Grants are awarded based on a completed application which is reviewed by the Friends of Malawi (FOM) grants committee who are familiar with the development needs of Malawi and aspects of successful programs.

Most project grants range from (US)$300 to (US)$800, dispersed in current equivalent Malawi Kwacha (MK). In exceptional cases, larger grants may be considered when development is significant and FOM support is meaningful to the success of the project. In either case, a community contribution must be evident in the plan.

If the support requested from FOM covers only a portion of a project's cost, the application must be very explicit (project description and budget) about what will be accomplished with the FOM funding. FOM cannot consider any funding for large-scale projects in which the funding requested from FOM is insignificant to the overall endeavor.

Once a grant has been awarded, accountability and reporting by the grantee is very important. Grant recipients must provide FOM with brief, interim reports as well as a final report upon the project's conclusion. Specific reporting requirements and report deadlines will be elaborated at the time the grant is awarded.

FOM has created the following grant guidelines to ensure the project will compliment the mission of the organization:

1.  Grants are for economic and social improvement at the village level, to be implemented by local communities and/or groups within Malawi . Priority is given to projects with broad participation and benefits that are immediately visible among large numbers of participants.

Current FOM priority sectors include:

·         Health

·         HIV/AIDS

·         Education

·         Environment

·         Human Services

·         Agriculture

·         Small Business Development

2.  FOM gives highest priority to community and non-governmental organization projects. Government sponsored projects have lower priority. Funding is not intended for recurring costs of operations and maintenance, such as salaries and rent. Funds are not intended to cover attendance at conferences.

3.  Grants are generally awarded for small-scale projects that can be completed relatively quickly within the limits of funding approved by FOM, rather than being part of a contribution to a larger program.

4.  Self-help is an important project element, with contributions of labor, materials, or funds from community members normally comprising part of the project's plan.

5. Where projects will generate income for the grantees, a plan for the use and accounting of future proceeds is required.

6.  Projects that require recurring inputs, such as fertilizer for agriculture or security and maintenance of facilities and equipment, must have a plan for covering such requirements after grant funds are expended.

7.  Funds requested for training programs must include a summary of planned curricula, along with relevant experience and qualifications of trainers.

8. AIDS/HIV educational programs incorporated into projects must follow the accepted guidelines established by the Malawian Health Ministry.