The Awesome Foundation Grant
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Quick Answer
The Awesome Foundation distributes $1,000 grants, no strings attached, to projects and their creators worldwide, fostering awesome ideas one grant at a time.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Awesome Foundation
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Idea
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Awesome Foundation is a unique global initiative dedicated to fostering creativity, innovation, and positive impact by providing no-strings-attached micro-grants to a diverse range of projects and their creators. Founded in Boston in 2009, the Foundation has grown into an expansive worldwide community, operating through more than 70 fully autonomous chapters across 11 countries. Each chapter embodies the core philosophy of collective philanthropy, with groups of 'micro-trustees' pooling small amounts of their own money. These pooled funds are then distributed as $1,000 (approximately ₹95,000) grants on a monthly basis, directly empowering individuals and teams to bring their 'crazy brilliant ideas' to fruition. The beauty of the Awesome Foundation model lies in its simplicity and its commitment to creator autonomy: applicants retain full ownership of their ideas and projects, as the Foundation takes no equity or intellectual property stake. This approach encourages experimentation, supports emerging talent, and enables projects that might not qualify for traditional funding mechanisms, covering a broad spectrum from art installations and community initiatives to technological prototypes and social enterprises.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Provider
Awesome FoundationBenefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
- ₹95,000 (approximately US$1,000) equity-free grant paid upfront to fund your awesome idea.
- No strings attached: you retain full ownership of your project.
- Be part of a worldwide community of creators and trustees, offering opportunities for networking and collaboration.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by self-organizing micro-trustees within each autonomous chapter. The selection focuses on ideas deemed 'awesome' that contribute to forwarding the interest of awesome in the universe, and are feasible with a $1,000 grant. The process is decentralized, with each chapter making independent decisions.
Application Process
- 1
Submit Idea
Submit your 'crazy brilliant idea' through the online application form.
You - 2
- 3
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Awesome Foundation?
The Awesome Foundation is a global community dedicated to funding "awesome" ideas. It operates through autonomous chapters worldwide, each awarding monthly micro-grants of US$1,000 (approximately ₹95,000) to creative and impactful projects and their creators.
How much funding can I receive?
Each grant awarded by The Awesome Foundation is a fixed amount of US$1,000, which is approximately ₹95,000. This amount is disbursed upfront to help kickstart your project.
Do I give up any equity or ownership in my project?
No, absolutely not. The Awesome Foundation explicitly states, "Your idea is yours alone. We don't want a stake in it." These grants are non-dilutive and come with no strings attached, ensuring you retain full ownership and control of your project and any intellectual property.
Who is eligible to apply for an Awesome Foundation grant?
The grants are open to individuals and teams with "crazy brilliant ideas" that need funding. There are no strict eligibility criteria regarding entity type, age, or prior funding, making it accessible for pre-incorporated individuals, students, and informal groups. Projects can span any sector or theme.
How often are grants awarded, and is there a specific deadline?
The Awesome Foundation operates on a rolling basis, with grants awarded every month by its local chapters. There is no specific application deadline; you can apply whenever your idea is ready.
What types of projects does The Awesome Foundation typically fund?
The Foundation funds a wide array of projects that are deemed "awesome" and contribute positively to the universe. This can include anything from art projects, community initiatives, social good endeavors, local events, creative experiments, and early-stage prototypes across various sectors, as long as the idea is innovative and executable with a US$1,000 grant.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
