons for the group, as well as those being paid, should be trans people. Non-trans people can also work for the group in various capacities, providing they are not the ones leading it. 

• Groups working from a feminist perspective and/or focused on women’s, girls, or trans or intersex rights. 

Example: Mama Cash understands “work from a feminist perspective” to involve the struggle against sexism and patriarchal gender norms, and/or the safeguarding of the human rights of women, girls, and trans and intersex people. Under this criterion, only projects that centre the needs, experiences and rights of women, girls, and trans intersex people would be eligible. For example, a proposal for an eligible housing project would address the specific barriers women face in accessing decent and affordable housing. It would also need to address the challenges of different groups of women (e.g., both urban and rural, disabled, queer and/or employed in sex work) in accessing housing. The experiences and rights of women and the issues they face would have to be at the core of the project, rather than being included as just one of many elements. 

• Groups working on urgent and contested political issues in the Netherlands and the ABCSSS islands.  

Example: A group of Muslim women organises to advocate for their rights and voices their concerns in an environment where wearing a hijab, niqab or similar covering is contested by both state bodies and members of the public. 

• Groups working on structural and systemic change.  

Example: A migrant women’s group provides shelter services to other migrant women to respond to their immediate needs, such as housing or health care. But the group also works to tackle the fundamental barriers to accessing these services, ensuring that other migrant women, even those they cannot directly reach, will benefit in the longer term.  

In addition, the Spark Fund prioritises: 

• Non-formalised/non-registered, new groups that have a budget below €50,000 per year and that have limited resources (for example, no paid staff or office space, etc.) 

Please note that you don’t need an organisational bank account, residence permit or any other form of identification to apply. In addition, your organisation doesn’t have to be registered as a ‘foundation’. 

We define feminism as being very multifaceted, but at its core we see it as work that addresses or challenges sexism and patriarchal gender norms (relating to sexuality, class, ethnicity, race, migration status, ability, and more) with the aim of ending inequality and injustice. 

Grantmaking window – Mama Cash usually accepts applications for Spark Fund grants in the month of August.  

Online application – You will find links on our website to an application form which accepts written, video, or voice recorded applications. Mama Cash accepts applications in English and Dutch. If another language suits you better, contact us at spark@mamacash.org and we’ll explore possible accommodations with you. 

Screening & Review – Mama Cash staff screen applications based on the Spark Fund’s criteria and priority. Eligible applications are then reviewed by a steering committee of former Spark grantee-partners – feminist activists in the Netherlands or on Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius or Saba.  

Decision-making and Award – The steering committee collectively decides which applications get turned into a grant, guided by their earlier review. They also review the top-ranked applications to ensure inclusivity. Grants decisions are usually announced in October.  

A steering committee of former Spark grantee-partners – feminist activists in the Netherlands, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius or Saba – reviews all eligible applications and decides.   

The Spark Fund is usually open for applications each year during the month of August. Please check back for further information as August approaches. 

If you have any additional questions about the Spark Fund, contact us via spark@mamacash.org.