Do you have a bold idea to make your community and the world a little kinder, more just, and more compassionate? The Pollination Project (TPP) is a global funding platform that provides small start-up grants to individual changemakers and projects that promote compassion around the world, seeking to fund at the very grassroots level projects created by and with those most impacted. The best part? They fund someone new every single day of the year, anywhere in the world.
Who Should Apply
Individuals, informal groups, and not-for-profit organizations based anywhere in the world are eligible, as long as the project is an early-stage initiative with a total cost under $10,000 and an annual budget under $50,000. Initiatives must be volunteer led with no paid staff, though contracting for professional services like web design or accounting is allowed.
What Projects Are Funded
TPP does not narrowly define the issues or types of work they fund, preferring to be led by applicants. Any effort that moves the world toward being more just, sustainable, and compassionate is considered. Past-funded projects span health, education, environmental justice, human rights, arts, food security, and more.
What Is NOT Funded
TPP does not support projects involving animal agriculture or products, political or religious work, one-time donations, personal salaries for grantees or family members, use of synthetic fertilizers or harmful chemicals, or academic research without a clear real-world impact plan.
What You Will Receive
- Up to $500 in seed grant funding (one-time, no repayment required)
- Entry into a global community of 6,000+ changemakers across 116 countries
- Opportunity to have your work showcased via TPP’s articles, social media, and video
- After initial grant reporting, the opportunity to request TPP serve as a fiscal sponsor, allowing you to accept charitable donations from outside donors
- 🔗 Support in connecting with other funders and donors
How Applications Are Evaluated
TPP’s grantmaking team evaluates proposals based on how meaningfully seed funding will move the project forward, the likelihood the applicant can bridge any funding gaps, and what non-financial efforts like recruiting volunteers or seeking in-kind donations — have already been made. Decisions are made by 100+ volunteer grant advisors, most of whom are former TPP grantees themselves.
Why This Grant Matters
TPP believes in people, so they invest in people not bureaucracies or institutions. This is one of the rare funders that truly backs ideas at their earliest, most fragile stage, giving changemakers the credibility and momentum they need to grow something meaningful.
No application fee. Open to applicants worldwide.
Application Details
- 💵 Grant Amount: Up to $500 USD
- 🌍 Region: Global (open to all countries)
- 🏢 Organizer: The Pollination Project (TPP)
- 📌 Applications must be submitted via the online application form only — no emailed submissions accepted
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis — submit before the last day of any month to be reviewed the following month, with decisions shared at month’s end.
