A practical guide to grants for international development organizations, USAID, multilateral funders, foundations, and how to compete for global development funding.
International development funding spans U.S. government, multilateral agencies, foundations, and corporate. The largest sources are USAID and international foundations, but the landscape is broad.
TL;DR: Quick Answers
- Who funds international development? USAID, State Department, multilateral agencies, major U.S. and international foundations, corporate, diaspora giving.
- Who can apply? U.S. and international NGOs, universities, faith-based organizations, contractors. Increasingly, local organizations directly.
- What gets funded? Health, education, economic development, democracy, climate, humanitarian response, food security.
- What’s the biggest opportunity? USAID programs plus major foundations plus increasingly direct local funding under localization.
Federal and Multilateral Funding
USAID is the largest U.S. government international development funder.
State Department for democracy and human rights work, bureau-specific funding.
MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) for partner-country compact work.
CDC Global Health.
Multilateral agencies: UN agencies, World Bank, regional development banks, Global Fund, GAVI, UNICEF (often partner-implemented).
Foundation Funders
See international foundation grants for the major U.S. and international foundations supporting global work.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (largest).
- Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, MacArthur Foundation.
- Rockefeller Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Packard Foundation.
- Wellcome Trust (UK, global health and research).
- Bezos Earth Fund, ClimateWorks (climate global).
- Many family foundations and donor collaboratives.
Corporate Funders
Major corporations with global giving:
- Pharmaceutical (Pfizer, Merck, etc.) for global health.
- Tech (Google, Microsoft, Salesforce) for global education and digital inclusion.
- Banks for financial inclusion.
- Resource companies for community investment in operating regions.
What Gets Funded
- Health (HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB, maternal/child health, neglected tropical diseases).
- Education.
- Economic and livelihoods.
- Food security and agriculture.
- Climate and environment.
- Democracy, governance, and human rights.
- Humanitarian response.
- Women and girls.
Tips for a Competitive Application
- Localization. Funders prioritize local leadership and partnership. See international foundation grants for the shift toward local primes.
- Address fiscal arrangements (equivalency determination, expenditure responsibility, U.S. fiscal sponsorship).
- Rigorous MEL. Funders increasingly expect strong monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
- Cultural and contextual specificity.
- Sustainability that doesn’t depend on donor dollars indefinitely.
How Grantboost Helps
International development funding is spread across USAID, foundations, multilaterals, and corporates. Grantboost continuously surfaces scored, mission-matched opportunities, with drafts in your organization’s voice (see training AI on your past proposals).
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Read next:
- USAID Grants: A Guide to International Development Funding
- International Foundation Grants: Funding Global Work Beyond USAID
- Grants for Refugee Services
Further Reading
- U.S. Department of State
- Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
- Inter-American Foundation
- World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
- Grants.gov (federal funding portal)
- Wikipedia: USAID (history and 2025 status)
Disclaimer: Grant programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and policies vary by region and change frequently. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current rules in your area. Always consult a local grant writer or qualified expert in your region for advice specific to your organization, project, and jurisdiction.