Grants for the Itsekiri community.
Three categories. Community Initiatives, Talent Development, and Cultural Preservation. Designed for Itsekiri people, reviewed by Itsekiri people, tied directly to community priorities — not generic charity grant tropes.
Three grant categories. One Itsekiri-first lens.
Not generic charity buckets.
Community Initiative Grants
Small grants for Itsekiri community projects — diaspora gatherings, homeland community development, mutual aid, civic projects led by Itsekiri people for Itsekiri people.
- Diaspora cultural events + gatherings
- Homeland community-led projects
- Mutual aid + emergency response
- Civic + voter participation projects
Talent Development Grants
Direct support for Itsekiri artists, musicians, performers, and storytellers carrying the language and culture forward — EP funding, video production, distribution, touring, residencies.
- EP / album recording + production
- Music video + visual storytelling
- Distribution + streaming setup
- Diaspora touring + showcase support
Cultural Preservation Grants
Documentation, archival, oral history, and heritage curriculum projects that protect Itsekiri language, customs, and memory for the next generation.
- Oral history recording + transcription
- Archival digitization + access
- Heritage curriculum development
- Language preservation projects
Four steps, one cycle. Designing it now.
Public rubric. Written feedback.
Open call
When the first cycle opens, we publish the call with category-specific guidance, ask amounts, and a clear application window. Charter sponsors confirmed first.
TBDItsekiri-led review
An Itsekiri-led review committee — community elders, artists, and program officers — reads every application against a published rubric. No silent rejections.
Per cycleDecisions
Decisions are published on a fixed date each cycle. Every declined application receives written feedback so the next submission can be stronger.
Per cycleDisbursement
A simple grant agreement, then funds released in 1–2 tranches gated on milestones. Every grant published in the annual recap once the first cycle closes.
Per cycleItsekiri artists, musicians, storytellers.
First artists in development.
Direct support for the Itsekiri artists carrying the language forward.
Talent Development is the flagship category of the INC-USA grants program. It exists because Itsekiri-language music, performance, and storytelling deserve real production support — not just applause.
We’re starting small and intentional: the first artists are in development now. The model is a phased one — record the EP, build the visual world, tour the diaspora, mature into albums — with the artist in control of their work and a fair-share royalty structure designed in.
If you’re an Itsekiri artist with a serious body of work, or a producer who can help shape this lane, we want to hear from you.
The phased model
- 01Phase 1 · EPStudio time, production, and a first EP release. Designed around the artist, not a label template.
- 02Phase 2 · AlbumFull album cycle once Phase 1 lands — extended production, visual identity, and rollout.
- 03Phase 3 · TouringDiaspora tour stops in Itsekiri community hubs — and showcases at INC-USA convention and regional events.
- 04OngoingArtist development, mentorship, and a fair-share royalty model that keeps the artist in control of their work.
Become a charter sponsor. Pick a lane.
Named, transparent, mission-tied.
Sponsor a community grant cycle
Underwrite a full cycle of Community Initiative Grants — name your cycle, define a focus theme if you want, and see exactly which projects your gift funds.
From $5,000
Sponsor an Itsekiri artist
Direct support for one artist or duo through a Phase — EP, album, video, or tour. Donor-advised, transparent, with an artist agreement and reporting.
From $10,000
Sponsor cultural preservation
Fund a documentation, oral history, or curriculum project. Designed with Itsekiri elders and educators, archived for permanent community access.
From $7,500
Designed for our community,
reviewed by our community.
Itsekiri grants are not a generic giving program copy-pasted from a foundation template. They’re tied to Itsekiri community priorities — community projects, our artists, our heritage — and reviewed by an Itsekiri-led committee. Help us stand it up the right way.