CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

TEQUILA INTERCHANGE PROJECT (TIP)

2025 Conservation & Community Enrichment Grant

The Tequila Exchange Project (TIP) 501(c)(3) is pleased to announce our first-ever Conservation and Community Enrichment Grant for 2025.

To further our mission of preserving traditional practices and fostering sustainability in agave spirits production, TIP is putting out an open call to conservation-focused non-profits working in Mexico whose work is directly or indirectly connected to preserving agave biodiversity and agave spirits culture.

The Tequila Interchange Project’s 2025 conservation grant will be awarded to a United States or Mexico-based non-profit to fund projects that will serve to help preserve agave culture.

Grant Amount: $5,000 USD

Requirements:

• Be a U.S. or Mexico-based Asociación Civil or non-profit with current registration.

• The project must function to preserve agave culture either through natural resource management or community enrichment and/or development. Strong proposals will combine these aspects.

• The project must be in Mexico.

• The project must be located in a region that has a documented history of agave spirits production.

 Application:

• Provide the name and title of the person responsible for the grant application and who will serve as the lead on this project.

• Please submit a brief (1,200 word maximum) summary of your proposal that includes the following:

  • Abstract (one paragraph)

  • Direct beneficiaries and location of the project

  • Brief summary of the region’s historical connection to agave spirits

  • Objectives expected to be achieved through the project (for the place or region and affected communities)

  • Project deliverables that will demonstrate achievement of objectives

  • How will each project objective function to preserve agave culture

  • Justification of the relevance of the project

• Program Summary

  • A one-page summary highlighting your organization’s programs. This summary should provide a broad overview of all of your organization’s focus areas but pay particular attention to work with agave, agave growers, or agave spirits producers.

• Additional Information

  • Has the proposal been discussed with those who will directly benefit? Is there a letter of support?

  • Monthly schedule which includes when each stated objective will be completed

  • Budget

    • The project budget must include allowable expenses, such as indirect costs no greater than 10%, a budget justification, and project funds clearly delineated if contained within a larger budget.

  • Are you working with any other non-profit organizations on this project?

  • Have you received any funds from the listed organizations and if so, how much?

  • Does your organization accept financial support from any agave spirits brands? If so, please list the brands and the amounts.

  • While we encourage all possible proposals directly or indirectly related to agave and agave-based spirits, special attention will be given to proposals focused on the following topics:

    • Management and conservation of biodiversity in regions producing spirits made from agave

    • Sustainability, particularly water resource management, agave population, or maintaining pollinator populations

    • Gender roles in the agave industry, particularly raising awareness of female participation

    • Agave cultivation as an important factor in local socioeconomic development

• Accepted languages are English or Spanish

• .pdf Format

• SUBMIT APPLICATIONS VIA EMAIL TO FUNDING@TEQUILAINTERCHANGEPROJECT.ORG

RESTRICTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS

• Funds must be used exclusively for expenses directly related to the project

  • Eligible expenses include:

    • Contractor fees

    • Purchase of materials and equipment

    • Software expenses

    • Lab analysis

    • Transportation

    • Lodging

    • Other travel expenses

      *This is not an exhaustive list and other eligible expenses may be submitted for approval on a case-by-case basis

• The grant may be canceled for any of the following reasons:

  • Failure to deliver partial and final reports, in addition to deliverables

  • False information provided

  • Failure to comply with ethical commitments: Improper conduct in the locality or with interlocutors

  • Abandonment of the project without justification

  • Inability to maintain communication with project supervisors

  • Breach of confidentiality agreements

• Modifications to the project are permitted but must be promptly reported to the project supervisors in a free-format document, indicating what is being modified, the reasons, and the importance of the changes.

• The organization receiving the grant is obliged to behave ethically and to comply with local laws and regulations. This implies obtaining the necessary permits, complying with safety standards, and adhering to the research protocols indicated for specific communities in order to guarantee the safety and personal integrity of all those involved.

• Regular progress reports will be made to the TIP Board of Directors, with frequency dependent upon project timeline

EVALUATION CRITERIA

• FIRST STAGE: Evaluation of the written proposal

  • Relevance and pertinence (25%)

  • Technical quality of the proposal (25%)

  • Social and environmental impact (25%)

  • Applicant's experience and ability (10%)

  • Innovation and originality (15%)

• SECOND STAGE: Interview (10 finalists)

  • Presentation of the proposal. 15 minutes (50%)

  • Question and answer session. 15 minutes (50%)

Relevant Dates

Opening Call

18 February 2025

Application Due

23 March 2025

Review of Applications

2 March - 4 April 2025

Finalists Notified

7 April 2025

Finalist Interviews, Deliberation, Decision and Ruling

8 April - 25 April 2025

Notification of Results via TIP Website and Email to Participants

28 April 2025

This grant was made possible by the generosity of our friends at the Mission 1530 Project, Madre Restaurant, Winebow, Maverick Beverage Company, Vine Street Imports, Binny’s, and Suro International Importers