Theirworld Small Grants Program

Theirworld, an international children's charity, offers the Small Grants Programme to support innovative, high-impact projects that benefit disadvantaged children and youth. The programme provides flexible funding to registered charities and nonprofit organizations aiming to improve education, health, and life outcomes for young people globally. The grants focus on locally-driven efforts that can create meaningful change with limited resources, particularly initiatives that align with Theirworld’s core priorities: the best start in life, a safe place to learn, and skills for the future. Since launching the programme in 2004, Theirworld has awarded nearly £1 million in small grants, funding projects across a wide array of countries including the United Kingdom, Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Pakistan, and Greece. The programme specifically supports initiatives that may otherwise lack access to large-scale funding and is designed to enable new ideas, expand existing services, or pilot innovations. Awards typically range from £1,000 to £10,000 in a single payment, making them ideal for testing new models or responding to urgent needs in underserved communities. Priority is given to projects that address one or more of Theirworld’s five cross-cutting strategic issues linked to education: climate action, gender equality, inclusion, peace and security, and health and nutrition. The grants cannot be used to fund expeditions or promote religious or political agendas. All successful applicants are expected to provide mid-term and final reports, with templates provided by Theirworld upon award confirmation. In some cases, multi-year grants may be considered, though this is not the norm. To be eligible, applicants must be registered nonprofit or charitable organizations. Only one application per organization is permitted per cycle. If an organization submits multiple applications, only the first will be considered. Applications are reviewed annually by Theirworld’s board of trustees. Once approved, grants are disbursed during July and August. Unsuccessful or previously funded applicants must wait 12 months before reapplying. The current application window is open from January 15 through February 16, 2026, with all submissions due by 5:00 PM GMT on the final day. To assist applicants, Theirworld is hosting two Q&A webinars: one on February 2 at 10:00 GMT, and another on February 3 at 15:00 GMT. These sessions will explain the application process and allow for direct interaction with the Theirworld team. Applicants must submit an online application along with their latest annual accounts and up-to-date safeguarding policy. The final award decisions will be communicated by June 30, 2026. Theirworld’s Small Grants Programme offers a critical opportunity for grassroots organizations working on the frontlines of youth development to access targeted funding and drive systemic impact at the community level.