ThenDoBetter Grants 2022

FAQ

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(Update: the newsletter is now the main way I’m communicating on number of applications and timeframe as I mostly can’t engage in individual correspondence. As of 2022, replies taking 2-4 weeks. )

What is a ThenDoBetter Grant?

A ThenDoBetter Grant is £1,000 to make a positive impact and change your life or project trajectory. You can think quite broadly about positive impact, which would include Effective Altruism type ideas, creativity, long-term thinking and sustainability.

I’m looking to give up to ten £1,000 grants in 2022. I will equally consider smaller grants as well. Do show if you think your project can be done for less than £1000). 

Recent grants winners are:

• Marjorie Morgan documenting marginalised voices in the Liverpool, UK, area

• Ioana Mischie to help complete maths books for autistic children.

• Greyling Post, eco-greeting cards which also donates to cards to care homes 

• Sponsorship to allow attendance at Pan-African conference on autism

• Lorenzo Evans to learn physics and maths in public

• David Blanc to write a book on Mexican police

• Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa for her choreo-poetry work.

Why are you funding ThenDoBetter grants?

I was partly inspired by Tyler Cowen’s Emergent Ventures programme. This has an emphasis on moonshots and ideas that are not otherwise funded. Later, I came across Nadia Eghbal’s (now in hiatus) Helium Grants. 

I’m interested in income redistribution but I don’t only want institutions to be the ones that do it. I think individuals can. 

I have been involved with a few small organisations applying for funding.  The amount of paperwork application, committees etc. has been onerous. On the funding side, decision by committee for certain ideas means a higher (or impossible) hurdle for off-mainstream ideas. 

I’d like to be able to help ideas or people who can’t access mainstream funding.

Serendipity and personal agency can spark change and positive impact in unexpected ways. They sometimes need a catalyst. 

These grants go a small way to leaning into these ideas personally. 

What types of proposals do you fund?

ThenDoBetter Grants support people who otherwise can’t easily access funding from mainstream organisations or government. 

I’m looking for:

↝Ideas that could make a meaningful impact to you, your community or the world. If it can change the trajectory of your life, then I’m interested.

↝Evidence that £1,000 would make an impact to you, the project, your community or the world. 

You might be exploring questions off the mainstream. That’s equally as important as a mainstream path. 

If you can document or have documented your work in public - that will make it easier to assess. Whether that's in the form of content (blog posts, tweets, books), code, or developing a product.

The size of your audience doesn't matter too much. Amazing if your idea can scale. But if it makes deep impact for you or a local community I will consider it. I care more about authenticity, an interesting perspective, impact and a demonstrated commitment to your work.

(Update: a grant that can cover the whole project or a meaningful difference to what you need is much more likely to be funded than a small part of a large project, especially if the large project is only part funded.)

I have these broad areas of interest

↝Creativity. This can be artistic but it may be more broadly defined. 

↝Sustainability. Any areas broadly involved in the long-term success of people and planet. 

(This can include healthcare, circular economy ideas or innovation ideas; the broad meaning of sustainability with an emphasis on long-term.)

↝Autism. Research, support, understanding and awareness of autistic thinking. 

Don’t let those broad headings put you off other postive impact ideas you might have. Anything which you can show might have “positive impact” broadly defined, I can possible fund.

I’m looking for evidence you will be able to deliver on your proposal or project. But high rates of “failure” might be expected.

If I think you can obtain funding from other sources such as charities or government funding then I’m less likely to fund you. 

You can use the funds for whatever you'd like, including equipment or materials, travel costs, or funding your time. It can be for a charitable, non-profit or for-profit activity. 

The grants are intended for individuals or potentially very small organisations (this is less likely to be funded, but I can imagine a project of 2 or 3 people who apply together for an idea.)

They are not to be used to repay debt.

The proposal should be appropriately sized to a £1,000 grant and its impact.

What I might fund ?

Maybe you are a poet and and need £1000 to take time off and work on your writing.

Or, you’d like to understand sensory processing in autism? Or think about frameworks on autistic thinking?

You need £1000 to go and study and live with the Wana tribe.

You’d like £1,000 to take some time to propose ideas on how to better utilise waste supply chains in cities. 

You want £1,000 to live while you concentrate on working on your idea, or a independent research paper.

I’m interested in catalysing prosperity, opportunity, and well-being; positive social change.

If it can change the trajectory of your life or community then so much the better.

