Deadline: Ongoing Opportunity

The Roddenberry Foundation is accepting proposals for the Fund Catalyst for anyone, anywhere in the world, who has an idea or early-stage project that addresses pressing global challenges.

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The Catalyst Fund supports

• Early stages
  • Do you have a great idea, a new project or an initiative ready to grow?
  • The Catalyst Fund is aimed at small and/or early-stage ideas and projects that need an injection of capital to get off the ground or prove their viability. Catalyst awardees are usually piloting a programme, venturing into new territory, about to launch or pivoting in a new direction.
• Great Ideas
  • Do you have a great idea or project that has the potential to deliver real and lasting change?
  • The Catalyst Fund supports great ideas or projects that break away from the status quo and require us to look at a problem and its solution in a new light. These great ideas have a high potential for impact on an entire community, city or country. They tend to take advantage of existing infrastructure, build partnerships (public and private) and improve what already exists. Great ideas transcend boundaries and challenge conventions.
• Bold vision
  • Will your plans inspire others and challenge the field to think differently?
  • The Catalyst Fund supports individuals whose vision for change is audacious. Catalyst awardees seek significant, long-term impact and have a vision of how to get there and what needs to be done. They are able to articulate how they plan to make the world better and why. Their vision inspires others and offers a glimpse of a better future.

Information on financing

• Applications submitted through the Catalyst Fund range from US$ 2,500 to US$ 15,000. Requests over US$ 15,000 will be automatically disqualified. Please align your request with what you need - if you need US$ 7 thousand, don't ask for US$ 12 thousand. When deciding how much to apply for, consider how much funding you need now and how you will use it to advance your idea.
• If you have a new or different idea you can reapply in 6 months. If your grant was not accepted, please do not resubmit the same proposal.

Eligibility Criteria

• Catalyst supports projects from anywhere in the world by individuals, teams, non-profits, or social enterprises.
• Applicants can be individuals, for-profits, B-corps, or non-profits operating outside the US.
• The Catalyst Fund has been created to source ideas from all corners of the globe. You can be a seasoned social entrepreneur or a first-time changemaker. Eligible candidates for the Catalyst Fund may be individuals, teams of individuals, non-profit organisations, or social enterprises. To be eligible, all applicants must:
  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Submit an application in English
  • Include complete answers to all necessary application questions
  • Agree to all the legal terms and conditions of the Catalyst Fund grant programme
  • Be legally eligible to receive grant funding.

Criteria

• They are looking for well thought-out projects that have a high potential for lasting impact.
• They know you're applying with an early-stage idea. However, they are looking for a well-thought-out plan, with clear goals, specific metrics and measurable impact. They are also looking for:
  • Innovative: approaches or strategies that innovate on existing models - What are you building on? What other solutions already exist?
  • Community-based: You have a deep understanding of the communities you work on behalf of - What are their needs? How are they involved in the process? How will they be able to sustain the solution over time?
  • High impact potential: a recognised problem that affects a significant percentage of people - this is relative, but they are looking for solutions to problems that have a huge impact.
  • Sustainable: Experienced team and a smart strategy to drive change - Who and what is driving change? Why is this the right team? What makes this the right strategic bet right now?
  • The selection process also takes into account the following criteria: innovation, potential impact, ecosystem and originality.

For more information, visit Catalyst Fund.