Cultural Survival has opened its 2025 Call for Project Concepts under the Keepers of the Earth Fund

Deadline: 22-Aug-2025

Cultural Survival has opened its 2025 Call for Project Concepts under the Keepers of the Earth Fund, specifically targeting Indigenous communities in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The fund supports grassroots initiatives that promote sustainability, self-sufficiency, and Indigenous rights.

For this cycle, Cultural Survival is particularly interested in projects addressing climate change, food sovereignty, Indigenous economies, governance based on ancestral systems, traditional knowledge systems, and Indigenous spiritualities. Examples include reforestation, seed banking, strengthening traditional food systems, supporting Indigenous trade and crafts, empowering youth and women in decision-making, and passing down spiritual and cosmological knowledge to new generations.

While these focus areas are encouraged, applicants are welcome to propose projects that address any priority or solution important to their community. The grant provides up to $8,000 USD to support early-stage activities that aim to grow into sustainable initiatives.

Projects must be Indigenous-led and involve community engagement at every stage of planning and implementation. Eligible applicants include Indigenous communities, governments, grassroots organizations, and nonprofits. Legal registration is not required, but applicants must have a bank account capable of receiving international transfers.Cultural Survival does not fund projects that are not Indigenous-led, political campaigns, religious or missionary activities, academic research, conference registrations, or individual work. Government program replicas are also not eligible.

The fund prioritizes building long-term relationships with partners and values the ability to conduct personal visits to funded projects. For that reason, they prefer proposals from Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa for the 2025 cycle.

For more information, visit Cultural Survival.