Action Lab Applications
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the criteria for the partnership?
Essential Criteria
• Be operated, founded, owned, or actively being managed by an Asia 21 Young Leader, who is not part of the current class
• Be based in the Asia-Pacific region and conduct activities focused on serving the needs of underprivileged communities in Asia
• Be willing to accept ongoing partnership and support from the current class of Asia 21 Young Leaders
• Be prepared to devote time, resources, and a dedicated program manager to work with the current class of Asia 21 Young Leaders
• Be legally permitted to accept funds from the United States of America
• Should not be a volunteer-based organization, and at least one founder should be a full-time employee
• Organization should be officially registered and in operation for a minimum of 2 years
• Have a transparent accounting process for finances and an annual budget of less than US$ 3 million
• Have not previously applied more than twice to the former Asia Society’s Public Service Award
Desirable Criteria
• Conduct work that is innovative and sustainable over the long-term
• Conduct work with specific and measurable impact that can be tracked over time
• Have a clear mission statement and focus
What are the steps needed for applying?
• Register on website (link avaibale, when live)
• After registering, complete the mandatory details and answer the questions online about the organization.
• Prepare the following supplemental information separately for uploading to the site:
o Project Proposal (PDF/Word Doc) (Maximum: 15 Pages)
o The project must provide a clear, tangible outcome
o The project should outline how it will be staffed by the organization and explain how your team intends to work with the Class over a 12-month period
o Include details on how your organization could use the project-funding
o Describe any Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be used to measure your project's impact
o Disclaimer: Applications seeking class members to raise funds on behalf of their organization will not be considered.
o Audited annual financial statements/reports of the organization of the last 2 years (please merge all documents into a single PDF file)
o One recommendation letter from an individual and/or organization clearly indicating their support for your organization’s application to become the Asia 21 Action Lab partner, and attesting to your contributions. The supporting letter must come from an appropriate project stakeholder e.g. project beneficiaries, government officials, or private sector. (PDF file)
o OPTIONAL: Additional information that supports your application (such as press releases, reports, video, any other data) relating to projects mentioned in your application. We may request for additional information during the review process.
When is the partnership going to be decided and what are the deadlines of which I should be aware?
A new timline for applications will be announced later this year.
When is the application deadline?
A new timline for applications will be announced later this year.
Why is it important for the organization to be able to communicate with Asia Society and the Asia 21 Class in English?
A very important component of the partnership is access to the Asia 21 Young Leaders’ network and collaboration with the Class for program development and mentoring, in addition to the US$10,000 funding. To ensure that the selected organization gets the most out of their experience through this exchange, English proficiency is a requirement.
Is the Asia 21 Action Lab only for organizations or can individuals also apply?
This partnership is only for organizations that are based and conduct activities in the Asia-Pacific region.