Ask Me Anything (AMA): Applying for VegFund Grants
Your grant applications questions answered
VegFund’s Programs Team members, Leah Gage and Mikki Wilburn, hold live “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) sessions from time to time to answer your questions about applying for grants and making your vegan advocacy projects come to life. More information on applying for grants can be found in our Grant Guidelines and FAQ. For step-by-step assistance in completing grant applications, refer to our guide How to Apply for Vegan Advocacy Grants from VegFund.
Questions from our recent AMAs are listed below along with video time stamps. Some questions are repeated in different AMA sessions because these are open Q&As that happen one or more times a year with different audiences — so we suggest that you start with the most recent.
Learn what you need to know to submit a successful application and much more!
Aired December 2022
Video [Time stamps] and questions
[0:04] Welcome and introduction to VegFund’s Program team. Leah Gage and Mikki Wilburn provide an overview of VegFund and key resources on the website.
[7:06] The focus today is on some changes to questions on VegFund’s grant application form and Applicant Profile and on VegFund’s priority areas for Special Project grants.
[15:33] Is it too late to submit an application for a challenge in January?
[16:49] I’m interested in speciesism and partnering with the DC outdoor film series to show films that intervene with speciesism. How difficult is it to get the rights to show for films not on VegFund’s suggestion list? A couple of ideas are Babe and My Octopus Teacher. Is it difficult to get the rights to those and is it better to stick to the VegFund list?
[19:34] Will you be funding libraries? My mother works at a college. What do you need from me to apply to host an educational event there? (see follow-up question at time stamp 35:11)
[21:34] Regarding educational classes in the community but not with medical professionals or institutions… Am I understanding that you are not favoring these next year?
[23:21] You mentioned outreach and education in institutional settings. Can you give an example? Does this refer to funding for going out and giving lectures or speeches for schools, institutions, etc.
[25:00] Our group and collaborators work on four of these areas: education for health professionals, institutional outreach and education such as schools, as well as events and programs relating food and agriculture and its impacts on climate change and the environment. Should we separate our projects into different applications or make one big application for a joint project. Also, we create our own material given that we have found limited quality material in Spanish. Do you have any sources or freely available programs in Spanish that have proved successful in the past?
[29:04] Related to Special Projects. I’m working with a couple of folks to organize a conference in Mexico. The goal is that we will share tools with activists Latin America-wide to improve, measure, and manage their personal welfare during their outreach. Do you think that this project would be considered as a Special Project?
[30:35] Is there any precedent for doing a cruelty-free fashion show? Would that fall under Special Projects? (see follow-up question at time stamp 38:05)
[32:00] For VegFund Special Projects priorities, are you talking more about school dorm cafeterias providing the food or restaurants within a student center, such as offering free samples of Panda Express Beyond Orange Chicken?
[32:50] We provide nutrition services/education for individuals living in poverty. Because these services are not covered by insurance, we have to draw on donations/grants to support the work. Can we apply for support for this ongoing program/service or would we need a new program to apply for support?
[34:22] Is it possible to program the screening of vegan and animal rights films as part of environment education?
[35:11] Continuation of discussion on libraries (see time stamp 19:34): The libraries were interested in what I was talking about when I mentioned your organization. They are interested in providing me with space for no cost to host a vegan educational event to which I will add a challenge to as a call-to-action. They just need me to bring the food, and I would just need some funding for food samples. They asked for January. I will see about April. When will you be looking at applications for April?
[37:12] I’m working in the area of humane education with farmed animals in South Africa. The focus is primarily on consumer empowerment with a call-to-action to established veg pledges. Does this sound like a feasible VegFund grant project?
[38:05] Continued discussion on funding for vegan fashion related activities (refer back to time stamp 30:35).
[39:55] Discussion of what types of projects apply to Community Event versus Special Project grants.
[41:53] When purchasing products and turning in receipts, if you only use part of the package, how should we handle this? For example, I used half a package of an ingredient.
[45:42] Are college initiatives a Special Projects category? New York City is going after doctors and nurses as a new mayoral initiative. Do you offer funding for individuals vs big corporations?
[47:50] Do you help only with funding the materials, or do you provide funding for time; i.e., doing the activity itself?
[50:28] When is your next AMA?
[51:30] Leah highlights VegFund’s guide “How to Apply for Vegan Advocacy Grants from VegFund” and the Resources section of VegFund’s website.
Aired June 2022
Video time location/question:
[0:01] Welcome.
[0:53] Leah Gage and Mikki Wilburn introduce themselves.
[1:32] VegFund’s history and overview of VegFund’s grant programs.
[3:27] Reminder that the next quarterly Special Project grant application deadline will be Friday, July 1, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
[4:14] VegFund’s website: Blog, Resources, and Activist Stories.
