International Campaign for Tibet: ICT Programs: The Rowell Fund for Tibet

The Rowell Fund for Tibet

Barbara and Galen Rowell. Photo courtesy of Dr. Ellen K. Rudolph

The application period is closed for this year. We are not accepting applications until next year’s cycle during the month of September, 2008.

Following the tragic deaths of Galen and Barbara Rowell in August 2002, ICT's Board of Directors and close friends and family of the Rowells established a fund to carry on Galen and Barbara Rowell's legacy in the Tibetan community.

Galen Rowell was the Co-chair of ICT's Board of Advisors and a longtime friend of Tibet. Together, Galen and Barbara produced the book My Tibet, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and introduced Tibet to countless people around the world. Through photographs and writing they documented and brought attention to many threatened ecosystems and cultures.

During its first year, the Rowell Fund gave $37,240 to twelve Tibetans, most of whom were based in India, but several in Tibet, the US and the UK. In its second and third year, the Fund provided nearly $100,000 in grants. The fall of 2006 will mark the fourth round of grants for the Fund.

Purpose: The Rowell Fund for Tibet gives small grants to Tibetans who are working to promote their culture and environment in the arenas of environmental conservation, photography, humanitarian issues, journalism/literature, and women's projects. The Fund was set up by climbing partners and family of Galen and Barbara Rowell to carry on their legacy in the Tibetan community. The Fund is managed by the International Campaign for Tibet based in Washington, DC.

Examples of projects: photography, photo exhibitions, educational pamphlets, newsletters, book projects, translation projects, public speaking tours, video library, women's issues and environmental awareness.

Eligibility: Tibetans from any country are eligible to apply. ICT encourages Tibetan men and women to apply as this fund honors the achievements of both Galen and Barbara and their teamwork as husband and wife. Tibetans working for organizations can apply on behalf of the organization as long as they are central to the implementation of its work.

How to Apply: Please submit (1) Application (click here for the application form) (2) a project proposal of no more than 500 words in English or Chinese, or 1000 in Tibetan, doubled spaced, (3) a detailed budget proposal that is no more than one page in length showing how you plan to use the money (maximum US $7,500).

Rowell Fund Themes: The Rowell Fund sponsors projects that deal with the following themes: The environment/conservation, photography, humanitarian projects, journalism/literature, or women’s projects. (In previous years The Rowell Fund has given grants to produce film projects. These projects will be considered, but only if they focus on one or more of the above themes.)

Anonymity: If you would like your information to be confidential then simply write the name and contact information for an intermediary whom we can be in contact with regarding your application.

Submitting applications: Please submit all forms and mail them to:

Rowell Fund for Tibet
International Campaign for Tibet
1825 Jefferson Place NW
Washington DC, 20036
USA

or by e-mail to: rowellfund@savetibet.org

Applications must be received by the Rowell Fund between Sept. 1, 2008 and midnight, Eastern Standard Time on, Sept. 30, 2008. Applications submitted during any other time of the year cannot be considered, and will not be returned. All applications received during the month of September will be acknowledged within 7 days of receipt. If sending in your application by mail, please use a paper clip instead of staples.

Grant selection: Grant applications will be received and compiled by ICT staff and sent to the Advisory Board of the Rowell Fund for Tibet in late October/early November. The Advisory Board will select grantees in November. Applicants will be notified in early December and funds will be distributed in mid-December. A report on the results of the project and how the funds were spent will be expected from all grant awardees.

Grant Writing Resources:

The following websites provide information, guidance, and instructions for writing good fundraising applications. These websites are geared towards funding applications in North America and may be somewhat different from applications in other parts of the world. The Rowell Fund does not endorse any particular website but urges applicants to review them.

Advisory Board: The advisory board, made up of friends and family of Galen and Barbara, currently consists of John Ackerly, Conrad Anker, Justin Black, David Breashears, Jimmy Chin, Bob and Beth Cushman, John Jancik, Bob Palais, Tony Rowell and Ray and Nicole Rowell Ryan. You can learn more about the Board here.

Rowell Fund/ICT Pledge: We pledge that 85% of all donations to the Rowell Fund for Tibet will be distributed as grants in Tibet, India, Nepal and elsewhere. 15% of donations will cover expenses of the International Campaign for Tibet, which runs the Fund.

All donations to the Rowell Fund are tax-deductible.

By check: Make checks payable to the "Rowell Fund for Tibet/ICT" and send to

International Campaign for Tibet
1825 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC 20036.
To donate via wire transfer, please contact Melissa Winchester at (202) 785-1515 ext. 25 for the account information.

Questions? If you didn't find what you wanted on this page, please send an email to rowellfund@savetibet.org with the details of your question. For more information about Galen and Barbara Rowell, see www.mountainlight.com.

Galen Rowell in front of his famous image of Tibet's Potala Palace

Galen Rowell
In 1972, at age 32, Galen dedicated his life to photography and wilderness exploration, working on many assignments for National Geographic and other publications. He went to the Himalayas more than 25 times and was one of the first Americans allowed into Tibet in the early 1980s, resulting in a highly acclaimed book, Mountains of the Middle Kingdom: Exploring the High Peaks of China and Tibet (1983).

Galen returned to Tibet in 1987 and 1988 and produced the book My Tibet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1990. But it was a lesser known article, "The Agony of Tibet," in the Greenpeace magazine that year that had a profound impact on awareness of environmental dangers in Tibet. Galen's last expedition in summer 2002 was back to Tibet with Conrad Anker, Rick Ridgeway and Jimmy Chin to document the birthing ground of the endangered Tibetan antelope.

Galen produced 18 books and in 1984 received the Ansel Adams Award for his contribution to the art of wilderness photography.

Galen and Barbara Rowell with the His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Barbara Cushman Rowell
Barbara Cushman Rowell was the guiding force behind the Mountain Light business from its inception and was the president of Mountain Light Photography. Barbara studied textiles and business and graduated in 1978 from the University of California at Davis with Highest Honors.

In 1981, she met Galen while working for The North Face as Director of Public Relations. They were married several months later. Barbara also pursued her own interests in flying; she was the company pilot for Mountain Light and flew Galen while he took aerial photographs.

Barbara traveled to Tibet numerous times and developed a passion for the country that continued throughout her life. Her photographs have been published in National Geographic and on book and magazine covers. She had recently completed a book, Flying South: A Pilot's Inner Journey.

Advisory Board Members of the Rowell Fund for Tibet

Guidelines for the Administration of the Rowell Fund for Tibet

Rowell Fund for Tibet Winners