Karma for Cara Foundation Microgrant

Karma for Cara Foundation offers microgrants to young individuals across the United States to support service projects that benefit their local communities. These microgrants are specifically aimed at empowering youth aged 18 and under, encouraging them to engage in civic-minded activities and develop leadership skills through direct project execution. The program is a part of the foundation’s broader mission to inspire and equip the next generation of change-makers by fostering early engagement in community service and philanthropy. Applicants are eligible to request between $250 and $1,000 to support their proposed projects. The grants are intended to cover the essential costs of implementing a service initiative but come with clear restrictions on how funds can be spent. Specifically, the program will not fund stipends, facility rentals, transportation, professional fees, event food or drinks (except for donation drives), printing, promotional materials, or gift cards and prizes. Instead, projects must involve active participation and hands-on involvement by students, preferably in transforming, assembling, or distributing donated materials rather than merely purchasing and delivering them. To be considered, applicants must be 18 years old or younger and plan to carry out their project within the United States. Applications involving individuals over 18 or projects outside the U.S. will be disqualified. For class or group submissions, up to three student leaders must be designated as primary contacts. Applications should include quantifiable impact metrics such as the number of students involved in execution and estimated number of beneficiaries, providing a clear sense of the project’s scope and potential impact. Applications are accepted year-round but are reviewed quarterly based on the following deadlines: January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st, with a submission deadline of 11:59 PM EST on those dates. Applicants will be notified of next steps within two weeks after the respective deadline. Those who miss a deadline will be rolled over to the next review cycle automatically. Noemi Cruz-Cruz serves as the main contact for the microgrant program and can be reached at noemi@karmaforcara.org for inquiries or technical support related to the application process. Karma for Cara is committed to equity and inclusion and applies a nondiscrimination policy that ensures equal opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. The foundation’s values are reflected in both its internal operations and its external funding practices.