Tilo Fund

The Tilo Fund is our response to the impact of sudden, dramatic cuts to US humanitarian aid and mass deportations from the US, particularly on communities in Central and South America. The Tilo Fund is our way of collectively moving beyond a sense of helplessness and into meaningful action.

A core principle of the Tilo Fund is that resources should flow as directly as possible to support local solutions to local problems. We have seen that it is often women leaders who respond long-term to instability and crisis in their communities, yet less than 1% of global humanitarian funding goes directly to local women-led organizations. We aim to do our part to address this imbalance by prioritizing relationship-driven, trust-based grantmaking that centers women’s leadership.

The Tilo Fund is agile and focused. We emphasize careful selection, deep engagement, and long-term partnerships. Our goal is not only to provide funding, but to build a community of donors working together with local leaders to build a more equitable and responsive system of support and partnership.

About our name: The tilo tree in Latin America – called the linden or basswood in North America – has heart shaped leaves that provide deep shade and flowers that produce healing honey and calming teas and infusions. Across many cultures, the tilo tree symbolizes shelter, care, restoration, community, and resilience.

The Tilo Fund supports organizations that:

• Are women-led

• Are based in communities they serve

• Are responding in communities shaped by displacement and migration

• Deliver services, advocacy, or coordination

• Advance health, safety, rights, and opportunity

• Lack resources and capacity to access flexible philanthropic funding, institutional donor networks, or US and other international funding opportunities

• Are experiencing funding gaps resulting from reductions or shifts in government, multilateral, philanthropic, or international NGO funding or from increased need

• Have an annual budget of $500,000 USD or less

• Clearly state that all are welcome, valued, and included, regardless of faith, beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The Tilo Fund prioritizes leaders and organizations that are effective and make an impact. We trust our grantees to know and deliver what is needed. Our grants may support general operations, program activities, or other core needs.

We plan to issue grants to 4-6 organizations in 2026.

A typical grant in 2026 is $10,000 to $20,000 and is renewable for 3 years.

In 2026, we are supporting organizations in Central America (Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama) and the Andean region of South America (Ecuador and Colombia). 

These countries have been severely affected by US and global cuts to humanitarian aid and mass deportations from the US.

We are prioritizing contexts where local women leaders are responding with limited access to flexible or institutional funding and where our team has expertise and deep local connections.

We will consider expanding our geographic scope after assessing our impact in our first year.

Grants are by invitation only in 2026.

To express interest or suggest an organization for our review, please email info@tilofund.org.

• Fundación Casa de Refugio Matilde, Quito, Ecuador. Casa Matilde is a women-led local organization that provides shelter and comprehensive services to women who are victims and survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. Their shelter operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, serving Ecuadorian and migrant women and their children. Casa Matilde provides accommodation and meals, psychological care, legal support, social services, and workshops on human rights and violence prevention. Working in collaboration with human rights organizations and networks, they engage in public advocacy to raise awareness, prevent gender-based violence, and ensure survivors receive services and support.

• Unidad de Desarrollo Integral de la Mujer y la Familia (UDIMUF), Atlántida, Honduras. UDIMUF is a women-led local organization dedicated to defending and promoting the human rights of women, girls, adolescents, youth, and diverse populations—particularly those from historically excluded communities affected by multiple forms of inequality and violence. Their focus is preventing gender-based violence, promoting sexual and reproductive rights, strengthening community leadership, and ensuring access to justice. UDIMUF engages in training, awareness-raising, policy advocacy, and support for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

• Asociación Calidad de Vida, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Calidad de Vida is a women-led local organization that serves survivors of trafficking, forced displacement, domestic violence and sexual abuse. Their shelters provide comprehensive care to women and their children through a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, lawyers, and therapists. Beyond its shelters, Calidad de Vida provides women with training and tools to prevent violence in their communities, and advocates for the prevention of violence against women in Honduras.

Please contact info@tilofund.org for more information or to get involved.