The VGIF membership is composed of all of its donors- individuals who generously support the Fund's mission by their annual donations and planned or estate gifts. The officers, directors and committee members all serve without compensation, and pay for their own travel to the semi-annual meetings held at the VGIF office in New York City.

VGIF funds small grants to indigenous projects devised and conducted by NGOs in the developing world. Awards of up to $5000 each are made annually in April for projects benefiting women and children. Over the 39 year lifetime of the organization these grants to every area of the world have exceeded a total of $1 million. VGIF has consultative status with ECOSOC within the United Nations, and collaborates with other likeminded organizations to enlarge its potential for assistance to needy and deserving self-help groups.