Break the Cycle of Poverty Through Micro-Grants
$500–$1,000 microgrants, chosen with local partners
Volna Global, a Los Angeles 501(c)(3) public charity, gives microgrants of $500 to $1,000 to individuals in India, Indonesia and Thailand. A small investment can create meaningful, sustainable change. We don’t simply hand out money.
A small opportunity can become the beginning of something much bigger.
How does a Volna Global microgrant work?
We listen to the community, find people with real potential together with local partners, check whether the idea can earn an income in the local economy, fund it with $500 to $1,000, and follow up to measure what it achieved.
What can a microgrant pay for?
We provide locally informed microgrants and practical resources to help people turn skills, ideas, and determination into sustainable opportunities. Support is shaped around what is needed locally and what can help create a path toward greater stability.
- Tools and equipment to begin a trade or expand a small business
- Materials and supplies for locally needed trades such as sewing, construction, agriculture, beauty, food, mechanics, and more
- Technology for work or learning
- Transportation, work uniforms, and other essentials needed to pursue employment
- Training or certifications for employment
- Practical resources to help people build sustainable opportunities within their own communities
Help create an opportunity that can keep growing.
What a microgrant is
- Chosen with local partners
- Matched to what the community needs
- Followed up and evaluated
If a village already has many barbers, funding one more barbershop won’t build a livelihood. So we ask what is missing, which skills are in demand, and what can realistically earn an income — then invest there.
How we choose and follow up
- 1ListenWe learn about the community and understand its needs.
- 2IdentifyWith local people and partners, we find individuals and projects with real potential.
- 3AssessWe look at the local economy, skills and resources, and whether an idea can truly succeed.
- 4InvestWe fund an idea when we believe it can create meaningful, lasting impact.
- 5Follow upWe stay connected and measure what the investment achieved.
Microgrant or microloan?
| Question | Microgrant | Microloan |
|---|---|---|
| Has to be paid back | No — it is a gift | Yes, usually with interest |
| What Volna Global gives | $500 to $1,000 | We don’t give loans |
| After the money | We follow up on every grant | Repayments are collected |
Can I apply?
Volna Global does not take open applications. Microgrants are identified together with local partners in the communities where we work. If you know a community project or need, tell us about it through the contact form.
Questions about microgrants
- What is a Volna Global microgrant?
- A Volna Global microgrant is $500 to $1,000 given to an individual where a small investment can create meaningful, sustainable change. Grants are chosen with local partners after looking at what the community needs and which skills are in demand, and every grant is followed up.
- How does Volna Global decide what to fund?
- Volna Global follows five steps: listen to the community, identify people and projects with real potential together with local partners, assess whether the idea can succeed in the local economy, invest, and follow up to measure what the investment achieved.