Grant
The Doria Feminist Fund (DFF) has opened its Grantmaking Cycle 7, providing an important funding opportunity for feminist groups, collectives and organisations working across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The fund is designed to provide flexible and long-term financial support to feminist movements, particularly groups working at the frontlines of social change. Rather than imposing rigid funding priorities, DFF aims to place resources, decision-making and trust in the hands of the feminist movements and communities closest to the issues they are addressing.
Requirements: Importantly, individual applicants cannot apply independently. DFF funds collective feminist work, meaning eligible applicants must apply as a collective, group or organisation.
How to apply: Doria Feminist Fund announced that Grantmaking Cycle 7 opened on 7 September 2026, and eligible feminist groups are encouraged to submit their applications before the 19 October 2026 deadline.
A quick overview based on the listing. Review the full details below before applying.
No separate application link was provided for this opportunity. Full application instructions are included in the announcement details below — read them carefully and contact the organization directly.
The Doria Feminist Fund (DFF) has opened its Grantmaking Cycle 7, providing an important funding opportunity for feminist groups, collectives and organisations working across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The fund is designed to provide flexible and long-term financial support to feminist movements, particularly groups working at the frontlines of social change. Rather than imposing rigid funding priorities, DFF aims to place resources, decision-making and trust in the hands of the feminist movements and communities closest to the issues they are addressing.
For feminist organisations and collectives looking for funding to strengthen their movements, launch new initiatives, produce knowledge, respond to emergencies or build their organisational capacity, the Doria Feminist Fund represents an opportunity to access funding and longer-term accompaniment.
DFF Grantmaking Cycle 7 opened on 7 September 2026, and applications are due by 19 October 2026.
The Doria Feminist Fund supports feminist groups and organisations working at the frontlines of change throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Its approach is based on the belief that feminist movements and local communities are best positioned to understand their own circumstances, determine their priorities and decide how resources should be used.
DFF therefore focuses on providing flexible funding and long-term support, allowing communities to strengthen their work, share knowledge and develop solutions that respond to their own realities.
The fund supports both new and established feminist groups, with particular attention given to groups that may have difficulty accessing traditional philanthropic funding.
DFF’s approach also recognises that feminist movements require more than short-term project financing. Sustainable movements need resources, organisational support, knowledge-sharing opportunities, networks, safety and collective care.
One of the central features of DFF is its emphasis on trust, flexibility, solidarity and community-driven decision-making.
Instead of requiring every feminist organisation to fit into a predetermined funding model, DFF’s open calls allow applicants to explain their work and priorities in their own words.
The fund’s grantmaking process is designed to understand the realities of feminist movements across the region and identify opportunities, gaps, emerging issues and areas where additional support can make a meaningful difference.
This makes the opportunity particularly relevant for groups whose work may not fit neatly into conventional funding categories.
Doria Feminist Fund welcomes applications from feminist activists and feminist movement builders across the MENA region.
Importantly, individual applicants cannot apply independently. DFF funds collective feminist work, meaning eligible applicants must apply as a collective, group or organisation.
There is also no age limit for applicants.
Groups can have members who are men, but DFF gives priority to applications led by women and trans* groups and collectives. Groups led by cis-men are not eligible under the stated priority criteria.
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One of the notable aspects of the Doria Feminist Fund is that both registered and unregistered feminist groups can apply.
This is particularly important for grassroots movements and newly formed collectives that may not yet have completed formal registration.
DFF also states that a group does not necessarily need to have its own bank account. For groups without access to a bank account, the fund works on a case-by-case basis to identify a safe way to transfer funding while maintaining transparency and alignment with feminist values.
DFF supports feminist groups that are based in, or working across, countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Applications from groups working across the region may also be considered where their work falls within DFF’s MENA focus.
Doria Feminist Fund supports feminist groups working across a broad range of issues and strategies.
The fund does not restrict open calls to a narrow list of predetermined issues. Instead, it uses a movement-informed approach to understand the needs and priorities emerging across the region.
DFF’s existing programmes demonstrate the broad nature of the work it supports.
DFF currently operates four grant programmes alongside a broader accompaniment programme.
The Core Funding programme provides flexible funding intended primarily for new and emerging feminist groups.
The objective is to help groups establish themselves, strengthen their work and navigate their early years.
The programme supports groups advancing the rights and wellbeing of women and LBTQ+ communities, particularly those developing new concepts and ideas that challenge and transform existing feminist movement discourse.
An important principle behind this funding is that feminist groups are trusted to identify their own priorities and determine how funding should be spent.
Project Funds are intended for established feminist groups or collectives that want to develop a new programme or introduce a new activity within their existing organisation.
The funding can help established groups respond to changing political circumstances, community needs and emerging challenges.
Groups may also use the opportunity to broaden their existing work and adopt new practices or mechanisms that strengthen their impact.
Projects should address gender and feminist issues and be connected to work in the MENA region.
The Knowledge Production Fund supports feminist activists and engaged scholars working on gender and feminist issues in the region.
The funding can support the creation and dissemination of knowledge through different formats.
The programme recognises that knowledge production is an important part of feminist movement building.
Works produced through the programme are intended to be shared publicly under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence, while ownership remains with their creators.
DFF also provides rapid and flexible support for feminist groups experiencing urgent or unforeseen circumstances.
This may be particularly important for groups facing sudden threats to their safety, political crises or other situations that place their work or members at risk.
