The Awesome Foundation Grant Program

The Awesome Foundation is a global philanthropic community that advances the interest of "awesome" in the universe by providing $1,000 microgrants to individuals and groups with creative, bold, or unconventional project ideas. Established in Boston in 2009, the foundation now consists of 68 chapters spanning 10 countries. Each chapter operates independently and is funded by small groups of “micro-trustees” who contribute their own money to make these grants possible. Since its founding, the Awesome Foundation has awarded more than $7.4 million to over 7,480 projects. Unlike many grant programs, Awesome Foundation grants come with no strings attached. Recipients are not required to provide follow-up reports or relinquish any ownership or stake in their ideas. The core philosophy is that transformative, surprising, or delightful ideas should be supported based on their potential to create joy, impact, or provoke thought. The foundation does not seek to profit or exercise control over projects; its sole purpose is to help applicants realize their vision. Applications are reviewed monthly by each chapter, which chooses one project to receive the $1,000 grant. Past recipients span a wide array of topics, including community gardens in Los Angeles, disability-inclusive challenge courses, children’s opera in Glasgow, ghost fungus tours in Australia, and urban nature projects. The unifying element among funded projects is that they inspire or engage the community in meaningful, unexpected ways. The application process is simple and accessible. Interested individuals or teams submit their idea through the Awesome Foundation website. Applicants can choose a local chapter to apply to, or their project can be considered more broadly. There are no fees, formal requirements, or obligations beyond submitting a compelling description of what makes their idea awesome. The Awesome Foundation’s decentralized, community-funded model allows for unique local decision-making while contributing to a broader, international culture of grassroots creativity. This structure empowers everyday people to become patrons of innovation and encourages unconventional thinkers to bring forward ideas that might not fit traditional grantmaking frameworks. Through its support of projects both serious and whimsical, the Awesome Foundation has become a quiet yet powerful force for good, demonstrating that meaningful change can be sparked one small grant—and one awesome idea—at a time.

Focus on creativity, community impact, surprise, and joy. Avoid jargon; clarity and originality matter most.