The Micro-grants program is led by Roots, and made possible by the financial backing and support of the Urban Movement Innovation Fund.

We support initiatives from those who are between 18 and 35 years of age. The majority of the membership of your group should be made up of people within that range, including those responsible for making decisions in the group.

We will be accepting and reviewing applications in English and Spanish.

No. Your group/organization does not need to be legally registered in order to be eligible to apply. Roots is open and committed to supporting both unregistered groups as well as those that are legally registered as non-government organizations in their countries. However, we will not consider applications from for-profit groups or business ventures.

The Growing Roots Grant is open to initiatives from Global South regions, including the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. We also welcome applications for initiatives from diaspora and BIPOC communities who may be located in Global North countries.

We will not consider applications for:

• Initiatives disconnected from community needs or that do not reach beyond existing echo chambers. 

• Proposals for attending high-profile meetings (such as COPs) or those that focus on building individual profiles.

• Proposals that prioritize personal choice theory of change or do not have a systemic approach to problem-solving.

• Proposals that prioritize mobilization tactics over strategy or do not have a clear path towards building sustainable power in the community.

• Proposals that do not have a clear plan for how to meet people where they are or reach people outside of the echo chamber.

We understand that grant applications can be complex, and while AI is a useful tool for translations, enhancing formality, and offering additional support, we want to hear directly from you and your community! We will not judge applications based on language ability, formality or structure. What matters most to us is understanding your project and the impact it will have on your community, expressed in your own words. While AI is not prohibited, we strongly encourage you to avoid using fully AI-generated responses.

The last day to apply is February 28th, 2026! Please avoid waiting until the last minute to submit your application. We've experienced issues with the form crashing when large numbers of people access it simultaneously, which also makes it challenging for us to be able to respond to all questions in time for the deadline.

Prospective grantees will be notified by mid-April 2026. Given the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to contact unsuccessful applicants individually. If you have not heard from us by mid-April, this means that we have not been able to move forward with your proposal this year.

While applicants do not need to be formally part of a pre-existing group or organization, projects must be carried out by a collective (i.e., more than one individual). We are not able to support projects carried out by a single individual working alone.

Yes! We are looking for new/emerging ideas that show potential to evolve into durable, autonomous organizing work, within a one-year timeframe.

Yes. Please provide an estimated budget through the application form, including any expenses related to equipment, transportation, professional services, research/training, and campaign efforts that this grant would be directed to.

Yes! As part of our ongoing support strategy, applications are open to groups that have previously received support; however, this year they must apply with a new or emerging project (no more than one year old). Your application will be assessed based on current criteria for the Growing Roots Grant.

This year, we are seeking projects that create meaningful impact in three key areas:

• Strategic dialogue and narrative building:
  Projects that create spaces for dialogue and shared understanding in divided or polarized contexts. This includes efforts to counter misinformation or disinformation, strengthen relationships within communities, and build bridges between communities, authorities, institutions, or coalitions in ways that shift narratives and support local organizing.

• Advocacy-oriented initiatives:
  Projects that seek to influence concrete public policy or legislation, or that contribute to changes in local or municipal policies through advocacy, research, or civic engagement.

• Community autonomy initiatives:
  Projects that build or strengthen infrastructure, systems, or resources that are owned and managed by the community itself and strengthen long-term community power and structures.

No. We understand that meaningful community work often extends beyond a single calendar year. Your project does not need to be fully completed within 2026. However, grantees are expected to share evidence of progress at key milestones at 6 months and at 12 months after the start of implementation. These updates help us understand how the project is evolving and how the funds are being used.

Yes, video submissions are required because they really help bring your work to life and give us a better sense of your project. Don’t worry about having professional gear—recording on your phone is totally fine! And if being on camera feels uncomfortable, you don’t have to show your face. Your video will stay private and won’t be shared publicly.

The maximum grant amount available is $10,000 USD per initiative, but please note that funding may be awarded at a lower amount. It’s important that you apply for what you truly need, rather than automatically requesting the maximum amount. We will carefully review each application to ensure that the requested funding is justified and aligns with your project, while also allowing us to support as many impactful initiatives as we can.

We will offer:

• Coaching Program: We will allocate 1 to 2 coaches to successful initiatives according to your project’s needs. Coaches will be there to support you from project inception to implementation, with a six-monthly reporting cycle. They will offer project-specific advice wherever required, including strategic assistance around tactics, communications, public outputs, lobbying, networking, and outreach. 

• Capacity-building: Micro-grant recipients will have access to Roots training and workshops across our core program to boost their capacity around specific needs. These include our organizing, creative storytelling, resilience and wellbeing, and counter-disinformation training, as well as their affiliated communities of practice. We will also provide opportunities for recipients to take on leadership roles within these programs.

• Media and social media support: Grantees will be amplified through the Roots social media channels through storytelling opportunities, videos, and posts. We will also offer local media support to help amplify your initiative and your messages.

Roots strongly encourages all applications to be submitted through the online form. If you experience any difficulty accessing the form, please write to us at  microgrants@poweredbyroots.org to discuss alternatives. Applications sent through email will not be considered, unless previously agreed with Roots.

You can email us at microgrants@poweredbyroots.org and one of our team members will assist  you with any issues or questions. You can also connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.