Deadline: 7 January 2019

Aid to Artisans (ATA) has launched its 2018 Small Grants Program in partnership with canvas home, a retailer of artisan furniture, ceramics, and textiles to provide artisans with direct and immediate financial assistance that can lay the groundwork for sustainable incomes for artisans.

These grants are designed to allow artisan groups to acquire materials, tools, equipment, and training, marketing services in order to expand employment and generate income.

ATA’s principal activities include a program of financial assistance in the form of small grants made to qualified craft producers.  These grants are designed to permit craft producing groups to procure materials, tools and/or equipment, training, or marketing services in order for them to expand employment and generate additional income.

Grant Information

Typically, these grants range from $500 to $1,500.

Types of Grant

The Canvas Home Small Grants can be used for ONE of two types of grants:

• Materials, Tools, Equipment and Instruction: This category of grant includes requests for raw materials and specific tools or equipment for craft production, as well as funding to start a raw materials or tools bank, for example. These funds could also support specific technical assistance for the artisans such as costs associated with a trainer, digital cameras, internet costs, website creation or the establishment of a centralized workshop where artisans might work.
• Marketing Support: This category of grant is most suitable for artisan groups that have established production systems and sales, and seek to grow the group/business further through new products and/or markets. These funds could help offset the cost of craft fair stands, display shelving, marketing materials such as brochures and catalogs. Craft groups already established with Aid to Artisans through a previous grant or ATA project participation and/or those that can show a strong business plan are given preference for Marketing Support grants.

Eligibility Criteria

• Artisans – ATA’s policy is to assist established groups of craft producers such as artisan cooperatives, small businesses, and/or community-based organizations with a primary focus on crafts located in developing countries of the world.
• Products – Crafts must have artistic and functional elements, be handmade and culturally significant. Photos or images of the craft products are required.
• Recommender – Only grant requests accompanied by a letter of recommendation from organizations known internationally as well-suited to providing credible third-party recommendations will be accepted. These include those that are familiar to Aid to Artisans through its international network, national organizations that support craft development, and international non-profit organizations working with the artisan group applying. Some examples of groups known to ATA include IFAT, OXFAM, DFID, United Nations agencies, Fair Trade Federation, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers, Action Aid, CARE and other international aid organizations. Letters from previous ATA Small Grantrecipients are not acceptable. Recommendation letters should not be purchased and the recommender should not charge for the letter. Applications received without a recommendation letter will not be considered for funding.
• Follow-up report – In applying for a Canvas Home Small Grant and signing Part 6, – Canvas Home Small Grants Certification Agreement, the artisan group is committing to completing a follow-up report to be submitted to Aid to Artisans in a timely manner, approximately six months following the receipt of the grant.

How to Apply

Completed applications should be submitted either via email or post at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit http://www.aidtoartisans.org/what-we-do/canvas-small-grants-program/