New Orleans, LA
Wardell Lewis Jr.
A Grand Marshal and culture-bearer keeping the tradition of the New Orleans second line alive — carrying joy, history, and community through the streets.
A Great Idea is awarding $1,000 microgrants to ten community impact innovators.
In celebration of our 10 years supporting justice-driven movements, we're granting seed money to idealistic individuals and organizations who want to help their community thrive with creative and innovative approaches.
Get Updates on the Next RoundWe've only made it ten years because we've remained true to our values. These microgrants continue our commitment to uplift changemakers who dedicate themselves to transforming the world one great idea at a time.
The current funding climate threatens the sustainability and visibility of social-justice programs and cultural productions that center multiply-marginalized people. We fund community care & resilience, cultural work, disability justice, direct action & campaigns, and communal resources — meeting grassroots idealists where they are.
Learn more about our ten-year anniversary and join the celebration ↗
How we do it
We hope A Great Idealist Microgrants give our most challenged advocates, organizers, researchers, and thought leaders a fighting chance. In doing so, we are:
Eligibility
Applicants must reside in — and run their project within — the United States and its territories.
Applicants must be able to deliver their project within a year of the microgrant award.
Applicants must be willing to document and share project outcomes for internal and external purposes.
Applicants under 18 years old must have legal guardian involvement.
Applicants must identify themselves as part of a minoritized or under-resourced community.
Meet the Idealists
Ten idealists received our inaugural 2025 microgrants. Here are a few of the people putting courage through community into practice — read their stories in full.
A Grand Marshal and culture-bearer keeping the tradition of the New Orleans second line alive — carrying joy, history, and community through the streets.
A community organizer, sex worker, and mutual-aid practitioner building support networks for sex workers and expanding food access in her neighborhood.
A songwriter and music professional creating collaborative workshops that mentor emerging songwriters on craft, publishing, and the business of their art.
The 2025 cycle
The inaugural cycle ran in late 2025. Here's the timeline it followed — the next round will follow a similar shape.
Be first to know when the next round of microgrants opens — plus opportunities to support community-led change.
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