The Pulitzer Center is inviting applications from grassroots organizations, civil society organizations, youth movements, community educators, civic coalitions, and other community-led groups in the Global South for its Global South Civil Society Microgrants.

The initiative provides funding for civic engagement projects that use Pulitzer Center-supported journalism to help communities better understand interconnected environmental and climate challenges, amplify the voices of affected communities, and encourage informed local or regional action.

Grants of USD $2,000 to $4,000 are available for projects lasting up to six months. Proposed activities may support existing initiatives or help organizations launch new projects.

Areas of Focus

Applicants should develop projects around one of the following themes:

Rainforest, governance and communities: Projects may explore the causes of rainforest degradation, including global markets, finance and policies, while highlighting the rights, knowledge and roles of Indigenous peoples and communities whose lives depend on forest ecosystems.

Ocean health and the climate crisis: Projects may address marine environmental degradation, ocean health, climate change, ocean governance, scientific evidence and community-led solutions.

Climate resilience, gender and adaptations: Projects may examine the intersection of climate and labor, including gender, livelihoods, adaptation strategies and community resilience in the face of climate change.

What Can Be Supported?

Projects must meaningfully use at least one published Pulitzer Center-supported journalism project. Activities may focus on improving community awareness and critical thinking, facilitating informed public dialogue, amplifying perspectives of communities affected by environmental and climate issues, or equipping people with information they can use to take action.

Possible activities include community engagement and knowledge-sharing sessions, community organizing, creative campaigns, public performances, creative publications, public dialogues involving communities and decision-makers, and other innovative civic engagement activities that connect journalism with local cultural practices and community needs.

The grant does not support journalism or reporting projects, projects that do not use Pulitzer Center-supported reporting, direct political advocacy or lobbying, activities supporting political candidates or parties, or for-profit projects.

Eligibility

The opportunity is open to grassroots organizations, community educators, civil society organizations and coalitions, youth movements, and other groups working at the intersection of journalism, civic rights and active citizenship.

Applicants should have previous experience implementing civic engagement activities in the Global South, particularly in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. They should also demonstrate experience working on the selected thematic issue, collaborating with communities or organizations, and managing grant resources from an international organization.

Projects should have a clearly defined target audience, demonstrate why the issue matters to that audience, and present realistic short-term outcomes.

Grant Benefits

Successful applicants will receive a microgrant of USD $2,000–$4,000 to implement their proposed civic engagement project. The funding can support either an existing activity or the development of a new initiative and may be used over a maximum implementation period of six months. Successful partners will also work with the Pulitzer Center during the project period and will submit a financial narrative and report on the outcomes achieved at the end of the grant.

Application Requirements

Applicants will be asked to provide a general description of the proposed project of no more than 400 words, a description of the target audience and intended impact, a strategy or methodology for achieving the project’s objectives, an implementation timeline and draft budget, and other relevant information.

If the project involves knowledge exchange activities with Indigenous peoples or traditional communities, applicants must also provide evidence of community consent, such as a signed letter or recorded message from a community member.

The lead applicant must submit a CV, together with a letter of recommendation from a department head or director of their organization or workplace.

Timeline

Application period: August 15–September 6, 2026
Selection and announcement: Mid-September 2026
Onboarding meeting: October 2026
Project implementation: October 2026–March 2027
Virtual check-in: December 2026
Project closure and reporting: Early March 2027

The maximum project duration is six months, with the formal start and end dates confirmed in the agreement with the Pulitzer Center.

How to Apply

Interested organizations should prepare their project proposal, target audience and impact description, methodology, timeline, budget and required supporting documents before submitting their application during the open call period.

Application deadline: September 6, 2026.

This is an opportunity for Global South civil society groups to turn high-quality journalism into meaningful community engagement, public learning and locally relevant action on rainforest protection, ocean health and climate resilience.

Scroll down for more information and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity