Wayfinder Society Student Mini Grants 2026–2027 for Student-Led Plastic Pollution Projects Worldwide (Up To $500 in Funding)

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Applications are open for Wayfinder Society Student Mini Grants 2026–2027. Student Mini-Grants are open to students ages 11–25 worldwide who are developing or leading projects that address the root causes of plastic pollution. Projects can take place at school, in your neighborhood, or across your broader community.

Plastic pollution isn’t just about litter, it’s a production problem. This Student Mini-Grants fund projects that help students understand the root causes of plastic pollution and take action in their own communities. Whether through reusables on campus, education campaigns, policy advocacy, or creative reuse initiatives, these projects should build local capacity for long-term change.

Each Mini-Grant provides $500 in funding to help students bring their unique, solutions-focused ideas to life. Applicants must also identify an adult advisor who can offer guidance and support throughout their project.

Wayfinder Society Student Mini Grants Benefits

Each mini-grant is $500. We will be awarding a total of 10 students with a total allocation of $5,000 USD in this round of mini-grants.

This program is more than just funding. It’s an opportunity to:

Gain mentorship and guidance from both your chosen advisor and Algalita’s team
Collaborate on social media coverage on Algalita’s social media channels
Connect your work to a global community of youth leaders
Turn your ideas into lasting action against plastic pollution

If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey as a changemaker, we encourage you to apply. Together, we are working toward a world where plastic pollution is unthinkable!

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply for a Wayfinder Society Student Mini-Grant, you need to:

Be between the ages of 11-25 on the application deadline,
Have an individual account (or student account through your teacher) on Wayfinder Society,
Have successfully completed these 2 Actions before the application deadline: The Story of Plastic – Watch the Film and The Story of Plastic – System Mapping by following the instructions and completing the form at the bottom of the page, and
Be dedicated to ending plastic pollution in your classroom, school, community, or beyond.

Their Student Mini-Grants are open to applicants anywhere in the world! They do not discriminate against its applicants based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Eligible Project Examples

Any new or existing effort focused on addressing the plastic problem including, but not limited to education campaigns, cleanup initiatives, incorporating reusables in school cafeteria, community-based research or hosting a fixit clinic on campus. Here are some examples:

Campus reuse systems (dish ware programs, water refill stations)
Fix-It Clinics or repair cafés to keep items in use
Cleanup campaigns tied to data collection and storytelling
Education workshops or peer-to-peer campaigns
Policy advocacy projects (plastic bans, refill policies)
Creative arts/communication projects that reframe the issue
A school garden project that reduces cafeteria plastic waste
Composting program that teaches about food packaging reduction
Scholarships for students working on plastics-related or circular-economy projects
Conference attendance that equips students to advocate for plastic reduction solutions
… these are just a few ideas, the options are endless!

Selected grantees will receive ongoing support for their project from Algalita staff throughout the school year. You’ll participate in periodic check-ins where we’ll celebrate your wins, problem solve challenges and help you move your project toward success.

Selection Criteria for Wayfinder Society Student Mini Grants

Everyone’s contribution to ending plastic pollution is unique, so we encourage you to be true to yourself during this application process! Our judges will look at the following criteria when reviewing your application:

You have participated in Wayfinder Society’s online program. You have completed and been awarded the Hours for the required Actions listed above. Your Hours must have been earned on an individual basis, not through a team account. Also note, that while there are only 2 required Actions, your total Hours (you can find this in your Profile) at the time of your application will be considered as an indicator of your involvement in the program and may be used by judges for selection of finalists.
You have shown you are committed to continuing your work to prevent plastic pollution through furthering your education or conducting projects on a local, regional, national, or international scale. Example areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
- Zero Waste
- Social Justice
- Environmental Justice
- Philosophy
- Social Science
- Marketing
- Business Communications
- Policy
- Chemistry
- Science
- They encourage you to apply no matter what your area of focus is, as long as you can relate it to ending plastic pollution!
You have explained why you should be a recipient of the award. The application will ask you to tell us about:
- Why are you involved in the plastic pollution movement, what is your backstory?
- What have you learned and gained from participating in Wayfinder Society?
- How have you taken action on the issue of plastic pollution, and what’s next for you?
- How will you use the funds you receive from the award? We’ll ask the specific dollar amount you are applying for and an explanation of how it will be used. Documentation of how the funds are spent will be required from mini-grant awardees within a year of receiving the funds.
You have included the name, title and contact information for your chosen advisor:
- Your advisor should be an adult who has the capacity to provide support to your project throughout the school year. Examples of people who may be a good advisor include teachers, mentors, or youth program advisors (i.e. environmental club, sustainability club, Green Team, etc.)
- Your family members cannot be listed as an advisor
- If selected as a finalist, we’ll schedule a Zoom call with the student and their advisor to learn more about the project, explore their vision, and discuss key details as we begin building this partnership.

How To Apply for Wayfinder Society Student Mini Grants

Create a Wayfinder Society individual account or student account with your class if you haven’t already.
Complete at least these 2 Actions before the application deadline: The Story of Plastic – Watch the Film and The Story of Plastic – System Mapping.
Complete the application by January 15th, 2027.

Click Here To Apply

Application Deadline: January 15th, 2027