Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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Micro Grants: Guidelines and FAQs

The Micro Grant process from start to finish, in a nutshell:
  1. Check the list of ROI Micro Grants and identify which (if any) Micro Grant answers your needs;
  2. Fill out the application form;
  3. Wait for ROI Community to contact you to confirm the status of your application;
  4. If your application is approved by ROI, you will need to sign a letter that ROI will send you, indicating your acceptance of the Micro Grant terms and conditions;
  5. After you take advantage of the opportunity for which you are approved a Micro Grant, you must complete the process by sending ROI: (a) All invoices relating to your Micro Grant opportunity, in particular, send any invoice(s) relating to the expenses for which your Micro Grant is approved; and (b) a written or video post** describing what your Micro Grant was used for and how you benefitted from it. Click here to see an example video blog.
  6. ROI will then provide you with your Micro Grant funding (ROI Micro Grants will be awarded by way of reimbursement via PayPal.
 
**Here is a list of the essential information you must include in your video (up to 2 minutes) or written report (approximately 400 words):
  • Your name, URL (where relevant) and a few words stating your role (for example, “I co-founded X organization”);
  • An overall picture of your project/what you do and how you are making a difference;
  • Where relevant, a brief description of any challenges you face and how you sought to overcome some of these through a Micro Grant;
  • The type of Micro Grant you applied for;
  • A description of what the Micro Grant enabled you to do and how your project/ you benefitted from the grant;
  • Any other relevant and connected gains stemming from your Micro Grant.
FAQs
Who is eligible to apply for an ROI Micro Grant?
If you are a member of the ROI Community, you are eligible to apply. 

How many times can I apply for an ROI Micro Grant in a calendar year?
You can request funding by way of Micro Grants as many times as you want, PROVIDED you have not yet received an amount totaling U.S. $1,000 for such year.

In the context of ROI Micro Grants, what is the definition of “calendar year”?
A “calendar year” is January 1 to December 31 of any given year.

If one of my ROI Micro Grant applications is unsuccessful, can I still apply for another Micro Grant in the future?
Sure! So long as you have not yet exceeded your annual limit of U.S. $1,000, there’s no reason why one unsuccessful application should put you off applying for a different Micro Grant or for the same Micro Grant but for a different opportunity.

What happens if I apply for the wrong category of grant?
No worries, we will either let you know that you need to make a correction or, if the mistake is minor, we will correct it for you.

When am I entitled to receive my grant money?
After you have taken advantage of your Micro Grant opportunity, you need to send ROI your relevant invoices and report back via video or in writing and then you’ll be eligible to receive your funding by way of reimbursement, see point 5 of the Micro Grants overview above.

What will Micro Grants NOT cover?
While this is not an exhaustive list, there are a few express preclusions to Micro Grants, including but not limited to:
- Legal work (for example, legal advice, litigation, etc.); and
- Transport and/or accommodation that is not directly connected to the Micro Grant opportunity.

Will Micro Grant funding always be given in the form of a reimbursement?
Generally speaking, ROI Micro Grants are awarded by way of reimbursement.

Can I offer a service to fellow ROIers in the framework of Micro Grants?
Of course you can! Send us a short blub of the service you wish to offer and any other details you feel are important to include, for example, an hourly rate for the service.

Does my Micro Grant report have to be written?
Not anymore! If you have your invoices ready to send in to ROI you can either attach a written blog (approximately 400 words) or a short video – see the guidelines above.