Viva Network

Charity Number: 1053389

Annual Expenditure: £1.3M
Geographic Focus: Oxfordshire, Argentina, Bolivia, Burma, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark ... [21 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??1.29 million (grants to institutions, 2023-24)
  • Total Income: ??2.1 million (2023-24)
  • Government Funding: ??1.03 million from FCDO (2023-24)
  • Application Process: No public application process - works through established partner networks only
  • Geographic Focus: International - 28 countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia
  • Partner Networks: 45 partner networks comprising 5,400 local churches and community organizations

Contact Details

Address: CMS House, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ, United Kingdom

Website: www.viva.org

Email: info@viva.org

Phone: 01865 811660

Charity Number: 1053389

Company Number: 03162776

Overview

VIVA NETWORK (operating as “Viva”) is an international Christian charity founded in 1995, with approximately ??2.1 million in annual income. The organization works to inspire lasting change in children's lives through the power of collective action, with a vision to see children safe, well, and fulfilling their God-given potential.

Viva operates through a unique network model, providing grants and support to 45 partner networks across 28 countries, which collectively comprise 5,400 local churches and community organizations. In 2023-24, Viva distributed approximately ??1.29 million in grants to institutions, representing 60% of their charitable expenditure. The organization receives significant funding from the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO, formerly DFID), including a seven-year contract for girls' education in Uganda through the Girls' Education Challenge programme.

Viva's approach combines direct grant-making with capacity building, coaching, and facilitation services to strengthen local networks' effectiveness in protecting and supporting vulnerable children worldwide.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Viva makes grants exclusively to established partner networks rather than individual organizations. Their funding supports:

  • Partner Network Development: Core funding and programmatic support for established networks of churches and community organizations
  • Girls' Education: Multi-year programme funding, including the DFID Girls' Education Challenge in Uganda
  • Child Protection Initiatives: Support for implementing child protection policies and safeguarding systems
  • Learning Spaces: Educational programmes for vulnerable children across multiple countries

Grant amounts vary based on network needs and programme scope. The organization distributed ??1.29 million to institutions in 2023-24, with individual grants ranging from small capacity-building grants to multi-year programme funding.

Priority Areas

Geographic Focus:

  • Latin America: 12 networks across 9 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Cuba)
  • Africa: Networks in Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi
  • Asia: Networks in Nepal, India, Cambodia, Philippines, Burma

Thematic Priorities:

  • Children at high risk worldwide, especially street children
  • Child protection and safeguarding
  • Girls' education and empowerment
  • Anti-trafficking initiatives
  • Children in situations of trauma
  • Education access for marginalized children
  • Community-based care for vulnerable children

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual organizations not part of an established Viva partner network
  • Organizations outside their current geographic focus areas
  • Projects not focused on vulnerable children
  • Organizations without church or faith-based community connections
  • Unsolicited applications from organizations not already in their network
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Governance and Leadership

Auditors: Godfrey Wilson Limited (specialist charity accountants, ranked #1 for Overall Service in the 2024 Charity Finance Audit Survey)

Staff: 29 employees (as of March 2024), with regional teams and International Centre staff who strategically support networks

Structure: VIVA NETWORK operates as a group with subsidiaries in Uganda, Hong Kong, and USA (Viva Network North America)

Key Partnerships:

  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) - primary government funder
  • CRANE (Children at Risk Action Network) in Kampala, Uganda
  • Multiple international partners through Global Connections and Better Care Network

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: VIVA NETWORK does not have a public application process.

The organization makes grants exclusively to established partner networks rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Viva works with pre-existing networks of churches and community organizations that have been invited into partnership. They are not currently accepting applications from organizations outside their established network of 45 partner networks across 28 countries.

Their model focuses on:

  • Working with geographically-defined networks (typically city-wide or country-wide)
  • Supporting existing partnerships through multi-year relationships
  • Building capacity within established networks rather than creating new partnerships ad hoc

Getting on Their Radar

For organizations working with vulnerable children who wish to connect with Viva:

  1. Network Connections: If you operate in one of Viva's 28 focus countries and work with vulnerable children, research whether there is an existing Viva partner network in your country or region (e.g., CarNet Nepal, CRANE Uganda). Connect with that network as a member organization.
  1. Strategic Expansion: Viva mentions on their funding priorities page that they are interested in discussing “funding the startup of a new network” in certain contexts. Organizations in underserved regions could contact them through their website to discuss this possibility.
  1. Conference and Learning Community: Viva facilitates a global community of learning. Participating in sector conferences, events, and training programmes in child protection and children at risk work may create opportunities for visibility.
  1. Direct Inquiry: Use the contact form on their website (viva.org) or email info@viva.org to discuss partnership opportunities, particularly if you represent a network of organizations rather than a single entity.
  1. Regional Presence: Be aware that Viva operates through regional teams. If you're in Latin America, Africa, or Asia, understanding which regional team covers your area could help target your outreach.

Note: Given Viva's model emphasizes networks rather than individual organizations, and their focus on church-based and faith-based community organizations, individual secular organizations are unlikely to receive direct funding.

Application Success Factors

What Viva Values (Based on Their Model and Priorities)

Network Approach:

  • Viva explicitly believes “a network of churches and community organisations, locally focused and united in purpose, is the best possible vehicle for bringing lasting change for children”
  • They prioritize collective action over individual organizational work
  • Successful partners demonstrate ability to convene and mobilize multiple organizations

Quality and Impact Measurement:

  • Over 800 churches and organizations in partner networks have introduced child protection policies since 2022
  • Viva requires implementation of their Quality Improvement System (QIS) for child protection
  • Independent evaluations confirm their "network model is living up to its promise of 'bigger and better outcomes'"
  • Partners should be prepared to adopt Viva's impact measurement tools

Policy Influence:

  • Over the past three years, 28 networks in 16 countries influenced 72 local or national policies
  • Viva values partners who engage in advocacy and systemic change, not just service delivery

Scale and Reach:

  • Recent data shows 5,770 children participated in Viva-supported Learning Spaces over two years across 16 networks in 14 countries
  • Partner networks should demonstrate capacity to reach significant numbers of vulnerable children

Faith-Based Identity:

  • Viva is explicitly a Christian charity working with churches and faith-based community organizations
  • Their model assumes partners share their faith-based approach to child welfare

Long-Term Commitment:

  • Examples like the seven-year DFID Girls' Education Challenge contract demonstrate Viva's preference for sustained, multi-year partnerships
  • They provide “world-class coaching” and ongoing support rather than one-off grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This is not a funder that accepts unsolicited grant applications. All funding goes through established partner networks.
  • Network Model is Essential: Viva funds networks of organizations, not individual organizations. If you're a single organization, you would need to join an existing Viva partner network in your region rather than apply directly for funding.
  • Geographic Limitations: Viva works in 28 specific countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Organizations outside these regions are not eligible.
  • Faith-Based Focus: As a Christian charity working primarily with churches and faith-based community organizations, secular organizations are unlikely to fit their model.
  • Multi-Year Relationships: Viva's approach emphasizes long-term capacity building and coaching rather than short-term project grants. They seek partners interested in sustained collaboration.
  • Child Protection Standards: Implementing Viva's Quality Improvement System and strong child protection policies are non-negotiable requirements for partner networks.
  • Leverage Point for New Regions: If you represent a potential new network in an underserved area where vulnerable children need support, contacting Viva about “funding the startup of a new network” may be worth exploring.
  • FCDO Alignment: With significant government funding from FCDO, Viva's work aligns with UK development priorities. Organizations working on girls' education, child protection, and anti-trafficking may find natural alignment.

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