FREE STEM Fund aims to provide direct grants to:

Registered and unregistered initiatives, groups, collectives, and organisations focused on the rights on girls, women, transgender and non-binary people.

GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS

FREE STEM will fund work in the following regions: Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

thematic areas

FREE STEM will fund proposals to ensure girls, women, transgender and non-binary people are widely represented in, and empowered to thrive in and advance the STEM sector. In particular, it is envisioned that FREE STEM will support proposals that take into account the following:

advocacy & awareness

SAFETY

CONFIDENCE & LEADERSHIP

HEALTH & WELLBEING

ROLE MODELS & NETWORKS

CAREERS

EDUCATION & TRAINING

FINANCIAL INCLUSION

Ensure girls, women, transgender and non-binary people can access financial information, products and services that enable them to create a future in STEM

TIME & ACCESSIBILITY

ApPLICATION TIMELINE

applications open

04 november 2025

APPLICATION WEBINAR HELD 5 AND 6 November 2025

Applications close

01 december 2025

longlisted candidates will be invited for a full application by january 2026

full applications are scored by the regional peer panels in february 2026

applicants informed and contracted by April 2026

What will be funded by FREE sTEM?

FREE stem will invest in organisations and groups that are directly supporting and targeting the following participants:

Adolescent and young girls and women aged 12-35, particularly those from underrepresented groups & minority communities, and transgender and non-binary people, including but not limited to: black, indigenous, people of colour, LGBTIQ+, people with disabilities, sex workers, refugees, rural and marginalised urban communities, migrants or those who are stateless, people who face caste-based oppression.

We anticipate a high number of applications to FREE STEM Fund, therefore we may decide to prioritise applications for funding. Therefore, priority will be given to underrepresented and traditionally excluded groups.

Registered and unregistered* initiatives, groups, collectives, and organisations with a focus on the rights of girls, women, transgender and non-binary people can apply for the following models:

AtoM

15,000- 20,000 EUR over two years
- New groups / organisations
- Aimed at new or smaller initiatives to address gender equity in STEM

Molecule

Up to 50,000 EUR over two years
- Either:
  - Minimum 2 year demonstrable experience implementing STEM x gender equity projects OR
  - Minimum 3 years of demonstrable experience in STEM Education and Training

*Please note that if you are applying for funds larger than €15,000 and you are unregistered, you would need to name a registered organisation who can act as your fiscal sponsor. Please see the FAQs for more information on what a fiscal sponsor is.

eligibility criteria

If your organisation meets all of the following criteria, you can apply for FREE STEM:

Your organisation, collective, or group must consist of a minimum of 3 people.
Your organisation or group must align with the mission and vision of FREE STEM.
Your project proposal must focus on the target group, and align with at least the Education and Training Thematic Area of FREE STEM.
Your organisation or group must have at least 60% of women, transgender and/or non-binary people in leadership positions. Priority will be given to women-led, transgender-led and non-binary-led organisations.
Your annual organisational income for 2024 must be a maximum of €150,000. Priority will be given to grassroots organisations.

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