More than a decade ago Sappi Fine Paper North America— the maker of McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo — established the Ideas that Matter grant program to recognize and support designers who generously donate their time and talent to a wide range of charitable activities. Even today, Ideas that Matter remains the only grant program of its kind in the industry. Since 1999, Ideas that Matter has funded over 500 nonprofit projects, contributing $12 million worldwide to causes that enhance our lives, our communities and our planet. Sappi believes that the creative ideas of designers can have an impact beyond the aesthetic and that those ideas can be a powerful force for social good. Working together with our customers, we aim to make a difference.
Deadline
Application deadline is July 20, 2012. Grants will be announced in September 2012. Ideas must be fully implemented within six months of receiving awards.
Application needs
Your application must include the following:
- Mission statement of the benefiting non-profit organization
- Written description of the proposed project, including a list of elements within it
- Brief description of the project’s objectives
- Visual presentation of your proposed idea
- Project timeline and proposed budget
- Summary information about the applicant
- Your resumé
- Samples of your previous work
For both the visual presentation and samples of previous work, please do not send CDs or a website URL as judges will not have access to computers and will have no way to review your work.
Where to send entries
Send your completed application form and requested supplementary materials to:
Ideas that Matter
Sappi Fine Paper North America
89 Cumberland Street
Westbrook, Maine 04092
Who may apply
Ideas that Matter is open to individual designers, design firms, agencies, in-house corporate design departments, design instructors, and individual design students and design student groups.
What kinds of projects may be submitted
All communication projects that support the needs of the nonprofit and meet the conditions and requirements of the program will be considered. At least a portion of the project should be printed. Additional elements may include a variety of communication mediums such as outdoor signage, t-shirts, banner advertising, print advertising, websites, html campaigns, or other media.
What budget items may be submitted
Grant awards, ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 per project, may be used for implementation and out-of-pocket costs, including photography, illustration, paper, printing, mailing and related expenses. Your grant cannot be applied toward the designer’s time, hardware or overhead elements, such as computers or rent.
Selection process
Applications are reviewed by an independent committee comprised of leaders in the design industry. Evaluation of project concepts and design will be based on creativity, potential effectiveness and practical plan for implementation. All requested information and materials can be submitted on the official entry forms or reformatted in a separate presentation. If your entry is reformatted, please make sure to include all information in the order in which it is requested. The decisions of the judges are final.
Conditions & restrictions
- All grant monies must be used within six months of receipt.
- No charity may cite Sappi or Ideas that Matter as a supplier of a grant without prior written permission from Sappi.
- Sappi employees and family members and agencies conducting business with the company are ineligible.
- Grant recipients who find they are unable to execute the chosen program may enlist the help of the non-profit organization to complete it.
- Submitted concepts not awarded a grant will remain the intellectual property of the applicant. However, Sappi has the right to retain copies of and reproduce the submissions as part of its promotion of the Ideas that Matter grant program.
- Sappi reserves the right to reproduce and promote the funded campaigns as case histories.
- Grants are not paid out as a lump sum, but as they are implemented. As expenses are incurred, either the designer or the nonprofit must submit a request for payment on official letterhead, along with the supporting invoice(s).
- Applicants who want their materials returned must include a written request with their submitted proposal.
Publication rights
Sappi reserves the right to publish and promote the completed work made possible by the Ideas that Matter grant. Grant recipients may also be asked to participate in Sappi educational seminars and conferences, or to share their programs with others in the graphic arts community. Sappi reserves the right to reproduce any design submissions, along with pertinent case histories, in materials produced to promote and support the Ideas that Matter program.
For more information
One of the biggest challenges facing any community-build playground project is fundraising. That is why KaBOOM! offers communities occasional grant opportunities to begin or complete playspace projects.
