The Awesome Foundation Micro-Grant
The Awesome Foundation
$1,000 monthly
Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 3 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
$1,000 for something awesome
The Awesome Foundation is a global, decentralized network of independently run chapters that each award $1,000 micro-grants every month to projects and their creators — with no strings attached and no ownership claimed over the work. Funding comes from each chapter's trustees, who typically pool $100 apiece (about ten per chapter) to fund a monthly grant. Anyone is eligible — individuals, groups, organizations, and small businesses — and applications are open to a wide range of project types, from arts and technology to community development and entrepreneurship; each chapter defines 'awesome' for itself. The foundation comprises roughly 80+ active chapters (many in US cities plus thematic chapters like Disability and Conservation & Climate), and applicants can apply to one or several chapters. The application is short, the funds are not repaid, and there are no reporting or equity requirements.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Foundation
- Amount range
- $1,000 – $1,000
- Realistic amount
- A successful applicant receives $1,000 from a chapter, with no conditions on use. Applying to multiple relevant chapters can compound the odds, but each award is a flat $1,000.
- Deadline
- Rolling — monthly; most chapters review applications and award once per month
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump-sum
Who qualifies
- Anyone is eligible — individuals, groups, organizations, and small businesses
- Project should have a clear, positive community or creative impact (each chapter interprets 'awesome' for itself)
- Apply to a chapter where you have roots or that fits your project's theme/location; multiple chapter applications allowed
- No fee, no repayment, no equity, and no formal reporting requirement
- Projects that are purely personal with limited community impact, or established efforts that wouldn't benefit meaningfully from a small grant, are typically not funded
Is the Awesome Foundation Grant legit?
Yes. The Awesome Foundation started in Boston in 2009. Volunteer chapters each give $1,000, no strings attached and nothing to repay, and anyone can apply.
- Who runs it: Volunteer chapters of the Awesome Foundation, started in Boston in 2009
- Where the money comes from: Each local chapter funds its own grants
- Repayment: None; grants are no strings attached
Sources: awesomefoundation.org · page 2. Last checked at the funder on October 18, 2026.
Past Awesome Foundation Grant winners
Projects chapters funded in October 2026:
- Nikita Mtulu, The Baltimore Tree Zine Project, Baltimore, MD · Funded project, listed 2026-10-13 (chapter grant of $1,000)
- Kelsey Hull Simerly, Rats Don't Do Deliveries (Groceries for Seniors), San Francisco, CA · Funded project, listed 2026-10-13 (chapter grant of $1,000)
- Kirsten Anderson, St. Paul First Whistle Initiative, St. Paul, MN · Funded project, listed 2026-10-08 (chapter grant of $1,000)
- Zooey Kim Conner, home/body, Rhode Island · Funded project, listed 2026-10-07 (chapter grant of $1,000)
- Sal Zerilli, The Haystack Mural, Rockport, MA · Funded project, listed 2026-10-01 (chapter grant of $1,000)
- Cassius Babuse Moyo, The Solar "E-Trash to Treasure" Mobile Repair & Up, Conservation and Climate chapter · Funded project, listed 2026-10-10 (chapter grant of $1,000)
Names as published by the Awesome Foundation (source). GrantCompass is not affiliated with the Awesome Foundation.
New grants like this every week: see this week's list or get it by email on Mondays.
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Any project or business expense — funds are unrestricted
- Materials and supplies
- Equipment
- Launching a new product, event, or community initiative
- Marketing
Ineligible expenses
- No published ineligible-expense list — grants are no-strings-attached
How to apply
-
1
Pick the right chapter(s)
Browse the chapter directory (city-based and thematic, e.g. Disability, Conservation & Climate) and choose one or more where you have roots or strong thematic fit. You can also select 'Any'.
~0.5 hrs
-
2
Write a short, vivid pitch
Submit a brief pitch describing your project and why it's awesome, a short bio, and any supporting photos/materials. Keep it concrete and community-oriented.
~1 hrs
-
3
Submit and (optionally) apply to more chapters
Submit through the chapter's form during its monthly window. Applying to several well-matched chapters increases your chances; each can award a separate $1,000.
~0.5 hrs
Because each chapter is fully autonomous and funds just one $1,000 grant a month, fit-to-chapter is everything — apply to thematic chapters (Disability, Conservation & Climate, etc.) or your home city where your project lands squarely in what those trustees care about. A specific, photogenic, community-benefiting project beats a generic business ask; trustees explicitly avoid funding purely personal projects. Apply to several well-matched chapters in the same month to multiply your odds.
Deadline & timing
Each chapter operates autonomously and most meet monthly to review applications and select a recipient. Some chapters accept submissions within a set window each month (e.g. the 1st–10th). Applicants can apply to one or multiple chapters (or select 'Any'). If you haven't heard back within a few months, your project was likely not selected; you can reapply.
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Last updated October 18, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.