CS-Grants / Catalytic Funding
CS-Grants provides catalytic funding for high-leverage, community-driven projects. We believe the right grant, at the right moment, can change an entire field. If no proposal meets that standard, no grant is awarded.
№ 001 / Open 2026
A $5,000* grant to transform how philanthropists understand ME/CFS.
* Up to $10,000 for proposals with substantial production costs.
ME/CFS has been disadvantaged by decades of institutional neglect, even as scientific momentum accelerates. This year's call supports an individual or team to build an outstanding communication resource that helps philanthropists see why ME/CFS is one of today's most compelling opportunities for high-impact giving.
FAQ
- Who is behind it?
- Christoph Ströck, privately. No foundation, no staff, no overhead, just a yearly call and a small budget.
- Why small grants?
- I believe a small grant deployed at the right moment can meaningfully shift the trajectory of a domain in unpredictable ways. The leverage is often in timing and focus, and not necessarily in size.
- Does the topic change each year?
- Yes. Each annual call defines its own brief and recipient. Past briefs live in the Archive.
- Is a grant awarded every year?
- No. If no proposal clears the bar in a given year, nothing is awarded and the call rolls over. Years can be skipped; better to wait than to fund the wrong project.
- Who can apply?
- Anyone: individuals, teams, students, collectives. No institutional affiliation required. The work matters, not the CV.
- Do I hear back if I'm not selected?
- No, only the selected recipient is contacted.
- How do I get in touch?
- Questions and proposals both go to contact@cs-grants.io.