Applications for projects to expand human agency

The Agency Fund aims to invest in ideas and organizations that expand human agency by engaging in people’s consciousness and expanding their ability to exert control over their own lives. 

The fund currently has an open call. With funding offered through the fund, may factors come into play, but three are of special importance: 

Relevance to Human Agency: Is the approach aligned with the values that guide the work of the Agency Fund? Does it engage people's consciousness and embrace their dignity? Does it offer situationally relevant insights that may help people obtain new perspectives about their options, capabilities, or future? Does the context realistically afford people alternative choices?

Leverage & Synergy: Does the idea elegantly leverage technology to engage people in a customized, interactive, and scalable manner? Does it build on an existing user base, case worker network, or policy mechanism? Is there potential for cross-fertilization with other approaches that the Agency Fund has been considering?

Data & Learning: Is this idea grounded in science (typically development economics, behavioral science, or social psychology)? Does the applicant organization use data to rapidly adapt? Is there a path to credible evidence of exceptional cost-effectiveness?

Applicants are asked to consider the following questions: 1) Is your project likely to demonstrate socioeconomic impact (e.g. impacts on health, education, or livelihoods)? Do you plan to serve 1 million or more users in the coming years, either directly or through partners? Would it naturally feature among the other projects in the Agency Fund's Portfolio?

Investments range from $10,000 to $1 million, depending on perceived potential and maturity, with the median around $200,000.

Institutions worldwide can apply for other funding. The organization highly values and encourages applications from low- and middle-income countries. For-profits may be eligible for project funding and seed investments (by invitation-only), but are ineligible for unrestricted grants. Where possible, the organization prefers donating to U.S. 501(c)(3) public charities for efficiency; but this does not affect selection.

For complete program guidelines, application instructions, an eligibility checklist, and a list of previously awarded projects, see the Agency Fund website.

*The Agency Fund discourages applicants from submitting more than one application per quarter, or re-applying for the same project after receiving a decline.