Frequently Asked Questions



Policy

  • Do you only make grants to nonprofits?

    Usually U.S. organizations must have 501(c)3 status and Peruvian organizations must be registered as nonprofits. We do make exceptions for for-profit companies with a social mission.


  • Do you require counterpart funding?

    We will not fund any project unless there is a clear indication that the participants in the project – the farmers themselves – are committed to investing in the project. This may take the form of counterpart contributions in cash or in-kind. In addition, we prefer to work on projects that have other sources of financing, to share experiences with other funders, and to ensure the project is adequately supported. If you have not worked with us before, we limit our funding to no more than 50 percent of your project’s budget.


  • How many years must an organization exist as a registered nonprofit before it can receive funding?

    We favor organizations with demonstrated leadership and capacity. However, we do not have a specific guideline on age of the organization.


  • If we have already received support from you, can we apply for another grant?

    Yes. We are always interested to hear what our valued partners are doing and how we can support them.


  • What interest rate do you charge on your loans?

    It depends on the project and the applicant organization, but it is generally less than the market rate.


  • What types of funding do you provide?

    We provide grants, loans, or a combination of both. We focus on program-related support and also provide capacity building and technical assistance funds. We will consider requests for unrestricted funding once we have worked with an organization for several years.


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Process

  • Are site visits mandatory prior to approval of project funding?

    If the board approves your project profile, we will schedule a site visit before asking for a full proposal.


  • Do you accept profiles and proposal documents in Spanish?

    Yes. Our staff is bilingual. Please feel free to submit information in whichever language you prefer, English or Spanish.


  • How long does it take to move through the decision-making process?

    It takes anywhere from six to nine months from project profile submission to approval, depending on when in the funding cycle we receive your project profile. We encourage potential applicants to submit proposals well in advance of the start of the project. We normally don't accept requests for emergency funding.


  • How quickly will we hear back if our project profile has been approved by the board?

    Within the first month after we have received your project profile, a member of our program staff will contact you for additional information prior to submitting the profile to the board. If the project addresses our funding interests, the board will discuss it at the next scheduled board meeting, and we will notify you immediately of the result.


  • What is your funding cycle?

    The Peru Opportunity Fund board meets three times a year to discuss projects: February, June and October. We receive proposals on a rolling basis throughout the year; however, projects must go before the board first in their profile stage and at the next scheduled board meeting in their final proposal stage before being approved.


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Types of Projects

  • Are there minimum or maximum grant amounts?

    No. The budget should reflect the activities required to achieve the anticipated results. We often prefer to make smaller grants the first time we work with an organization.


  • Do you fund infrastructure projects?

    We recognize that some productive projects require investments in infrastructure, and some of our funding can be applied to those needs. However, we do not fund pure infrastructure projects and do not contribute to capital campaigns.


  • Do you provide funding for purchase of land?

    Depending on the project, the purchase of land may be required to achieve the economic development goals of the project and can be funded. However, we do not fund purchase of land as a goal in itself, for instance for conservation purposes.


  • Is there a minimum or maximum time frame for the projects you support?

    No. The time frame should realistically reflect the amount of time it will take for you to achieve your goals.


  • What kinds of projects do you fund and where?

    We fund projects that result in increased productivity and income for rural Peruvian farmers. We fund projects that have clear and measurable economic outcomes. While the projects may have other outcomes as well, they must have a component of income generation.


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