The Custodians of African Literature (COAL) 2025 Grassroots Accelerated Education Micro Grant

The Custodians of African Literature (COAL) through the Grassroots Accelerated Education Fund invests in community-led initiatives that improve learning outcomes for out-of-school and underserved children in Nigeria. Instead of a handout approach, we co-create solutions with grassroots educators who best understand the needs of their communities.

After a successful 2024 pilot that supported 125 children, with 13 transitioning to formal school, we’re expanding in 2025. This fund supports projects that build formal and informal inclusive learning for underserved children and youth in Plateau State.

• Table of Content
• About Custodians of African Literature (COAL)
• Grassroots Accelerated Education Micro Grant
• Aim and Benefits of Grassroots Accelerated Education Micro Grant
• Requirements for Grassroots Accelerated Education Micro Grant Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Grassroots Accelerated Education Micro Grant
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Custodians of African Literature (COAL)

The Custodians of African Literature Initiative (COAL) is a nonprofit improving education at the grassroots for children and supporting youth-led social change in the creative arts. Founded in 2017, we offer alternative youth development programming that promotes literacy, civic education, socio-cultural exchanges, creative arts, and gender equality.

Grassroots Accelerated Education Micro Grant

Aim and Benefits of Grassroots Accelerated Education Micro Grant

If your project is selected, you’ll be eligible for a micro grant of up to ?2,000,000, depending on your project’s scope and scale. In some cases, we may consider larger grants for projects with potential for widespread impact.

Additionally, both successful and unsuccessful applicant will receive technical and institutional support in the following:

• Corporate governance for non-profit management
• Project management in the development sector
• Basics of monitoring, evaluation and learning
• Resource mobilization
• Financial management
• Accelerated education models
• Child safeguarding and protection measures.
• Youth volunteers to support the implementation of successful initiatives and many others.

Requirements for Grassroots Accelerated Education Micro Grant Qualification

• Support is open only to legally registered, non-profit, community-based organizations and social enterprises operating in Nigeria.

• Projects must focus on improving literacy in grassroots, low-income, and underserved communities in Plateau State.

• Initiatives must be locally led with strong community involvement, including parents, educators, government, and other stakeholders.

• Applicants must have a clear 12-month implementation plan with a timeline, budget, and expected outcomes.

• Preference is given to projects with long-term sustainability and scalability potential.

• Innovative approaches (e.g., play-based, technology, arts-based learning, creative methods) are encouraged to boost engagement and outcomes.

• Organizations must have robust child safeguarding policies and practices in place.

• A commitment to monitoring, evaluation, and learning is required for continuous improvement and accountability.

• Projects should prioritize marginalized and underserved children and youth up to age 18.

• Applicants must have an organizational bank account as funds will not be disbursed to personal accounts.

• Past micro-grant recipients may reapply, showing scalable and/or a new model for continued impact.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Grassroots Accelerated Education Micro Grant

All proposals will be reviewed by a panel. Shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview or to provide additional information. Final decisions will be communicated within 8 weeks of the application deadline.

1. Selected organizations will receive notification of their acceptance by June 2025.
2. Final award decisions will be publicly announced in June, with agreements finalized and first milestone of funds disbursed by the end of June 2025.
3. Due to the anticipated high volume of applications, detailed feedback will not be provided to organizations that are not selected.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Interested organisations should submit a proposal by downloading and filling out the proposal template below.
• After completing the proposal template, please fill out the application form to provide additional information about your organization and project. Before submitting  your application, upload the completed proposal and other additional supporting documents stated in the proposal template.
• Please make sure that all the information included in your application is complete, as you will not be able to make any changes to your application once it is submitted.

Deadline: All applications should be submitted by 11:59pm on 16th May 2025. 

For any questions or inquiries, please contact us at [email protected].

For more details, visit COAL Program webpage