The Catalyst Fund makes grants to anyone, anywhere in the world, who has an idea or early-stage project that addresses urgent global challenges.

About the Organisation:

The Roddenberry Foundation (TRF) makes catalytic and timely investments in original ideas and extraordinary people who can change the world. Through three main programmes, they cast a wide net to discover and support these great, often untested ideas, and the individuals and organisations whose vision and leadership have the potential to bring them to fruition. Their work is organised into three main initiatives - Roddenberry Fellowship, Catalyst and Prize - all of which provide opportunities for original thinkers, activists and innovators from all walks of life to pursue meaningful and lasting change.

The Catalyst Fund

The Catalyst Fund makes grants to anyone, anywhere in the world, who has an idea or early-stage project that addresses urgent global challenges.

Early stages

• 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

• 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 cross boundaries and defy convention.

Bold vision

• 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.

Criteria:

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 we 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.

Eligibility:

The Catalyst Fund was created to source ideas from all corners of the world. You can be an experienced social entrepreneur or a first-time change agent. Eligible candidates for the Catalyst Fund can 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 able to legally receive grant funding

Subsidy: The Catalyst Fund makes grants of between US$ 2,500 and US$ 15,000 to anyone, anywhere in the world, who has an idea or early-stage project that addresses urgent global challenges.

There are no deadlines. Applications are accepted all year round.

For more information, see Link