Tinker will operate one grantmaking cycle in 2025 and is accepting LOIs for the following programs: Democratic Governance, Education, and Sustainable Resource Management.
Tinker makes the vast majority of its grants using an open application process. We consistently hear that civil society organizations in Latin America value this approach. As a foundation, we see how our process enables us to meet potential grantees outside our existing network and support work that leaders in the region prioritize.
Since 2020, we have seen a strong increase in Letters of Inquiry submitted through Tinker’s open call process. In 2024, we received nearly 1,500 applications compared to fewer than 500 in 2019. At the same time, resources available for grantmaking remain relatively constant.
This trend has two important implications:
- Applicants face an increasingly competitive process, with likelihood of being invited to submit a proposal dropping to approximately 1% in some programs. This means that most applicants are not successful and that many promising and well-aligned projects do not receive funding. While we strive to operate an efficient and streamlined LOI process, we know that each application represents an important investment of time from our NGO colleagues.
- Our small Tinker program team has spent a growing share of its own time reviewing LOIs, limiting our ability to dedicate engage in other important aspects of our work such as accompaniment of current grantees and monitoring, learning, and evaluation.
For that reason, we have decided to offer only one cycle for LOIs in 2025. This cycle will open in mid-January, with awards made in early June. We will accept LOIs in all three Tinker institutional grant programs: Democratic Governance, Education and Sustainable Resource Management.
While we may conduct some additional grantmaking in the remainder of 2025, we anticipate that most new grants will be allocated through the LOI process, consistent with Tinker’s longstanding approach. The overall amount of new grants disbursed will resemble 2024 grantmaking but will be awarded through one cycle rather than two.
For now, we envision this change to apply to 2025 only. We plan to review this experience before considering any permanent changes and will communicate our plans for 2026 in October 2025.
Key guidance for applicants:
- If your organization plans to submit an LOI to Tinker in 2025, your only opportunity to do so will be in the January cycle. Proposals will be due in March for organizations invited to submit.
- Grant decisions will be announced in June with awards to follow.
- Projects submitted in the January LOI cycle may begin any time between July and December of 2025. Project start dates may affect the timing of payments.
We understand that this change for 2025 represents a shift from Tinker’s established practice and may present challenges for some applicants. Please email [email protected] with questions or feedback.
