About Us

The Ann Arbor Awesome Foundation is the Ann Arbor chapter of the Boston-based micro-philanthropic organization known as the Awesome Foundation. Each fully autonomous chapter supports awesome projects through micro-grants, usually given out monthly. These micro-grants, $1,000 or the local equivalent, come out of the pockets of the chapter's "trustees" and are given on a no-strings-attached basis to people and groups working on awesome projects. We fund one project per month from what can be a large pool of applicants, so don't be discouraged if your project isn't funded and feel free to apply again for future projects!

Our application process is extremely simple by design, but there are still a couple of key ways to craft an application that makes a particularly awesome first impression. One of our key considerations on every application is what impact our $1,000 will have. We especially love projects where $1,000 can truly go a long way, rather than being just a small contribution to a larger fundraising campaign. It's a big help to us when an applicant can clearly articulate what our mini-grant would make possible.

Another key question we ask ourselves about every grant application is: Is it awesome? You should ask yourself the same question, and do your best to explain to us how your project forwards the interest of awesome in the universe.

Please note that we meet at the beginning of each month, when we consider all applications submitted in the preceding month. As a result, it may take up to six weeks to consider and respond to grant applications. If you're seeking funding for a time-sensitive event or project, please apply early!