specific information.
General questions
What is Sappi’s relationship to the Ideas that Matter program?
Sappi funds and oversees the program as part of the company’s commitment to the design industry and the communities in which designers live and work. Sappi manages, promotes and collects applications and also administers funds once they are awarded by the judges. Sappi gives no input in the selection of grant recipients—that process is the sole responsibility of the annual program judges.
Is Ideas that Matter a global competition?
Yes, it is a global competition however, Ideas that Matter, North America is for North American applicants working with recognized North American nonprofits. Designers located in other regions working with nonprofits in another country can submit proposals to Ideas that Matter, South Africa or Europe based on their location.
Is this a design competition?
It is not a traditional design competition. Each application is evaluated according to how well the proposed project will support and extend the mission of the nonprofit. After all, this grant is called Ideas that Matter, not Design that Matters. However, the judges do recognize the role that good design plays in inspiring people to take action. To that end, effective use of design in an important consideration as it pertains to the audience it is designed to reach.
Can a proposal benefit a project overseas?
Yes, your proposal can address an overseas concern. However, the nonprofit that you are partnering with must have non-profit status in North America. If the nonprofit’s status is in another country, we invite you to submit your grant to either the European or South African Ideas that Matter programs.
Grants and use of funds
How many grants are typically awarded?
Globally, Sappi annually distributes one million dollars in grants. The number of proposals that receive funding vary per year, depending on the amount of funds the selected proposals have requested.
How much grant money can we request?
Funds awarded range from $5,000 to $50,000. The amount awarded is based on a detailed breakdown of the proposed project’s budget needs.
What can the grant money be used for?
Grants are awarded to produce only the proposed and previewed project. Grant awards may be used for implementation and out-of-pocket costs including photography, illustration, paper, printing, mailing, buying ad space, and related expenses for the selected project.
Can the grant money cover “overhead” or “indirect” costs?
No. Grant awards cannot be applied toward indirect costs such as hardware or overhead elements such as computers or rent.
Can some of the grant money be used to compensate the designer applicants for their time?
No. Ideas that Matter is here to provide designers with means to make their altruistic initiatives a reality. Designers donate time and talent; Ideas that Matter provides funds for out-of-pocket direct expenses for the project.
Can the Ideas that Matter grant be used to pay for copywriting or photography?
Yes, the grant can be used to pay for outside copywriting or photography. Those costs are considered direct costs. The costs of the specific services should be included in the itemized budget used to determine the full amount of the grant being requested. Although the costs of photographers or copywriters are allowed in the application, Sappi encourages applicants to ask these creative professionals to donate their services.
What other services can be included in the budget proposal?
All outside production costs can be included in the budget proposal including costs for photography, copywriting and distribution. The time of the designer or design team applying for the grant cannot be included in the budget.
Are there restrictions on the grant covering costs for predesigned pieces of the project that are to be reprinted?
Costs of previously printed projects which are to be reprinted can be part of a new grant proposal if they are also part of the current proposed project.
Would I have a better chance of being awarded a grant if my application were for a lesser amount (i.e., do $5,000 grant requests get funded more than $50,000 grant requests)?
No. The budget should realistically reflect the scope of the project.
How is the grant money distributed?
All grant money is regulated and paid through a Purchase Order system monitored by Sappi and based on the grant applicant’s proposal and the amount of money the judges allocated to the winning projects.
Will the grant be guaranteed for the scope of the project?
No, the grant is not guaranteed for the scope of the project. The grant is guaranteed for 6 months from the start date of the project but cannot exceed a 10 month period.
What do judges look for in a winning proposal?
In follow-up interviews, past judges have revealed that they are particularly drawn to proposals that exhibit the following qualities:
- A personal passion for the cause. The most compelling proposals are those that show real familiarity and commitment to the goals of the nonprofit. This goes beyond repeating the organization’s mission statement verbatim. Whether the cause is feeding the homeless, saving endangered animals or promoting arts programs for children, the judges want to know that the applicant understands and cares about the issues the nonprofit is trying to address.
- A strong, thoughtfully conceived idea. Is your proposed plan for supporting this cause a brochure, a bus shelter poster, an installation art project? The idea should be developed far enough to submit thumbnail sketches, full-scale comps, or other supportive visuals, in addition to a written description of the concept.
- A detailed production plan and demonstrated skills to execute it. Even the best ideas will fail without the skills to execute them. Winning proposals identify production steps, a timeline for completion, and a budget for costs.
- Clear explanation of intended results and who will benefit. It is not enough that the applicant knows how to create and produce a brochure or other type of design project. Judges need to be convinced that the program is necessary and will deliver the intended results for the nonprofit. For example, sending needy kids to camp may be the goal. Producing a brochure to raise funds is the means. The proposal should define how your project fits into the larger scheme, figures into a campaign and, ultimately, supports the mission of the organization.
- A realistic production schedule. Keep in mind that the funded project must be completed within six months of receiving the award. That means your project should be realistic in scope and scale to meet this deadline.
Eligibility and requirements
What are the requirements for non-profit organizations and the design project?
