How can small, early-stage grants spark outsized impact?
This new case study explores how the Howell Conservation Fund (HCF) used seed funding to accelerate environmental projects and test new ideas, while deepening relationships and learning as a lean funder.
Through its 2023–2024 Catalytic Grant Program, HCF awarded nine $5,000 seed grants to organizations worldwide. The goal: to see what happens when funders trust grantees to define success in their own words. The experiment surfaced key lessons about flexibility, donor communication, measurement, and what it takes to practice Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP).
Inside the Case Study
This case study shows how a lean foundation used small, flexible grants to fuel big ideas.
You’ll learn how funders can:
- Use seed grants to spark innovation and build momentum.
- Trust grantees to shape and measure their own success.
- Balance flexibility and accountability in grantmaking.
- Learn and adapt from experimentation.
- Stay focused on mission to achieve lasting impact.