The emergency response programme is designed to provide support quickly and through a simplified process when feminist groups need resources urgently.
The Doria Feminist Fund’s support does not end with providing financial resources.
Current grantee partners can also receive opportunities for growth, learning and networking through peer-to-peer support and engagement with experts.
Where accompaniment or mentorship requires travel, training or other expenses, additional funding may be provided on top of the original grant to cover those costs.
Collective care is another important element of DFF’s philosophy.
The fund’s Collective Care Collaborative has explored how care practices can strengthen feminist organisations and movements.
Its advocacy toolkit draws on the experiences and practices of five women’s funds and examines the role of accompaniment and organisational practices in supporting the “glue” and resilience of feminist movements.
The approach encourages funders to think beyond conventional financial support and invest in community-driven care models that prioritise:
This reflects a broader understanding that feminist movements require sustainable systems of support to continue their work in challenging environments.
DFF uses an open and movement-informed grantmaking process.
Applicants submit proposals for relevant funding opportunities, including core grants, project grants and knowledge production grants.
The application process is designed to allow applicants to describe their work and plans openly rather than forcing them into highly restrictive templates.
During the open-call period, DFF provides opportunities for applicants to connect with the fund, ask questions and troubleshoot their applications.
Informational sessions and webinars may also be organised for prospective applicants.
Applications are reviewed by the DFF grants team and an activist review committee.
The activist committee plays an important role in reviewing applications and providing feedback.
The selection process considers the applicant pool, the priorities and needs of the feminist movement ecosystem and DFF’s strategic direction.
Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for additional information and due diligence.
Successful applicants receive award letters and grant agreements outlining the grant period and terms.
Grantee partners then participate in welcome calls with DFF staff and committee members.
DFF’s recent figures demonstrate the scale of its grantmaking.
For Cycle 5, DFF reported $1.117 million allocated across 78 grants, including core support, project support, knowledge production, recognition and emergency response grants.
These figures illustrate the fund’s growing role in supporting feminist movements across the region.
For many grassroots feminist movements, access to flexible funding can be difficult.
Traditional grants can sometimes require organisations to have formal registration, extensive financial histories, previous grant experience or established institutional structures.
DFF takes a different approach by allowing registered and unregistered groups to apply, welcoming new and emerging movements and not requiring previous DFF funding.
This can create opportunities for grassroots groups that may otherwise struggle to access international funding.
The fund’s emphasis on flexibility also allows feminist groups to identify their own priorities rather than simply responding to priorities established by external funders.
The combination of funding and accompaniment makes the opportunity relevant not only to organisations seeking financial resources but also to groups looking to strengthen their long-term sustainability.
Doria Feminist Fund announced that Grantmaking Cycle 7 opened on 7 September 2026, and eligible feminist groups are encouraged to submit their applications before the 19 October 2026 deadline.
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day to begin the application process, particularly if they need to gather organisational information, develop a project proposal or consult members of their collective.
However, applicants should ensure that their work and location meet DFF’s eligibility requirements before submitting an application.
DFF does not accept applications from individuals applying on their own.
Both registered and unregistered groups can be considered.
There is no age limit, and previous funding is not required.
DFF particularly encourages applications from new and emerging groups, groups that have never previously received funding and established groups launching new projects.
This grant opportunity is specifically focused on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Therefore, applicants from outside this listed MENA geographic scope should not assume that they are eligible simply because they work on feminist or women’s rights issues.
Applicants should carefully explain the work their group is already doing, the community they serve and what they hope to accomplish with DFF support.
Who your group is — Explain your collective, organisation or movement and its background.
The problem you are addressing — Clearly describe the gender, feminist or community issue your work seeks to address.
Your approach — Explain how your group is responding to the issue and why your approach is appropriate for your community.
Community connection — Demonstrate how your work is rooted in the realities, priorities and knowledge of the communities you serve.
Your proposed activities — Clearly explain what you want to do with the funding.
Expected impact — Describe what you hope will change as a result of your work.
Why funding is important now — Explain the specific financial or organisational gap that the grant would help address.
Sustainability — Where appropriate, explain how the support can strengthen the long-term resilience of your group or movement.
Applicants should also make sure that their application reflects the principles and realities of feminist movement building rather than simply presenting a conventional project proposal.
The Doria Feminist Fund Grantmaking Cycle 7 offers a significant funding opportunity for feminist groups and organisations working across the Middle East and North Africa.
Its emphasis on flexible funding, trust, solidarity, collective care, long-term support and locally driven priorities makes it particularly relevant to grassroots and emerging feminist movements.
The opportunity is open to both registered and unregistered groups, and applicants do not need previous DFF funding experience. The fund also provides several forms of support, ranging from core organisational funding and project support to knowledge production and emergency response.
With Cycle 7 opening on 7 September 2026 and the application deadline set for 19 October 2026, eligible feminist groups should review the requirements carefully and begin preparing their applications early.
For feminist movements seeking to strengthen their organisations, develop new initiatives, produce knowledge, respond to urgent challenges or build sustainable movements across the MENA region, the Doria Feminist Fund provides an opportunity to access both financial resources and longer-term movement support.
Importantly, individual applicants cannot apply independently. DFF funds collective feminist work, meaning eligible applicants must apply as a collective, group or organisation.
Doria Feminist Fund announced that Grantmaking Cycle 7 opened on 7 September 2026, and eligible feminist groups are encouraged to submit their applications before the 19 October 2026 deadline.
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