Announcing the 2025 MCIS Language Advocacy Microgrants

This just in: the 2025 MCIS Language Advocacy Microgrants are here!

What are the MCIS Language Advocacy Microgrants?

Since 2024, MCIS has awarded annual Language Advocacy Microgrants to new initiatives that promote language rights as human rights. Each year, they accept submissions and select new winners to receive funding for projects such as

arts-based advocacy for minority language education
digital language accessibility
campaigns promoting language rights

The grants aim to enhance access to essential services, improve the well-being of language communities, and foster innovation in language advocacy.

Past Winners

MCIS Language Solutions awarded three Language Justice Microgrants to notable “Language Keepers” initiatives for their outstanding contributions to language advocacy.

These microgrants are designed to further develop the chosen initiatives and enhance their efforts in promoting language rights as human rights and just language policies.

The 2024 microgrant winners, Dr. Rebekah Ingram, Dr. Kahente Horn-Miller, and the Kanyen’kehá:ka Mapping Collective launched an initiative dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the Kanyen’ké:ha language and cultural heritage.

In our previous blog post, we went into details on Dr. Ingram's work. You can read that here.

Grant Details

They have announced the availability of three microgrants, similar to last year.

First Place: $10,000

Runners-Up: $5,000 each for two projects

Judging Criteria

The grants will be judged based on five key criteria:

Language Advocacy: Effectiveness and equitability of the proposed project.
Community Impact: Improved access to essential services and well-being of language communities.
Innovation: Novel approaches in the field of language advocacy.
Scalability: Potential for community growth and adaptability to other regions.
Feasibility: Viability of the implementation plan and strategic partnerships.

Eligibility

The awards are open to

Individuals
Groups
Grassroots organizations
Coalitions
Academic groups
Nonprofits
Community agencies

Applicants must have a history of actively working to promote, preserve or protect language access as a human right.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2025, via their online portal, which will be accessible starting February 21, 2025, following our February Language Advocacy Day event, Stories that Advocate: Embracing the Role of a Language Ally.

All supporting documentation, including project timelines, budgets and partner commitments, should be included.

Winners will be announced at the annual MCIS Language Impact event in May 2025.