Call For Applications: Pulitzer ACE Micro Grants 2025: Up to $3,000 Funding in Africa
Africa Climate and Environment (ACE) Micro Grants 2025, an initiative of the Pulitzer Center’s Africa Outreach Program. These micro grants support community-led outreach projects across Africa that creatively integrate Pulitzer Center-supported journalism to engage audiences on climate and environmental issues.
Grants of USD $2,500 to $3,000 are available to eligible Africa-based organizations. Selected projects must be completed within a four-month period (June to September 2025).
Apply Also: Peak Milk Global Traineeship Program (Training with Stipends)
About the ACE Micro Grants
Since 2022, the Pulitzer Center’s Africa Outreach Program has engaged young professionals and affected communities across the continent on key environmental and social issues—deforestation, marine protection, water conservation, and the intersection of climate change and labor rights.
Building on this foundation, the ACE Micro Grants are designed to support local organizations in launching outreach projects that inform, engage, and inspire action. All proposals must be rooted in Pulitzer Center-supported journalism and aim to build awareness and dialogue around one or more major environmental themes.
The goal of the program is to amplify underreported stories, foster community participation, and spark action through creative, journalism-informed programming. Projects may take the form of exhibitions, forums, campaigns, or other public-facing efforts designed to mobilize change.
Focus Areas
Eligible projects must align with one or more of the following topics and integrate at least one relevant Pulitzer Center-supported story:
1. Climate and Labor
Explore how climate change affects workers and communities—from heat exposure and job displacement to worker protections and corporate accountability.
Explore Climate and Labor stories
2. Rainforest
Address themes such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, Indigenous land rights, and the social/environmental trade-offs of energy transitions.
Explore Rainforest stories
3. Ocean
Highlight challenges like overfishing, marine degradation, and the climate threats facing coastal communities and ecosystems.
Explore Ocean stories
Applicants must choose a focus area and demonstrate how Pulitzer Center-supported journalism will be used as a core element of the outreach.
Examples of Supported Activities
The following types of initiatives are eligible:
- Multi-stakeholder dialogues involving community members, journalists, and policymakers
- Public exhibitions, performances, or screenings that draw on journalism to spark awareness
- Community storytelling projects that explore local impacts of environmental change
- Radio programs, podcasts, or digital campaigns amplifying underrepresented voices and issues
Projects must be designed to reach audiences between the ages of 25 and 45 and cannot be based in formal education settings such as schools or universities.
Online learning resources
What Will Not Be Funded
Projects that fall outside the scope of this program include:
- Activities unrelated to outreach or that don’t utilize Pulitzer Center journalism
- Projects targeting the formal education system (e.g. students, teachers, researchers)
- Journalism training or capacity-building programs
- Online learning resources Political lobbying or campaigns tied to political parties or candidates
- Internal organizational development or general operations
- Reporting grants or projects primarily producing new journalism content
Who Can Apply?
This opportunity is open only to organizations based in Africa, such as:
- Grassroots or youth-led groups
- Civil society organizations and coalitions
- Community-based networks working in climate, labor, environment, or civic engagement
Apply Also: Reckitt Lead2030 Challenge for SDG 6 (Up to $50,000 Grant)
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Proven experience working with the target audience (ages 25–45)
- Operational and financial capacity to manage a micro grant
- A track record of successful collaboration, advocacy, or outreach
- A direct connection to the target communities through affiliation or previous partnership
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:
- Journalism integration: Use of at least one Pulitzer Center-supported story, and involvement of a Pulitzer Center-supported journalist (as speaker, collaborator, or consultant).
- Audience relevance: Projects must be designed for young professionals and community members aged 25–45, outside of the formal education system. Online learning resources
- Potential for impact: Clear goals, short-term outcomes, and community engagement strategies that encourage critical thinking, dialogue, or action.
- Innovation: Use of creative or participatory formats to make journalism accessible and relevant.
Timeline
- Applications process: March 30 – April 30, 2025
- Selection process: May 2 – 20, 2025
- Grants awarded: May 23, 2025
- Pre-project briefings: May 23 – 30, 2025
- Implementation period: June – August 2025
- Project closure: September 1-15, 2025
- Final reporting deadline: September 30, 2025
How to Apply
Applications must include:
- A 400-word summary of the project (objectives, rationale, activities, expected impact, and linked journalism)
- Description of the target audience and expected reach
- Timeline and implementation strategy
- Preliminary budget
- CV and letter of recommendation for the lead applicant
- Proof of affiliation or collaboration with the target community
- If working with Indigenous or traditional communities: a consent statement from a community representative
Apply Also: Africa Food Prize 2025 (Up to $100,000 Cash prize)
Deadline: April 30, 2025