The Awesome Foundation invites individuals and small teams worldwide to apply for micro-grants. It backs innovative projects on wildlife conservation, habitat protection, climate change, ecotourism or environmental communication, especially ones that haven’t been done before or are done in a unique way. The chapter looks for projects where a grant of US$1,000 or less is the difference between happening and not happening. The next deadline is 27 November 2026. Micro-Grants for Environmental Projects
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Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation — Start-up Support for Social Enterprises
The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation supports early-stage, high-impact social enterprises and seeks projects and innovations that dramatically improve the lives of people and the world. Eligibility extends to non-profit, for-profit, and hybrid organizations in the early stages of their development that have scaling potential. The DRK investments are distributed twice a year over a three-year term, totaling $300 thousand. The Foundation has a rolling online application process throughout the year; there is no deadline. Click here
Rainforest Trust — Rapid Protected-Area Feasibility Awards
The Rainforest Trust provides partnership and funding opportunities to local conservation NGOs across the tropics. The Rapid Protected-Area Feasibility Awards is intended for conservationists and researchers to evaluate important potential sites for creating new Protected Areas. Awards average US$5 thousand. The applicant must be an NGO based in the country of the proposed protected area. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Link
Association of Commonwealth Universities — Early Career Conference Grants
The Association of Commonwealth Universities offers seven grants of up to £2,000 each, helping early-career researchers attend conferences in other Commonwealth countries. The grants cover registration fees, flights, accommodation, visas, and travel and health insurance. Applicants must be early-career academics at an ACU member university, within seven years of starting their academic career. They must be chairing a session or presenting a paper or poster at an in-person conference in a Commonwealth country other than the one where they work. The conference must take place between January 2027 and January 2028. The deadline is 13 October 2026. Conference Grants
Dalai Lama Fellows — Mentorship for Emerging Leaders
The Dalai Lama Fellowship offers emerging leaders from all around the world mentorship and coaching to design and implement their own original field projects addressing a global challenge. Project areas include environmental sustainability, among others. The fellowship does not offer funding for projects, instead, it offers coaching and a global community. This program is open to next-generation leaders (20-35 years old). The deadline for applications is 11 November 2026. Dalai Lama Fellows
Unearthodox — Exploration Co-Lab 2027
Unearthodox invites early-stage initiatives working at the intersection of environmental and societal change to apply to its Exploration Co-Lab, a 10-month incubator for systemic, root-cause work addressing humanity’s relationship with nature. Selected participants receive CHF 10,000 in grant funding, plus access to an estimated CHF 60,000 in non-financial support, including coaching, systems mapping, and community connection. Open to applicants worldwide, with particular welcome for underrepresented voices. The deadline is 16 November 2026. Exploration Co-Lab
Italian Agency for Development Cooperation — Agroforestry Value Chains in Uganda
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) invites proposals for Trees 4 Karamoja, a 36-month project to restore forest and tree cover in five districts of Uganda’s Karamoja region (Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Amudat). The project develops regenerative agroforestry value chains that raise incomes for communities, especially women and youth. AICS will award one grant of €1.78 million, covering 100% of project costs, with no co-financing required. Only non-profit organisations on Italy’s register of civil society organisations can lead an application. Each applicant must work with at least one local civil society organisation. The call and all application documents are in Italian. The deadline is 18 November 2026. More details
Yves Rocher Foundation — International Terre de Femmes Award
The Yves Rocher Foundation invites applications for the International Terre de Femmes Award to honor women for their achievements in environmental awareness, conservation, and solidarity. This year, the Foundation invites applications from women committed to concrete initiatives that put trees at the heart of cities. Examples include urban tree education projects, community orchards and forest gardens, protecting heritage trees, urban tree nurseries for native species, and re-greening dense or built-up areas. Two winners worldwide each receive a €10,000 grant for their project. The international award is open to women worldwide involved in a project that helps to protect the environment through a non-profit organization. The closing date for applications is 30 November 2026. Terre de Femmes
Italian Agency for Development Cooperation — Agroecological Value Chains in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation invites proposals to strengthen markets and value chains for neglected and underutilized crops in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. It offers one grant of €2.7 million, covering 100% of costs, for a project of up to 36 months. The project must support at least 60 cooperatives, producer groups, and small businesses (at least 30 in each country) with training, financial support, and market links. The lead applicant must be a non-profit NGO with at least seven years of experience supporting agricultural and rural enterprises. It must also manage an average annual project portfolio of at least €1 million and work with at least one local co-applicant in each country. The deadline is 16 December 2026. Link
Learning Planet Institute — Youth Design Challenge
The Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge is an annual global initiative encouraging young individuals aged 15-26 to pitch their ideas for innovative learning programs for their dream university. Participants can pitch programs on one of the following themes: peace and democracy, mental health and wellbeing, and environment and climate. The 12 finalists will receive regular mentorship from a global network of industries with the goal of implementing their programs. The winner receives US$1000. The deadline for submissions is 07 January 2027. Youth Design Challenge