Profit/Non-profit is equally fine.

What I am unlikely to fund ?

Anything political. Anything which could get funding elsewhere.

Ideas of limited impact. A small part of a larger funding requirement.

Anything where I can’t establish a good sense of who you are.

What will you get ?

£1,000.

A blogpost on you and your project. 

What you are expected to do if you win?

Nothing taxing. I’d hope for a a short report / blog post (1500 words) at 3 to 6 months into the project and at the project’s end if that takes longer. 

A summary of what the grant enabled you to do, which I will post on my blog. 

If the grant enabled a piece of work or product, it would be great to showcase that.

If you want to report on more you can but I’m not expecting an onerous audit of what you did. Hopefully, it will speak for itself.

At the end of the year, or some time during, if it works out, I will host a meet-up in London where you can talk about your experiences if that’s helpful and perhaps meet other grantees.

I’m hoping grantees can exchange ideas if that’s helpful.

Can anybody apply?

Yes: any age, country* (see caveats below), industry, job title or none, philosophy, or stage of life (say, 7 to 107).

I work / don't work at a research institution, can I still apply?

Yes. You can be expert or amateur, affiliated with a university or research institute, independently funded, or doing this on nights and weekends. It doesn't matter how "official" or "unofficial" your research/work/art/ideas are - more that you're curious and committed.

How will you send the money?

I can send money via PayPal or from a UK Bank Transfer.  Other Money transfer also possible depending on your geography.

I’m outside of the UK, can I apply?

Yes, as long as you can use PayPal or other payment system. I’m not an expert on international payments, so there may be country-specific issues I’m unaware of. 

If I follow up on your application, we may need extra research to make sure we’re all on the same page about fees and legal rigmarole.

It’s possible I may need a reasonable standard of reassurance, if it’s outside my knowledge base.

I have a question about applying for a grant. How can I get in touch?

You can use the contact form on this site. (For my sanity, I will likely ignore any other means of communication.) 

I may not be able to respond directly, although I hope to. I would hope to extend this FAQ with new answers if they come up.

Where does the funding come from?

This is a personal experiment in income redistribution and idea sponsorship. So it’s my income and savings although possibly other sponsors may join in. I’m lucky enough that currently I can spare £10,000 and it won’t impact my life too much.

How can I get updates on this project?

Sign up to my newsletter and you will also have erratic updates on the project. No promises.

When will I expect to hear back? 

To be honest, I’m not sure. I expect to work on approximately a 3 to 6 month cycle. But it will depend on my work load and life load. You may get a very quick response or a long one, I’m afraid. I am aiming for speedy decisions.

I may not find any projects that fit what I’m looking for. So it might take longer. Or, I may take a liking to a project and you hear back in weeks. 

There’s no guarantee you will hear back if my life becomes overloaded. 

Can I start my own version of this? Can I co-sponsor?

Of course! Feel free to adapt these grant terms to your own needs. This FAQ itself is inspired by Helium Grants and Emergent Ventures. You  can also contact me to co-sponsor this grant project.

I believe more experimentation is a good idea.

Do you know of any other grant opportunities?

Yes plenty here: https://github.com/nayafia/microgrants

And check out Emergent Ventures.

If you are under 22, and doing something different consider the Thiel Fellowships. In the UK, both Nesta and the Arts Council have arts impact funding streams. The Paul Hamlyn Foundation (UK) has an Ideas and Pioneers Fund.

How do I apply ?

Application is by Google Form here and the questions are below.

Along with the form you may submit:

• up to 3 links.

• 8 slides/pictures in pdf (I won’t read more text!)

• a reference that answers “why should X receive this grant?”

  
  

Questions are:

What’s your idea? (in a tweet)

What’s your idea? (up to 1500 words)

Why will this impact you, the project, your community or the world? (500 words)

What is something you understand, but think few people appreciate? (500 words) 

Briefly describe your expected project timeline. In particular, flag any time sensitivity. (max 1000 characters, optional)

(Optional, but will likely help) Please give a reference from someone on why they think you should be awarded a grant? This can be a friend, colleague, or anyone. Email of referee would be helpful. You can enter their answer below. I may check statements with your referee. (500 words)

You can submit up to 3 links in support of your application and a PDF of up to 8 slides in support of your application. (Optional, I won’t read further text, this is mostly for visuals or other supporting summary)

Google Form in link here.