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Calling all feminist activists in the Netherlands and on the ABCSSS islands: Spark Fund opens soon. 

group of people with colourful clothes dancing outdoors
Spark Fund recipient, Papaya Kuir. Credit PK Lumbung
Are you a feminist activist in the Netherlands or on Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius or Sint Maarten (the ABCSSS islands)?  
Are you part of a group of women, girls, or trans or intersex people? 
And do you need funding to power your work?  

The Spark Fund supports initiatives by and for structurally excluded communities working on urgent and contested issues in the Netherlands and on the ABCSSS islands. Ranging from €5,000 to €12,000 per project for up to two years, these grants are intended to strengthen the bold work of self-led groups in the Netherlands and the ABCSSS islands working to secure the rights of women, girls, and trans people and intersex people. Grants are awarded to formalised groups as well as those that may not have formal, long-term plans, but where a grant can provide the group with the needed resources.  

Apply between 20 August and 20 September 2026, 11:59 pm CEST. 

The eligibility criteria are as follows. The Spark Fund supports: 

  • 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 focuses on the rights of women with disabilities, they should be the ones to decide on the group’s activities and how the funds are allocated. The spokespersons as well as those being paid, should be women with disabilities. People without disabilities can contribute but cannot lead the group. 

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

Mama Cash understands “work from a feminist perspective” to involve work that challenges sexism and patriarchal gender norms, and/or defends the human rights of women, girls, and trans and intersex people. We only fund projects that centre the needs, experiences and rights of women, girls, and trans intersex people. For example, a housing project may quality if it focuses on the barriers women face in accessing safe and affordable housing, especially migrant women, queer women, sex workers, women with disabilities, women in rural areas or with low incomes. These women’s lived experiences and priorities must be at the core of the project, not an add-on. 

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

Example: A group of Muslim women comes together to defend their rights and voice their concerns in a context where government and public opinion criticise wearing a hijab, niqab or similar forms of covering. 

  • Groups working on structural and systemic change.  

Example: A group of migrant women provides shelter to other migrant women to meet their immediate needs. At the same time, the group addresses the fundamental barriers that prevent access to housing or healthcare, ensuring long-term impact even for migrant women they may not reach directly reach.  

In addition, the Spark Fund prioritises: 

  • groups that face barriers to accessing flexible funding, including non-formalised/non-registered groups, newly established groups, volunteer-led groups, and groups with limited organisational resources (for example, no paid staff or office space). 

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’. 

Submit your application via an online form, video or audio recording in English or Dutch. If another language suits you better, contact us at spark@mamacash.org and we’ll explore possible accommodations with you. 

Click here to learn more about the Spark Fund. 

How to apply:

The Spark Fund online application period is open from 20 August to 20 September 2026, 11:59 pm CEST. The links to the online application form, video or audio recording options will be available on our website on 20 August 2026.

In line with our commitment to sharing power and decision-making authority with activists, recipients of Spark Fund grants will be selected by members of Mama Cash’s Advisory Network. The selection will be based on a review of the applications against our eligibility criteria.