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.

Opportunity Overview

• Opportunity: Doria Feminist Fund Grantmaking Cycle 7
• Category: Grant
• Opening date: 7 September 2026
• Deadline: 19 October 2026
• Target region: Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
• Eligible applicants: Feminist groups, collectives and organisations
• Application languages: Arabic, English and French
• Registration requirement: Registered and unregistered groups can apply
• Age requirement: There is no age limit
• Previous funding: Applicants do not need to have received funding previously
• Application type: Open call
• Official organisation: Doria Feminist Fund

About the Doria Feminist Fund

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.

What Makes the Doria Feminist Fund Different?

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.

Who Can Apply?

Doria Feminist Fund welcomes applications from feminist activists and feminist movement builders across the MENA region.

The fund particularly prioritises:

• New and emerging feminist groups
• Groups that have never received funding before
• Established groups launching a new project
• Women-led groups and collectives
• Trans* groups and collectives
• Feminist organisations working at the frontlines of change
• Registered feminist organisations
• Unregistered feminist groups and collectives

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.

Do You Need to Be a Registered Organisation?

No.

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.

Countries Eligible for the Doria Feminist Fund

DFF supports feminist groups that are based in, or working across, countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

The currently listed eligible countries are:

1. Algeria
2. Bahrain
3. Egypt
4. Iraq
5. Jordan
6. Kuwait
7. Lebanon
8. Libya
9. Mauritania
10. Morocco
11. Oman
12. Palestine
13. Qatar
14. Saudi Arabia
15. Somalia
16. Sudan
17. Syria
18. Tunisia
19. United Arab Emirates
20. Yemen

Applications from groups working across the region may also be considered where their work falls within DFF’s MENA focus.

What Types of Work Does DFF Support?

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.

Supported work can include areas such as:

• Feminist advocacy
• Campaigning
• Feminist movement building
• Gender equality
• Women’s rights
• Girls’ rights
• Gender-based violence prevention and response
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights
• Economic empowerment
• Legal reform
• Service delivery
• Knowledge production
• Community organising
• Alternative forms of activism
• Organisational development
• Emergency response
• Safety and security initiatives

DFF’s existing programmes demonstrate the broad nature of the work it supports.

Doria Feminist Fund Grant Programmes

DFF currently operates four grant programmes alongside a broader accompaniment programme.

1. Core Funding for Emerging Groups

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.

Eligible groups include:

• Registered feminist groups
• Unregistered feminist groups
• Groups that have not previously received DFF support
• Groups based in a MENA country
• Groups with no specific age requirement

2. Project Funds

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.

3. Knowledge Production Funds

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.

Examples include:

• Research papers
• Books
• Translation of publications into Arabic
• Feminist meetings and convenings
• Educational materials
• Magazines
• Comics
• Podcasts
• Photo essays
• Other creative media
• Knowledge-sharing initiatives

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.

4. Emergency Response Grants

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.

Emergency funding can cover urgent needs such as:

• Relocation
• Digital security
• Physical security
• Legal support
• Other immediate emergency expenses

The emergency response programme is designed to provide support quickly and through a simplified process when feminist groups need resources urgently.

Beyond Funding: DFF’s Accompaniment Approach

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.

This accompaniment approach can include:

Managerial Skills

Grantee partners can receive support in areas such as:

• Proposal writing
• Financial management
• Strategic planning
• Organisational development

Skill Strengthening

Support may also help organisations develop expertise in areas including:

• Feminist digital security
• Knowledge production
• Advocacy
• Other skills relevant to their work

Networking and Knowledge Sharing

DFF facilitates opportunities such as:

• Trainings
• Conferences
• Webinars
• Workshops
• Convenings
• Peer-learning opportunities

Additional Financial Support

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.

DFF’s Approach to Collective Care

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:

• Interdependence
• Well-being
• Sustainability
• Organisational resilience
• Movement resilience
• Long-term care

This reflects a broader understanding that feminist movements require sustainable systems of support to continue their work in challenging environments.

DFF’s Grantmaking Process

DFF uses an open and movement-informed grantmaking process.

Stage 1: Call for Proposals

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.

Applications can be submitted in:

• Arabic
• English
• French

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.

Stage 2: Review and Selection

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.

This process is intended to be rooted in principles of:

• Care
• Solidarity
• Trust
• Transparency
• Accountability

Stage 3: Onboarding and Welcome

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.

These conversations can cover:

• The grantee journey
• Reporting timelines
• Safety measures
• Accompaniment opportunities
• Available support

Doria Feminist Fund’s Impact

DFF’s recent figures demonstrate the scale of its grantmaking.

In 2025, the fund reported:

• 596 applications received from 19 countries
• 78 grants awarded
• $1.46 million disbursed in grants
• 57 open-call grants disbursed
• 13 countries reached
• 21 grants and emergency grants renewed

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.

Why This Grant Opportunity Matters

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.

Key Benefits for Successful Applicants

Successful grantee partners may benefit from:

• Flexible financial support
• Long-term engagement
• Support for organisational development
• Funding for new feminist projects
• Support for knowledge production
• Emergency financial assistance
• Networking opportunities
• Peer-to-peer learning
• Training and workshops
• Expert accompaniment
• Strategic planning support
• Financial management support
• Digital security capacity building
• Advocacy and movement-building support
• Additional funding for certain accompaniment-related expenses

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.

Application Deadline

Deadline: 19 October 2026

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.

APPLY HERE

More imnformation, visit the Doria Website HERE

For more feminist grants visit the OFY Website HERE

 

Who Should Consider Applying?

This opportunity may be particularly relevant to:

• Emerging feminist groups
• Grassroots feminist movements
• Women’s rights organisations
• Feminist collectives
• Women-led organisations
• Trans* groups and collectives
• Established feminist organisations developing new projects
• Feminist activists working collectively
• Groups producing feminist knowledge
• Feminist groups responding to emergencies
• Organisations working on gender-based violence
• Groups working on girls’ rights
• Feminist movement-building organisations
• Organisations working on economic empowerment
• Groups working on sexual and reproductive health and rights
• Organisations using advocacy, campaigning, legal reform or alternative activism strategies

However, applicants should ensure that their work and location meet DFF’s eligibility requirements before submitting an application.

Important Eligibility Reminder

DFF does not accept applications from individuals applying on their own.

Applications must come from an eligible:

• Collective
• Group
• Organisation

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.

Eligible Countries and Region

This grant opportunity is specifically focused on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Eligible countries currently listed by DFF are:

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.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Applicants should carefully explain the work their group is already doing, the community they serve and what they hope to accomplish with DFF support.

A strong application should clearly communicate:

1. Who your group is — Explain your collective, organisation or movement and its background.
2. The problem you are addressing — Clearly describe the gender, feminist or community issue your work seeks to address.
3. Your approach — Explain how your group is responding to the issue and why your approach is appropriate for your community.
4. Community connection — Demonstrate how your work is rooted in the realities, priorities and knowledge of the communities you serve.
5. Your proposed activities — Clearly explain what you want to do with the funding.
6. Expected impact — Describe what you hope will change as a result of your work.
7. Why funding is important now — Explain the specific financial or organisational gap that the grant would help address.
8. 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.

Conclusion

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.