Often times, it only takes one seed for something to grow.
This is why Executive Director Moncello Stewart founded OneSeed, Inc. which has begun to distribute minigrants, or “seeds,” to small nonprofit organizations.

Stewart said OneSeed, Inc. is a local nonprofit, supporting other small, local nonprofits to realize and reach their full potential through three initiatives: Seed Money— $500 Mini Grants— Deep Roots— Board Development and Twining Stems— Community Collaborations.

“Our goal is to be a catalyst as far as money through minigrants that we provide to nonprofits that wouldn’t typically qualify for certain funding or grants because they’re a community group and not a 501(c)(3) organization or they are a 501(c)(3) in an infancy or early development stage,” Stewart said.

The executive director said he has worked with many small organizations over the years and they always run into the same problem — funding. They are great organizations with great ideas, but it takes so much for these organizations to get even a few hundred dollars to support their vision and mission, Stewart shared.

“$500 is not a lot of money, but it is a lot of money when you’re in these small organizations,” Stewart said. “When you’re in these small groups, whether it be a dance team or a cheerleading team or a mentoring group, a lot of the money that you spend to run those organizations comes out of your own pocket.”

Stewart said though leaders’ hearts are in their organizations, they often sacrifice their own livelihoods for the sake of the organization. This is why the minigrants are helpful whether the money is paying for gear and helmets, transportation, food for the youth or anything else the organization may need.
Stewart said raising money is one small part of the initiative. OneSeed is also developing professional resources such as board development and community collaborations trainings to support the small organizations to become larger and stronger. They also bring exposure to the organizations by sharing their stories with the community.

Stewart said he began to raise funds, after launching the business idea last year on his birthday in July 2020. March of this year is when Stewart and his team of board members decided that they had raised enough funds to begin disbursing the grant money. So far, the organization has raised enough money to provide grants through the end of this year.
Grant winners are chosen quarterly.

The July 2021 winner is The B.E. Loved Moore Foundation, Inc., an organization run by Latecka Moore-Early, with a mission to empower youth between the ages of 10-15 to have confidence in themselves during their adolescent years.

The first mini grant recipient chosen in April 2021 was Latasha Barnes of Save Our Youth Savannah, a small local organization that feeds over a thousand families annually. In May 2021, the mini grant was given to the TIP organization, founded Executive Director Angela Williams Brantley, to support at risk youth through the Department of Juvenile Justice.

“OneSeed is here to help support these organizations in their efforts to make the community a better place,” said Kellie Fletcher, director of operations.

Applications are still open for the July-September quarter for grant recipients.

Stewart said OneSeed, Inc. plans to continue to grow to be a statewide agency, telling the stories of and supporting many small organizations in several cities across the state of Georgia.

Visit oneseedinc.com to donate and become a seed-sewer or to apply for a OneSeed, Inc mini grant.

This article appears in 06-09-2021.