The Emergence Fund

a micro-grant fund supporting emerging facilitators of the Work That Reconnects
supporting facilitators, growing communities

 

The Work That Reconnects, rooted in the teachings of Joanna Macy, helps people meet ecological and social crises with courage, creativity and deep connection. For decades, WTR has inspired individuals and communities worldwide to deepen their relationship with themselves, each other and the Earth.

Yet facilitators in emerging areas — across Latin America, the African and Asian continents, and the Pacific Islands — often face major obstacles in bringing this work to life. Barriers such as limited financial resources, geographical isolation and a lack of institutional or social support make it difficult to host in-person workshops, which are essential for building trust, fostering deep engagement and nurturing authentic community.

To address these needs, the Social Justice Committee of the Work That Reconnects Network, launched The Emergence Fund – a micro-grant program designed to strengthen facilitators and communities in under-represented regions worldwide.

 

What Made Round One Possible

In our first round of the Fund, we were humbled by your generous donations, and inspired by the projects which came forward.

Mula Ugat Tungo sa Bilog: Roots to Circles

Althea Serad and Steve Manzano uplifted the voices of the Indigenous youth of Sierra Madre, localising the Spiral through Filipino cosmology, land-rooted leadership and culture-bearing practices.

Encuentros Ecológico-Emocionales (Ecological–emotional gatherings)

Eva Montana Silvia created an accessible, short-form WTR workshop in Manizales, Colombia, offering community members and activists a space to move through grief, fear and frustration together at a moment of real ecological and social tension.

From Separation to Belonging: A Deep Ecology Journey for Women

In Kathmandu, Goonja Shrestha held a healing space for women from Indigenous communities to reconnect with nature and their inner worlds through Earth-based practices and storytelling.

Indigenous Women Leading Climate Wisdom

In the Kalash Valley of Pakistan, Muqadsa Zaineb created a sanctuary for young Indigenous women to reclaim their role as guardians of the land, weaving traditional Kalash knowledge with practical land stewardship skills for young women, transforming a shared space into a site of leadership, connection and ecological care.

Learn more about these innovative projects by watching the recording of The Emergence Fund: Voices from the Field, a panel discussion with the recipients of the 2025 Emergence Fund microgrants. These projects showed us what becomes possible when barriers are lifted, even just a little.

We are now opening the second cohort of the Emergence Fund with renewed commitment and gratitude. 

Objectives of the Fund

    1. Support Emerging Leadership: Enable emerging facilitators of under-served regions of the world to lead workshops, gatherings and creative projects rooted in the Work that Reconnects.
    2. Amplify New Voices: Share stories, learnings and innovations from funded projects with the wider WTR Network through blogs, webinars and our monthly Community Calls.
    3. Address Barriers to Access: The fund can be used to cover essential expenses such as venue rental, materials, translation and participant transportation.

 

Grant Framework

Grant Amount: USD $250 (or local currency equivalent) per project. The Network will sponsor three projects in this round.

 

Eligible Expenses

  • Venue rental
  • Materials and supplies
  • Language translation/interpretation
  • Local transportation stipends
  • Local facilitator honorarium
  • Scholarships for participants

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • be a Community Member or a Facilitator Member of the WTR Network
  • be based in any of the following regions: Latin America, Africa, Asia & the Pacific Islands
  • propose a clear, in-person WTR event (workshop, gathering or retreat)
  • commit to sharing a report-back deliverable such as a short blog post with photos (with participant consent) or a 5-minute recorded video or audio reflection

Types of Projects Funded 

  • Introductory or full Spiral workshops
  • Community gatherings for existing WTR practitioners
  • Co-creation of regional Communities of Practice
  • WTR-based events centering climate justice, social healing or cultural adaptation
  • Collaborative projects blending WTR with local wisdom traditions
  • Projects should be carried out between mid-June to the end of September 2026

 

Application Process & Timeline

A small committee from the WTR Network will assess applications for alignment with WTR principles, community impact and feasibility. Decisions will be shared within two weeks of the deadline. Grantees have three months from the day of fund payment to complete their projects, and must submit their reports within 30 days of completion.

Timeline:
Applications closed on May 31, 2026. Results will be announced in June. All projects are to be carried out from mid-June to the end of September. Project reports are to be submitted by October 31, 2026.

 

Through The Emergence Fund, we are investing in courageous facilitators, amplifying diverse voices and weaving a truly global movement of resilience and reconnection.

If you have any questions, please contact us at admin@workthatreconnects.org.

Applications are closed!