A/HRC/15/38 consultations, via electronic mail, for the recommendations on travel grants. In that context, the Secretariat analysed more than 400 applications received from indigenous organizations and communities. The Board received from the secretariat a comprehensive analysis of each admissible application form, covering all the selection criteria. Once the recommendations were made, the Secretariat forwarded them to the High Commissioner for Human Rights for approval on behalf of the Secretary-General. VI. Financial status of the Fund 20. The Fund is funded by means of voluntary contributions from Governments, NGOs and other private or public entities. Despite a decrease in contributions in 2009, the Fund has over the years enjoyed a satisfactory financial situation (see table 1). Table 1 600000 537269 550000 500000 451614 450000 442365 400000 350000 300000 250000 200000 245249 244078 174498 168042 150000 100000 341895 281369 240184 257329 187072 175135 185162 164668 108482 50000 0 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 Amount of contributions (United States Dollars) Voluntary contributions received 1995 – 2010 Year 21. Thanks to continuous support from donors, the Fund has, since its establishment, been able to allocate more than 1,100 grants to representatives of indigenous communities and organizations to participate in United Nations meetings. In recent years, the Board has been in a position to allocate annually over US$400,000 for participation in the Permanent Forum and the Expert Mechanism. 22. In order to ensure solid support for the Fund, the Board of Trustees meets annually with donors and potential donors during its sessions. At these meetings, the Board informs Government representatives of the status of the Fund, its sessional deliberations and other important considerations. These meetings represent a direct and transparent flow of information between the Fund and Governments. Members of the Board also meet with donors during the sessions of the Permanent Forum in New York. At these meetings, the Board invites beneficiaries of the Fund to explain the impact of their participation in the sessions of the Permanent Forum as well as the overall impact of the Fund’s mandate. 6