The 2026 Faith-based Organisations Special Fund Grant Facility
The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector is pleased to announce the call for proposals under the Faith-based Organisations Special Fund Grant Facility, an initiative based on Government’s 2026 Manifesto pledged to “create a special fund, with $5 million per year for … faith-based organisations with highly impactful proposals to carry out social programmes that keep our young people off the streets, impart skills, offer training, or otherwise build up the lives of our young people.”
About the Grant Facility
This initiative supports the Government of Barbados’ long-term commitment to national empowerment through inclusive growth, skills development, innovation, and community engagement. It reflects the Ministry’s focus on building resilient, capable young people who are prepared to lead and contribute to sustainable social and economic transformation.
The facility offers grant funding of $5 million, which will be allocated in equal amounts across the four quarters of each financial year, i.e., $1,250,000 per quarter. Unused sums will roll over into the following quarter for the respective financial year. There will be a minimum grant level of $1,000. The funds are available to all faith-based organisations that are advancing the sustainable development and empowerment of young people across Barbados. Proposals must align with at least one of the following five strategic priority areas:
1. Innovation and Enterprise
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education.
- Training for entrepreneurs – business skills, mindsets, and financing.
- Startup of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises..
2. Health and wellness
- Health and wellness programmes and training for employers, HR professionals, and young workers to develop healthy workplaces.
- Building awareness of healthy lifestyles and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) prevention.
- Mental health and work-life balance initiatives.
3. Crime Prevention
- Addressing root causes: social, economic, and environmental factors contributing to criminal behaviour before it occurs.
- Promoting attitudes that denounce negative trends and stabilize society through positive engagement.
4. Youth Engagement
- School-to-work transition programmes.
- Preparation of future school leavers and job market entrants for the world of work.
- Targeted skills training and development for vulnerable young people.
5. Life Skills Development
- Training that promotes problem solving, critical thinking, effective communication, decision-making, creative thinking, interpersonal relationship skills, conflict resolution, self-awareness building, empathy, and coping with stress and emotions.
- Seminars and workshops to build life skills.
Proposals will be evaluated against six (6) key criteria: operational capacity, relevance, effectiveness and feasibility, sustainability, scalability, and budget and cost effectiveness. Applicants must receive an average score of 70 to be eligible. The proposals will be selected according to their score and within the available funding. Resource persons will be made available to organisations who wish to have assistance in preparing their proposals.
The deadline for submission is Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
For more information, please visit the Ministry’s website at www.labour.gov.bb. The Faithbased Organisations Special Fund Grant Facility Policy and Guidelines, including the application form and submission details, are also available upon request at FBOSFGF@labour.gov.bb. All queries may be directed to the same address.
