How High Schoolers Can Get Travel and Microgrants for Their Projects

Most high schoolers assume grants are only for university researchers or registered nonprofits. That's not true — there's a growing number of microgrant and travel grant programs designed specifically for young people with an idea worth funding, and most students never even look for them.

What Counts as a "Fundable" Project

You don't need a fully formed nonprofit or a patent-pending invention. Fundable projects include:

• A community health initiative (a workshop series, a wellness campaign, a peer-support program)
• A research project that needs funding for materials, software, or data access
• Travel to present at a conference, competition, or volunteer program
• A prototype, app, or tool you're building to solve a real problem

Where to Look

Youth-focused nonprofits are one of the most accessible routes, since many partner with larger foundations specifically to distribute microgrants to members. Dr. Interested members, for example, can apply for microgrants and travel grants through a partnership with the GLOCAL Foundation, aimed at helping young people grow their ideas and showcase their work — without needing to be part of a formal organization first.

Beyond that, look at: local community foundations, youth innovation challenges, service organizations (Rotary, Lions Clubs often fund youth projects), and school-affiliated grant programs.

How to Actually Apply

1. Define the project narrowly. "I want to improve mental health" is too broad. "I want to run a 4-week peer-support workshop series for 30 students at my school" is fundable.
2. Have a simple budget. Even $200-500 requests need a one-paragraph breakdown of where the money goes.
3. Show a plan for impact, not just spending. Grant reviewers want to know what changes because you got the money.
4. Apply to more than one. Microgrants are often small ($100-1000) but you can and should apply to multiple sources.

Why This Matters for Applications

A funded, self-initiated project is one of the strongest things you can put on a medical school or university application, because it demonstrates initiative that wasn't handed to you.

Where Dr. Interested Fits In

Dr. Interested is a youth-led healthcare education nonprofit, and everything above is easier with the right team behind you. As a member, you get real, verified extracurricular credit for the work you're already trying to do:

• Experience working with an international organization that strengthens your resume
• Letters of recommendation from medical students