[7:04] Please like and share this presentation. Use #VegFundlearn hashtag if sharing on social. Tag @VegFund on any platform.
[10:40] Is there a funding limit for Special Project grants?
[12:52] How does funding work for Special Projects that may take a year to carry out? Typically, we receive funds prior to carrying out a larger project in order to pay for contractors and other costs.
[14:27] What are the criteria to get funding for big activism and events?
[17:35] Does the company have to be a nonprofit?
[18:58] Can salaries be included in the grant budget breakdown? Does VegFund cover such expenses?
[22:02] We are planning to conduct vegan recipe challenges. How best can we do this event in order to be attractive?
[26:05] We would like to find people for a 30- to 60-day study to eat only vegan, low-fat, no sugar, no added oils to show what the lifestyle can do, and then publish the results. Can we ask for funding this effort?
[28:58] Can we use grant money to go to a conference that is attended by over 700 plant-based doctors who could promote our food to patients?
[29:53] If we get a grant but we end up needing to postpone for a couple of months due to unforeseen circumstances, would we lose that grant?
[30:42] Does VegFund provide funds in India? And if yes, how?
[32:00] Does VegFund fund investigations?
[32:46] In places like the U.S., you can get local news to do free stories on public interest campaigns. In Ghana, you have to pay the TV, radio station, or small outlet. Can the cost of publicity be included (in a grant)?
[34:12] Can an organization submit two projects? One for each of two different grant categories?
[37:51] In some African countries, veganism is seen as anti-God or devilish. People feel like veganism isn’t Black. Would you fund production costs to normalize veganism so it doesn’t seem fringe?
[39:32] If you get a small grant once, can you still apply for a larger grant three months later? Will it decrease the likelihood that it will be granted?
[41:40] If I do a series of events like food samplings and talks, do I need to create a single request for each day or event?
[42:37] Are there projects that span over the course of five months?
[43:27] Do you provide grants to East African countries (Tanzania)?
[46:05] If we are grant recipients from VegFund in the past or have received grants from other sources, does that help or hurt our cause?
[47:08] Are people still doing paid-per-view events?
[51:17] How do we get the recording?
Aired March 2022
Video time location/question:
[0:01] Welcome.
[0:57] Leah Gage and Mikki Wilburn introduce themselves.
[2:28] VegFund’s history and overview of VegFund’s grant programs.
[10:30] Reminder that the next quarterly Special Project grant application deadline will be Friday, April 15, 2022, at midnight Eastern Time.
[11:48] Where can this be watched on replay?
[12:40] Do you fund virtual events like conferences and screenings?
[14:17] I would like to confirm that Nigeria and other African countries are not eligible for funding at this time?
[15:21] We have two ongoing programs that include one event per month each. Do we apply for grants for these individually, or can we apply to get support for each program as a whole?
[16:52] Do you support programs that promote knowledge on the benefits of plant-based diets to health professionals such as physicians and dietitians? We do a lot of advocacy with this target audience.
[19:15] What is the average turnaround time to know if your organization’s grant request has been accepted?
[21:38] What is the average grant size for Special Projects?
[23:08] Do you ever commit to multi-year funding?
[24:45] As a new nonprofit, it seems difficult to get an initial donor or grant-making organization to take a chance on us. How crucial is it to have other sources of funding for a specific project?
[26:51] Do you use a checklist when evaluating grants? If yes, is there a weighting on certain elements? If yes, can you share the checklist? [see Grant Guidelines]
[32:54] Would you consider funding vegan and animal rights books so we can distribute them for free?
[34:35] I have a vegan meal plan service. Would I qualify for any funding?
[35:37] Do you fund projects or content production simply dealing with animal rights, that’s not promoting veganism or plant-based directly? (e.g., through the Special Project grants?)
[37:30] What is the average size of a grant?
[38:47] Do you fund “tour type” vegan advocacy?
[40:49] I sell vegan food at farmer’s markets. Would there be funding for this?
[41:20] Is the pause on Africa programs for both local organizations and ones with U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit status?
[42:26] I would like to launch a vegfest in my hometown, which has never thrown one. Should I apply for a Community Event grant or a Special Project grant?
[44:14] I would be applying for a Community Event grant. It sounds like there will be a 4-week turnaround, but there is no application deadline. Is that right?
[45:38] I know you have mentioned that you fund film screenings. Do you also fund film projects such as short documentaries?
[48:03] Is it possible to submit another grant application while working on a current project that is already supported by VegFund?
[49:12] How much of a grant is provided for those who wish to hold to a movie screening? Is the grant award based on the number of people and other factors such as the size of the event?
[50:45] If our budget for a program exceeds your maximum amount, can we ask that you provide grant funding for something specific? For instance, can we seek a grant from VegFund to cover only the location/event space, and we can figure out funding for the rest?
