about United We Om's Karma Projects
United We Om believes that karma yoga, acts of selfless service without attachment to the outcome, creates deep, powerful and lasting change on both the individual and the collective levels.
Karma yoga can present itself in many forms and our Karma Projects, our micro-granting program, support and amplify the good works of inspiring humans who are dedicated to creating change in their community and humanity.
the logistics
United We Om Karma Projects are micro-grants for projects between $1000 and $2500.00.
Upon receipt of funds, projects must be completed within 6 months.
You will be required to provide defined metrics for success, a 1-month and 3-month progress update as well as a final report submitted within 30 days of the project’s completion.
You may apply on behalf of a non-profit, in partnership with a non-profit or as an individual in service of others.
Please note, we do not offer grants which benefit for-profit corporations or individuals directly (ex: tuition for a training program).
Applications are accepted from November 1st to December 31st.
Applications are reviewed from January 1st to February 28th.
Projects receiving micro grants will be notified in March and awarded the funds in April.
Upon receipt of funds, projects must be completed within 6 months.
You will be required to provide defined metrics for success, a 1-month and 3-month progress update as well as a final report submitted within 30 days of the project’s completion.
You may apply on behalf of a non-profit, in partnership with a non-profit or as an individual in service of others.
Please note, we do not offer grants which benefit for-profit corporations or individuals directly (ex: tuition for a training program).
Applications are accepted from November 1st to December 31st.
Applications are reviewed from January 1st to February 28th.
Projects receiving micro grants will be notified in March and awarded the funds in April.
does this sound like synergy?
have some questions? below are some of our most frequently asked questions.
How is it determined, who will be awarded the grants?
Our diverse board and advisors meet multiple times to review, discuss and collectively decide who receives the grants for each grant cycle.
What is the grant cycle timeline?
November 1st - Grant Application Opens
January 1st - Grant Application Closes
March 1st - 14th - Grantees are contacted and specifics are agreed upon
April 1st - 15th - Grants are awarded and funds distributed
May 1st - 15th - 1st progress report
July 1st - 3 month progress report
October 1st - grant cycle concludes, final progress report
What are the reporting requirements for the grant?
Reporting requirements will vary from grant to grant, based on a variety of factors including the goals of the grantee and the needs of the participants. Most grants will be required to provide pictures and progress reports, which should take less than an hour to complete, at one month, three months and at the conclusion of the grant.
Who will I be reporting to?
Each grant recipient will be paired with a United We Om board member, who will provide assistance, advisement and receive periodic grant updates from the grantee, as required.
Why do you have a two parts to your application? When can I complete the full application?
We have separated our grant application into two parts to save you time filling out the application and our board time reviewing them. Dividing our application into two parts, allows us to quickly get a sense if your idea falls within our grant guidelines and make adjustments where possible.
Our first application is designed to take about 30 minutes to complete. After completing your application, you will receive an email letting you know if we would like to know more information or if your application does not fall within our guidelines, in either case we will provide you with feedback.
If your first application seems like a good fit, we will send you a link to our full application, which should take you about an hour to complete. This more encompassing application will be reviewed by the United We Om board and advisors. You will be required to present a full budget, as well as contact information and written agreements from any non-profit you may be working with on your Karma Project.
Can I be paid for my work?
Yes, you can be paid for your work. We allow for up to $50 per hour compensation for your "instruction time," which is defined as actively presenting information and/or completing your act of service (ex: leading a yoga class, guiding a mindful-making session). We do not compensate for travel time, preparation time, or administrative work.
What are some examples of projects you have supported in the past?
Project Title: Yoga in Spanish for Foster Children
Project Teacher: Adrianna Valverde
Organization Partner: Mercy First, Foster Care Facility
Project Description: Adrianna shared weekly yoga and meditation classes, taught entirely in Spanish, for two groups of immigrant foster children.
Project Title: Wellness Retreat for BIPOC Senior Women
Project Teacher: Tameeka Ford
Organization Partners: Aging Well Brooklyn, Urban Yoga Foundation, EmergeSoul
Project Description: United We Om supported the retreat by paying the yoga and meditation teachers $50 an hour for their teaching time and provided free yoga mats to all the participants.
