How PIFA Projects Get Funded
You give. We amplify. Changemakers lead.
PIFA is powered by the collective generosity of GMS alumni and community donors — and fueled by the belief that every dollar ane very vote can spark real change.
THE MODEL
A two-phase process that combines merit and community
PIFA uses a two-phase model. First, a panel of independent reviewers evaluates all applications and selects the strongest projects as finalists. Then, the broader community participates in a fundraising and voting campaign — where every dollar donated is also a vote. The projects with the most community support receive funding.
STEP BY STEP
How it works
Step by step
How it works
1
Phase 1
Applications are reviewed on merit
All applications go through a rigorous merit-based review by a panel of independent evaluators. The strongest proposals advance to a cohort of finalists — selected based on the quality of their vision and fit, not on fundraising ability.
2
Phase 2
The community votes by donating
Finalists are introduced to the broader community. Anyone can donate to PIFA and vote for the projects they believe in — every $1 donated equals one vote. You can split your votes across multiple projects or put them all behind one.
How donations are distributed:
- If a project meets its fundraising goal, it keeps 100% of its budget, plus 30% of any surplus as a bonus. The remaining 70% of any surplus goes into the shared PIFA Pool.
- If a project falls short of its goal, all donations raised for that project go into the PIFA Pool, which is used to fund the top vote-getters.
3
Funding
The top projects receive funding
When the voting window closes, the projects with the highest vote totals are prioritized for funding from the PIFA Pool. The number of projects funded each cycle depends on the total amount raised by the community — the more donors give, the more changemakers we can support.
There is no fixed number of funded projects. PIFA's funding model is designed to grow with the community — the bigger and more engaged the donor base, the more changemakers can launch their work.
4
Every cycle
No donation goes to waste
Whether your chosen project receives funding or not, your contribution supports PIFA changemakers. All donations go toward the shared PIFA Pool, which funds the top community-supported projects each cycle. If any additional funds remain, they will roll over into the PIFA Pool for the next cycle.