[52:04] Do you fund organizational operation costs?
[52:45] Do you fund purchases for machines to make vegan milk or meat (tofu)?
[54:10] What are the main types of activities that you fund in Africa?
[54:47] Do you fund animal-welfare or climate-based movies?
[54:40] We don’t have PayPal in Uganda. We have seen it’s a requirement for applications. Kindly advise on how we can proceed.
[56:53] Do you cover speaker fees for events like speakers doing Q&As at film screenings or conference panel honorariums?
[57:50] What are the top three things you seek from people or organizations seeking a grant? What are the top two things that should not be done?
[1:02:16] If we create a space where we will host free lectures about veganism and health and create some vegan events, do you fund the process of the creation?
Aired December 2021
Video time location/question:
[1:04] Overview of types of projects for which VegFund offers funding and website resources.
[3:10] Mikki’s introduction and overview of Community Event grants.
[4:50] VegFund’s current impact statistics.
[8:14] Are you a broker or provider? Do you only make grants, or do you also provide direct services? Who can use the curriculum developed from your grants?
[9:56] Do you consider multiple proposals that might include a combined special project and a community event?
[14:26] Are you interested in multi-generational approaches?
[15:06] What are the timeframes for completion and reporting?
[19:23] Do the dates of your event have to be set before the grant? I’m working with a venue that doesn’t want to confirm the event until the grant is approved.
[24:40] What do you think are the most effective forms of vegan outreach today? And what about the most cost-effective methods?
[29:58] Would you provide funding for vegan advertisement placement such as billboards, newspaper ads, bus stand posters, etc.?
[31:42] Do organizations need to be registered or official charities to receive funding?
[33:12] Five-minute videos can be a very good tool for reaching many people and keeping people’s attention. Are you open to funding small nonprofits on projects to create short videos for vegan outreach?
[35:46] Is it OK to include payment for hours of staff time dedicated to a project in the budget of requested funds?
[37:12] Can you host events for the community that have nothing or no attachment to a business? It would be more a community offering of a movie screening or an in-person talk.
[38:20] Is it possible to submit another request for a Special Project grant after receiving one for our region where we are the first to speak and educate the community on the vegan lifestyle? It is an education project that must be continued in order to be reassured that the message is being followed.
[39:25] Can you submit multiple grant requests at once for different project ideas?
[40:31] At the Green REV Institute, we see great potential in film activities, projects about veganism that set and strengthen advocacy efforts.
[41:41] Does it make sense to have a screening online when people can do that on their own without our advocacy vs. a live or in-person vegan movie screening?
[44:25] Where can I submit a question?
[45:00] Are you interested in programs that have a veg component? Such as exercise projects, yoga, meditation?
[46:15] What percentage of your applications do you approve?
[47:35] What would get a project not funded?
[50:34] Would creating an online platform like a blog or a website be considered under Special Projects?
[51:43] Will this video stay on YouTube?
Aired March 2021
Video time location/question:
[0:00] Introduction. Overview of VegFund’s new grant program structure: Community Event, Special Project, and Online Campaign grants.
[8:17] Do you offer monthly assistance for a one-time grant?
[9:54] We’re looking for funding for a long-term project updating dietary guidelines in Australia. The project is three years long. Do you recommend that we apply in phases?
[11:49] How much detail should we include in our applications to avoid a lot of back and forth?
[16:05] Is it possible to let grantees know if they’ll get funded before the event occurs?
[19:42] Do you fund producing videos that support campaigns?
[21:53] How often are applications accepted?
[23:06] What is the average size of a grant?
[24:56] Where does VegFund get its funding?
[25:35] Do we support more than campaigns and events, such as assistance with hiring staff?
[26:33] We produce a political podcast for vegans. Are we eligible for a grant due to political content?
[27:42] Are there particular campaigns, events, or advocacy outreach that VegFund is most excited to fund?
For some examples, see our Activist Stories and blog.
31:47] For Online Campaign grants, are there any special requirements for social media, such as metrics reporting?
[33:20] We’re running a plant-based cooking program for kids with a focus on eating plant-based to be environmentally sustainable. Are we still eligible if we don’t talk about animal activism?
[35:06] Can you provide examples of grants that were approved in the last 12 months?
See our Activist Stories and recent blogs about grantees who have adapted their outreach in the era of COVID-19.
[37:14] How much do you recommend focusing on grants versus seeking other funding sources?
See our Resources on fundraising: Fundraising Platforms Every Vegan Activist Should Know About, Funding and Grant Sources for Vegan Advocacy, and the webinar Fundraising on a Budget.
[39:33] Can you describe your grant-approval process?
[42:42] Do you fund lobbying (vs. advocacy)?
[43:18] Do you fund music videos?
