Overview Principal Office: USA Key Words: sustainable agriculture, water and sanitation, wildlife conservation The Howard G. Buffett Foundation was established in 1999 with a mission to improve the standard of living and quality of life for the world’s poor, impoverished, and marginalized populations. The Foundation’s highest priorities are agriculture and food security, clean water, and humanitarian assistance in conflict and post-conflict regions. Other areas of support are nutrition (school feeding); development of journalists; education, governance, and limited work in the area of wildlife conservation. Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources 1 -- Agricultural Development. This thematic area represents over half of the Foundation’s grant expenditures. The emphasis is conservation agriculture (e.g., minimum tillage), improved yields of crops and livestock, marketing and finance for small-scale farmers, and strengthened associations and cooperative organizations in agricultural communities. 2 – Water and Sanitation. This is the second largest program area, accounting for over one-third of the Foundation’s grant making. Projects aim to provide clean water and storage facilities, and to improve basic practices in sanitation, including for refugees and displaced populations. 3 – Other Funding Areas. The other areas of support include wildlife conservation, but at a modest funding level (i.e., less than five percent of expenditures in 2010). Grant recipients are nonprofit charitable organizations in the USA which have international activities for agriculture, water, and natural resources. The Foundation also funds recognized international programs, e..g, the World Food Program, the Global Water Initiative, and others. Most current grants are for projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, especially in least-developed countries. In 2010, the average grant size was about US$900 thousand. The largest grants are for multi-million dollars over multiple years. APPLICATION: The Foundation works with favored partner organizations. It does not invite unsolicited proposals. Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries Worldwide Note: Most current programs emphasize Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Comments The Foundation’s annual reports are a detailed guide to program interests and grant statistics. Over 90% of the Foundation’s funding is for international projects. For the future, the Foundation declares its interest to pursue a stronger emphasis on advocacy, policy, and research. The Foundation is steered by Howard Graham Buffett, son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett. Howard Buffett is active in agriculture, business, conservation, writing, and philanthropy. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation provides funding for the (U.S.) National Geographic Society/Buffett Awards. National Geographic presents these awards annually in recognition of outstanding conservation in the developing world. Note: The Terra Viva Grants Directory provides a separate profile of the National Geographic Society. Last Profile Review May 2012 © Copyright protected. All rights reserved. |
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Howard G Buffett Foundation |