The Pollination Project offers seed grants of up to US$500 for volunteer-led community initiatives. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, making the programme a possible starting point for people who have begun practical work and need a modest contribution towards the next step.
The funding is intended for charitable community benefit. It is not a personal living allowance, an unrestricted business investment or a guarantee that every eligible application will receive support.
Check the basic funding conditions
The programme accepts applications from individuals, groups and startup nonprofit organisations worldwide. Projects must have a total budget below US$10,000. Applicants should keep organisational budgets below US$50,000 and review the current guidance carefully, as the official pages use slightly different wording at that boundary.
Organisations must have no paid staff, although occasional professional services are allowed. Previous Daily Grant recipients are not eligible to reapply. Applicants must be able to receive a wire transfer.
Restrictions include animal farming and animal products, academic research, political campaigning and payments for the applicant’s or their family’s time. Review the full exclusions before budgeting. A project’s community purpose does not override a prohibited activity or expense.
Describe the problem in practical terms
Start with the specific issue your community is addressing. Explain who is affected and how you know the need exists. A short account of conversations, observations or work already undertaken can help a reviewer understand the project’s local relevance.
Avoid portraying community members only as passive recipients. Describe how they have shaped the idea, what they want to achieve and what role they will play. Use respectful language and obtain permission before sharing someone else’s story or photograph.
Show what has already begun
Prepare a clear account of the steps you have taken so far. These might include organising volunteers, testing an activity, consulting participants or securing a suitable venue. Be specific about what is complete and what remains a plan.
If an early attempt did not work as expected, explain what you learned and how you adjusted. Evidence of thoughtful progress can be more useful than a promise of dramatic impact without a realistic delivery plan.
Build a small, understandable budget
List the items needed for the next stage and explain how each supports the activity. Use current local prices where possible. Distinguish the total project cost from the amount requested and identify other resources already available.
Do not inflate a request simply to reach the maximum grant. A well-explained smaller amount can still support a meaningful step. Check every item against the funder’s exclusions and avoid including expenses whose purpose is unclear.
Choose useful measures of progress
Decide how you will know whether the activity happened and what it achieved. Attendance may show reach, but it does not automatically demonstrate learning or a lasting change. Select a few measures that fit the project and can be collected without creating unnecessary work.
For example, a volunteer workshop could record participation and ask a short follow-up question about what people intend to use. Treat such information as an indication, not proof of a broad social outcome. Keep personal data collection proportionate to the activity.
Plan for continuity
Explain what happens after the grant-funded step. This might involve reusing materials, sharing a simple guide or continuing with volunteer time. Do not promise a large expansion unless the people, resources and demand are in place.
Agree responsibilities within the group before applying. Someone should know who will purchase materials, retain receipts, organise activities and respond to the funder. Clear roles help a small grant translate into completed work.
Submit through the official route
Review the application instructions and provide accurate, consistent information. Keep a copy of the budget and final submission. These planning suggestions are Opportunities Feed editorial advice; the funder’s current criteria determine eligibility and selection.
Use the button below to check the official application process and complete the eligibility review before requesting support.
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Keywords: Pollination Project grants, US500 seed funding, grassroots community funding, volunteer-led projects, nonprofit startup grants
