Microgrants: A Call to Action for Sustainable Solutions
The Sustainability Accelerator Microgrants are a new initiative to provide £1,000 grants to crowdsource and catalyze innovative ideas to reach a sustainable future.
Find out more below and apply now.
Colorful plastic shapes of what will become electric tricycle cabs. Photo: Lucas Schifres/Getty Images.
A new initative from the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator
The next decade will be crucial for the future of the planet and we need to define and deliver a blueprint today for how to build a fairer and more sustainable tomorrow.
In the face of this challenge, the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator is looking for innovative and engaging ideas that accelerate innovative solutions for a fair and sustainable future – for the environment and for people.
The microgrants will provide a springboard for novel ideas to solve sustainability challenges. Your idea should lead to a tangible output that could help it to become a reality. This could be a digital tool, a physical product, an event, a campaign or even a new technology. You need to demonstrate how it could help to:
- Solve an existing sustainability issue
- Accelerate progress towards sustainability targets
Ideas should also demonstrate their resonance based on a combination of relevance (how important it is) and reach (how wide an audience will it reach).
Grants of £1,000 are available from a £20,000 microgrant fund for innovative and creative people to transform their ideas into reality.
The Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator would like to empower and bring together the thought leaders and changemakers of tomorrow who will have a crucial role in shaping a sustainable future.
Everyone can submit their idea, whether you’re an activist, changemaker, entrepreneur, influencer, developer, disruptor or member of the public, we want to hear from you.
Eligibility requirements
- You do not need to be a Chatham House member to apply!
- We welcome applications from all backgrounds and geographies.
- Applicants must be based in the country where the initiative will take place.
- Applicants can submit their idea as an individual or a group.
- If applying in a partnership, at least one of the applicants must be based in the country where the initiative will take place.
- If applying in a partnership, there must be one primary applicant who will receive the grant funding and will hold overall responsibility for the initiative.
- Applications from registered businesses or companies will not be accepted. Applicants must be applying as individuals or group of individuals or applications from charitable/community organizations.
- Applicants must be 18+ at the time of application.
- All applications and reporting should be completed in English.
How do I apply?
You can apply by completing a short application form answering the questions below, which you can access here. Applications must be submitted by 30 April 2022.
• What is your idea in summary? (50 words)
• What is your idea (in detail)? (1,500 words)
• How does your idea accelerate a fair and sustainable future? (200 words)
• What is novel or innovative about your approach? (200 words)
• How will your idea resonate, for example, what is its relevance and reach? (200 words)
• What is your project timeline?
Selection process
Submissions will be considered by an internal selection panel consisting of Chatham House staff and associate fellows. This is an experimental funding scheme. We welcome questions and suggestions about eligibility and feedback on any aspect of the microgrant initiative.
Acknowledgement
The microgrant idea has been developed with the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator’s associate fellow Benjamin Yeoh. Ben runs his own microgrant project that includes providing funding for people looking to make a positive impact. You can find out more about Ben in his personal podcast and newsletter.
Should you have further questions please refer to the FAQs below or contact us at sustainabilityaccelerator@chathamhouse.org.
