How we work

OUR ROLE

We contribute as:

• Catalyst – supporting ideas and institutions that can drive meaningful change.
• Convener – bringing together organizations, leaders, and sectors to collaborate.
• Connector – fostering partnerships across business, education, civil society, and public institutions.

OUR PRINCIPLES

Our work is guided by:

• Good governance and responsible stewardship.
• Focus on systemic, scalable impact rather than isolated interventions.
• Collaborative relationships, co‑designed and co‑implemented with partners.
• Investment in organizational resilience and leadership.
• Adaptability to emerging needs and changing contexts.
• Commitment to learning, transparency, and sharing insights with the wider field.

OUR APPROACH

We take a long‑term, developmental approach that combines funding, capacity building, and strategic guidance.

We work by:

• Identifying strong partners with the potential to influence long‑term change.
• Co‑creating and testing models before encouraging broader adoption.
• Strengthening the internal capacity of organizations to ensure sustainability.
• Supporting ecosystems – networks, institutions, and communities – that enable innovation and collaboration.
• Providing expertise, learning opportunities, and connections beyond financial support.

OUR COMMITMENT

We aim to build the foundations of a Romania where communities, institutions, and individuals are equipped to shape their future.
Our work focuses on people, partnerships, and long-term impact, contributing to a more engaged, innovative, and prosperous society.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

SELECTION

Romanian-American Foundation funds programs by invitation only.

WHAT WE FUND

We know our resources are limited, compared with the needs and the potential of the Romanian society. We therefore invest in initiatives that are in line with RAF’s mission and that contribute to our three strategic priorities: Rural economy, technology & innovation, and civil societ & philanthropy.

PARTNERSHIPS

We will never replace functions of local or national government. We seek to form strong partnerships with local communities, public authorities or other organizations to increase the impact of RAF-supported projects.

LEADERSHIP

Our partners are established organizations, with a relevant track record, sound operations and policies and permanent staff. We evaluate leadership, as well as the value of the project itself.

RECIPROCITY

We work in partnership: our partners and grantees contribute own resources (not necessarily money) to the project.

REPLICABILITY

We seek to support projects with high potential for replication and visible impact.

HOW WE WORK

We fund projects by invitation only. However, we are open to receiving project proposals in line with RAF’s strategies.

The development and review of a full application (including due diligence) may take three to four months. Grants are approved by the Board of Directors three times per year, in February, June and October.

RAF is a US-based non-profit entity. To ensure the appropriate use of our grant funds and compliance with the U.S. tax code and anti-terrorism laws, the foundation has extensive procedures for making and monitoring all grants.