The Pollination Project For Grassroots Changemakers Worldwide (Up to $500, Capacity-building support & Network))

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Applications are open for The Pollination Project. The Pollination Project exists to uplift grassroots changemakers whose work helps build a kinder, more compassionate world. They don’t have narrowly defined criteria for projects they fund, preferring to be led by their community and applicants like you. So long as your work fits their general guidelines, their team will consider any effort that moves them towards a better world. Funding decisions are made on a rolling basis by 100+ volunteer grant advisors, most of whom have previously received seed funding from The Pollination Project.

They are honored to learn about your project and vision. They hope this is the beginning of a meaningful relationship with you, one that starts with seed funding but expands as you connect and engage with our global community of 6,000+ changemakers.

The Pollination Project Benefits

They value relationship over transaction, and hope to walk beside you on your path long after your initial grant funding has been spent. In addition to one-time seed funding of up to $500, joining our global community of changemakers offers:

The opportunity to apply for other one-time funding opportunities that TPP may offer existing grantees
Capacity-building support and connectivity with other changemakers within our global network
Opportunities to have your work showcased to the broader TPP community through articles, social media, and/or video
Support in connecting with other funders and donors upon completion of initial grant reporting

Eligibility Criteria

Who They fund:

They fund individuals, informally organized groups and organizations, and formally registered or incorporated not for profit organizations based anywhere in the world.
They make their application process open to as many people as possible. That said, they do have a few guidelines that help them stay in alignment with their core values.

They Support

Early-stage ideas
- the annual budget for your group or organization must be less than $50,000, and the total cost for the project must be less than $10,000
Practical dreamers
- They look for evidence that you have started some level of work on your project
New People & Projects
- if you, anyone in your group, or your organization has previously received funding from us for this project or for any other work, we ask that you leave the opportunity to apply for seed funding open for others rather than reapply. Similarly, no other representative of your group or organization should currently have a proposal actively under our review at the time that you apply
Grassroots volunteerism
- your group or organization must not have paid staff. Your project shouldn’t be designed to generate personal profit for you or anyone else. Note: If you sometimes contract for web design, accounting, or other professional services, that is allowed. If you do generate profit, it must be reinvested in a non-profit effort.
Compassion consciousness
- They will not fund any person or organization carrying out work promoting or advocating for animal agriculture, even if that work is not part of your proposal to TPP
Freedom of all kinds, including religious freedom
- They can’t support projects or groups who seek to proselytize, evangelize, or require those served to participate in faith-based practices
Equality & Inclusion
- You and your group/organization must not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, age, or faith
Legal Compliance
- legally, they can’t support work that seeks to influence the outcome of elections for specific candidates, or work that induces or encourages violations of law or public policy, or work that causes any improper private benefit to occur. Lastly, to receive a grant, you or your group/organization must be able to receive a wire transfer or Paypal payment in US dollars

Evaluation Criteria

They also consider:

Impact of the project itself
How meaningfully seed funding will move the project forward, and how likely it is that the applicant can bridge any gaps between total funding needed versus what has currently been raised
The strength of the applicant’s connection to the community they want to serve
What efforts the applicant has taken to maximize non-financial resources, such as recruiting volunteers or seeking in-kind donations