Guide
Embassy small grants open in October 2026: what is open and how to apply
2 min read · published · FundingCalls
Embassy small grants are among the few funds a small local NGO can win on its own, without an international partner. Most pay between a few thousand and about 25,000 euros or dollars for one year, ask for a short form rather than a full proposal, and are decided by the embassy in the country. FundingCalls follows nine of these schemes, run by nine governments, in 131 countries. Most of them open once a year, so the useful question is not only "what is open now" but "when does the scheme in my country open next".
Open now
| Scheme | Country | Who runs it | Grant size | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Aid Program 2026-27 | São Tomé and Príncipe | Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | not stated on the call | 13 October 2026 |
| Micro-projects, call for applications 2027 | South Africa (also Eswatini and Lesotho) | German Embassy Pretoria | up to €25,000 | 30 November 2026 |
| Austrian-American Partnership Fund | Austria | U.S. Mission to Austria | $5,000 to $24,500 | rolling (annual statement) |
Each call page summarises the call and links to the embassy's own page. Check it before you start: embassies change dates without notice.
The São Tomé round closes in less than a week. If you are eligible and have not started, read the form first and decide today whether you can finish it in time.
How these funds usually work
- Who can apply. Non-profit organisations registered in the country, often also community groups and schools. Government bodies and businesses are usually excluded. The call page is the only reliable answer: read its eligibility section before anything else (how to check eligibility).
- What they fund. Small, concrete projects with a visible result within a year: equipment, training, a community facility, an awareness campaign. Running costs and salaries are often limited or excluded.
- How they decide. A small team at the embassy reads the applications, often with a site visit for the shortlist. A clear budget and a realistic plan matter more than polished language.
- When they open. Most schemes run one round a year. If yours is closed, note when the last round opened: the next one usually opens around the same month.
Before the next round opens
- Find your country on the embassy grants page and note every scheme listed there, with the month its last round opened.
- Prepare what every form asks for: registration certificate, a one-page description of your organisation, last year's accounts or a simple financial statement, and two or three project ideas with a rough budget.
- Follow the FundingCalls Telegram channel or set a free alert, so you hear the day a round opens.
Read more: Embassy small grants explained.