AHF Emerging Partners Initiative
Call for Expressions of Interest from Grassroots Organizations in Nepal
Locally led projects, new partnerships
The American Himalayan Foundation (AHF) is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from grassroots Nepali organizations for grants to support practical, locally led projects that can make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Through this initiative, AHF hopes to identify promising organizations that we have not previously supported and begin building relationships with a new generation of Nepali partners.
Selected organizations will receive funding for a project or program to be implemented over approximately one year. In addition to supporting worthwhile work, the grant will give AHF and the selected organization an opportunity to learn how we work together and to explore the potential for a longer-term partnership.
Grant Amount
AHF has limited funding available for this initiative and hopes to support several new organizations.
Please request the amount your project genuinely needs rather than automatically requesting the maximum available grant. A larger request will not make an application more competitive. We encourage applicants to develop a realistic budget based on the actual scale and requirements of the proposed work.
Your proposed budget should include any necessary costs associated with Social Welfare Council approval, audit requirements, and other applicable government compliance.
Why is AHF making this call?
AHF has worked with many wonderful organizations and communities across the Himalaya for more than four decades. Many of our strongest programs have grown from long-term relationships with locally rooted organizations that understand their communities and have the leadership, commitment, and practical ability to make change happen.
The Emerging Partners Initiative is intended to help us find new grassroots organizations in Nepal with the potential to become strong AHF partners.
We are interested not simply in organizations that can write impressive proposals, but in organizations that can demonstrate good leadership, practical program delivery, responsible financial management, accountability to the people they serve, and the potential to build a productive long-term relationship with AHF.
The initial grant is therefore both an investment in a worthwhile project and an opportunity for AHF and the organization to get to know one another.
Who should apply?
We welcome EOIs from organizations that:
- Are based and operating in Nepal and are registered with the appropriate Nepali government authorities.
- Are genuinely grassroots and locally rooted, with strong connections to the communities they serve.
- Work primarily in one or more of the following areas:
- Climate and climate resilience
- Environment
- Women and girls
- Income generation
- Social entrepreneurship
- Can demonstrate previous or ongoing work relevant to the project being proposed.
- Have the organizational and financial capacity to responsibly manage the requested grant.
- Are proposing a practical project or program that can be substantially implemented within approximately one year.
AHF particularly encourages applications from organizations led by or serving women; gender and sexual minorities; marginalized caste and Indigenous communities; and people with disabilities.
We welcome applications from smaller organizations. Applicants do not need sophisticated proposal-writing skills or large administrative teams to be considered.
Who is not eligible?
This particular call is intended to identify organizations that are new to AHF. Therefore:
- Current or former AHF partners are not eligible.
- Organizations undertaking political activities, or with politicians involved in the organization, are not eligible.
- The main purpose of the proposed project cannot be research or government advocacy.
AHF will also not fund through this initiative:
- international travel;
- salaries, stipends or other remuneration for non-Nepali staff or volunteers; or
- costs associated with staging or attending conferences, workshops or large meetings.
Applicants should review these requirements carefully before completing the EOI.
How the Application Process Works
We have deliberately designed this as a two-stage process so that organizations do not have to prepare a lengthy proposal unless their initial EOI is shortlisted.
Stage 1 — Expression of Interest
October 30 – December 15, 2026Complete the online EOI form. The form asks for information about your organization, its leadership and governance, the problem you want to address, your proposed project or program, your previous experience, and an indicative budget.
At this stage, we do not require a full proposal or detailed project budget.
AHF will review EOIs during January 2027 and select a shortlist. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Click here to preview the application questions (PDF) before starting the form. Please note that you will not be able to save your progress and return to the form later.
Stage 2 — Call for Full Proposals
January 15 – March 1, 2027Shortlisted organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal.
The full proposal stage will ask for more detailed information, including the project design and timeline, expected results and measures of success, beneficiaries, organizational governance, sustainability, a detailed project and organizational budget, and a recent organizational audit report.
Shortlisted applicants may subsequently be invited to an online or in-person interview with AHF.
Final Selection
Applicants who reach the full proposal stage but are ultimately unsuccessful will also be notified. AHF intends to provide those unsuccessful shortlisted applicants with a small honorarium in recognition of the work involved in preparing a full proposal.
Before You Apply
Please consider these questions before completing the EOI:
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The available grant range is NPR 1,520,000–NPR 7,600,000. Applicants should request only what they reasonably need to implement the proposed project. A smaller, realistic and well-justified budget can be just as competitive as a larger request.
No. Applications will not receive preference simply because they request more funding. AHF will consider whether the proposed budget is appropriate and realistic for the activities and expected results.
Either is acceptable. The EOI form asks whether the project is already operating or would begin with AHF funding. If it is already operating, you will be asked to provide a brief history of the project.
Yes. The EOI form asks whether AHF would be the only donor and, where applicable, about other funding supporting the project. Co-funding does not in itself make a project ineligible.
No. This initiative is specifically intended to identify grassroots Nepali organizations. AHF is interested in an organization’s ability to do meaningful work responsibly, rather than its size or ability to produce sophisticated grant applications.
Yes. Applicant organizations must be appropriately registered in Nepal.
No. This initiative is specifically intended to identify new partners. Current and former AHF partners are not eligible.
No. Applications must come from eligible Nepali organizations.
Organizations should submit their strongest proposal rather than multiple applications.
No. A recent organizational audit report will be requested only from organizations invited to the full proposal stage.
No. The EOI asks for an initial budget outline. Organizations shortlisted for the next stage will be asked to submit a detailed budget.
Reasonable project-related staffing, administration and operating costs may be included where they are necessary to implement the proposed work. Applicants should clearly explain these costs and ensure they are proportionate to the project.
Yes. Applicants should take account of necessary SWC approval, audit and other government compliance costs when preparing their proposed budget.
No. AHF staff can answer questions about the application form, eligibility requirements and application process, but cannot provide individual advice on how an applicant should design its project, prepare its proposal, or make its application more competitive.
This is important to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly.
Because we expect to receive a large number of EOIs, only organizations shortlisted for the full proposal stage will be contacted following the EOI review.
Organizations invited to submit a full proposal will be informed of the final decision. AHF intends to provide a small honorarium to unsuccessful applicants who complete the full proposal stage, in recognition of the time and effort involved.
No. This is an initial grant and does not create an entitlement to future funding. However, one purpose of the initiative is to identify organizations with which AHF may wish to develop longer-term relationships.
Ready to Apply?
Before beginning, please make sure that you have reviewed the eligibility requirements above and have the basic information about your organization, proposed project and indicative budget available.
Click here to preview the application questions (PDF) before starting the form. Please note that you will not be able to save your progress and return to the form later.
Expression of Interest deadline: December 15, 2026
Complete the Expression of Interest form
Questions about the application form or process?
Email: [email protected]
This email address is for questions concerning the EOI form, eligibility requirements and application process. AHF staff cannot provide individual advice on the design of your project or application.
Please do not send applications by email. Applications must be submitted through the online Expression of Interest form.