23 Feb 2026, Kuala Lumpur — Yayasan Hasanah (Hasanah), the impact-driven foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, today announced the launch of its 2026 Hasanah Micro Grant (HMG), a “Seed for Impact” initiative providing up to RM50,000 per project to support locally led solutions addressing real challenges across Malaysia.
Designed for smaller-scale, practical projects, the Hasanah Micro Grant complements the broader funding portfolio of Yayasan Hasanah, which supports larger, long-term initiatives nationwide. As an entry-point platform, the Micro Grant empowers grassroots innovators, first-time grantees, and early-stage community solutions — helping to seed ideas, pilot approaches, and unlock local leadership.
“As communities across Malaysia face rising living costs, climate shocks, and widening social gaps, solutions must come from those closest to the ground. The Hasanah Micro Grant backs local leaders to test what works — quickly, practically, and with real community ownership,” said Puan Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki, Trustee & Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah.
The Hasanah Micro Grant offers funding of up to RM50,000 per project over a period of six to twelve months, with final grant amounts determined based on project scope, demonstrated needs, and assessment outcomes. Applications are open year-round and reviewed on a quarterly basis, subject to the availability of funds. Eligible applicants include registered NGOs, non-profits, civil society organisations, and community-based groups in Malaysia.
What We Look For
The Hasanah Micro Grant invites proposals aligned with Hasanah’s mission and contributing to at least one of its five impact areas: Education, Community Development, Environment, Arts & Public Spaces, and Knowledge. We prioritise projects that are community-led, practically implementable within 12 months, designed for prototyping innovative approaches, learning and future scaling, and able to demonstrate clear local outcomes — supporting initiatives that are both locally grounded and ready to make a meaningful difference.
Types of initiatives supported include:
- Capacity Building
Mentorship, training, or pilot projects that strengthen civil society organisations or community group capabilities. Projects may enhance local knowledge, improve implementation capacity, or include research and evidence-informed community studies.
- Test and Pilot Innovations
New or untested ideas that address social, environmental, or community challenges creatively. These projects encourage experimentation, learning through small-scale implementation, and generate prototype insights that can inform future scaling.
- Reach Diverse and Yet Targeted Groups
Projects that engage and empower underrepresented, marginalised, or hard-to-reach groups, the “gap within the gaps”. Initiatives promote equitable access to opportunities, resources, and knowledge, and foster collaboration across communities through shared learning.
- Responding to Emerging Needs
Rapid and flexible projects that address sudden or evolving community challenges. These initiatives help communities respond swiftly to crises or new opportunities and prioritise unique, practical solutions that fill urgent gaps or test practical approaches.
Since 2015, Yayasan Hasanah has supported programmes that have reached more than 3.7 million lives, ranging from small, locally led initiatives to larger-scale, multi-year programmes across Malaysia. These initiatives include strengthening education and wellbeing, enabling livelihoods for vulnerable groups, protecting and restoring the environment, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting underserved children and communities.
“Big national programmes matter, but real impact often begins small. The Hasanah Micro Grant gives communities the space to experiment, learn, and build prototype solutions that can later scale,” added Siti Kamariah.
Get Started: Applications are open year-round. Organisations should begin with a short Eligibility Assessment via the Hasanah Application Portal and submit a full proposal once approved. Submit proposals at least 16 weeks before your intended project start date to allow sufficient time for review and approval. For more information, eligibility criteria, and application guidelines, visit www.yayasanhasanah.org.
About the Hasanah Micro Grant
The Hasanah Micro Grant (HMG), a “Seed for Impact” initiative, is Yayasan Hasanah’s strategic entry-point funding platform for grassroots innovation, designed to seed early-stage, community-led solutions across Malaysia. It enables local organisations to test ideas, respond to emerging needs, and build capabilities through small, practical pilots — creating a pipeline of evidence-informed initiatives that has the potential to be strengthened and scaled through Hasanah’s larger funding mechanisms. HMG offers funding of up to RM50,000 per project over six to twelve months, with final grant amounts determined based on project scope, demonstrated needs, and assessment outcomes. The programme reinforces Hasanah’s commitment to local leadership, learning-by-doing, and inclusive development.
About Yayasan Hasanah
Yayasan Hasanah (“Hasanah”) is the impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad (“Khazanah”), the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia. Hasanah was set up as an independent entity on 1 July 2015, building on nine years of Corporate Responsibility (CR) efforts previously driven by Khazanah. As a grant-giving organisation, Hasanah goes beyond ringgit and sen to facilitate an ecosystem of transformation, working in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, infusing a spirit of advocacy and building capacity in five key focus areas: Education; Community Development; Environment; Arts and Public Spaces; and Knowledge. Collectively and collaboratively, Hasanah hopes to shift the needle of social and community reform for Malaysians, towards Advancing Malaysia. For further information, please visit www.yayasanhasanah.org.