International Planned Parenthood Federation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: US$125 million+ (distributed to Member Associations and programs)
• Total Income (2023): £97.3 million
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no open application process)
• Decision Time: Varies by program; Member Association accreditation is multi-stage
• Grant Range: Varies significantly - from small grants (SAAF: up to $80,000) to multi-million programmes
• Geographic Focus: Global (151+ countries across six regions)
• Network: 119 Member Associations and 39 Collaborative Partners

Contact Details

Global Headquarters (London)

• Address: 4 Newhams Row, London, SE1 3UZ, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 (0)20 7939 8200
• Email: info@ippf.org
• Website: www.ippf.org
• Media Inquiries: media@ippf.org or +44 (0)20 7939 8227

Regional Offices:

• Africa Region: Nairobi
• Americas & Caribbean: Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago
• Arab World: Tunis
• East and South East Asia and Oceania: Kuala Lumpur and Suva
• European Network: Brussels
• South Asia: Bangkok and Delhi

Overview

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), founded in 1952 and registered as UK charity 229476, is the world's leading provider of sexual and reproductive health services and a global advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). With total income of £97.3 million in 2023, IPPF operates through a federation model, supporting 119 Member Associations and 39 Collaborative Partners across 151+ countries. The organization distributes over US$125 million annually to Member Associations and devotes funds to specific projects and campaigns. In 2023, IPPF Member Associations delivered 222.4 million sexual and reproductive health services, serving 71.2 million clients. Under its Strategy 2028 “Come Together,” IPPF focuses on ensuring SRHR for those who are left out, locked out, or left behind, with particular emphasis on youth, marginalized communities, and vulnerable populations. The organization underwent significant governance reform in 2020, establishing a skills-based Board of Trustees and a triennial General Assembly of Member Associations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Funding to Member Associations

IPPF distributes approximately US$67 million annually in unrestricted (US$42 million) and restricted (US$25 million) grants to Member Associations and partners. Individual Member Association grants vary significantly based on country needs and organizational capacity.

Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF)

• Established in 2006, hosted by IPPF
• Provides small grants (up to $80,000 per project) to locally-run organizations
• Supports both IPPF Member Associations and non-affiliated organizations
• Focuses on advocacy, service delivery, and research
• Accepts organizations without formal registration if they have a fiscal sponsor
• Application via concept notes when calls are open
• Website: www.saafund.org

Japan Trust Fund (JTF)

• Partnership with Government of Japan since 2000
• Recent contributions approximately $28 million annually (IPPF portion varies)
• Project grants range from $750,000 to several million
• Focuses on health equity, gender equality, and SRHR
• Historically supported integrated HIV prevention in Asia and Africa
• Now includes crisis response and vulnerable populations

Women's Integrated Sexual Health (WISH)

• £75.125 million programme in East and Southern Africa
• Funded by UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
• Transforms sexual and reproductive health services at scale

Social Enterprise Acceleration Programme (SEAP)

• Capacity building grants for Member Associations
• Supports development of income-generating activities
• Includes technical assistance and training

Small Grants for NGOs

• Enables local NGOs to conduct advocacy activities
• Details available through regional offices

Priority Areas

Population Groups:

• Young people (45% of all services provided reach youth)
• Women and girls, particularly marginalized
• Sex workers
• Men who have sex with men
• People who inject drugs
• Sexually diverse populations
• Prisoners
• Communities in humanitarian crises and post-conflict situations

Thematic Areas:

• Comprehensive sexuality education
• Safe abortion access and advocacy
• Contraception and family planning
• Maternal and reproductive health services
• HIV prevention and integrated services
• Gender-based violence response
• Advocacy for SRHR policy change
• Service delivery in restrictive environments
• Universal health coverage for SRHR

What They Don't Fund

IPPF does not:

• Accept unsolicited grant proposals from organizations outside their network
• Fund organizations that don't align with SRHR values and mission
• Support projects that restrict access to sexual and reproductive health services
• Work with organizations that don't meet fundamental principles of being open, democratic, and committed to gender equality

Ready to write a winning application for International Planned Parenthood Federation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save hours and increase your success rate.