Project Title: Yoga for Mental Health
Project Teacher: Jenny Jared
Organization Partners: Behavioral Health Clinic at the Westchester Medical Center
Project Description: Jenny shares weekly yoga with teens who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
What are examples of ideas you do not offer grants for?
We do not provide tuition assistance for trainings or workshops.
We do not provide grants to compensate instruction time if participants are charged a fee of any kind.
We do not provide funding to cover the costs of insurance, legal or accounting fees, or other administrative costs.
Have a different question? Reach out to Lauren at lauren@unitedweom.org and she will get back to you ASAP.
Quick reminder... You're an amazing person, with a unique voice and gifts to share. The universe is better because you're a part of it and we're grateful to you and for you! Thank you, for being you!
Our diverse board and advisors meet multiple times to review, discuss and collectively decide who receives the grants for each grant cycle.
What is the grant cycle timeline?
November 1st - Grant Application Opens
January 1st - Grant Application Closes
March 1st - 14th - Grantees are contacted and specifics are agreed upon
April 1st - 15th - Grants are awarded and funds distributed
May 1st - 15th - 1st progress report
July 1st - 3 month progress report
October 1st - grant cycle concludes, final progress report
What are the reporting requirements for the grant?
Reporting requirements will vary from grant to grant, based on a variety of factors including the goals of the grantee and the needs of the participants. Most grants will be required to provide pictures and progress reports, which should take less than an hour to complete, at one month, three months and at the conclusion of the grant.
Who will I be reporting to?
Each grant recipient will be paired with a United We Om board member, who will provide assistance, advisement and receive periodic grant updates from the grantee, as required.
Why do you have a two parts to your application? When can I complete the full application?
We have separated our grant application into two parts to save you time filling out the application and our board time reviewing them. Dividing our application into two parts, allows us to quickly get a sense if your idea falls within our grant guidelines and make adjustments where possible.
Our first application is designed to take about 30 minutes to complete. After completing your application, you will receive an email letting you know if we would like to know more information or if your application does not fall within our guidelines, in either case we will provide you with feedback.
If your first application seems like a good fit, we will send you a link to our full application, which should take you about an hour to complete. This more encompassing application will be reviewed by the United We Om board and advisors. You will be required to present a full budget, as well as contact information and written agreements from any non-profit you may be working with on your Karma Project.
Can I be paid for my work?
Yes, you can be paid for your work. We allow for up to $50 per hour compensation for your "instruction time," which is defined as actively presenting information and/or completing your act of service (ex: leading a yoga class, guiding a mindful-making session). We do not compensate for travel time, preparation time, or administrative work.
What are some examples of projects you have supported in the past?
Project Title: Yoga in Spanish for Foster Children
Project Teacher: Adrianna Valverde
Organization Partner: Mercy First, Foster Care Facility
Project Description: Adrianna shared weekly yoga and meditation classes, taught entirely in Spanish, for two groups of immigrant foster children.
Project Title: Wellness Retreat for BIPOC Senior Women
Project Teacher: Tameeka Ford
Organization Partners: Aging Well Brooklyn, Urban Yoga Foundation, EmergeSoul
Project Description: United We Om supported the retreat by paying the yoga and meditation teachers $50 an hour for their teaching time and provided free yoga mats to all the participants.
Project Title: Yoga for Mental Health
Project Teacher: Jenny Jared
Organization Partners: Behavioral Health Clinic at the Westchester Medical Center
Project Description: Jenny shares weekly yoga with teens who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
What are examples of ideas you do not offer grants for?
We do not provide tuition assistance for trainings or workshops.
We do not provide grants to compensate instruction time if participants are charged a fee of any kind.
We do not provide funding to cover the costs of insurance, legal or accounting fees, or other administrative costs.
Have a different question? Reach out to Lauren at lauren@unitedweom.org and she will get back to you ASAP.
Quick reminder... You're an amazing person, with a unique voice and gifts to share. The universe is better because you're a part of it and we're grateful to you and for you! Thank you, for being you!