Closed

Brazil Community Empowerment Fund

This fund will help you to start or expand a community project in the states of Bahia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, or Roraima and cities of Brasilia, Campinas, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo

Proven ideas and funding for your community

Join our global community of changemakers by starting a project. You’ll get everything you need to make an impact in your community.

  • € £ ¥ $
    Up to R$30,000 in funding per project
  • Expert guides, step by step plans and other resources
  • Advice and support from our team

Eligibility criteria

  • Projects must address the theme of sustainability & environment
  • Projects must take place within the states of Bahia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Roraima or within the cities of Brasilia, Campinas, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo
  • Applicant must be a registered non-profit organization or educational institution eligible to receive grant funding (relevant documentation will need to be provided).
  • Grant recipients must complete their project and submit an impact report with both qualitative and quantitative data within 12 months of receiving funds.
  • Applicants (the organization's representative submitting the application) must be at least 18 years old.

See full terms & conditions.

How it works

If you apply with a proven idea...

  1. Choose an idea from the list below, and apply to create your project page.
  2. Complete a 30 Day Challenge to unlock funding.
  3. Receive the first portion of funding and use it to make your project happen!
  4. Share the impact of your project to unlock the final portion of funding.

Funding is allocated to those who successfully complete the challenge on a first-come, first-served basis.

OR

If you apply with your own project...

  1. Apply below by 08 May, 2026 (-03).

  2. Wait for your application to be reviewed. We'll let you know if it was successful by 19 June, 2026 (-03).

  3. If successful, complete some simple steps within 30 days before starting your project.
  4. Receive the first portion of funding and use it to make your project happen!
  5. Share your project's impact to unlock the final portion of funding.

Funding is allocated after the closing date, when we review all of the project applications. We'll let you know if your project was successful by 19 June, 2026 (-03).

Explore proven ideas

Choose an idea to start in your community. See terms & conditions.
This fund has closed for applications. You can still start ideas without funding, or check for other live funds in your area.

  • Pollinator Partnership

    Transform any outdoor space into a thriving pollinator habitat using region-specific plant guides, supporting local bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators while strengthening food security and biodiversity in your community.

  • Liter of Light Brazil – Educational Workshop

    An engaging hands-on workshop where participants learn about sustainability and solar energy by assembling Litro de Luz solar lamps; fostering environmental awareness, creativity, and social responsibility in schools, companies, and community centres.

  • Didactic Meliponary

    Transform your school into a living laboratory by establishing a meliponary—a safe habitat for native stingless bees that teaches students about biodiversity, pollination, and sustainability through hands-on environmental education.

  • Ecosystem Restoration Initiatives

    Bring your community together to heal local land through hands-on ecosystem restoration: planting trees, improving soil health, and creating living examples of regeneration that benefit people and nature alike.

  • Muvuca: Direct Seeding Restoration

    Use the 'muvuca' method to restore degraded land through direct seeding of a diverse mix of native seeds, strengthening local biodiversity, generating income for seed collectors, and engaging communities in restoring their territory.

  • Community biodigesters: BioMovement

    Turn everyday food waste into clean cooking gas, natural fertilizer, and hands-on climate education by installing and running a community biodigester together.

Frequently asked questions

  • How does the application process work?

    We aim to make the application process as quick and easy as possible.

    • If applying to start a proven idea in your community, you will be asked for details such as the address of your project, and your motivation for starting the project in a short application form. Once you apply you will start the 30 Day Challenge. Funding is allocated to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more.

    • If applying with your own project, you will be asked to share a project description, its potential impact, and scope, along with some other details in an application form. We will review your application in the context of the fund criteria and other applications. If it is allocated funding, you will then have to complete one or two very simple steps within 30 days. Learn more.

  • What are the reporting requirements and funding process?

    You are required to share the progress and outcomes of your project with us, the impact data will be shared with our partners.

    Funding is allocated to applicants that start a proven idea on successful completion of the 30 Day Challenge on a first come, first served basis. Applicants who submit their own project will undergo a review by our team before being allocated funding.

    The funding allocated to your project is divided into two payments.

    • If applying to start a proven idea, the first payment (usually 70% of the total funding amount) is unlocked upon successful completion of the 30 Day Challenge. If you do not complete the 30 Day Challenge within the allocated time (30 days from registration) your funding will be reallocated to another group.
    • If applying with your own project, this funding is unlocked once your project has been approved by our Team.
    • The second payment (usually 30% of the total funding amount) will be unlocked after you have completed a brief impact survey and shared a project summary and photos that demonstrate the outcome of your project. This is usually required 2 to 6 months after the first payment, although the timeline may vary and will be highlighted to you throughout the process.
  • What can and can’t funding be used for?

    Funds can be used to cover:

    • Direct costs for the set-up or maintenance of the project, e.g., space rental, insurance fees, seeds and planting materials, tools, training fees.
    • If applying with your own project, some funds may be used to pay those working on the project.

    Funds cannot be used to cover:

    • Cost of work that has already been carried out or anything that is not related to the setup and maintenance of the community project.
    • If applying to start a proven idea, funds may not be used to pay those working on the project.
    • Promotion of religious causes, non-charitable activities, sponsorship, or fundraising events.
    • Promotion of or engagement in criminal acts of violence, terrorism, hate crimes, discrimination based on various grounds, or support of any entity that engages in these activities.
  • How will I receive the funding?

    You must have a bank account to receive funding. Once you’ve successfully completed the required steps within 30 days, you can enter your bank details on the ChangeX website to facilitate the bank transfer through a secure payment provider. ChangeX will then review your application to make sure all elements have been completed successfully before making the payment transfer to your account.

  • How much funding will I get?

    The amount of funding available for your project depends on the idea you choose or the needs of your project. For proven ideas, funding amounts align with the cost of starting each project in your region. The maximum amount of funding available per project is stated in the green box above.

  • How many projects can I apply for?

    • Legally registered organisations and schools can apply for and receive funding for up to one project at a time.

    • Organisations must be legally registered in the country where they operate. They often include non-profits and schools.

    • If you have applied previously and failed the 30 Day Challenge or your project was not selected to receive funding, you are eligible to submit a new application. If you received funding in the past and did not report back on the impact of the project, you are not eligible to apply again.

  • How can I ask for accessibility support?

    If you require any additional support to complete the application process or access resources please contact [email protected] and we will help.

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