The Love Water Innovation Grant
Building the Future of Water Access? We Want to Hear From You.
We fund Nigerian founders, engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators developing practical solutions that make clean water more accessible, more affordable or more sustainable.
A $10 non-refundable application processing fee is required to submit a completed application. Paying it does not guarantee selection or funding.
Who Should Apply
Three kinds of people we are looking for.
You do not need a polished company or a finished product. You need a real problem, a workable approach, and the ability to describe both clearly.
Builders
Engineers and technical founders with a prototype, a pilot, or a system already running somewhere in Nigeria.
Operators
People running a small water business that works and needs capital to reach more households.
Community organisations
Groups running community water systems who need equipment, expansion or better monitoring.
What We Fund
Practical work, in Nigeria, that gets water to people.
Grant funding can go toward equipment, prototyping and testing, pilot deployment, manufacturing, distribution costs, monitoring systems, training, certification and regulatory work, or the working capital that lets you serve more households.
We are especially interested in water purification, filtration, distribution, infrastructure, monitoring, conservation, affordable sanitation, water-access technology and community water systems — and open to anything else that plainly addresses water inequality.
We do not fund personal financial assistance, political activity, pure research with no path to deployment, or projects with no connection to Nigeria.
Selection Process
How your application is handled.
No black box. Here is exactly what happens after you press submit.
Eligibility screen
We check that your project is in scope and that the application is complete and the fee is paid. Incomplete applications are not reviewed.
Written review
Every eligible application is read in full against four things: is the problem real, is the solution workable in local conditions, is the team able to execute, and would this money change what happens next.
Shortlist conversations
Shortlisted applicants have a video call with us. We may ask for references, a site visit, or documentation of what you have claimed.
Decision and disbursement
Selected grantees sign a grant agreement setting out milestones and reporting. Funds are disbursed against those milestones.
Follow-up
We stay in touch, publish what we learn with your permission, and introduce grantees to partners where we can be useful.
Timeline
Current cycle
Dates for the current cycle. Applications are read in the order they are completed, so applying early is not a disadvantage.
Applications open
The form on this page goes live. Nothing is reviewed until the cycle closes, so take the time you need.
Applications close
Applications submitted after this date roll into the following cycle.
Shortlist notified
Everyone who applied hears from us either way. We do not leave applicants guessing.
Conversations with the shortlist
Video calls, reference checks, and where practical a site visit.
Decisions announced
Grantees sign an agreement setting out milestones and reporting. Funds are disbursed against those milestones.
- Step 1 Eligibility & fee
- Step 2 Your application
- Step 3 Pay the $10 fee
Apply
Before you start
The application takes about 30 minutes if you have your numbers to hand. You can write it on a phone. Read the two lists below first — most rejected applications fail on eligibility, not on quality.
You are eligible if
- You are based in Nigeria, or your project is deployed in Nigeria
- You are addressing water access, quality, distribution, monitoring, conservation or affordable sanitation
- You have at least a working prototype, a pilot, or a clearly defined plan to reach one
- You can describe who your solution serves and how you would measure impact
- You are able to receive funds through a bank account in your or your company's name
We do not fund
- Projects with no connection to Nigeria
- Requests for personal financial assistance
- Pure research with no path to deployment
- Political campaigns or activity
- Resale or distribution businesses with no water-access innovation
- Applications that are duplicates of a submission from the last 12 months
Before you begin: there is a $10 application fee.
A $10 non-refundable application processing fee is required to submit a completed application. It covers administrative review costs.
Paying the fee does not guarantee selection or funding, does not create any obligation on The Love Water to fund your project, and is not refundable if your application is unsuccessful, incomplete or withdrawn.Read the full Grant Application Terms.
If the $10 fee is a genuine barrier for you, email us before applying and we will look at a waiver. We would rather read your application than collect ten dollars.
Grant FAQ
Questions applicants ask
Why is there a $10 fee?
It covers the administrative cost of reviewing applications properly, and it reduces the volume of unconsidered submissions so that real applications get real attention. It is non-refundable, and paying it does not guarantee selection or funding. If the fee is a genuine barrier for you, email us before applying and we will look at a waiver.
Does paying the fee improve my chances?
No. It is an administrative processing fee, not a contribution and not a consideration in the decision. Applications are assessed only on merit.
Can I apply from outside Nigeria?
If your solution is deployed in Nigeria and serves people there, yes. If it has no Nigerian connection, this is not the right grant for you.
Can I apply on my phone?
Yes. The whole application is built to work on a phone. Share your pitch deck as a link rather than a file — Google Drive, Dropbox or Notion all work, set to 'anyone with the link can view'.
How much funding is available?
Grants in the current cycle range from $5,000 to $25,000, with most awards falling in the middle of that range. We would rather fund a small number of projects properly than spread the fund thin. If your need is materially larger, apply anyway and tell us the full number — we can sometimes bring in a partner.
Do you take equity?
No. These are grants, not investments.
Can I reapply if I am unsuccessful?
Yes, in a future cycle, provided something material has changed — new traction, a different approach, a stronger team. Duplicate submissions within 12 months are not reviewed.