[44:45] If a vegan advocacy organization is seeking funding for several special projects at once, would you rather them submit four to five grant applications at once or include them all in one application with a breakdown of individual projects?
[45:46] We’re running a large vegan festival. What is the largest amount we can apply for?
[46:30] Would you fund workshops for activists relating to becoming involved with direct action more safely and being well-informed?
[47:48] Do you fund website creation and design?
[48:35] We organized the first vegan bodybuilding championship in the world. Is this something VegFund would fund?
[49:54] Do you fund food banks and feeding programs?
[51:30] Do you need to have a specific number of followers or subscribers to apply for an Online Campaign grant?
[53:33] Do you fund lobbying or outreach to government organizations and politicians?
[54:20] Presenters address how to reach out if they didn’t get to your question during this AMA. Contact leah@vegfund.org or mikki@vegfund.org or use our Contact form.
[56:16] Do you fund promoting vegan products?
[58:00] Wrap-up: Biggest success stories: See VegFund’s Activist Stories and blog.
Aired October 2020
Video time location/question:
[6:20] What’s new at VegFund: Overview of our new grant management system (Zengine) and revised grant program categories.
[9:43] If an organization has been awarded a grant this year, can they apply for another grant in the same calendar year?
[10:47] How long will it take for you to respond to my grant request? Allow a minimum of four weeks for Community Event grants. See submission deadlines for Special Project grants and Online Campaign grants.
[12:31] Can an online event be considered for a Community Event grant (with reference to COVID restrictions)?
[13:45] Can I apply for a grant for a vegan lifestyle campaign that I’m working on that spans several areas (animal rights, plant-based health, etc.), or do I need to submit separate grant applications for each?
[15:02] Do you award grants for promoting veganism through social media advertising targeting a local area?
[16:27] Do you have tips for submitting an application?
[18:57] Could you discuss how you prioritize funds for vegfests and vegan festivals?
[20:40] What are your typical levels of grant funding in terms of dollar amounts? For example: Is there a dollar amount cap on funds awarded? What are the typical amounts you fund? Is there a range for Special Projects grants or more complex projects?
[22:22] Do you fund grants related to ending animal abuse and changing laws?
[24:16] If we’ve had a grant approved since March (2020) but didn’t use it because of COVID, do we need to apply again from scratch?
[25:28] Would it be possible to fund something like a vegan education food truck?
[26.36] Can you clarify what you mean about funding advocacy but not lobbying?
[27:11] Are you funding projects in Kenya?
[27:54] Do we fund use of online tools like MailChimp, Zoom, etc.?
[28:47] What are some of the most unusual or creative grant requests we’ve received? See our Activist Stories, for example, The Synagogue Vegan Challenge, and others.
[31:43] Does VegFund fund creating videos that expose local animal cruelty?
[32:50] Do we fund investigation equipment for video creation, travel expenses, etc.?
[33:26] Would you fund the printing of flyers for local distribution that promote going vegan rather than promoting a specific event?
[34:33] Can funded advocacy projects include litigation?
[35:37] How is VegFund handling grant applications that occurred shortly before or during VegFund’s pause in community grants due to COVID?
[37:42] In general, what does VegFund look for in particular when evaluating Community Event grants (vegfests and vegan fairs, food sampling, film screening, paid-per-view, and learning events)?
[39:38] I’m with an agricultural off-campus plant-based society. It would be awesome to challenge students, faculty, and community members to try vegan. Is this something you would fund?
[40:46] For online events during COVID (vs. in-person), we have various indirect costs relating to staffing, organizing, marketing, and advertising. Do you fund these?
[43:22] Does VegFund have a budget cap on grants?
[44:19] Would you consider funding virtual tours at a farm sanctuary for students?
[46:21] Does VegFund fund vegan meals for groups?
[47:42] Would you fund a venue reservation fee for a vegfest?
[48:15] Do you fund display materials?
[49:20] Presenters’ discuss future AMAs.
[50:00] We’re dreaming up a kayak trip along the Mississippi. This would take several months and lots of equipment. We’d like to do outreach to communities along the way. Would you fund this activity?
[51:36] Can I email you to discuss a specific project or get more information?
[55:03] How can I/should I credit VegFund?
[56:25] Would the costs of producing a video about living vegan in a local area be funded (e.g., covering vegan options, supermarkets, eateries)?
[56:54] I have a vegan-related guest lecture planned. Would this be funded?
[58:48] Presenters discuss how to contact the VegFund Grant team if you have questions: Use the Contact form or email grants@vegfund.org.
[59:30] Presenters discuss VegFund’s online Resources library for activists, the Vegan Activist Guide to Strategic Communications, VegFund’s Activist Learning Series of webinars, and encourage you to stay in touch via VegFund’s social media.
Still have questions? Use our Contact form or email grants@vegfund.org.