Learn more >

Governance and Leadership

Director-General: Dr. Alvaro Bermejo (appointed March 2018, reappointed 2022) has over 20 years' experience in global federations working across HIV/AIDS, humanitarian issues, and health policy. Dr. Bermejo emphasizes that “the crucial role of communication, information and education in the area of reproductive health rights” and advocates for honest examination of barriers young and unmarried women face in accessing timely information and services.

Board of Trustees Chair: Kate Gilmore, former United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights (2015-2019). The 15-member skills-based Board of Trustees is two-thirds women, with five members under 25 years old.

Governance Structure: Reformed in 2020, IPPF's highest authority is the General Assembly of Member Associations, convened every three years. The Board of Trustees governs the Secretariat and provides Federation leadership. A Nominations and Governance Committee, majority MA members with at least half women and 20% youth under 25, recruits and evaluates Board performance.

Regional Directors: Lead six regional offices responsible for capacity building, technical assistance, and on-the-spot support to Member Associations.

How to Apply to International Planned Parenthood Federation

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: IPPF does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Organizations cannot simply apply for funding from IPPF. There are three pathways to accessing IPPF support:

1. Become a Member Association (Full Membership)

Organizations must:

• Be a legally registered civil society organization at country level (charitable trust, social enterprise, philanthropic organization)
• Submit evidence of relevance at country level through third-party reviews
• Provide audit reports, financial statements, and annual/project reports from past two years
• Commit to meeting 10 Fundamental Principles and 33 membership standards
• Undergo a comprehensive accreditation process
• Demonstrate alignment with IPPF's vision, mission, and values

The 10 Fundamental Principles are: (1) open and democratic, (2) well governed, (3) strategic and progressive, (4) transparent and accountable, (5) well managed, (6) financially healthy, (7) good employer, (8) committed to results, (9) committed to quality, and (10) a leading SRHR organization.

2. Become a Collaborative Partner

• Organizations working in SRHR can become Collaborative Partners in specific countries where IPPF identifies needs
• CPs must subscribe to IPPF's vision, mission, and values
• CPs are NOT required to comply with all membership standards and do not undergo full accreditation
• Becoming a CP is often a first step toward full Member Association status
• IPPF periodically issues country-specific Calls for Expressions of Interest
• Recent examples include calls for The Gambia and South Africa

3. Apply to Specific Grant Programs (Limited)

The Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF) accepts applications from organizations not affiliated with IPPF when calls are open:

• Submit concept notes during application windows
• Organizations without formal registration may apply with a fiscal sponsor
• Online Q&A sessions provided in English, French, and Spanish
• Check www.saafund.org for current opportunities

Decision Timeline

Member Association Accreditation: Multi-stage process taking several months to over a year, including:

• Initial application and documentation review
• Country-level relevance assessment
• Compliance evaluation against standards
• Regional Office review and support
• Board of Trustees recognition upon full compliance
• Periodic reviews every four years

Collaborative Partner Selection: Timeline varies by country and need; typically several months from expression of interest to partnership agreement

SAAF Grant Decisions: Timelines vary by funding round; typically 2-4 months from concept note submission to decision

Ongoing Support: Once in the network, Member Associations receive annual core funding allocations based on strategic planning cycles and available resources

Reapplication Policy

• Unsuccessful applicants to specific grant programs like SAAF may reapply in future funding rounds
• Organizations denied Member Association status can address deficiencies and reapply
• Collaborative Partners can work toward full Member Association accreditation
• Member Associations undergo periodic reviews every four years to maintain accreditation

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Seeking Member Association Status:

1. Strong SRHR Track Record: Demonstrate established work in sexual and reproductive health with clear impact at country level

• Sound governance structures
• Financial health and transparency
• Strategic planning capacity
• Quality management systems
• Good employment practices

• Sexual and reproductive health and rights for all
• Youth-centered approaches
• Gender equality and equity
• Serving marginalized and vulnerable populations
• Democratic and participatory practices

1. National Relevance: Provide third-party validation of your role in the country's SRHR landscape from UN agencies, government bodies, and other NGOs

• Meet accreditation standards over time
• Engage in capacity building
• Participate in Federation activities
• Collaborate with other Member Associations (south-to-south learning)

For Collaborative Partner Opportunities:

1. Geographic Focus: Be based in or working in countries where IPPF has identified specific needs or gaps

1. Grassroots Connection: Community-based organizations and CSOs with strong local presence are prioritized

1. Values Alignment: Subscribe to IPPF's vision and mission, even if not yet meeting all operational standards

1. Growth Potential: Show commitment to eventually meeting Member Association standards

For SAAF and Other Program Grants:

1. Focus on Marginalized Populations: Projects explicitly serving the most vulnerable women and girls in restrictive environments

1. Evidence-Based Approaches: Use of research and data to inform program design

1. Local Ownership: Locally-run organizations with community trust and access

1. Advocacy + Service Delivery: Combination of awareness-raising, advocacy, and direct service provision

1. Innovation: New approaches to accessing services in challenging contexts, including telemedicine and digital sexuality education

Key Success Quotes from Leadership:

Dr. Alvaro Bermejo emphasizes “the importance of providing information and services before individuals become sexually active” and calls for “sustained efforts relating to sexual and reproductive health, with particular focus on the needs of young people.”

The organization seeks partners who can deliver “youth-focused and gender-transformative services” and demonstrate “commitment to innovating, transforming not just sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a traditional open grant-making funder - you cannot simply submit an application. IPPF funds its federation network, not external projects

• Long-term relationship building is essential - becoming part of IPPF's network requires sustained engagement, demonstrated SRHR commitment, and organizational maturity

• Focus on Member Association or Collaborative Partner pathways rather than seeking project grants. These relationships provide ongoing technical and financial support, not one-off grants

• Watch for country-specific opportunities - IPPF periodically identifies countries where they need Collaborative Partners. Monitor regional office websites for calls

• SAAF is the main exception - this program does accept applications from non-IPPF organizations when funding rounds are open, particularly for local grassroots organizations working on abortion access

• Youth and marginalized populations are central - any pathway into IPPF's network requires demonstrable commitment to serving those left out, locked out, or left behind, with 45% of IPPF services reaching young people

• Organizational standards matter - IPPF looks for partners who are transparent, accountable, well-governed, and financially sustainable, not just programmatically strong

• Regional variation exists - each of IPPF's six regional offices has slightly different priorities and approaches. Connect with your regional office to understand local opportunities and requirements

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Fund For Global Human Rights Uk
• The Children's Investment Fund Foundation (uk)
• The Carmela & Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation
• The Elton John Aids Foundation
• Global Innovation Fund
• The Circle Of Women
• The Global Fund For Children Uk Trust
• Soroptimist International Foundation
• Npt Transatlantic Limited
• The Sigrid Rausing Trust

References

• IPPF Charity Commission Registration: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=229476
• IPPF Official Website: https://www.ippf.org
• IPPF in 2023: Annual Report and Financial Statements: https://www.ippf.org/resource/ippf-2023-annual-report-and-financial-statements
• 2023 Annual Performance Report: https://www.ippf.org/resource/2023-annual-performance-report-0
• Come Together: IPPF Strategy 2028: https://www.ippf.org/resource/come-together-ippf-strategy-2028
• IPPF Standards and Responsibilities of Membership: https://www.ippf.org/sites/default/files/2022-12/ippf_standards_and_responsibilities_of_membership_september_2022.pdf
• IPPF's Accreditation System: https://www.ippf.org/about-us/accountability/accreditation
• Safe Abortion Action Fund: https://www.ippf.org/our-approach/programmes/Safe-Abortion-Action-Fund
• Japan Trust Fund: https://www.ippf.org/japantrustfund
• Directors' Leadership Team: https://www.ippf.org/about-us/people/directors-leadership-team
• IPPF Governance: https://www.ippf.org/about-us/accountability/governance
• Call for Expressions of Interest - Collaborative Partners (South Africa): https://africa.ippf.org/about-us/jobs-and-opportunities/consultancy/call-expressions-interest-becoming-ippf-collaborative
• Inside Philanthropy - IPPF Profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-i/international-planned-parenthood-federation
• IPPF Director General in Ghana: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/health/IPPF-Director-General-Dr-Bermejo-in-Ghana-to-advance-discussions-on-reproductive-health-1915550
• Member Associations Overview: https://www.ippf.org/about-us/member-associations
• Regional Offices: https://www.ippf.org/about-us/contacts