The organization must be an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) organization. The design proposed project must be performed on a pro-bono basis and use some printed media. The project must be intended to solve a problem and support the mission of the non-profit organization. The project must be unproduced when the designer applies for the grant (as stated above, some reprint elements that are already produced may be included in the overall application).
What if my organization is in the process of becoming a 501(c)(3)?
The proposal can be for a new nonprofit. There are no eligibility restrictions on the size of the non-profit organization or the number of years that the nonprofit has been around. However, the non-profit organization must have a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS. It is preferable to have that designation finalized by the time the application is submitted—however, it is absolutely required to be finalized prior to the judging (which usually takes place one month after the close of entries). No funds will be released without proof of 501(c)(3) status.
Why are submissions limited to designers?
Sappi understands that designers are frequently willing to donate time, talent and technical expertise to non-profit causes but they, and the nonprofits with which they work, often fall short of funds to take these communication projects to completion. Ideas that Matter was developed to support designers in their pro-bono efforts.
Does the application have to be submitted by an individual designer?
No. Applications can come from an individual designer, a group of designers, a design firm or agency, an in-house corporate design department, an in-house nonprofit design department, design instructor, design student or student design group.
If the designer is a paid employee of the non-profit organization, can the designer still submit?
Yes. Sappi welcomes applications from designers actively working in the non-profit community. As in all applications, the designer’s time should not be included in the proposed budget.
Can former Ideas that Matter grant recipients apply for grants over multiple years?
Yes, Ideas that Matter grant recipients can apply as many times as they wish. The program has had many repeat grant recipients over the past 10 years.
Can designers apply for more than one grant?
Yes. Multiple grant applications can be submitted by one design firm for different projects. And, grant applications can be submitted for the same non-profit organization by multiple design firms. However, since the project must be implemented within six months, Sappi encourages applicants to consider the amount of time and commitment it will take to complete multiple projects.
Proposal questions
In the “Tell Us About Yourself” section of the application should the designer include information about the non-profit organization or about the firm the designer works for?
The “Tell Us About Yourself” section should include information about the designer or design firm applying for the grant. Sappi asks for complete contact information so that awarded funds can be distributed effectively and the produced project can be tracked, supported and promoted.
Should the application come from the designer or the non-profit organization?
The proposal must be submitted by the designer. The non-profit organization needs to be included in the process and must approve the proposed project but should not submit the grant UNLESS the designer is employed by the non-profit organization.
Should resumes be submitted for individuals or the overall design team?
Members of a team can compile resumes into one document. Sappi would like information on the individuals on the design team to provide Judges with a complete understanding of a team’s ability and experience.
Can the application be reformatted (for example, in a binder or book)?
Yes. As long as the application includes all the required information and all questions are answered. f you do reformat your application, Sappi recommends that the presentation include information in the order of the online application. Please note: CDs and web pages are not acceptable application formats.
How should different components of one project be presented?
Like any complete project that you propose to a client, please communicate the “big idea” and then explain the specific elements that will support that idea. The timeframe that you submit is for the overall project; however you should provide a production schedule for the individual elements. If possible, the costs for each element should be listed separately to give the judges a better idea of how the funds will be allocated.
How many examples of the applicant’s would you like to receive and in what format?
We would like to see 2-3 examples of prior printed work. Please send images of work or actual pieces. Please do not send CDs as judges will not have access to computers and will have no way to review your work.
Does Ideas that Matter want to see the breakdown of costs for the project?
Yes. Please break down the costs using the form provided to give the judges a better idea of how the requested grant money will be allocated. We do not need copies of the actual estimates from printers and suppliers.
What does the “Projected Timeframe” mean?
“Projected Timeframe” is a breakdown of how long general production tasks are expected to take. We ask that grant recipients complete their projects within 6 months. Judges review the submitted timelines to determine if the projections are reasonable and the designer can execute against the proposed schedule. A sample timeline could look like this:
Activity 1: Photography
Project timeframe: 2-3 weeks
Activity 2: Copywriting
Project timeframe: 1 week
Activity 3: Design
Project timeframe: 4-6 weeks
It’s basically a detailed schedule so that judges can determine if what they are proposing is feasible or not given the time to complete.
Print/paper related
Is media outside of print eligible for the grant?
Yes. The proposed project does not have to be 100% print although at least a portion of the project should be printed. Appropriate elements can include an online presence, a billboard, a bus poster, etc. While not required, we would like Sappi paper to be used on any print communications produced with the grant money.
Why does Sappi require the publication rights to be signed over?
For Sappi and the Ideas that Matter program, ‘publication rights’ refers to Sappi’s right to publish images of and information about the work you propose and then produce in order to promote the program and build its visibility in the design and non-profit communities.
Where can I get samples of the paper Sappi produces for a proposed print project?
You can request swatchbooks and printed samples for your project by visiting www.sappisamples.com.
Notification and contact
When will award recipients be notified?
The application deadline for 2010 is July 16, 2010. An independent panel of judges will evaluate each and every entry and grants will be announced in September 2010.
Who can we contact for more information?
You can reach the administrators of Ideas that Matter at 800-882-4332 or by email.
